Wonder
Sign up
Log in
Research Outline
Prepared for ammar__x3 K. | Delivered March 28, 2021
Cardano Blockchain Analysis
Review your project details
Goals
To provide an overview of Cardano, including insights relating to its origin, market position, and what sets it apart in the cryptocurrency space.
View less
Early Findings
Cardano
Cardano, like other cryptocurrencies, is a digital coin and
proof-of-stake (PoS) blockchain
that has value and can be used to carry out monetary transactions. The coin was conceptualized by one of the co-founders of Ethereum,
Charles Hoskinson
, after he recognized the need for a more standardized and scalable blockchain compared to what was available.
Hoskinson collaborated with Jeremy Wood, a previous colleague at
Ethereum
, and the two joined heads together in pursuit of Cardano. Besides playing a significant role in setting up the core principles on which Cardano is built, Hoskinson and Wood do not own or operate the blockchain.
Cardano was developed in 2017. It operates in the market using the token symbol, ADA, named after
Ada Lovelace
, a 19th-century mathematician. Cardano was also named after a scientist - Gerolamo Cardano, an Italian polymath. "The Cardano blockchain can be used to build smart contracts, and in turn, create
decentralized applications
and protocols."
Major stakeholders at the Cardano blockchain include The Cardano Foundation, IOHK, and Emurgo. The Cardano Foundation is a non-profit that helps to ensure the blockchain's security and market it to consumers and investors. Hoskinson and Wood established
IOHK
in 2015 to handle the Cardano blockchain's design and engineering.
"Embargo acts as a
large funding entity
to financially support Cardano and assist with its development."
The Cardano blockchain seeks to address certain current issues in the blockchain industry, such as providing a more secure blockchain and voting system for token holders, "separating accounting and computational layers, and developing a
consensus mechanism
that is infinitely scalable."
What Sets it Apart
Since Cardano was developed as a PoS blockchain protocol, it is estimated to have energy efficiency that is 4 million times that of bitcoin (BTC), similar to comparing the "energy usage of a household versus a
small country
."
While Cardano and Ethereum are similar (both are smart contract platforms), the latter uses a proof-of-work (PoW) blockchain, a less scalable and secure consensus mechanism. "Cardano distinguishes itself by using mathematical principles in its consensus mechanism and a
unique multilayer architecture
, which makes it stand out from other competing blockchains."
Another thing that makes Cardano unique is the amount of care involved in its upkeep. As earlier mentioned, The Cardano Foundation, IOHK, and
Emurgo
are the parties responsible for handling all aspects of its operation.
Market Position
Cardano currently has the fourth-largest crypto market capitalization of
$13.74 billion
behind Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Tether. It currently has about 31.11 billion ADA supply in circulation.
Many cryptocurrency experts believe that Cardano's
unique architecture positions
it as the future of cryptocurrency solutions.
View less