Five stages, each with a handful of pages, and a quiz to check the first four.
Stage 1
Start here
What Cardano is, what ada is, and the one tool you need to use either of them.
What is Cardano?The platform in plain terms: how it works, what makes it different, who runs it.What is ada?The currency of the network, what it is used for and how to get it.What is a wallet?Your keys, your ada. Wallet types, recovery phrases and how to stay safe.Get startedA guided walk-through from download to your first transaction.
Check what you learned with the basics quiz.
Stage 2
Use Cardano
Pick a wallet, get your first ada, keep it safe and put it to work.
Find a walletCompare wallets by platform, features and hardware support.Where to get adaCentralized and decentralized exchanges, and other ways to get ada.Protect your adaThe scams that catch newcomers, and how to spot them.Delegate your adaEarn rewards by delegating to a stake pool, without giving up custody.Explore appsCurated wallets, exchanges, DeFi, identity and more.
Check what you learned with the wallets and security quizzes.
Stage 3
Understand the technology
How the network reaches agreement, how it scales and how it changes over time.
How Cardano worksConsensus, ledger, tokens, programs and upgrades, step by step.Smart contracts and DAppsWhat a contract is, how Cardano runs it and how to use a DApp safely.OuroborosThe proof-of-stake protocol behind every block.StablecoinsStable value on Cardano: how the main stablecoins work and where to use them.Layer 2Hydra, Midnight and the other networks that extend Cardano.Hard forksEvery protocol upgrade since launch, and how upgrades happen.GlossaryEvery Cardano term, explained in plain language, with mental models where they help.
Check what you learned with the technical quiz.
Stage 4
Take part
Every ada carries a vote and a stake. Here is how to use both.
GovernanceHow on-chain governance works and where to start.Delegate your voting powerFind a representative who votes the way you would.The treasuryHow the community fund is filled and spent.The constitutionThe rules the community ratified, in full.Run a stake poolWhat it takes to operate a pool and produce blocks.Staking calculatorEstimate rewards for delegating or running a pool.
Check what you learned with the governance and staking quizzes.
Stage 5
Go deeper
Research, data and courses for people who want the full picture.
ResearchThe peer-reviewed papers Cardano is built on.InsightsOn-chain or regularly refreshed data.GenesisThe genesis distribution: how ada was first allocated.EntitiesOrganizations building on Cardano today.Cardano AcademyFree, self-paced courses with certificates.Developer portalBuild on Cardano, from first transaction to smart contracts.