Kusama is a public blockchain network that is running the exact same codebase as Polkadot. It is aimed to be a canary build for the Polkadot network which is an experimental and development environment for new features that will eventually be deployed to Polkadot. Because of the experimental nature of Kusama, the developmental speed is much faster and it has seen significant traction since launched in 2019. Kusama is an early, highly experimental version of Polkadot presenting real economic conditions. The community will own the network – there will be no central kill switch. Kusama will exist as long as its community maintains it and we envision it will cater to new, early functionality and projects preparing to develop and deploy on Polkadot.

Kusama提供了一种贴近真实环境的方式去提前测试波卡网络，保证波卡网络的安全性。它还可以让未来的波卡网络参与方提前演练，比如验证者节点、平行链团队、波卡生态工具的建设者们都可以用Kusama来提前准备。
KSM是Kusama网络的原生功能型代币，其主要功能包括：
治理: KSM代币持有者可以对网络治理发起投票。
权益共识抵押: Relay Chain的网络验证者需要抵押KSM代币以运行节点。
加入网络质押: Parachains加入网络时需要质押一定量的KSM代币。
手续费: KSM被用于支付跨链信息传递所产生的手续费。

Kusama是一个为Polkadot网络重大实验设立的公链。
Kusama与Polkadot的一个主要差异在于Kusama调节了网络治理参数以允许网络更快的演进。譬如投票期为7天而实施期为投票后的8天。
Kusama的基础架构含括Relay Chain，Parachains，以及Bridges。
Relay Chain是Kusama网络的主区块链，所有的Kusama节点都于Relay Chain上运行。
Parachains是连接Relay Chain的平行区块链，由其自身的网络验证者，即Collators维护。
Bridges是连接Parachains与外部网络，如比特币和以太坊，的特殊区块链。