# A brief introduction to Crowdloans

As stated on the [Kusama website](https://kusama.network/auctions/), parachains connect to the network \[that is Polkadot or Kusama] by leasing a slot on the Relay Chain via permissionless auctions. Parachain slot auctions follow a modified [candle auction](https://wiki.polkadot.network/docs/en/learn-auction#mechanics-of-a-candle-auction) format, with each auction lasting approximately 1 week. To prevent auction sniping (the strategy of bidding at the last moment) and promote more accurate price discovery, the exact endpoint of a particular auction remains unknown until after the auction’s close.

For additional information, you may take at our ["Beginner’s Guide to Parachain Auctions".](https://medium.com/ajuna-network/a-beginners-guide-to-parachain-auctions-52559baa0b60)


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