DOT is the native token of Polkadot, a decentralized, open-source blockchain platform co-founded in 2016 by Gavin Wood, a co-founder of Ethereum. Polkadot facilitates interoperability among heterogeneous blockchains, allowing them to exchange data and assets securely. DOT serves multiple functions within this ecosystem: it grants holders governance rights over network protocols, enables staking to secure the network and earn rewards, and facilitates the bonding process for adding new parachains. This multi-chain framework enhances scalability and fosters innovation across various blockchain projects.