---
updatedAt: 2026-09-15T08:04:00.000Z
agentTools:
  projectIndex: https://docs.blockdaemon.com/llms.txt
---

# Kusama via Polkadot REST API

Use the Polkadot REST API to call native Kusama REST methods through Blockdaemon-hosted endpoints.

The [Polkadot REST API](https://paritytech.github.io/polkadot-rest-api/#overview) exposes REST-style access to supported Polkadot-based networks. Start with the base URL for the network you want to query, authenticate with your Blockdaemon API key, then append the `/v1/` method path for the data you need.

***

**Step 1:** To access Kusama via the Polkadot REST API, use the following native access endpoints:

* **Network:** Kusama Mainnet
* **Request Type:** GET

```
https://svc.blockdaemon.com/kusama/mainnet/native/kusama/rest/v1
```

* **Network:** Kusama Mainnet Asset Hub
* **Request Type:** GET

```
https://svc.blockdaemon.com/kusama/mainnet/native/assethub/rest/v1
```

**Step 2:** Authenticate your request using your API key:

**Bearer Token**

```
Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY
```

> 📘 Dedicated Nodes
>
> If you access Kusama through a dedicated node (`https://<node-name>.kusama.bdnodes.net`) rather than the shared gateway above, the path must still include the network segment: `https://<node-name>.kusama.bdnodes.net/kusama/rest/v1/YOUR_METHOD`. A request to the deprecated Sidecar path (`/kusama/sidecar/...` or the legacy root) returns `410 Gone`.
>
> Dedicated node requests accept any of the following for authentication:
>
> ```
> X-Auth-Token: YOUR_API_KEY
> ```
>
> ```
> Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY
> ```
>
> ```
> ?auth=YOUR_API_KEY
> ```

**Step 3:** Add a REST API method at the end of the query, including the required `/v1/` prefix:

> Learn more about Kusama REST API methods [here](#).

```
https://svc.blockdaemon.com/kusama/mainnet/native/kusama/rest/v1/YOUR_METHOD
```

## Example Request

Here is a cURL example using **GET /v1/blocks/head/header** to retrieve the header of the most recently finalized block on Kusama Mainnet:

```curl
curl -X GET \
https://svc.blockdaemon.com/kusama/mainnet/native/kusama/rest/v1/blocks/head/header \
-H 'Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY'
```

Typical response:

```json
{
    "parentHash": "0xce2dacd2a92d2ae272786c9fcca3f7bd831ef0f87fca252442a0e698a3366490",
    "number": "11557833",
    "stateRoot": "0xec013a64ddfc05f4a1fcc84e2a15d6e158fbd88fce541b7b96ed40c3d4ba6c40",
    "extrinsicsRoot": "0x4ebf6e119dff512925598aade56145811aa09f459f816f8e77dc8b9c396de2ec"
}
```

## 👋 Need Help?

Contact us through [email](mailto:support@blockdaemon.com) or our [support page](https://www.blockdaemon.com/support) for any issues, bugs, or assistance you may need.