What Is Dash?

Launched in 2014 by Evan Duffield and Kyle Hagan, Dash (originally released under the name Xcoin and then Darkcoin) is an open-source decentralized cryptocurrency created through a fork from Litecoin. Hagan and Duffield created the protocol with aim to improve on the security, anonymity, and speed of transactions associated with Bitcoin--hence the name Dash, which is short for “digital cash”. Dash is secured through a proof-of-work (PoW) consensus protocol called X11 (because it uses 11 hashing algorithms) and based on a 51% node consensus. A second tier of masternodes operate through a proof-of-service consensus and oversee the network, making Dash what is known as a two-tier platform. The maximum supply is 18,900,000 Dash, and the average block time for Dash is 15 minutes. See below for a full selection of markets where you can trade Dash for other cryptocurrencies, US dollars, and other fiat currencies.