A protocol or platform that allows tokens to be ported from one blockchain to another, where they can be used for payments or to interact with decentralized applications (DApps). Blockchain bridges facilitate chain interoperability and can be either bidirectional or unidirectional. Tokens are locked on their native chain by either sending them to a smart con...
Cardano is a proof-of-stake blockchain and has been estimated to use electricity equivalent to 57 US homes, which can be met by a single wind turbine. The founders of Cardano set out to tackle the unsustainability of proof-of-work blockchains at the outset. In 2021, academics and researchers reckoned that Bitcoin and Ethereum used as much power as a country ...
Every ada holder has a stake in the network that they can delegate to a pool from their wallet. The process is safe because no ada leaves the user’s wallet.
A blockchain that aims to resolve fundamental issues of the first two generations (Bitcoin and Ethereum). Third-generation blockchains focus on improved scalability, interoperability, and self-sustainability. Cardano is a third-generation blockchain.
A computer server running the Cardano node to validate transactions and produce blocks. Each pool holds the combined stake of many ada owners in a single entity, or pool. Rewards earned by the pool are shared between the operator and their stakeholders.
A person or organization that takes responsibility for setting up and keeping the pool running. This usually entails owning or renting a server, holding the key to the pool, and maintaining and monitoring the node.
A cryptocurrency whose value is held constant against one or more other assets. The assets may be a ‘basket’ of currencies, a single currency (eg, the US dollar or the euro), commodities such as gold or silver, stocks, or other cryptocurrencies. Stablecoins include mechanisms that maintain a low deviation from their target price and so are useful to store or...
Programs written to self-execute when certain pre-determined conditions are met. On Cardano, contracts can be written in Plutus, Marlowe, or Haskell. Such contracts are the basis of decentralized finance (DeFi).
The primary unit of time used by the Ouroboros algorithm. In current Cardano versions, a slot is exactly one second. Slots that are inhabited by blocks are called active slots. In early 2022, Cardano parameters set one in 20 slots as active, so the average block time is 20 seconds.
A stake pool that has the right to create a block on Cardano within the current slot. The selection process is based on the proportion of ada delegated to each pool.
A penalty charge on some proof-of-stake blockchains for dishonest behavior by network validators. There is no slashing on Cardano. Instead, Ouroboros provides incentives for good behavior. Each stake pool operator pledges funds to their pool to make it more attractive and earn a higher percentage of rewards. Dishonest behavior will result in loss of rewards....
A blockchain that runs independently alongside the main chain and is linked to it. Transactions are transferred to the sidechain for processing and the results are sent back, thus taking a load off the main chain. This improves speed, lowers execution fees, and increases overall throughput.
A cryptographic token that represents a footprint of value defined by the community, market state, or self-governed entity. A token can be fungible (tradable) or non-fungible (unique), and act as a payment unit, reward, trading asset, or information holder.
Project Catalyst is a decentralized innovation fund for Cardano projects set up in 2020. Within two years, 30,000 members had set hundreds of projects underway with a treasury worth $1 billion ada. The project marked the start of Cardano’s Voltaire phase and is one of the world’s largest examples of on-chain governance.