Cardano

Cardano is a Layer 1 proof-of-stake blockchain founded by Charles Hoskinson in 2015, using the Ouroboros consensus for energy-efficient, scalable dApps and smart contracts. Developed in eras (Byron to Voltaire) with peer-reviewed research and formal verification, it supports staking, multi-asset ledgers, and on-chain governance via ADA tokens. ADA price: ~$0.35, market cap: ~$12.5B.