Cardano

Everything you want to know about Cardano blockchain and ADA cryptocurrency.

What is Cardano?

Cardano is a decentralized, proof-of-stake blockchain platform that focuses on scalability, interoperability, and security. It delivers advanced features with a focus on sustainability for real-world applications through a research-driven approach.

Who created Cardano?

Cardano was founded by Charles Hoskinson, one of the co-founders of Ethereum. It is developed by a company called Input Output Hong Kong (IOHK).

What is ADA?

ADA is the native cryptocurrency of the Cardano platform. It's used for staking, governance, and to facilitate transactions and operate smart contracts on the Cardano network.

What is Lovelace?

Lovelace is the smallest unit of the ADA cryptocurrency used in the Cardano platform. 1 ADA is equivalent to 1 million Lovelaces. Named in honor of Ada Lovelace, a 19th-century mathematician often regarded as the first computer programmer, it's analogous to how a cent is to a dollar or a satoshi is to Bitcoin.

How is Cardano different from other blockchains?

Cardano adopts a unique, peer-reviewed research-driven approach, ensuring its development is both innovative and secure. It's built using the Haskell programming language and emphasizes sustainability, scalability, and transparency.

How does staking work on Cardano?

In Cardano, ADA holders can "stake" their tokens by delegating them to a stake pool or running their own stake pool. Staking helps secure the network, validate transactions, and in return, delegators earn rewards.

🔗 Refer to the [ Staking in Cardano ] section for detailed information.

Is Cardano eco-friendly?

Yes, Cardano utilizes a proof-of-stake consensus mechanism, which is considerably more energy-efficient than the proof-of-work systems used by blockchains like Bitcoin.

How secure is Cardano?

Cardano places a high emphasis on security. Its development is driven by academic research, and its protocols undergo rigorous peer reviews. Additionally, its proof-of-stake mechanism contributes to network security.

Can I build dApps on Cardano?

Yes, Cardano supports the development and execution of decentralized applications (dApps) and smart contracts with its platform, Plutus.

🔗 Learn more about [ building dApps with Plutus ].

What are epochs in Cardano?

Epochs are fixed periods in Cardano's timeline, each lasting five days. They are used to measure time for processes like reward distributions for staking.

What's the future roadmap for Cardano?

Cardano has a multi-phase development roadmap, with each phase bringing new features and improvements. The phases are named Byron, Shelley, Goguen, Basho, and Voltaire.

🔗 Refer to [ Cardano's official website ] for detailed and updated roadmap information.