Welcome to Cardano
Energy efficient
3rd Generation
Proof-of-Stake
Smart Contract Blockchain
This page serves as a top-level introduction to some key parts of Cardano. Please use the numerous links provided to find official sources and much more in-depth content once you are ready to dig a little deeper.
Founding Entities
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Cardano Foundation
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Input Output Global
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Emurgo
Cardano Development Phases
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Byron
Foundation 2017-2020
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Shelley
Decentralisation. Since July 2020
Community operated stake pools came online for the first time and the decentralisation of block production began
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Goguen
Programmability
Intra-era hard forks:
Allegra - December 2020 (metadata and token locking)
Mary - March 2021 (native assets)
Alonzo - September 2021 (smart contracts).
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Basho
Scaling. Since December 2021
Intra-era hard forks:
Vasil - September 2022
Valentine - February 2023
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Voltaire
Governance
Intra-era hard forks:
Chang - September 2024 (interim governance)
Plomin - December 2024 (full decentralised governance)
Where it all began…
The original Charles Hoskinson whiteboard video that laid out the vision for Cardano back in 2017. Responsible for onboarding so many who have found a connection with the projects’ values and respect for the scientific and first-principles approach from the outset.
Essential Cardano
Visit the Essential Cardano website for a much more comprehensive collection of information than this website could provide.
Cardano Academy
Want to learn more about Cardano and blockchain in general? Check out the FREE Cardano Academy course created by the Cardano Foundation. Learn for free and in your own time. If you decide that you want to take it a step further, you can pay to book a Cardano Blockchain Certified Associate (CBCA) exam at an approved test centre.