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Cardano

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description Cardano Overview

Cardano is a research-driven Layer 1 blockchain that prioritizes security and sustainability. It uses the Ouroboros Proof of Stake consensus mechanism, which has been peer-reviewed by academics. Cardano's architecture is designed for long-term stability and formal verification of smart contracts. While it may have slower development cycles compared to its competitors, its focus on a 'correct-by-construction' approach makes it a preferred choice for projects where security and decentralization are the highest priorities.

help Cardano FAQ

Who created Cardano, and what makes it 'research-driven'?

Cardano was co-founded by Charles Hoskinson, one of Ethereum's co-founders, and is developed by Input Output (IOHK) with the Cardano Foundation. Its Ouroboros proof-of-stake protocol was peer-reviewed in academic cryptography venues before deployment, which is the basis of the 'research-driven' label.

When did Cardano get smart contracts?

With the Alonzo hard fork in September 2021, which activated Plutus smart contract functionality on mainnet. Before that, Cardano could only handle basic ADA transfers, so its DeFi ecosystem only began forming in late 2021 — years after Ethereum's.

What is the maximum supply of ADA?

ADA is capped at 45 billion coins, a fixed hard ceiling written into the protocol, unlike Bitcoin's 21 million. New ADA enters circulation through staking rewards rather than mining, since Ouroboros replaced energy-intensive proof of work.

How does staking ADA work — is my money locked up?

No. Cardano uses a delegation model: you delegate your ADA to a stake pool and it never leaves your wallet, there's no lockup period, and notably no slashing — your principal can't be penalized for pool misbehavior. Typical annual rewards run around 3%, paid from the protocol's treasury and inflation schedule.

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