Calamari Network has officially reopened its second hard cap phase for Kusama (KSM) contributions, marking a pivotal moment in its community-driven approach to securing a parachain slot on the Kusama network. In response to overwhelming community feedback, the project has adjusted its maximum hard cap from the initially planned 300,000 KSM down to 200,000 KSM, reflecting a strategic shift toward sustainable growth and ecosystem harmony.
This updated limit means Calamari will now offer up to 2 billion KMA tokens as rewards for participants who contribute KSM to the crowdloan campaign. The decision underscores Calamari’s commitment to listening to its user base—over 80% of respondents in a recent community survey indicated that no single parachain bid should exceed 200,000 KSM.
Community Feedback Shapes Strategy
Within just one week of launching the KSM crowdloan, Calamari attracted more than 10,000 contributors, collectively locking over 130,000 KSM—a powerful demonstration of grassroots support. However, rather than capitalizing solely on momentum, the team chose to prioritize long-term viability by aligning with community sentiment.
"We’re deeply moved by the level of support, but we also believe in responsible participation," said a core contributor. "Listening to our community isn’t just good governance—it’s essential for building trust and lasting value."
By capping contributions at 200,000 KSM, Calamari ensures it remains a collaborative player within the broader Kusama and Polkadot ecosystems. This move prevents excessive resource concentration and allows other innovative projects a fair chance at securing parachain slots—fostering a healthier, more diverse decentralized landscape.
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Strategic Use of Reserved Rewards
With the third phase of the hard cap no longer active, the reserved KMA token rewards originally allocated for that stage will now serve as a strategic reserve for future parachain auctions. This forward-looking approach enables Calamari to remain competitive beyond the initial lease period.
Once the current parachain lease expires, Calamari plans to re-enter the auction process with renewed incentives for loyal and new supporters alike. This cyclical model promotes ongoing engagement and reinforces community ownership—key tenets of Web3’s decentralized ethos.
Building a Privacy-First Ecosystem on Kusama
As the canary network for Manta Network, Calamari operates as a privacy-enabled, plug-and-play parachain on Kusama. It leverages zkSNARKs (zero-knowledge succinct non-interactive arguments of knowledge) to deliver robust privacy guarantees across DeFi transactions, shielding sensitive data such as transaction amounts and participant identities.
By integrating directly into the Kusama ecosystem, Calamari ensures seamless cross-chain interoperability while enhancing privacy for decentralized applications. Its mission is clear: to become the foundational layer for private finance within the Kusama DeFi stack.
Core Features of Calamari Network:
- Built on Substrate for native compatibility with Polkadot and Kusama
- Utilizes zkSNARK technology for end-to-end transaction privacy
- Offers instant liquidity and low-latency settlement
- Fully community-governed with transparent decision-making
Manta Network: Pioneering On-Chain Privacy in Polkadot
While Calamari serves as the experimental frontier on Kusama, Manta Network represents the production-grade implementation on Polkadot. As the first protocol in the Polkadot ecosystem dedicated exclusively to on-chain privacy, Manta delivers enterprise-level security through advanced cryptographic techniques.
Manta’s early product suite includes:
- MantaPay: A privacy payment protocol enabling anonymous transfers
- MantaSwap: The first privacy-preserving decentralized exchange (DEX) in the Polkadot ecosystem
Both protocols eliminate common privacy leaks found in traditional DeFi platforms, where transaction history and wallet balances are publicly visible. With Manta, users retain full control over their financial data without sacrificing usability or speed.
Backed by Industry Leaders and Academic Excellence
The Manta team brings together seasoned professionals and researchers from institutions including Harvard University, MIT, and Algorand. Strategic advisors include:
- Jack Platts, Co-Founder of Hypersphere Ventures
- Tekin Salimi, Partner at Polychain Capital
- Ashley Tyson, Former Co-Founder of Web3 Foundation
- Shuyao Kong from ConsenSys
Manta has also received grants from the Web3 Foundation, participated in the Substrate Builder Program, and been selected as part of the UC Berkeley Blockchain Accelerator—validating its technical rigor and long-term vision.
The project previously raised a multi-million-dollar seed round led by Polychain Capital, with participation from DeFiance Capital, Multicoin Capital, Alameda Research, and Hypersphere Ventures.
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Fostering Ecosystem Collaboration Over Competition
Rather than treating other projects as rivals, Calamari embraces a cooperative mindset. The team believes that a thriving Kusama ecosystem benefits everyone—users, developers, and validators alike.
By voluntarily limiting its hard cap, Calamari avoids monopolizing network resources and encourages pluralism. This philosophy aligns with the original vision of Polkadot and Kusama: a multi-chain future built on shared security, interoperability, and decentralization.
As stated by the team:
"Our goal isn’t just to win an auction—it’s to build something enduring. That requires balance, humility, and partnership."
Looking Ahead: Beyond Slot Acquisition
Winning a parachain slot is only the beginning. With privacy becoming increasingly critical in an era of surveillance capitalism and data monetization, Calamari and Manta are positioned at the forefront of a fundamental shift in digital finance.
Future developments include:
- Integration with major DeFi protocols across Kusama and Polkadot
- Expansion of privacy-preserving lending and borrowing mechanisms
- Cross-chain bridges with enhanced confidentiality features
- Governance tooling for community-led upgrades
As adoption grows, so too does the need for private, secure financial infrastructure—one that empowers individuals without compromising transparency or compliance.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What is a hard cap in a parachain crowdloan?
A: A hard cap is the maximum amount of cryptocurrency (in this case, KSM) that a project will accept from contributors during a crowdloan campaign. It helps prevent excessive concentration of funds and ensures fair participation.
Q: Why did Calamari reduce its hard cap from 300,000 to 200,000 KSM?
A: Based on community feedback, over 80% of participants believed no project should spend more than 200,000 KSM on a slot auction. Calamari adopted this guidance to promote ecosystem health and responsible resource use.
Q: How are crowdloan contributors rewarded?
A: Participants receive KMA tokens as rewards based on their contribution size and duration. These tokens provide utility within the Calamari ecosystem and potential future governance rights.
Q: Can I withdraw my KSM after contributing?
A: No—KSM remains locked for the duration of the parachain lease (typically 48 weeks). Afterward, it is automatically returned to contributors.
Q: Is Calamari related to Manta Network?
A: Yes. Calamari is Manta Network’s canary network on Kusama, serving as a testing ground for privacy features before deployment on Polkadot via Manta Network.
Q: Where can I follow Calamari updates?
A: Official channels include Telegram, Discord, Twitter (@MantaNetwork), GitHub, and Medium—all accessible via manta.network.
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