What makes a coinbase transaction different from a regular Kaspa transaction?

A coinbase transaction is unique because it has no inputs — the coins it creates do not come from any previous transaction. In a normal Kaspa transaction, coins are always spent from the outputs of earlier transactions. Coinbase transactions break this rule by design: they are the mechanism by which brand-new KAS enters circulation as a mining reward, which is why the outputs from coinbase transactions are said to 'appear from thin air.' This matters for beginners because it explains where new KAS actually comes from — not from other users, but from the protocol itself rewarding miners for securing the network.