$ETH Cardano (ADA) is a third-generation, open-source, decentralized public blockchain and cryptocurrency project. Launched in 2017, it was founded by Charles Hoskinson, co-founder of Ethereum, with a focus on peer-reviewed academic research and a science-first approach to development.

Cardano aims to provide a more scalable, sustainable, and interoperable blockchain platform for decentralized applications (dApps) and smart contracts. It utilizes a unique proof-of-stake consensus mechanism called Ouroboros, designed to be more energy-efficient than proof-of-work systems. The project is developed in distinct layers: the Cardano Settlement Layer (CSL) for transactions with the ADA cryptocurrency, and the Cardano Computation Layer (CCL) for smart contracts.