$ADA Ada, Cardano’s native cryptocurrency, fuels transactions, staking, and governance on its proof-of-stake blockchain. Launched in 2017, Ada’s $23 billion market cap ranks it among top cryptos, though critics question its valuation due to modest DeFi activity ($418M TVL). Supporters highlight Cardano’s research-driven design, scalability via Hydra (1M TPS), and undervaluation per NVT metrics. Named after Ada Lovelace, it empowers decentralized apps and smart contracts. Staking yields passive income, with 70% of Ada staked across 3,000+ pools. Governance evolves through DReps and proposals like U.S. election integration. Despite marketing critiques, Ada’s community champions its technical rigor, positioning it as a sustainable, decentralized alternative in blockchain.