Editorial reference

Cardano ADA

Fresh · updated in last 10 min

Source · diadata · Sat, 01 Aug 2026 13:59:58 GMT

Price (USD)

$0.1751

+3.94% 24h

24h volume

$70.15M

Overview

Cardano is a proof-of-stake blockchain that launched in September 2017 and is developed through peer-reviewed research and formal methods. ADA is used for staking, transaction fees and on-chain governance.

Origin & history

Cardano was founded by Charles Hoskinson and Jeremy Wood, who established IOHK (now Input Output) in 2015. The network launched in 2017 with the Byron era and has progressed through named eras — Shelley (decentralization), Goguen (smart contracts), Basho (scaling) and Voltaire (governance).

Founders & governance

Charles Hoskinson and Jeremy Wood. Development is split between Input Output, the Cardano Foundation and Emurgo, with an on-chain governance system progressively transferring decision-making to ADA holders and elected bodies.

How it works

Cardano runs the Ouroboros proof-of-stake protocol, dividing time into epochs and slots with elected slot leaders. Its extended UTXO ledger model executes Plutus smart contracts with deterministic fees. Holders delegate stake to pools without locking funds, and Hydra heads plus Mithril certificates address scaling and light-client verification.

Tokenomics & supply

Maximum supply is fixed at 45 billion ADA. Rewards are paid from a decreasing reserve plus transaction fees, distributed each epoch to stake pools and delegators, and a portion of each epoch's rewards funds the treasury used for community-approved projects.

Utility & use cases

ADA pays transaction fees, is delegated to stake pools for rewards, funds treasury proposals, and carries voting rights under the Voltaire governance framework. The network hosts decentralized finance, identity and tokenization applications, including native multi-asset tokens issued without smart contracts.

Ecosystem

Node implementations include the Haskell cardano-node; ecosystem projects include Lace, Daedalus and Yoroi wallets, DEXs such as Minswap and SundaeSwap, and Midnight, a privacy-focused partner chain. Roughly three thousand independent stake pools participate in block production.

Wallets & custody

Custody options include self-custody wallets and hardware devices, delegated staking that keeps ADA in the holder's own wallet, and regulated custodians. Delegation involves no lock-up or slashing.

Regulatory notes

Cardano is treated differently across jurisdictions, and some U.S. agency filings have described ADA as a security — a characterization contested and not settled. Nothing on this page is legal, tax, or investment advice.

Milestones

2015
Project begins
IOHK is formed to build Cardano on peer-reviewed research.
2017
Mainnet launch
The Byron era launches in September.
2020
Shelley
Decentralized block production and delegated staking go live.
2021
Alonzo
Plutus smart contracts activate on mainnet.
2023
Scaling work
Hydra heads and Mithril certificates reach mainnet availability.
2024
Chang and governance
The Chang hard fork begins the Voltaire on-chain governance era.

FAQs

Do I lock up ADA to stake?

No. Delegation keeps ADA in your own wallet, with no lock-up and no slashing penalties.

What is Ouroboros?

Cardano's peer-reviewed proof-of-stake protocol, which elects slot leaders across epochs to produce blocks.

What is the maximum supply?

45 billion ADA, with rewards drawn from a declining reserve and transaction fees rather than new issuance beyond that cap.

What is Voltaire?

The governance era introducing on-chain voting, a constitution and elected bodies that direct treasury spending.

Official links

Primary sources

Ouroboros: A provably secure proof-of-stake protocol — Input Output Research
Cardano developer documentation — Cardano Foundation
cardano-node repository — Intersect

This page is editorial reference material. Nothing on this page is investment, legal, or tax advice. Last reviewed 8/1/2026.