Web3 Foundation has announced a landmark commitment of 10 million DOT* to support a new, community-driven vision for Kusama, unveiled today at Web3 Summit. This follows the near-unanimous passing of Referendum 498, which transitions the Kusama network to an independent platform dedicated to pushing the boundaries of blockchain’s capabilities.
The community-approved vision identifies Zero-Knowledge (ZK) and other advanced cryptography, proof-of-personhood for digital identity, along with artistic or social experiments that explore the cultural edges of blockchain. The $10 million in funding, sourced from Web3 Foundation’s treasury, will be deployed gradually and governed through on-chain bounties that align with each of the three focus areas. These bounties will serve as decentralized funding mechanisms, enabling the community to direct support to promising teams, ideas, and experiments that fall outside conventional definitions of Web3 infrastructure.
Bill Laboon, Vice President of Ecosystem at Web3 Foundation, shared: “Kusama was created to be fearless, to try things that others won’t. This funding ensures it stays that way. By supporting experimentation not just in code, but in identity, art, and governance, we’re reinforcing Kusama’s role as a truly boundary-pushing ecosystem. No longer will it be just a canary network for Polkadot, but rather an independent network focused on pushing the boundaries of what is capable on a blockchain.”
Kusama’s redefined mission continues to build on a track record of bold experimentation. Projects like Kappa Sigma Mu, (the human blockchain secured by proof-of-ink, i.e. tattoos), and Proof of Chaos (NFTs for OpenGov voters), have demonstrated the network’s unique ability to host initiatives at the intersection of technology, identity, and culture. The new vision builds on these precedents, with a framework for sustained exploration and support for unconventional ideas.
To jump start this next chapter, the network is also supporting events and initiatives, including Kusama ZK Day, a side event at Web3 Summit designed to convene developers and cryptographers interested in building advanced privacy and identity tools on Kusama. The network is also backing hands-on initiatives such as the WebZero Hackathon, which includes 10,500 DOT in prizes for experimental projects developed during the summit.
As the vision rolls out, the Kusama community is also inviting proposals and input on new mechanisms to fund and manage future experiments. The intent is to keep the network open and adaptable, able to support both technically ambitious and culturally novel initiatives.
To learn more, apply for funding, or get involved in Kusama’s evolving future, visit: https://kusama.network