"Cardano Unveils Next Era: Goguen Brings Smart Contracts, Native Tokens"

Cardano, a third-generation blockchain, is a proof-of-stake platform built on peer-reviewed research, aiming to improve upon the technology behind Bitcoin and Ethereum. It focuses on formal verification and peer-reviewed advancements to provide a sustainable and interoperable blockchain ecosystem for enterprises, governments, and financial institutions.

Founded in 2015 by Ethereum co-founder Charles Hoskinson, Cardano was developed by Input Output Global in collaboration with the Cardano Foundation and blockchain developer Emurgo. After two years of research and development, Cardano launched in 2017 with the Byron era, introducing the ADA cryptocurrency and the Ouroboros proof-of-stake consensus protocol.

Cardano's development unfolds in five eras, each named after historical figures, reflecting its evolution from research beginnings to phased rollouts. Key milestones include the Shelley phase, which introduced staking and increased network decentralization, and the Goguen phase, which brought smart contract functionality and native token support.

Cardano (ADA) is the native cryptocurrency of the Cardano network, with a fixed supply of 45 billion. ADA is designed to be anti-inflationary while supporting real-world use cases, including decentralized finance (DeFi) and enterprise solutions. It is used for paying transaction fees, staking to secure the network, and participating in governance decisions.

Cardano's functionality is based on a two-layer architecture. The settlement layer handles transactions, accounting, and managing user accounts, while the computation layer supports smart contracts and decentralized applications. Cardano is developed using Haskell, a functional programming language that emphasizes mathematical precision and reliability.

Cardano differs from Bitcoin and Ethereum in several ways. Unlike Bitcoin's energy-intensive proof-of-work consensus mechanism, Cardano uses the Ouroboros proof-of-stake algorithm. Cardano also supports smart contracts, dApps, and multi-asset transactions, and its dual-layer structure enables faster transactions than Bitcoin. Compared to Ethereum, Cardano takes a peer-reviewed approach, prioritizing security and scalability over rapid iteration.

Cardano offers various use cases, including smart contracts and dApps, staking ADA to earn rewards, and participating in DeFi and NFT marketplaces. ADA can be purchased on major cryptocurrency exchanges and stored in compatible wallets.

The future of Cardano includes advancing