CardanoPrice

(ADA)

Cardano is a third-generation blockchain founded by Charles Hoskinson and Jeremy Wood. It distinguishes itself through a research-first, peer-reviewed scientific approach. Unlike many blockchains that prioritize rapid deployment, Cardano focuses on high-assurance code and formal verification to ensure long-term security and scalability. Its native token, ADA, powers the network and is used for staking, governance, and transaction fees. The project is developed across distinct eras, currently transitioning into the Voltaire era, which focuses on decentralized community governance.

Staking on Cardano is non-custodial and highly flexible. When you stake your ADA, the tokens never leave your wallet, and they are not "locked" or subject to "slashing" penalties. You retain full control over your assets and can spend or move them at any time. Rewards are typically distributed every epoch (five days), though new stakers usually wait 15–20 days for their first reward to appear. This system allows users to support network security and earn rewards without surrendering custody of their private keys to a third party.

Cardano utilizes the Extended Unspent Transaction Output (eUTxO) model, which builds upon the foundation used by Bitcoin. Unlike the "account-based" model used by many other smart contract platforms, eUTxO treats transactions as inputs and outputs. This allows for greater scalability, more predictable transaction fees, and enhanced security because the validity of a transaction can be verified locally before it is sent to the blockchain. This model is a core component of Cardano's ability to handle complex smart contracts and native assets efficiently.

To maintain network health, Cardano requires a "minimum UTxO" for any wallet holding native tokens or NFTs. This ensures every entry on the ledger is backed by a small amount of ADA to prevent spam. Additionally, when interacting with smart contracts or decentralized applications, users must set aside a small amount of ADA as "collateral." This collateral is only used if a smart contract transaction fails during execution to compensate the network for processing work, though it remains in the user's control during normal operations.

Cardano's smart contract infrastructure is built using Plutus, which is based on the functional programming language Haskell. Haskell is chosen for its focus on security and mathematical correctness, making it ideal for high-stakes financial applications. For developers seeking simpler tools, Cardano also offers Marlowe, a domain-specific language for financial contracts. Following the Alonzo hard fork in 2021, Cardano supports a growing ecosystem of decentralized applications, including exchanges and synthetic asset protocols, enabling a wide range of decentralized finance (DeFi) activities.

The Chang Hard Fork represents a pivotal milestone in Cardano’s roadmap, marking the transition into the Voltaire era. This era focuses on fully decentralized governance, effectively handing over control of the network to the ADA community. This includes management of the community treasury and decision-making power regarding future protocol upgrades. Through systems like Project Catalyst, ADA holders can vote on proposals and fund innovation, ensuring that Cardano operates as a self-sustaining, community-driven ecosystem without centralized management.