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Kaspa vs Ethereum
How Kaspa and Ethereum differ on speed, security model, supply and mining.
Ethereum is the leading smart contract platform and moved from proof of work to proof of stake in 2022. Kaspa takes the opposite path: it stays proof of work and scales by running a blockDAG at 10 blocks per second, while adding programmability through upgrades like Toccata.
In the time Ethereum produces one block, Kaspa produces about 120.
Kaspa vs Ethereum: side by side
| Kaspa (KAS) | Ethereum (ETH) | |
|---|---|---|
| Launched | November 2021 | July 2015 |
| Consensus | Proof of work (GHOSTDAG blockDAG) | Proof of stake (since September 2022) |
| Mining algorithm | kHeavyHash | None (validators stake ETH) |
| Block time | 0.1 s (10 blocks per second) | 12 s slots |
| Structure | BlockDAG: parallel blocks are all kept | Single chain with slots and epochs |
| Supply | Capped at about 28.7 billion KAS | No hard cap; net issuance varies with fee burn |
| Issuance | Smooth: reward drops about 5.6% every month, halving yearly | Staking rewards minus burned fees |
| Launch | Fair launch, no premine or pre-sale | Public crowdsale in 2014 |
| Hardware | kHeavyHash ASICs | Staking nodes, no mining |
The short version
- Ethereum has the largest smart contract ecosystem, with most apps on Layer 2 networks.
- Kaspa is proof of work with no staking, so securing it takes energy rather than locked capital.
- Kaspa's base layer produces blocks 120 times more often than Ethereum's slots.
Frequently asked questions
Is Kaspa proof of stake like Ethereum?
No. Kaspa is proof of work, mined with kHeavyHash. Ethereum switched to proof of stake in September 2022.
Does Kaspa have smart contracts like Ethereum?
Kaspa added native covenants and assets in the Toccata hard fork in 2026, and Layer 2 projects add more programmability. Ethereum's smart contract ecosystem is far larger and more mature.
Which is faster, Kaspa or Ethereum?
Kaspa produces a block every 0.1 seconds. Ethereum produces one every 12 seconds and takes around 13 minutes to reach finality, though its Layer 2 networks confirm faster.
Not financial advice. This page compares how the networks work, not which is a better investment.