$ADA ADA is the native cryptocurrency of the Cardano blockchain, created by IOHK (Input Output Hong Kong), led by Charles Hoskinson, one of the co-founders of Ethereum. Launched in 2017, Cardano aims to provide a more secure, scalable, and sustainable blockchain infrastructure. ADA is used to power decentralized applications (dApps) and smart contracts on the Cardano network. The platform uses a proof-of-stake (PoS) consensus mechanism called Ouroboros, which reduces energy consumption compared to proof-of-work (PoW) systems. ADA holders can also stake their tokens to participate in the network’s governance and earn rewards.