Our World Is Changing. Together, We Can Change It For The Better.
Cardano is a proof-of-stake blockchain platform: the first to be founded on peer-reviewed research and developed through evidence-based methods. It combines pioneering technologies to provide unparalleled security and sustainability to decentralized applications, systems, and societies.
With a leading team of engineers, Cardano exists to redistribute power from unaccountable structures to the margins – to individuals – and be an enabling force for positive change and progress.
A History Of Impossible,
Made Possible
Use Cardano AppsBenefits
- Proof-of-stake and Ouroboros
Protocol
- Evidence-based development
Research
- Secure
Transact
- Incentivized participation
Open
- Scalable and sustainable
Ecosystem
Proof-Of-Stake And Ouroboros: The Most Environmentally Sustainable Blockchain Protocol
Ouroboros is the first peer-reviewed, verifiably-secure blockchain protocol, and Cardano is the first blockchain to implement it. Ouroboros enables decentralization in the Cardano network on a sustainable scale for global requirements and most crucially, without compromising security.
The protocol is the result of tireless efforts, based on foundational research, propelled by a vision for more secure and transparent global payment systems, and provides the means to equitably redistribute power and control.
Define Your Possible.
Change Your World.
News
Latest News
Stay up to date with the latest developments, announcements, and community updates from the Cardano ecosystem.
Cardano Accelerator Program announces fall 2026 cohort for verification and identity
The Cardano Foundation announced eight ventures for the CAP Fall 2026 cohort, building digital product passports, traceability, and identity infrastructure.
Cardano node 11.1.2 releases as Go node validates mainnet blocks
Intersect released cardano-node 11.1.2 for SPOs, the Go node validated mainnet blocks, and the Board Election enters its final week.
Dijkstra batch validation runs Plutus scripts as Hydra closes fanout wedge
Dijkstra batch validation runs Plutus scripts for sub-transactions and counts execution budgets, while Hydra closes a fanout wedge and ships stability fixes.
Plutus moves to Midgard Labs
Plutus moves from IO Labs to Midgard Labs, which already audits and writes Plutus smart contracts and contributes to Plutarch and Aiken tooling.
TOKEN2049 Origins Hackathon opens as Constitutional Amendment Portal advances seven proposals
TOKEN2049 Origins Hackathon opens for applications, the Constitutional Amendment Portal advances seven proposals, and Intersect Board Elections opens voting.
Leios improves downloads and caching as Plutus merges casing on Data
Leios download logic now bounds time and memory, adds a transaction cache, fixes node disconnects, and caps mempool ledger reads, while Plutus merges casing on Data and Hydra patches a critical security flaw.
What makes Cardano different?
Staking without strings
Non-custodial, liquid staking
Delegating ada to a stake pool never moves it out of your wallet. There is no lock-up period, no minimum beyond a small deposit, and no slashing: the protocol cannot take your ada as a penalty. You can spend or re-delegate at any time.
Fees you can predict
Deterministic transactions
A fee on Cardano is a simple formula of a fixed part plus the transaction size, set by protocol parameters rather than an auction. A typical simple transfer costs a fraction of one ada, and you see the exact amount before you sign.
Governed on the chain itself
On-chain governance and treasury
Protocol changes, treasury spending and even the constitution are proposed and decided on-chain. Ada holders vote directly or delegate their voting power to a representative. Stake pool operators and a constitutional committee provide checks and balances.
Backed by research
Peer review and formal methods
Cardano's core protocols were designed as academic research first, reviewed by other cryptographers, then implemented. The node is written in Haskell and the ledger is built with formal methods, so the code can be checked against its specification.