Dash
DASHRank #98- Market cap
- $640.24M
- 24h volume
- $75.76M
- 7d change
- +6.81%
- 30d change
- -16.54%
- 24h high / low
- $53.71 / $49.32
- Circulating supply
- 12.88M
- Max supply
- 18.92M
- All-time high
- $1,493.59 (Dec 19, 2017)
Dash is a payments-focused cryptocurrency launched in 2014 that operates a two-tier Proof-of-Work and masternode network for instant settlement and optional privacy.
By the PickACrypto Team · Updated Oct 1, 2026
Our read on Dash
Establishedpayments-focuseddual-layer
Dash has a long operating history and a clear focus on retail payments, supported by a two-tier network that enables instant transactions. Its optional privacy feature and classification as an alleged SEC security introduce regulatory uncertainty that may affect exchange access and adoption.
- 2014
- Launch year
- Proof of Work + masternode network
- Consensus
- 12,850,363 DASH
- Circulating supply
- 18,920,000 DASH
- Max supply
- InstantSend, ChainLocks, PrivateSend
- Key features
- Alleged SEC security
- Regulatory status
The bull case
- Two-tier architecture with incentivised masternodes funds ongoing network security and governance, reducing reliance on volunteer maintenance.
- InstantSend and ChainLocks provide near-instant transaction finality, making the network practical for point-of-sale retail payments.
- Optional PrivateSend mixes transaction inputs to break linkability, giving users a choice between transparent and privacy-enhanced transfers without requiring a separate chain.
- A 2014 launch gives Dash one of the longer track records in crypto, with a merchant network built across multiple market cycles.
The bear case
- Being classed as an alleged SEC security creates legal risk that could limit exchange listings and institutional participation, particularly in the US.
- The masternode model concentrates governance and block rewards among a smaller set of collateralised operators, which can centralise decision-making power.
- PrivateSend relies on coin-mixing rather than zero-knowledge proofs, so privacy depends on sufficient mixing rounds and a large anonymity set, which may weaken during low usage periods.
- As a payments coin, Dash competes directly with faster and cheaper layer-2 solutions on larger smart-contract platforms, which may erode its merchant adoption over time.
What Dash is
Dash is a digital cash protocol built for everyday payments. It was created in 2014 and positions itself as a decentralised payment solution that users can spend at thousands of merchants or trade on major exchanges.
The network is designed around speed and low cost, with near-zero fees and instant settlement. Its feature set targets real-world use cases rather than general-purpose smart contracts.
How it works
Dash runs a two-tier network. The first tier is a Proof-of-Work blockchain where miners produce blocks. The second tier consists of masternodes, which require a collateral stake and provide additional services: InstantSend for near-instant transaction locking, ChainLocks for immediate blockchain immutability, and decentralised governance.
PrivateSend is an optional privacy layer that mixes transaction inputs across multiple participants, obscuring the link between sender and receiver. Unlike protocols that make every transaction private by default, Dash leaves the choice to the user, which can simplify compliance for merchants.
Tokenomics
DASH has a maximum supply of 18,920,000 tokens, with roughly 12.85 million currently circulating. Block rewards are split between miners, masternodes, and a treasury that funds development and marketing proposals voted on by masternode operators.
Because the max supply is not yet fully emitted, new issuance continues to enter circulation. The treasury and masternode reward structure means a significant portion of newly minted DASH flows to operators who have locked collateral, which can reduce immediate sell pressure but also concentrates supply among masternode holders.
Competitive edge
Dash's dual-layer design separates block production from value-added services, letting masternodes handle instant settlement and governance without slowing down the base chain. This keeps the network fast while funding its own development through the treasury.
"Dash has demonstrated leadership in innovation and pioneered groundbreaking features such as a two-tier network with incentivised nodes and decentralised project governance."
The combination of InstantSend, ChainLocks, and optional privacy gives merchants a settlement experience closer to card networks, while still operating on a permissionless blockchain. That focus on retail usability, sustained over a decade, distinguishes it from chains that prioritise DeFi or general computation.
Frequently asked questions
- How does Dash achieve instant transaction finality?
- InstantSend locks transactions through the masternode network within seconds, and ChainLocks then makes blocks immediately immutable by requiring a quorum of masternode signatures, preventing chain reorganisations.
- Is Dash fully private by default?
- No. Privacy is optional through PrivateSend, which mixes a user's DASH with inputs from other participants. Transactions are otherwise visible on the public ledger like standard Bitcoin-style transfers.
- Why is Dash listed as an alleged SEC security?
- Certain regulatory filings or statements have categorised Dash as a potential security under US law. This designation is not a final legal ruling, but it creates uncertainty around exchange listings and compliance obligations in some jurisdictions.
Sources
The durable facts on this page are drawn from the sources below; live market figures update from our own database. See our methodology.
Technical indicators
Computed daily by our pipeline from accumulated price history.
- RSI (14d)
- 50.12
- 50-day SMA
- $41.38
- 200-day SMA
- —
- Volatility (30d, annualised)
- 188.94%
- 90d support
- $30.23
- 90d resistance
- $68.10
- Correlation vs BTC
- 0.56
- Correlation vs ETH
- 0.54
Dash price prediction
Our deterministic model publishes forecast ranges for Dash across five horizons, each recorded immutably and scored on the Accuracy Ledger when it matures.
This is research and analysis, not financial advice. Crypto is volatile and you can lose what you put in. Figures are sourced above or drawn live from our own database. Always do your own research.
Market data synced from CoinGecko into our own database. This page's figures were captured Thu, 22 Oct 2026 15:00:00 GMT. Every figure is injected from that record; see the methodology. Nothing on this page is financial advice. Read the disclaimer.