What is Qtum?

Qtum is a decentralized smart contracts platform that combines elements of both Bitcoin and Ethereum. It operates using a proof-of-stake consensus mechanism, rewarding node operators for transaction validation. The governance model is based on a decentralized governance protocol (DGP), allowing community participants to vote on network parameters. Qtum is structured on a Bitcoin core fork while employing its own hybrid blockchain to facilitate smart contracts and decentralized applications.

Founded by Patrick Dai, Neil Mahi, and Jordan Earls, Qtum's team includes members from notable organizations like Tencent and Alibaba. The project raised approximately $15.7 million through a crowdfunding campaign, distributing a total of 51 million Qtum tokens. Of these, 51% were available to the public, with the remainder allocated for community incentives and early supporters.