ADA, or Cardano, is a major player in the cryptocurrency landscape, distinguished by its unique approach to blockchain development and focus on research methodologies. Founded by Charles Hoskinson, one of the founders of Ethereum, Cardano aims to create a more secure, scalable, and sustainable blockchain solution. At the heart of Cardano’s architecture is a proof-of-stake consensus mechanism, called Ouroboros, which is designed to be energy-efficient compared to traditional proof-of-work systems like Bitcoin. This eco-friendly approach not only supports the growing demand for sustainable technology solutions, but also addresses criticisms associated with the environmental impact of cryptocurrency mining. Cardano also stands out for its layered architecture, which separates the settlement layer from the compute layer. These modules allow for greater flexibility and scalability, enabling developers to build and deploy decentralized applications (dApps) efficiently. The settlement layer is responsible for handling cryptocurrency transactions, while the compute layer manages smart contracts, thereby enhancing security and performance.