Polkadot and Kusama Asset Hubs are system chains (also known as system parachains) originally designed to support the creation and transfer of fungible and non-fungible tokens (NFTs). After the Asset Hub migration, this chain is the one holding some of the main functionalities that were alive on the Relay Chain.


Continue reading to learn more about Asset Hub, its role in the Polkadot ecosystem, and the different assets that can keep an account alive on this network.


⚠️ ATTENTION


After the upgrade to runtime version 2.0.0, Polkadot and Kusama have migrated balances, staking, and governance from the Relay Chain to Asset Hub.


Learn more about the Asset Hub migration in the following link: Polkadot Asset Hub Migration: What You Must Know


TABLE OF CONTENTS

What's Asset Hub?


Originally, Asset Hub was created as a system chain designed to hold more than just the native token. Features such as NFTs were deployed on Asset Hub so that the Polkadot ecosystem could offer functionality beyond what the Relay Chain provided. Today, Asset Hub continues to provide these capabilities and, after the migration, it also hosts features that previously ran on the Relay Chain.


Here are the key things to know about Asset Hub and its role in the Polkadot ecosystem:

  • Features that already existed on Asset Hub, such as creating new assets or NFTs, continue to function as always. More features (including smart contracts) are expected in the future.
  • For regular users, Asset Hub is the main network needed for everyday activity on Polkadot.
  • Most wallets automatically handle the network connection, so users often don't need to choose the network manually.
  • The Relay Chain is now used almost exclusively by validators and parachain operators.
  • Account balances were migrated from the Relay Chain to Asset Hub on October 7th, 2025, on Kusama and on November 4th, 2025, for Polkadot.
  • Staking and governance are now alive on Asset Hub and are no longer available on the Relay Chain.
  • The existential deposit in DOT is lower on Asset Hub than on the Relay Chain, and on Asset Hub there are additional sufficient assets (check section below) that can keep an account alive.

How to use Asset Hub


Many of the features available on Asset Hub can already be accessed through the usual platforms and wallets. You can still transfer balances, stake your funds, participate in Polkadot OpenGov, create new assets, or manage your NFTs just as before.


Most wallets in the ecosystem automatically connect to the correct network to perform each action, so you don't need to change how you interact with Polkadot. Simply continue using your preferred wallet or tool.

Sufficient and non-sufficient assets in Asset Hub


There are two types of assets on Asset Hub: sufficient and non-sufficient. 


To hold a non-sufficient asset in an account, the account needs to exist on-chain, which means it needs to have a balance in the native asset at least as much as the Existential Deposit (ED). This means 0.01 DOT on Polkadot Asset Hub and 0.000003333 KSM on Kusama Asset Hub. These existential deposits are ten times smaller than those on the Relay Chains.


So, to send a non-sufficient asset, you need to ensure that the recipient account has at least the ED. A sufficient asset doesn't require the account to have any balance in the native token to be received. 


However, each asset (either sufficient or non-sufficient) has its own minimum balance that an account must hold.


⚠️ ATTENTION

Tether, the entity behind USDT, has announced the discontinuation of USDT on the Kusama network (though it'll still be available on Polkadot).

It's recommended you redeem your USDT from Kusama Asset Hub (formerly Statemine) by sending them to a compatible exchange (like Bitfinex) before the specified deadline mentioned in Tether's official announcement.


Currently, the sufficient tokens and foreign assets (native assets on other networks) in Polkadot Asset Hub are: 

  • USDC (asset ID: 1337)
  • USDT (asset ID: 1984)
  • ETH (foreign asset transferred via Snowbridge)
  • WETH (foreign asset transferred via Snowbridge)
  • KSM (foreign asset transferred via Polkadot <> Kusama bridge)
  • USDC (foreign asset transferred via Snowbridge)
  • USDT (foreign asset transferred via Snowbridge)


Sufficient tokens and foreign assets in Kusama Asset Hub are:

  • USDT (asset ID: 1984)
  • RMRK (asset ID: 8)
  • ETH (foreign asset transferred via Snowbridge)
  • WETH (foreign asset transferred via Snowbridge)
  • DOT (foreign asset transferred via Polkadot <> Kusama bridge)
  • USDC (foreign asset transferred via Snowbridge)
  • USDT (foreign asset transferred via Snowbridge)
⚠️ ATTENTION


Anyone can create and name an asset on Asset Hub, which means many assets may share familiar names. However, that doesn't guarantee they're the real or official versions. To avoid scams, always verify the asset's unique ID before accepting or paying for it. For instance, the legitimate Tether USDT on Asset Hub has the ID 1984, anything else is fake USDT.


If you don't know what the asset ID is for the token you're interested in, contact the issuer of the token and find out, before accepting any tokens.