Unleash the power of Polkadot
Innovate without constraints using Polkadot’s powerful, secure, and flexible multi-chain platform
Push the boundaries of what's possible
Explore the three core components that make Polkadot the powerful, secure core of Web3: the versatile Polkadot SDK, the interoperable Polkadot Chain, and the unstoppable Polkadot DAO.
The ecosystem with limitless potential
From decentralized finance (DeFi) to immersive gaming experiences, explore the decentralized applications (dapps) flourishing on Polkadot.
What’s next for Polkadot?
Since Polkadot burst onto the scene with the Relay Chain genesis block in May 2020, culminating in December 2021 with the launch of parachains, it has consistently pushed the boundaries of blockchain technology.
Technical direction & key milestones
Polkadot Chain live
May 2020
The Polkadot Chain (aka Relay Chain) launched, coordinating the entire system, including parachains, after six months of in-the-wild testing on Kusama, Polkadot’s canary network.
Polkadot embarks on decentralization
July 2020
The first real moment of Polkadot becoming truly decentralized was in July 2020 when the governance of the chain moved to the hands of DOT holders.
Parachains launch, Polkadot 1.0 complete
December 2021
The milestone launch of parachains (now rollups) and parachain slot auctions on Polkadot marked Polkadot 1.0’s completion.
OpenGov launches
June 2023
Polkadot shook up governance with onchain governance, transforming how network decisions are made and forming the Polkadot DAO we know today.
Polkadot 2.0 arrives
Q2 2025
Major upgrades lead the way to Polkadot 2.0. Agile Coretime, Asynchronous Backing and elastic scaling provide unmatched scalability, cost, speed, and flexibility.
Solidiy Smart contracts live
Q3 2025
Smart contract functionality comes to Polkadot Hub, unlocking the next generation of building and trading on Polkadot
JAM, A new era for Polkadot
Future
Gavin Wood's Gray Paper introduces Join-Accumulate Machine, a codename for a rearchitecture of Polkadot that will not only allow it to be able to secure other blockchains, but any kind of Web3 application or rollup.