What is Dash? (DASH)?

Appearing as an alternative to Bitcoin, DASH blockchain has become a pioneering network that aims to revolutionize the way we perceive and utilize money. With its focus on privacy, speed, and governance, it offers a unique approach to digital cash, providing users with an efficient and secure payments system for conducting fast transactions.

Launched in 2014, DASH (Digital Cash) is an open-source decentralized cryptocurrency that combines the best features of Bitcoin with innovative enhancements to create a more user-friendly and functional digital currency. DASH aims to address some of the limitations and challenges faced by early cryptocurrencies, such as slow transaction times and a lack of privacy.

In this article, we will delve deeper into the mechanics of DASH digital currency, exploring its key features, technological innovations, and potential use cases.

How does Dash work?

The first tier of the Dash blockchain functions much like any proof-of-work cryptocurrency (such as Bitcoin or Litecoin). Miners who compete to add new blocks and safeguard the blockchain power this tier. The transaction history on the Dash blockchain is preserved by miners while double spending is avoided.

The key difference between Dash and Bitcoin is that its average block time is 2.5 minutes as opposed to Bitcoin's 10 minutes, and its miners only get paid 45% of the DASH created in each block as opposed to Bitcoin's 100%.

Most of Dash's major advances are found in its second layer, which is run by specialized nodes known as Masternodes.

As long as a node has 1,000 DASH on its balance, it can become a masternode.

What do masternodes do?

• Enable quick and discreet transactions. 

• Reject miners' incorrectly shaped blocks and save a complete copy of the blockchain ledger.

• Get 45% of the block reward.

• Decide how to distribute the final 10% of the block reward by casting a vote.

Anyone can suggest a new function or alteration to the Dash network, but Masternodes must vote to make the final choice.

The new feature is implemented if the number of "For" votes exceeds the number of "Against" votes by more than 10% of the total Masternode votes.

The Dash Treasury is a grant scheme that receives the final 10% of the block reward. The DAO has set aside this cash to pay for the proposals that Masternodes have approved.

Why does Dash have value?

Many of the qualities that make cryptocurrencies valuable, including durability, mobility, and scarcity, are represented in Dash. It has a finite quantity, similar to commodities like gold, silver, and bitcoin. Only 18.9 million DASH coins will be issued on the network during the entire time of its existence. By the year 2300, Dash is anticipated to achieve its maximum supply.

Dash is fully digital, so unless your private keys are misplaced or stolen, you can rest assured about the safety of your funds. Even then, this DASH cryptocurrency will remain inaccessible and immobile on the blockchain forever. Like every cryptocurrency, Dash is also transportable, meaning you may store it on a flash drive or send it instantaneously over the internet.

What makes Dash unique

Dash's masternodes structure is its most distinctive feature. A specific server that has a complete copy of the Dash blockchain is called a masternode. Users with at least 1,000 DASH on their balance may run the masternodes that power many of Dash's services.

These features include CoinJoin, a technique for performing a series of transactions and making them more difficult to track, and InstantSend, which enables transaction processing in less than two seconds. Users earn a percentage of the block profits from Dash mining in return for running masternodes.

While the majority of businesses don't accept any kind of cryptocurrency, Dash was one of rare exceptions. On July 27, 2021, the DashDirect retail savings app was launched. It allowed more than 125 websites and 155,000 businesses to accept Dash payments: users could send it via the app to make purchases. Discounts are also included, varying in percentage according to the vendor.

Finally, it's important to mention Dash's user-friendliness. Its website makes it quite obvious how Dash functions and where you can get it. This might sound insignificant, but when compared to all the cryptocurrencies with excessively intricate websites, you can realize that this difference matters, especially for crypto novices.

How Is Dash Different From Bitcoin?

The mechanisms used by the two cryptocurrencies to process transactions differ. On the blockchain of Bitcoin, each network node must verify a transaction. The procedure, which aims to guarantee consensus without authority, necessitates a significant infrastructure investment for full nodes (they are only used for mining). In this arrangement, full node Bitcoin miners invest growing sums of time and money to guarantee smooth operations. This is turning out to be an impossible endeavour as the Bitcoin network scales.

This procedure takes a long time and doesn't work to avoid blockage. There is a backlog of transactions in Bitcoin's memory pool as a result of slow processing. Thus, Bitcoin may become an unconvenient cryptocurrency for daily transactions due to high transaction costs. 

The validation and verification of transactions are made easier by Dash's masternodes.  In the whitepaper, cofounders stated that this enables consumers to pay for services and get a return on their investment.

Additionally, it addresses the issue of transactions' scalability. This is due to the fact that the quantity of nodes needed to authorise a transaction is decreased to a tolerable level. Masternodes are in charge of authorising transactions from the miner network and giving the Dash network features like payment and privacy.  

How to Buy Dash?

In addition to mining, you may purchase Dash cryptocurrency via a trading site or a cryptocurrency exchange. This can be done in three steps:

1. Create an online account

Look for a crypto exchange that accepts Dash (the majority of trading platforms and wallets support it) . To create an account, enter your basic information, including your name, nationality, and birthdate. Note that you will need to complete the KYC procedure before sending money to your account.

1. Get a wallet 

Leaving your cryptocurrency on the exchange puts you under the risk of you losing your tokens in the event of a hack. So if you want to store DASH cryptocurrency in the long term, it’s recommended to get a hardware wallet.

1. Make a deposit and buy DASH

Deposit fiat money or cryptocurrency to get Dash. Once your account passes KYC and you top up the balance, you can proceed to the trading section in a cryptocurrency exchange and have been financed and keep it in your wallet.

FAQ

Is Dash crypto safe?

Dash crypto is considered relatively safe, as it utilizes advanced encryption techniques and has a decentralized network. However, like any cryptocurrency, there are inherent risks associated with price volatility and security breaches.

Is Dash a good crypto?

Overall, Dash is a pretty safe and technologically more advanced payments system than many other blockchains. However, investment profitability and its safety will depend on further developments made by coin creators. There are many rivals in the crypto market that offer cheaper and faster transactions. 

Is Dash better than Litecoin?

Determining whether Dash cryptocurrency is better than Litecoin is subjective and depends on individual preferences. Both cryptos have different features and use cases. Dash offers additional privacy features and a governance system, while Litecoin has faster block generation and wider adoption. 

How old is the Dash coin?

Dash coin was launched on January 18, 2014, making it over nine years old. It was originally known as Darkcoin and later rebranded to Dash, which stands for Digital Cash.

Can Dash hit $1,000?

At the time of writing this article, DASH is worth $33, which means it has to make a long way to attract investors and raise its market cap. In a few years’ perspective, this does not seem possible, considering how many cryptocurrencies are around. 

Is Dash crypto fast?

Yes, Dash cryptocurrency is known for its relatively fast transaction speed (confirmation takes 1-2 seconds). It utilizes a technology called InstantSend, which allows for near-instantaneous operations. This feature enables Dash to provide quicker confirmations compared to some other cryptocurrencies.

How profitable is Dash coin mining?

Dash mining is still profitable, but you will need to have access to cheap or free electricity to cover your expenses and make some profit. You can estimate average returns by using a mining calculator. 

*DISCLAIMER: None of the authors, contributors, administrators, or editors associated with OWNR Wallet encourage readers to invest in cryptocurrencies without conducting thorough research on their own. This article is intended solely for educational purposes.