🎪 Slot Auctions: Bid for Parachain Slots
Learn how projects compete for parachain slots via DOT auctions
Connect specialized blockchains to a relay chain
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0 / 5 completedParachain Slot Auctions
Polkadot has 100 parachain slots. To secure a slot, projects compete in candle auctions—a unique mechanism that prevents last-second bid sniping by randomly determining the end time.
🕯️ What is a Candle Auction?
Inspired by 16th-century ship auctions where bidding ended when a candle flame went out, Polkadot's candle auctions have a known "ending period" but the exact block that determines the winner is randomly selected after the fact. This prevents sniping and encourages honest bidding early.
How Slot Auctions Work
Lease Periods
Slots are leased for 96 weeks (2 years). Projects bid on specific lease periods (e.g., periods 5-12).
Crowdloans
Projects can crowdsource DOT from community. Contributors lock DOT for lease period, get project tokens.
Non-Destructive
Winning bid DOT is locked, not spent. After lease ends, DOT is returned to bidders.
Candle Mechanism
Winner is highest bidder at a randomly chosen block during the "ending period" (last 5 days).
🎮 Auction Simulation Game
Compete against other parachains for a slot! You have 5M DOT. Bid strategically—the auction ends at a random time during the "ending period."
Ready to compete for a parachain slot? You'll bid against Acala, Moonbeam, and Astar.
Real Auction Results
Historical data from 2021-2022 parachain auctions. Values shown are total DOT locked during lease period.