$ADA

ADA is the native cryptocurrency of the Cardano blockchain, a decentralized proof-of-stake platform. Named after Ada Lovelace, the 19th-century mathematician, ADA plays a crucial role in the Cardano ecosystem.

It's used for:

* Transactions: Sending and receiving payments on the network.

* Staking: Users can stake their ADA to secure the network and earn rewards.

* Smart Contracts: Paying fees for executing smart contracts on the Cardano computing layer.

* Governance: ADA holders can participate in the network's governance by voting on proposed updates and improvements.

Cardano is known for its research-driven, peer-reviewed approach to development, aiming for high security, scalability, and sustainability. Current discussions often revolve around its ongoing efforts to expand its DeFi ecosystem and the upcoming Chang hard fork, which will introduce full on-chain decentralized governance.