Cardano ADA

Cardano (ADA) is an open-source Layer 1 blockchain built around the Ouroboros family of Proof-of-Stake consensus protocols. Development began in 2015, and the Cardano mainnet launched in September 2017.

ADA is the native asset of the Cardano network and is used for transaction fees, staking and participation in on-chain governance. Cardano uses a UTXO-based ledger model and supports smart contracts through Plutus, as well as native tokens that can be issued directly on the ledger without requiring a smart contract.

The network is secured by independently operated stake pools. Under Ouroboros Praos, block producers are selected according to stake, allowing ADA holders to participate by operating or delegating to stake pools.

Cardano has evolved through a series of protocol eras that introduced decentralization, native assets, smart contracts, scalability improvements and decentralized governance. Its development is open source, with the core node, ledger and consensus implementations publicly maintained.

ADA has a maximum supply of 45 billion coins. Cardano is governed and developed through a decentralized ecosystem involving community participants and organizations including the Cardano Foundation, Input Output, EMURGO and Intersect.