• Kaspa (KAS) rose approximately 4% in 24 hours, reaching a $1.1 billion market capitalization while outperforming major PoW assets like Litecoin. The Igra Network mainnet launch on March 19 introduced a decentralized EVM-compatible execution layer, enabling smart contracts on Kaspa’s BlockDAG. A major covenant-centric hard fork is scheduled for May 5, 2026, aimed at introducing native assets and advanced transaction logic.

    The Kaspa (KAS) network has emerged as a top performer among large-cap digital assets this week, fueled by a pivot from a pure payment layer to a programmable ecosystem. As of Friday, KAS climbed to the No. 64 spot on market leaderboards, trading near $0.04 following a 4% daily jump. This rally comes as the broader proof-of-work (PoW) sector remains largely stagnant, with Kaspa’s market cap growing nearly 40% since the start of the month.

    The primary catalyst for the recent price action is the successful mainnet launch of the Igra Network on March 19. Developed by Igra Labs, the network serves as a decentralized, EVM-compatible layer built directly on top of Kaspa’s high-speed BlockDAG architecture. This integration allows the ecosystem to tap into a global community of Solidity developers, effectively closing a long-standing gap in DeFi total value locked (TVL) which previously sat under $1 million due to a lack of programmability.

    According to network data, Igra delivers over 3,000 transactions per second (TPS) with sub-second inclusion latency. Unlike traditional Layer-2 solutions, Igra operates as a “based rollup,” where transaction ordering is handled by Kaspa miners. This structural choice provides protocol-level resistance to MEV extraction and front-running, maintaining the security standards of the underlying PoW consensus.

    Beyond the Igra launch, investor sentiment is being bolstered by the release of Rusty Kaspa v1.1.0, which optimizes node syncing speeds and enhances APIs for exchanges. The community is also eyeing a major hard fork scheduled for May 5, 2026. This upgrade is expected to introduce native KRC-20 tokens and “Covenants,” which allow for complex transaction rules without the overhead of full smart contracts at the base layer.

    “There is over a billion dollars in ecosystem value on Kaspa and $486 million in volume on a single day when KRC-20 launched, yet almost no decentralized programmable infrastructure exists to capture it. That gap is now closed,” said Pavel Emdin, CEO of Igra Labs.

    Technical indicators currently suggest a bullish bias, with the Relative Strength Index (RSI) hovering above 60. However, analysts note that the asset remains a high-beta play, often amplifying broader market moves. While the circulating supply is nearing 95%, a factor that traditionally reduces miner-led sell pressure, the network’s long-term success will depend on its ability to sustain developer interest following the May upgrade.

    Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute advice of any kind. Readers should conduct their own research before making any decisions.

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