Polkadot is a groundbreaking "Blockchain 3.0" platform designed to solve one of the biggest challenges in the crypto space: interoperability. While older blockchains like Bitcoin and Ethereum operate as isolated islands, Polkadot's mission is to create a network where many different, specialized blockchains can communicate and share data seamlessly.
Polkadot's unique architecture consists of a central "Relay Chain" that provides security and coordination for the entire network. Connected to this hub are numerous individual blockchains called "Parachains." Each parachain can be highly optimized for a specific task—like DeFi, gaming, or supply chain management—while still being able to interoperate with all the others. This "hub-and-spoke" model enhances scalability by distributing transactions across multiple chains, facilitating a more interconnected and efficient blockchain ecosystem.