Cardano

Cardano is a blockchain platform designed for building decentralized applications and smart contracts. It was founded by Charles Hoskinson, one of the co-founders of Ethereum, in 2017. The project aims to provide a more secure and scalable infrastructure for the development of decentralized applications and protocols.
Key features of Cardano include:

1. Layered Architecture: Cardano's architecture is divided into distinct layers, separating the network and the ledger from the settlement layer, which allows for flexibility and scalability.
2. Proof of Stake (PoS) Consensus Mechanism: Cardano uses a proof-of-stake consensus mechanism called Ouroboros, which aims to be more energy-efficient compared to the proof-of-work mechanism used by Bitcoin. Ouroboros helps secure the network and validate transactions through stakeholder participation.
3. Smart Contracts: Similar to Ethereum, Cardano supports smart contracts, which are self-executing contracts with the terms of the agreement directly written into code. Smart contracts enable decentralized applications to run on the Cardano blockchain.
4. Scalability and Sustainability: Cardano is designed to be highly scalable, with the ability to process a high number of transactions per second. The project also focuses on sustainability, both in terms of the environmental impact of its operations and the long-term viability of its blockchain.
5. Research-Driven Approach: Cardano emphasizes a research-driven approach to development, with a focus on academic peer-reviewed papers and formal methods to ensure the security and reliability of its protocols.

Cardano's native cryptocurrency is called ADA, which is used for various purposes within the Cardano ecosystem, including transactions, staking, and participating in the governance of the network.
Overall, Cardano aims to provide a robust and secure platform for the development of decentralized applications and protocols, with a focus on scalability, sustainability, and interoperability.