Dash is an open-source blockchain and cryptocurrency designed to provide a fast, cost-effective global payments network with a decentralized framework. As outlined in the project's white paper, Dash aims to enhance Bitcoin (BTC) by delivering superior privacy and quicker transactions. Dash, the name derived from "digital cash," was introduced in January 2014 as a fork of Litecoin (LTC). Since its inception, Dash has evolved to incorporate features such as a two-tier network with incentivized nodes, including "masternodes," and decentralized project governance. It offers InstantSend, which enables instant transaction settlement; ChainLocks, ensuring the Dash blockchain is immediately immutable; and PrivateSend, an optional feature for additional transaction privacy.

Dash was established by software developers Evan Duffield and Kyle Hagan. Initially introduced as XCoin, the project underwent a name change to Darkcoin two weeks later, and subsequently rebranded to Dash in March 2015 to enhance its public perception. Prior to launching Dash, Duffield was engaged in software development within the finance sector, notably during his tenure at Hawk Financial Group. He also possessed expertise in public relations, having created machine learning algorithms and search engines. Duffield envisioned Dash in 2012 as a means to enhance Bitcoin's anonymity, which led to its original name, Darkcoin. He has mentioned that he initiated the project as a personal interest, completing the initial coding over a single weekend. Duffield was the CEO of Dash Core Group—the entity responsible for the ongoing development, integrations, and various activities related to Dash—until December 2017, when he resigned to concentrate on other strategic initiatives. Hagan co-authored the initial Darkcoin whitepaper with Duffield. However, he departed from the project in December 2014.

As stated on its website, Dash aims "to be the most user-friendly and scalable payments-focused cryptocurrency in the world." To achieve this objective, the project utilizes a network of masternodes. These are servers supported by collateral held in Dash, designed to securely deliver advanced services and govern Dash's proposal system. In return for a portion of the block rewards, masternodes offer an additional layer of services to the network, enabling features such as InstantSend, PrivateSend, and ChainLocks. Dash is promoted to both individual users and institutions, including merchants, financial services, traders, and those requiring international remittances. In October 2020, Dash Core Group announced strategic goals that include expanding its ecosystem and brand, ensuring user satisfaction, and furthering the technological advancement of the network. Dash’s governance structure, known as the treasury, allocates 20% of the block rewards for project development in a competitive and decentralized manner. This framework has facilitated the creation of numerous funded organizations, including Dash Core Group.

The maximum number of Dash tokens that can be issued is 18,921,005, although this figure may ultimately be influenced by how governance decides to allocate the 10% of block rewards set aside for budget proposals. If none were ever allocated, only 17,742,696 DASH would be emitted. New Dash tokens are generated through a proof-of-work mining algorithm, with the token emission rate decreasing by one-fourteenth, or approximately 7%, every 210,240 blocks, roughly equivalent to every 383 days. Approximately 45% of new DASH is awarded to miners, 45% goes to masternodes, and 10% is reserved for future proposals. In August 2020, a proposal was approved that, once implemented, will shift the coin allocation ratio from 50/50 to miners and masternodes, respectively, to 40/60. Within the first 48 hours of Dash’s launch, about 2 million coins were mined, significantly exceeding the planned emission schedule. Dash was initially forked from Litecoin, experiencing a similar issue upon launch due to a flaw in its difficulty adjustment algorithm. Although it is well-documented that Dash inherited this bug from Litecoin, there has been widespread speculation about whether the consequent fastmine was deliberately intended to benefit early miners.

Dash employs a two-tier network architecture to secure its transactions. The first tier is composed of nodes that conduct mining activities using a proof-of-work consensus protocol. This entails competing to solve complex cryptographic challenges, with at least 51% of nodes required to approve a transaction for it to be added to the blockchain. Dash utilizes the "X11" PoW algorithm, a bespoke hashing algorithm created by Dash founder Duffield, which deploys a series of 11 hashing algorithms. As noted in Dash's documentation, X11 is regarded as "one of the safest and most sophisticated cryptographic hashes employed by modern cryptocurrencies." The second tier comprises masternodes, which function under a proof-of-service consensus algorithm. Masternodes are evaluated based on their track record of delivering quality services to the network. They have the authority to reject new blocks added by nodes if they were approved incorrectly. Additionally, masternodes facilitate Dash's ChainLocks feature, enhancing security by enabling a rotating group of masternodes to observe and confirm all new blocks added to the blockchain every 12 hours. According to Dash's developers, this mechanism safeguards the network against 51% attacks.

Dash, a widely recognized altcoin, is available for purchase on numerous prominent cryptocurrency exchanges, including Binance, Coinbase Pro, Huobi Global, Kraken, and OKEx. It can be traded against fiat currencies, other cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ether (ETH), and stablecoins such as Tether (USDT) and USD Coin (USDC). Dash can be bought and sold on both spot and derivatives markets. For individuals interested in purchasing Dash or other cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Eulerpool offers a straightforward, step-by-step guide to provide comprehensive knowledge about crypto and guide you in making your first purchase.