Cardano is a proof-of-stake blockchain network which can run smart contracts and dApps on its ecosystem. Arguably the beginning of the third generation of cryptocurrency, founder Charles Hoskinson broke away from his position at Ethereum in 2015 to create what is now considered one of the more peer-assessed projects in the game. Its native token ADA (named after English mathematician Ada Lovelace) was launched in 2017 and is designed to oversee governance and encourage participation in its ecosystem.