Overview of the Karura AMA Event
On March 12th, Acala hosted the final installment of its Karura AMA trilogy - the Technical Deep Dive. This interactive session attracted over 1,000 live participants and generated more than 300 technical questions about Karura's architecture. Notably, 106 community members received KAR token rewards (see full list at the end).
Exclusive Interview with Acala CTO Bryan Chen
Moderator (Mandy):
"Welcome everyone! I'm Mandy from Odaily Planet Daily, joined today by Bryan Chen, CTO of Acala Network and core Substrate contributor. Bryan is among Gavin Wood's certified Substrate instructors and has been instrumental in Polkadot ecosystem development since 2018."
Bryan's Background:
- Early Polkadot ambassador (2018)
- Substrate course creator since 2019 (100+ global graduates)
- Co-founder of Acala and Laminar protocols
Technical Q&A Highlights
Q1: Why Build Karura on Substrate?
Key Advantages:
✔️ Cost Efficiency: Optimized performance vs. Ethereum alternatives
✔️ Seamless Upgrades: Chain updates without hard forks
✔️ Governance Protections: Rapid vulnerability response mechanisms
Karura's Role in Kusama:
Primary DeFi hub offering:
- Stablecoin protocol (aUSD)
- Liquidity solutions (LDOT)
- Cross-chain DEX
👉 Discover how Karura solves Ethereum's scalability issues
Q2: Karura vs. Acala - Technical Comparison
| Feature | Karura | Acala |
|---|---|---|
| Development Approach | Experimental features first | Production-ready stability |
| Upgrade Frequency | Rapid iterations | Thoroughly vetted deployments |
| Ideal For | Cutting-edge developers | Enterprise-grade applications |
Developer Insights:
- Both networks share identical technical foundations
- Karura serves as Kusama's "canary network" for innovation
Q3: Joining the Karura Ecosystem
Three Pathways for Developers:
EVM Compatibility:
- Deploy Solidity smart contracts
- Comprehensive EVM guide available
Runtime Pallet Integration:
- Requires governance approval
- Ideal for infrastructure projects
Hackathon Participation:
- Regular developer competitions with prizes
- Technical mentorship programs
Q4: Karura EVM Innovations
Breakthrough Features:
- Native cross-chain asset support (KSM, KAR, renBTC)
- Unified transaction signing via Polkadot.js
- Custom oracle gateways (Chainlink/Band integration)
Unique Capability:
ERC-20 tokens can become network fee payment options through governance votes.
Q5: Technical Contributions to Kusama
Recent Milestones:
✅ XCM (Cross-Consensus Messaging) code contributions
✅ Open-source cross-chain modules adopted by Plasm/HydraDX
✅ Decentralized Sovereign Wealth Fund implementation
👉 Read our detailed dSWF explainer
Kusama Parachain Auction Update
Current Status:
- Rococo testnet supporting 200 validators
- Successful cross-chain tests with Plasm/HydraDX
Auction Timeline:
- Statemint parachain deployment (~2 weeks)
- Public referendum approval
- First Kusama parachain launch
Auction Mechanics:
- Candle auction format (random end block)
- Recommended strategy: Bid full amount early
Developer Support Framework
Multi-Stage Resources:
| Stage | Support Offered |
|---|---|
| Prototyping | Architecture guidance |
| Development | Treasury funding applications |
| Scaling | dSWF investment opportunities |
| Maturity | Parallel chain transition help |
Community FAQ Section
Q: How does Karura address Ethereum's gas fees?
A: Higher throughput (TPS) via PoS consensus plus scalable parallel chain architecture.
Q: What prevents hacker attacks?
A: Triple-audited code (SlowMist, Trail of Bits, SRLabs) + multi-oracle redundancy.
Q: When should developers start building?
A: Immediate testing possible on TC6 testnet with EVM support.
Q: Bitcoin/Ethereum bridge compatibility?
A: Integrated renBTC, polkaBTC; Ethereum bridge with Snowfork upcoming.
Reward Distribution Details
Key Dates:
- TC6 testnet launch imminent
- KAR claim deadline: March 25th 23:59 UTC
Address Requirements:
⚠️ Use Polkadot.js or Polkawallet (exchange addresses incompatible)
Full Recipient List:
View reward allocation spreadsheet
Note: Distributed KAR represents non-transferable TC6 testnet vouchers until mainnet launch.