Encointer Kusama Parachain

Encointer runs as a common good parachain on Kusama. As a common good chain, Encointer's parachain slot is granted by Kusama governance rather than won through auction, reflecting Encointer's public-good mission of providing proof of personhood and local community currencies.

What this means

  • Shared security — Encointer inherits the full security of the Kusama relay chain. Block validity is verified by Kusama validators, not by Encointer's own collators.
  • Native KSM integration — Users can hold KSM on Encointer Network, pay transaction fees in KSM or community currencies, and receive KSM from faucets.
  • XCM interoperability — Encointer can send and receive cross-chain messages with other Kusama parachains, enabling future integrations like personhood verification for other chains.

Collators

Encointer Network is maintained by a set of collators who collect transactions and produce block candidates. Collator operation is critical for availability but not for security.

Governance

Protocol upgrades to Encointer must be approved by Kusama relay chain governance (KSM holders), since Encointer is a common good chain. Community-level parameters (income, demurrage, locations) are governed by Encointer's own democracy. Global operational parameters are currently managed by the Encointer council.

Endpoints