Polkadot vs. Cosmos Hub
A neutral side-by-side look at Polkadot (DOT) and Cosmos Hub (ATOM): live market data, how each one works and what it's for.
Polkadot and Cosmos both aim to connect many blockchains so they can work together. Polkadot's connected chains share security from its central relay chain. In Cosmos, each chain secures itself and they talk through a common protocol called IBC; the Cosmos Hub, whose coin is ATOM, is one chain in that network.
Live comparison
| Measure | Polkadot DOT | Cosmos Hub ATOM |
|---|---|---|
| Price | — | — |
| Market cap | — | — |
| Market cap rank | — | — |
| 24h trading volume | — | — |
| 24h change | — | — |
| 7-day change | — | — |
| Circulating supply | — | — |
| Maximum supply (CoinGecko) | — | — |
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Key facts side by side
| Measure | Polkadot DOT | Cosmos Hub ATOM |
|---|---|---|
| Launched | 2020 (May) | 2019 (March 13) |
| Created by | Gavin Wood (an Ethereum co-founder), with the Web3 Foundation and Parity Technologies | Jae Kwon and Ethan Buchman (Tendermint); funded by the Interchain Foundation |
| How it's secured | Nominated proof of stake | Proof of stake (CometBFT, formerly Tendermint) |
| What it's for | Connecting many blockchains that share security and pass messages | The hub of the Cosmos network of independent blockchains linked by the IBC protocol |
| Maximum supply | 2.1 billion DOT (a cap approved by a 2025 governance vote) | No fixed maximum: new ATOM is issued as staking rewards (inflation capped at 10% a year since 2023) |
How they differ
- Security model: Polkadot provides shared security to the chains connected to it. Cosmos chains are independent and each needs its own validators.
- Connection: Polkadot uses its relay chain and cross-chain messaging; Cosmos uses the Inter-Blockchain Communication protocol (IBC).
- Supply: DOT is capped at 2.1 billion after a 2025 vote. ATOM has no fixed maximum.
- Founders: Polkadot was founded by Ethereum co-founder Gavin Wood; Cosmos by Jae Kwon and Ethan Buchman.
This page compares how two cryptocurrencies work. It doesn't say which to buy, and nobody can reliably predict their prices. Both can fall sharply. Read how to research a cryptocurrency before deciding anything.
Questions
Is Polkadot better than Cosmos Hub?
Neither is better for every project. Shared security (Polkadot) and independent sovereign chains (Cosmos) are different trade-offs. This isn't advice to buy either.
Is ATOM the same as Cosmos?
ATOM is the coin of the Cosmos Hub, one chain in the wider Cosmos network. Many other Cosmos chains have their own coins.
Why is one coin's price so much higher than the other's?
The price of a single coin mostly reflects how many coins exist. Polkadot and Cosmos Hub have very different supplies, so comparing prices per coin is misleading. Market cap (price × coins in circulation) is a better measure of size; see market cap explained.
Where does the live data come from?
From CoinGecko's public API, averaged across many exchanges and refreshed about once a minute. The facts table comes from each project's own documentation and the references listed under Sources.
Where to next
Sources
- Polkadot wiki
- Polkadot DAO approves 2.1B DOT hard cap (Cointelegraph)
- Cosmos (Wikipedia)
- Cosmos community caps ATOM inflation at 10% (The Block)
- CoinGecko API (live market data)
Facts checked against the sources listed, as of October 29, 2026. Live data by CoinGecko, for information only and possibly delayed. Educational only; not financial advice. How we write and check pages.