#TradeWarEases Cardano (ADA) is the native cryptocurrency of the Cardano blockchain, a third-generation, open-source platform launched in 2017. It distinguishes itself by being the first blockchain developed through peer-reviewed research and a scientific philosophy, aiming for a more secure, scalable, and sustainable infrastructure than earlier blockchains like Bitcoin and Ethereum.

ADA serves multiple purposes within the Cardano ecosystem. It's used to pay transaction fees on the network and can be staked by users to participate in the network's Proof-of-Stake (PoS) consensus mechanism called Ouroboros, earning rewards for validating transactions. Furthermore, ADA holders have the potential to participate in governance decisions, influencing the future development of the Cardano protocol.

Currently trading around 246.14 LKR, Cardano aims to be a platform for decentralized applications (dApps) and smart contracts, similar to Ethereum, but with a strong emphasis on rigorous development and academic backing. Its layered architecture, separating the settlement layer (for ADA transactions) from the computational layer (for smart contracts), is designed to enhance the network's flexibility and upgradeability.