Qtum QTUM

About

What Is Qtum (QTUM)?

Qtum is a decentralized blockchain network that supports smart contracts using the Ethereum Virtual Machine. The blockchain itself is based on Bitcoin’s UTXO model, but uses proof-of-stake for consensus. Because Qtum is a hybrid project that takes the best parts of Ethereum and Bitcoin, it also has the ability to merge future updates from these projects and place them on top of the Team’s own unique developments.

Qtum is truly decentralized, there’s no “delegated” proof of stake, or other forms of masternodes required to make it appear fast. Anyone can participate in the transaction validation process, all they require is an internet connection and a device that can run a node. There’s no need to hold coins or vote for a centralized validator. Block targets are set to average 32 seconds, and up to 8000kb of data can be stored in each block. Bundled with SegWit, it’s possible to achieve 1100 transactions per second. Because Qtum is based on Bitcoin, if necessary, a Layer2 network can push this throughput to “millions or billions” of transactions per second with Lightning.

The Qtum project supports multiple token standards, including its own implementation of Ethereum’s ERC-20, dubbed QRC-20. Qtum also integrated the BRC-20 standard that appeared on Bitcoin, dubbing it qBRC-20. Along with NFT support, Qtum offers developers more than Bitcoin or Ethereum can do independently.

To learn more about this project, check out our deep dive of Qtum.

What Makes Qtum Unique?

Qtum is a general purpose blockchain that tries to address four issues its founders found most problematic in BTC and ETH blockchain platforms: interoperability, governance, rigidity and costliness of proof-of-work mechanism and difficulty of connecting smart contracts with real life applications. The Qtum blockchain has two unique technologies that aim to solve that: Account Abstraction Layer (AAL) and Decentralized Governance Protocol (DGP).

The Account Abstraction Layer integrates the UTXO (Unspent Transaction Output) account layer inherited from Bitcoin with the smart contract layer, inspired by Ethereum.

The Decentralized Governance Protocol allows smart contracts to change the core parameters of the network such as block size and gas fees without ever needing to hard fork the blockchain, which may save a lot of trouble as the network is evolving. Miners (stakers), developers and QTUM holders within the entire ecosystem are involved in blockchain governance through voting, and the blockchain can realize self-management, upgrades and iteration.

How Many Qtum (QTUM) Coins Are There in Circulation?

According to the Qtum whitepaper, the initial supply of QTUM coins was 100 million, all of which were minted instantly before the project went online. 51 million coins were sold to the public through an ICO process in March 2017. Over that, 8 million coins went to the early private investors and 12 million were allocated to the project team with a four-year lock-up. The rest is controlled by the Qtum Chain Foundation, a non-profit company registered in Singapore, which will receive it in four parts by March-2021. These are 20 million coins allocated for business development purposes and 9% for academic research and promotion.

The coin supply is not fixed, new tokens can be mined with block reward halving every four years from the initial block reward subsidy of 4.0 QTUM per block, going through seven halvings to eventually reaching zero by year 2045, when the maximum supply will reach 107,822,406 QTUM.

How Is the Qtum Network Secured?

The technical approach to Qtum is not the same as Bitcoin and Ethereum currently use. Qtum chose the MPoS (mutualized proof-of-stake) consensus mechanism for network security. It is a modified version of Proof-of-Stake 3.0.

The protocol incentivizes users to keep their coins locked to facilitate and secure the block validation. This is called staking. Confirming each block is a competition between coin holders, where based on connectivity to the network and random chance they get to right to validate the block. Unlike the early PoS protocols, here the block reward is constant and does not depend on coin age for determining the likeliness of getting it. The rewards are spread proportionally to the stake, so the more coins are staked, the more reward the user gets. On top of that, the MPoS protocol is protected against “junk contract” attacks by splitting 10% of the block reward between the block producing miner and nine previous miners and delaying the remaining 90% by 500 blocks in the future.

Unlike the proof-of-work mechanism used in Bitcoin, the proof-of-stake algorithms are significantly less costly to maintain, are more environmentally friendly and can provide a great deal of decentralization, which is the cornerstone of blockchain security.

Where Can You Buy Qtum (QTUM)?

QTUM is a freely-tradable token, available on most exchanges. Pairs available for trading include Bitcoin and altcoins, stablecoins and fiat money.

The top exchanges for trading in Qtum are currently Binance, Huobi Global, OKEx, HBTC and Hydax Exchange. You can find others listed on our crypto exchanges page.

AI Analysis

Analyzed on March 1, 2026

What is the Qtum (QTUM) cryptocurrency good for? What are its main use cases?

Qtum (QTUM) is a decentralized, open-source blockchain platform that combines the benefits of Bitcoin's blockchain security with the flexibility of Ethereum's smart contract functionality. Here are some of its main use cases:

Smart Contracts: Qtum allows developers to create and deploy smart contracts using a modified version of the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM). This enables the creation of self-executing contracts with specific rules and regulations, which can automate various processes and decisions.
Decentralized Applications (dApps): Qtum's platform supports the development of decentralized applications, which can run on its blockchain. These dApps can provide a wide range of services, such as gaming, social media, and financial applications.
IoT (Internet of Things) Integration: Qtum's blockchain is designed to be compatible with IoT devices, allowing for secure and efficient communication between devices. This can enable new use cases, such as autonomous vehicle management and supply chain tracking.
Mobile Payments and Remittances: Qtum's mobile wallet and payment system enable fast and secure transactions, making it suitable for mobile payments and remittances.
Gaming and Virtual Goods: Qtum's platform can be used to create and manage virtual goods, such as in-game items and tokens, which can be traded and transferred securely.
Decentralized Finance (DeFi): Qtum's smart contract functionality and EVM compatibility make it an attractive platform for DeFi applications, such as lending, borrowing, and yield farming.
Enterprise Solutions: Qtum's blockchain can be used by enterprises to build customized solutions for supply chain management, inventory tracking, and other business processes.
Tokenization: Qtum's platform enables the creation and management of digital tokens, which can represent assets, such as securities, commodities, or other investment vehicles.

Qtum's unique value proposition lies in its ability to bridge the gap between Bitcoin's security and Ethereum's smart contract functionality, making it an attractive platform for developers and businesses looking to build decentralized applications and solutions.

Some of the key benefits of using Qtum include:

High security: Qtum's blockchain is secured by a proof-of-stake (PoS) consensus algorithm, which is more energy-efficient and less vulnerable to 51% attacks compared to proof-of-work (PoW) algorithms.
Flexibility: Qtum's compatibility with Ethereum's EVM and its own x86 VM (virtual machine) allows for a wide range of programming languages and development frameworks.
Scalability: Qtum's blockchain is designed to be scalable, with a block time of 1 minute and a block size limit of 2 MB.

Overall, Qtum's platform offers a robust and flexible infrastructure for building decentralized applications and solutions, and its use cases continue to expand as the blockchain ecosystem evolves.

Answered by llama-3.3-70b-versatile (groq)

What blockchain does Qtum use? Is it its own blockchain or built on top of another?

Qtum (pronounced "quantum") uses its own hybrid blockchain, combining elements of both Bitcoin's UTXO (Unspent Transaction Output) model and Ethereum's smart contract functionality via the EVM (Ethereum Virtual Machine).

Key Features of Qtum's Blockchain:

Hybrid Consensus Mechanism:
- Qtum uses a Proof-of-Stake (PoS) consensus (similar to Bitcoin's PoW but more energy-efficient).
- It implements Account Abstraction Layer (AAL), allowing smart contracts to interact with Bitcoin-like UTXO transactions.
EVM Compatibility:
- Qtum is EVM-compatible, meaning Ethereum smart contracts and tools (like MetaMask) can run on Qtum with minimal modifications.
UTXO Model with Smart Contracts:
- Unlike Ethereum (which uses an account-based model), Qtum retains Bitcoin's UTXO model but adds smart contract capabilities.
Decentralized Governance:
- Qtum has a Decentralized Governance Protocol (DGP), allowing stakeholders to vote on protocol upgrades without hard forks.

Is Qtum Built on Another Blockchain?

No, Qtum is not built on top of Bitcoin or Ethereum. Instead, it is a standalone blockchain that integrates the best features of both Bitcoin and Ethereum.

Summary:

Own Blockchain: Yes, Qtum has its own blockchain.
Hybrid Design: Combines Bitcoin's UTXO model with Ethereum's smart contract functionality.
EVM-Compatible: Supports Ethereum-based dApps and tools.

This makes Qtum unique in the blockchain space, offering a balance between security (Bitcoin-like) and smart contract flexibility (Ethereum-like).

Answered by mistral-small-latest (mistral)

Is Qtum programmable? Does it support smart contracts or decentralized applications?

Yes, Qtum is programmable and supports smart contracts and decentralized applications (DApps). Here’s a breakdown of its key features:

1. Smart Contracts

Qtum combines the UTXO (Unspent Transaction Output) model (like Bitcoin) with the EVM (Ethereum Virtual Machine).
It allows developers to write smart contracts in Solidity (the same language used in Ethereum).
The Qtum Virtual Machine (QVM) is compatible with Ethereum’s EVM, making it easier for developers to port existing Ethereum DApps.

2. Decentralized Applications (DApps)

Qtum supports the development of DApps on its blockchain.
Developers can use Qtum’s SDKs, APIs, and tools to build and deploy decentralized applications.
The platform is designed for enterprise-grade blockchain solutions, making it suitable for business applications.

3. Programming Languages & Tools

Solidity (primary language for smart contracts).
Python, JavaScript, and Go (via Qtum’s SDKs).
Qtum IDE (for development and testing).
Qtum Explorer (for tracking transactions and contracts).

4. Key Advantages

Hybrid Consensus (PoS + UTXO + EVM) – Combines Bitcoin’s security with Ethereum’s smart contract capabilities.
Enterprise-Friendly – Designed for real-world business applications.
Interoperability – Can interact with other blockchains via cross-chain solutions.

Conclusion

Qtum is a programmable blockchain that supports smart contracts and DApps, making it a viable alternative to Ethereum for developers looking for a more scalable and enterprise-focused platform.

Would you like guidance on how to get started with Qtum development?

Answered by mistral-small-latest (mistral)

How fast are Qtum transactions? What is the typical confirmation time and throughput (transactions per second)?

Qtum is a blockchain platform that combines the security of Bitcoin's UTXO model with the flexibility of Ethereum's smart contract functionality. Here’s an overview of its transaction speed, confirmation times, and throughput:

1. Transaction Speed & Confirmation Time

Block Time: ~30 seconds (similar to Bitcoin’s 10-minute block time but with faster confirmation due to shorter intervals).
Typical Confirmation Time: 1–2 blocks (30–60 seconds) for most transactions, though some services may wait for 6 confirmations (~3 minutes) for security.
Finality: Transactions are considered secure after ~6 confirmations (3 minutes).

2. Throughput (Transactions Per Second - TPS)

Base Layer (UTXO Model): ~100–200 TPS (similar to Bitcoin but with faster block times).
Layer 2 Solutions: Qtum supports off-chain scaling solutions like Plasma and Lightning Network (though adoption varies).
Smart Contract Performance: Slower than Ethereum (due to Bitcoin-like consensus), but optimized for security.

Comparison with Other Blockchains

Blockchain	Avg. Block Time	TPS (Base Layer)	Confirmation Time
Qtum	~30 sec	100–200	30–60 sec (1–2 blocks)
Bitcoin	~10 min	7 (max)	~10 min (1 block)
Ethereum	~12 sec	15–30 (pre-Merge)	~12 sec (1 block)
Solana	~400 ms	2,000–65,000	~4 sec (15 blocks)

Factors Affecting Speed

Network Congestion: During high demand, transactions may take longer.
Fee Market: Higher fees can prioritize transactions.
Layer 2 Adoption: If widely used, throughput could improve significantly.

Conclusion

Qtum offers faster confirmations (~30–60 sec) than Bitcoin but lower throughput than Ethereum or Solana. It prioritizes security and decentralization over raw speed, making it suitable for enterprise and DeFi applications where reliability is key.

Would you like details on Qtum’s consensus mechanism (PoS + UTXO) or its smart contract capabilities?

Answered by mistral-small-latest (mistral)

How much data can I store on the Qtum blockchain? Does it support on-chain data storage?

The Qtum blockchain supports on-chain data storage, but with certain limitations. Here’s what you need to know:

1. Data Storage Limits on Qtum

Transaction Data (OP_RETURN):
- Qtum allows storing small amounts of data in transactions using the OP_RETURN opcode.
- The maximum size per transaction is 80 bytes (as per Bitcoin’s limit, which Qtum is based on).
- This is useful for storing small metadata, hashes, or pointers to off-chain data.
Smart Contract Storage:
- Qtum supports Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) smart contracts, which can store data in contract storage.
- The storage is persistent but has gas costs associated with reads/writes.
- There is no strict hard limit on contract storage, but excessive storage can lead to high gas fees.

2. Off-Chain Storage Options

Since on-chain storage is expensive, Qtum (like other blockchains) encourages off-chain storage with on-chain references:

IPFS (InterPlanetary File System): Store large files off-chain and reference them via a hash in a Qtum transaction.
Decentralized Storage (Arweave, Filecoin, etc.): Similar to IPFS, store data off-chain and anchor a reference on Qtum.

3. Comparison with Other Blockchains

Bitcoin: 80-byte limit per transaction (OP_RETURN).
Ethereum: No strict limit, but gas costs make large storage expensive.
Qtum: Similar to Bitcoin for raw transactions, but with smart contract storage flexibility.

Conclusion

For small data: Use OP_RETURN (80 bytes per transaction).
For structured data: Use smart contracts (with gas costs).
For large files: Store off-chain (IPFS, Arweave) and reference on-chain.

Would you like help with a specific use case (e.g., storing NFT metadata, logs, or documents)?

Answered by mistral-small-latest (mistral)

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