The property of a system that provides independence from a central governing authority. Cardano is supported by more than 3,000 stake pool operators across the globe who help validate network activities. Peer-to-peer connections and fair governance using Project Catalyst and Voltaire all contribute to Cardano’s decentralization mission.
A unique identifier that is not issued or controlled by a central authority. The controller of the DID (in the case of a person, the object of the DID) can prove ownership without requiring permission from any other party.
A system in which users retain control over their identity using a blockchain wallet. This technology ensures data is stored securely and protects privacy rights. Users choose when and with whom they share their identity and credentials, which the requester verifies on the blockchain.
A framework that decentralizes physical infrastructure like servers and hardware, enabling operation without centralized providers. This approach enhances resilience and reduces costs in decentralized ecosystems.
Delegated representatives (DReps) are a new role introduced in the age of Voltaire as part of the governance model proposed under CIP-1694. DReps, stake pool operators, and the constitutional committee are responsible for voting on governance actions. Any ada holder can register as a DRep.
DReps will play a crucial role in the decision-making process within...
The process whereby ada owners can assign their funds using their wallets to a stake pool. This helps maintain a computer server to run a node on the Cardano network. In exchange, delegators receive a share of the pool’s total rewards. Delegating your ada is totally safe because no ada leaves the user’s wallet.
an individual or entity that delegates their stake or voting power to a stake pool operator (SPO). SPOs are selected based on the amount of ada they hold or "stake" in the network.
By delegating their stake, delegators entrust the SPO with the responsibility of securing the network and validating transactions. In return, delegators can receive a portion of ...
The predictability of costs for a blockchain transaction. Cardano uses deterministic pricing, which means you know how much a transaction will cost before you make it. Protocol parameters, rather than network traffic, govern pricing on Cardano, so prices remain stable and low. No fees are charged for failed transactions, which differentiates Cardano from ind...
represents a unique and transferable unit of value or ownership recorded in a digital format using cryptographic techniques. Digital assets which can include cryptocurrencies like ada, as well as tokens representing real-world assets, digital collectibles, or utility tokens, are securely stored and transferred on the Cardano blockchain.
refers to a secure and verifiable representation of an individual, organization, or entity in the digital realm. It encompasses personal attributes, credentials, and biometric data that are cryptographically stored and managed on the blockchain, providing users with control over their identity and enhancing privacy, security, and interoperability across digi...
is a cryptographic mechanism that authenticates the origin and integrity of digital messages or transactions. Utilizing asymmetric cryptography, it involves the creation of a unique signature by the sender using their private key, which can be verified by anyone with access to the sender's corresponding public key. This process ensures that the message or tr...
refers to a decentralized database shared across multiple nodes, where transactions and data are recorded, stored, and synchronized in a transparent and immutable manner.
Unlike traditional centralized ledgers, distributed ledgers on Cardano are distributed among a network of participants, enabling consensus mechanisms like Ouroboros to validate and agree u...
The act of spending the same coin/token more than once. It is a potential issue in decentralized digital payment systems where transactions are recorded on a blockchain or a similar distributed ledger.
On the Cardano blockchain, double spending cannot occur due to the Extended UTXO accounting model.
A tool that allows ERC20 tokens to be used on Cardano. Users benefit from a higher capacity of transaction processing, lower fees, and the greater security offered by the Ouroboros consensus protocol. SingularityNET’s AGIX token is the first token that users can move between Ethereum and Cardano.
The accounting model used by Cardano. This is an extended version of Bitcoin’s unspent transaction output model. EUTXO brings greater security, ensures fees are predictable and can process a large number of transactions in parallel. It also supports different types of assets and smart contracts, without compromising the advantages of UTXO. EUTXO’s concurrenc...
The Ethereum virtual machine (EVM) sidechain is the first sidechain built and released by IOG, with the goal of opening Cardano up to Solidity developers. The EVM sidechain allows the Solidity developer community to build DApps on a lower-fees and environmentally friendly platform that consumes far less energy than proof-of-work blockchains.
A computing engine that functions as a decentralized computer with millions of projects that can be executed. It serves as the foundation for Ethereum's complete operating system. EVM is the component of Ethereum that handles smart contract execution and deployment.
A framework developed by the University of Edinburgh and Input Output Global (IOG) that measures and analyzes decentralization levels across blockchains. The EDI employs various metrics and presents data through a publicly accessible interactive dashboard.
Cardano uses the Edwards-curve Digital Signature Algorithm (EdDSA) with elliptic curve Curve25519 as its base curve (aka. Ed25519). This gives fast signature verification and small signature sizes, which helps to improve the overall performance and security of the blockchain. Additionally, Ed25519 is designed to be resistant to certain types of cryptographic...