As the world increasingly moves towards a digital future, it is important that we have secure and reliable platforms on which to run our digital lives. Cardano is a public blockchain that uses proof-of-stake as its consensus mechanism. It was designed with flexibility, sustainability, and scalability in mind, making it an ideal platform for running smart contracts.Cardano is founded on peer-reviewed research and focuses on evidence-based methods for development. This commitment to quality ensures that Cardano will be a reliable platform upon which businesses and individuals can rely.Cardano’s native cryptocurrency is ADA, which can be used to store value, send and receive payments, or stake in order to validate transactions on the network. ADA has various benefits over more established cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, including quicker transaction speeds and reduced transaction costs that make it more useful for everyday use scenarios. Additionally, as Cardano continues to develop there will likely be increased opportunities for earning rewards by staking ADA tokens.