Dash is a cryptocurrency designed to be user-friendly and scalable, aiming to become the most practical digital cash for everyday payments. Although it originated as a fork of Bitcoin, Dash differentiates itself with several key innovations that enhance transaction speed, privacy, and network governance.

The Dash network supports instant transaction confirmations through its InstantSend feature, which allows users to complete payments almost instantly, reducing the waiting time seen in traditional blockchain transactions. It also provides optional privacy features (PrivateSend) that enhance anonymity, making transactions as discreet as cash payments.

One of Dash's defining attributes is its self-governing and self-funding model, which is powered by a two-tier network. The first tier consists of traditional miners, while the second tier involves incentivized full nodes known as masternodes. These masternodes not only facilitate features like InstantSend and PrivateSend but also participate in the network’s decentralized governance. This governance model ensures that part of the block rewards is allocated to a treasury, funding the ongoing development and promotion of the network.