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What is Dash & How Does it Work? - DASH for Beginners

By Benson Toti - Updated 11 May 2023
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Originally, Dash was created to ensure anonymity and was known as Darkcoin. Later on, the project founder redefined the currency’s objectives and named it Digital Cash or Dash. It is easy to use cryptocurrency focused on providing freedom to consumers who want to enjoy the convenience of modern shopping but also desire the unique features of virtual currency. It enables you to move money quickly and affordably anywhere, anytime, and to anyone.

To make this possible, it has partnered with over 4,800 service providers and retailers, ensuring users can get whatever they’re looking for. It’s also easy to purchase and transfer. To this date, consumers have spent almost $1 billion of Dash to pay for products and services. While it provides an easier and quicker way to pay, it delivers multiple benefits to businesses, such as instant settlements, no chargebacks, and zero commission.

Table of Contents

Why Was Dash Invented?

Dash was initially launched in 2014 as “Darkcoin,” with a focus on user anonymity and privacy. Although the cryptocurrency still has robust encryption, the primary objective of the project has gone through readjustment. It was renamed with the aim to provide an affordable and convenient means to make day-to-day payments for a wide range of products and services. The currency wanted to be a highly practical alternative to bank cards and hard cash.

It also provides a robust solution for international remittances, especially in countries where financial freedom is limited due to a lack of access and technical hurdles. It delivers complete freedom and control to the user so they can send or receive money anywhere, to anyone in the world. They don’t have to deal with the paperwork, complexities of exchange rates, week-long delays, and hidden commissions and charges that add to the financial burden.

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Payment Methods:
Bank Transfer, Debit Card, PayPal, neteller, Credit Card, Wire Transfer, Visa, Mastercard, American Express, AdvCash, AliPay, QIWI, WeChat, Discover, Banxa, Simplex, Mercada Pago, PicPay, Bank Transfer: SEPA, Easypaisa, Esewa, FasterPay, Gcash, IMPS, Interac e-Transer, Itez, JazzCash, Mercuryo, Monese, MoonPay, Naqui, Papara, PIX, RAAST, Safaricom, Wise, Zain Cash, Zen, Cash App, M-PESA, PhonePe, Tinkoff, Vodafone Cash, Bank Transfer: UPI, Payoneer, Paytm, skrill
Full Regulations:
Trading in digital assets is considered high risk. Digital assets are NOT backed by any government or central bank. The risk of loss in trading or holding digital assets can be substantial. You should carefully consider whether interacting, holding, or trading digital assets is suitable for you in light of your financial condition.

How Does Dash Work and What Technology Is Behind It?

Like Bitcoin, Dash also relies on miners to validate transactions in return, of which they are rewarded with the blockchain token. However, it has made some adjustments to the system by adding the concept of Masternode. Miners can acquire the status of a Masternode by depositing a minimum of 1000 DASH. This gives them the special status to carry out critical operations on the network. For instance, they are tasked with processing Instant Transactions (InstantSend) and Private Transactions (PrivateSend) along with overseeing blockchain’s overall governance and treasury.

The presence of Masternodes doesn’t only enhance the security of the network but ensures quick speed of transactions. Since this requires additional effort and resources, Masternodes are adequately rewarded for the support they provide. 45% of the rewards go to all miners, while Masternodes receive 45%. 10% of coins are allocated for funding future network projects and improvements. 

In order to send and receive funds, the cryptocurrency uses a similar protocol of public and private keys. This unique way of handling transactions doesn’t only allow it to process and verify transactions at a rapid pace but also ensures the miners who are putting in the excessive effort don’t leave the platform by rewarding them adequately.

Is Dash Real Money?

DASH is one of the widely accepted digital coins, as you can spend in more than 5,000 retail and online locations. Whether you are looking to purchase airline tickets or buy something as simple as next week’s grocery, it makes digital payments instant and affordable. 

Some of the places where you can use it to pay for products and services include eGifter, Bitrefill, Church’s Chicken Venezuela, NordVPN, Mobile TopUp, and more. Not only that, but the cryptocurrency makes it super easy to buy tokens from a variety of websites.

That being said, it still isn’t as ubiquitous as conventional cash. There are millions of locations that don’t accept the currency despite impressive growth in partnerships. That’s why we can’t regard it as a complete replacement of cash, although the trajectory that the currency is following may turn it into a close competitor in the near future.

Fees & Expenses

At the time of writing this article, the average transaction cost was a mere $0.0023 per transaction. It means that your wallet doesn’t take a substantial hit whenever you purchase DASH. As compared to the previous year, when the average transaction price was hovering anywhere between $0.1 and $0.2, this is an exceptional reduction. The highest point for the transaction cost was in mid-February of 2018 when the price almost hit the $1.6 mark.

You should keep in mind that while the average transaction fee is negligible, it could be higher when there is more traffic on its network. Moreover, there are charges and commissions imposed by cryptocurrency exchanges, which may drive the spending price a bit higher. These additional charges depend on multiple factors like your country of residence, payment mode, and the number of tokens you are buying.

What Are the Benefits of Dash?

Apart from decentralisation and other benefits offered by a blockchain-based cryptocurrency, it brings a host of unique advantages.

Full Acceptance as a Currency

More than 4,800 merchants accept it as a viable digital currency that allows users to purchase products and services anywhere in the world.

Low Fees

The average transaction fee is even less than a cent, which means consumers don’t have to pay heavily for using the convenience and efficiency of digital currency.

Easily Available

You can buy DASH easily on any cryptocurrency exchange online, and it’s easy to receive from friends and family. You can also get it from an ATM near your location.

Mobile Applications

To bring additional convenience and features, it offers a mobile app for Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and Linux platforms. You can do much more with the application.

Everyday Use

From paying your loved ones to buying groceries to dining in your favourite restaurant, it has been created for the average consumer who can use it on a day-to-day basis.

Swift Transactions

Unlike Bitcoin, which can take up to minutes to process transactions, the network validates your transaction in a mere second, making shopping quick and easy.

Great for Businesses

Apart from consumers, it also provides multiple benefits to businesses, including access to new markets and customers, instant settlements, and zero chargebacks.

Can It Be Used Anonymously?

There is no straight answer since what typically gets referenced a great deal on the internet as one of the essential blockchain’s advantages is client anonymity. Keeping in mind that there’s some reality to it has progressively gotten more and more challenging to keep up total anonymity when using Dash or some other digital currency. 

Although there are various privacy and anonymous focused features offered by the cryptocurrency, they’re no longer the primary concern of the project. Moreover, compliance with Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Know Your Customer (KYC) laws make it even more difficult.

Then again, regardless of the considerable number of features to maintain anonymity, you can generally be followed through the digital impression, particularly on the grounds that it’s challenging to change or delete the information that has been composed on the blockchain. 

Regardless of whether you haven’t shared your name or other individual subtleties, meta information and other relevant data can give your personality. This is the reason cash remains the most anonymous method of making payments even today.

How Safe Is It?

According to the project team, Dash is now more secure than Bitcoin, thanks to its new consensus protocol, which ensures instant transactions by default. Moreover, cryptographical encryption and privacy-centric features of the original Darkcoin are still there to ensure data privacy is maintained. It’s not absolute in any sense, but it’s more than good to prevent any loss of personal data or funds.

What Teams Are Working on Development

The project is operated by Dash Core Group, which receives direct investment from the blockchain if approved by the network. Since it is an open-source project, anyone can join and contribute to the code repository according to their skill set and project requirements. Current repositories that different teams are working on include Dash Core, iOS Wallet, Android Wallet, Dash SDK, DPP, Drive, DAPI, Wallet-lib, Dash core-lib, network-deploy, test-suite, and mn-bootstrap. Another project is the Dash Platform, which will be used to build and host decentralised applications.

The Core Group is headed by Ryan Taylor, who is the CEO, while Bob Carrol and Glenn Austin are acting Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and Chief Financial Officer (CFO), respectively. Robert Wiecko is the Chief Operating Officer (COO), while Fernando Guiterrez is serving as CMO of the group. Other team members include Philipp Engelhorn, Holger Schinzel, Udjinm6, Alexander Block, Pasta, Dustinface, Alex Werner, Ivan Shumkov, Anton Suprunchuk, Kostya Shuplenkov, Cofresi and more. You can see the complete list of developers on the official website.

Which Financial Institutions Are Invested in Dash?

As the cryptocurrency is attempting to replace cash and conventional debit cards with a faster and more affordable alternative, no financial institution has directly invested in the blockchain or its token project. However, many banks are investing in cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology to find a solution that revolutionises their underlying network. On the other hand, it has been able to forge reliable partnerships with more than 4,800 merchants, retailers, service providers, and businesses to enable users to make purchases from anywhere they want. These partnerships are growing in number day by day and while it still isn’t a cash replacement, it may come close to giving stiff competition to conventional legal tenders.

Some of the big players in the financial sector that have financially and strategically invested in blockchain technology include Santander, Standard Chartered, SBI Group, Microsoft, CME Ventures, Core Innovation Capital, Accenture, and more.

Dash Mining

On Dash blockchain, users can mine Dash tokens by finding solutions to challenging mathematical and cryptographical problems created by the X11 hashing algorithm. This method of mining is known as Proof of Work (PoW) protocol. The mining that occurs on its network requires low power and ensures adequate distribution of rewards amongst miners. Currently, cryptocurrency mining is a challenging profession since there are extremely powerful ASIC server farms that are trying 24/7 to secure the network.

Dash Wallet

If you are looking to protect your tokens against cyber-attacks, there is no better alternative than using a software or hardware wallet. Some of the wallets recommended include:

  • Desktop Wallets

Dash Core, Dash Electrum, Exodus, Guarda, Jaxx Liberty, Coinomi

  • Mobile Wallets

Dash Anrdoid, Edge, Coinomi, Jaxx Liberty, Dash Electrum, Abra, Spend, Exodus, Bitnovo

  • Hardware Wallets

Trezor, Ledger, KeepKey, SafePal, Ellpal Titan, Cobo Vault

Is Dash Worth the Investment?

Dash has a clearly defined singular vision, which has earned the blockchain and its cryptocurrency a lot of early success. They have already partnered with more than 4,800 merchants and service providers all over the world and provide quick and affordable payment services to hundreds of thousands of users globally. Having said that, cryptocurrency prices, including the price of Dash, are often not reflective of the project’s success, and they can increase or decrease rapidly in an unpredictable manner.

This means that you need to be careful with your investments and only put in money you can afford to lose. Moreover, keep an eye on the new developments as well as experts’ advice to ensure you’re making the right decision to trade Dash at the right time. Investing in Dash is a high-risk, high reward investment, and you need to ensure you aren’t on the losing side.

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Payment Methods:
Debit Card, Wire Transfer, Check, Bank Wire
Full Regulations:
Cryptocurrency execution and custody services are provided by Apex Crypto LLC (NMLS ID 1828849) through a software licensing agreement between Apex Crypto LLC and Public Crypto LLC. Crypto trading on Public platforms is served by Public Crypto LLC and offered through APEX Crypto. Please ensure that you fully understand the risks involved before trading.
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Log in using the app and claim the Mystery Box to receive up to $10,000 in reward
One of the top digital asset exchanges by trading volume
Serving millions of users in over 100 countries
Visit Site
Description:
OKX is a world-leading cryptocurrency exchange, providing advanced financial services to traders globally by using blockchain technology.
Payment Methods:
Bank Transfer, Debit Card, PayPal, neteller, Credit Card, Wire Transfer, Visa, Mastercard, American Express, AdvCash, AliPay, QIWI, WeChat, Discover, Banxa, Simplex, Mercada Pago, PicPay, Bank Transfer: SEPA, Easypaisa, Esewa, FasterPay, Gcash, IMPS, Interac e-Transer, Itez, JazzCash, Mercuryo, Monese, MoonPay, Naqui, Papara, PIX, RAAST, Safaricom, Wise, Zain Cash, Zen, Cash App, M-PESA, PhonePe, Tinkoff, Vodafone Cash, Bank Transfer: UPI, Payoneer, Paytm, skrill
Full Regulations:
Trading in digital assets is considered high risk. Digital assets are NOT backed by any government or central bank. The risk of loss in trading or holding digital assets can be substantial. You should carefully consider whether interacting, holding, or trading digital assets is suitable for you in light of your financial condition.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I buy DASH?
You can buy it on a wide range of cryptocurrency exchanges and trading platforms using conventional payment methods like wire transfers, debit and credit cards. You can also purchase it from ATMs.
Which wallet is safe for storing Dash?
Some of the best hardware wallets include Trezor, Ledger, KeepKey, SafePal, Cobo Vault, and Ellipal Titan. However, if you are looking for a software wallet, you can rely on Dash Core, Dash Electrum, Exodus, Coinomi, Abra, Bitnovo, and Edge.
How can I mine Dash?
Using powerful ASIC computers, you can solve complex cryptographical problems generated by the X11 hashing algorithm. You can earn more Dash by becoming a Masternode.
Should I invest in Dash?
Although it has one of the most prominent cryptocurrencies in terms of practical usage, investment in Dash or any other cryptocurrency should be made with caution.
How much is the Dash transaction fee?
Transactions only cost $0.002 for each transaction, although the fee could be a little higher if the network has more traffic, it'd still be negligible compared to the amount you are sending or receiving.
What is a Masternode?
A Masternode is a dedicated miner who has committed additional resources and efforts to validate transactions on the Dash network. For their extra effort, they are rewarded adequately.
Is Dash a decentralised platform?
Yes. It is entirely free from the influence of any central authority like the board of directors or government.
How is Dash different from other blockchain-based currencies?
Dash is a consumer-centric cryptocurrency that has already partnered with real-world service providers and merchants, allowing people to use it as a viable currency.
Is Dash legally recognized?
Even though several countries have either banned or declared DASH as illegal, the future of the digital currency remains bright. China, where cryptocurrency was banned in the early days of the digital currency revolution, authorities are now interested in the idea. In India, where the central bank (Reserve Bank of India or RBI) issued a circular asking banks not to deal or provide services to crypto exchanges, the Supreme Court of India ruled that the order/circular was disproportionate. According to the three-judge bench, the RBI failed to substantiate the ban.  Many countries do not have any specific law in place that governs the use of cryptocurrencies including DASH. Some of these are Albania, Colombia, Argentina, Kenya, Kosovo, Tanzania, Peru, The United Arab Emirates, and Mauritius. Therefore, from a legal perspective, the lack of legislation implies that the cryptocurrency is considered as legal. In order to declare an activity as illegal (for example, cryptocurrency trading), there should be some specific law that declares the activity as illegal. However, Dash does not qualify as a legal tender in some jurisdictions given its decentralized nature.
What merchants accept DASH?
Many people cannot appreciate the value of a currency that does not have widespread acceptance among businesses. The basic use of money is to get vital goods and services. DASH is so popular because many companies across the world accept it readily. Some of these merchants are: 
  • eGifter
eGifter sells gift cards that you can send to others by email, mail, text, or even a physical delivery. The portal allows you to easily print a gift card. eGifter customers can also win eGifter Points with their purchases that provide additional discounts.
  • Travala.com
Travala.com enables you to book hotels, homes, and flights in your home or office’s comfort. You can reach their 24/7 customer support team and choose your worldwide destinations. Moreover, the online merchant offers real value rewards through their innovative, and tokenized incentive programs.
  • NORDVPN
This online service offers a secure and encrypted tunnel that supports online traffic flow. The VPN ensures that no one sees through the tunnel or gets their hands on your internet data. It can also keep your browsing history private.
  • Snel.com
This online service delivers smart Dedicated and Cloud VPS hosting with exceptional focus on enhancing customer experience. Snel.com offers a range of other IT services and customised options for its customers.  

Alternative Cryptocurrencies

Maidsafecoin

sweatcoin