$ADA is the native cryptocurrency of the Cardano blockchain, designed for secure, scalable, and sustainable decentralized applications. Named after Ada Lovelace, it's built on a Proof-of-Stake (PoS) consensus called Ouroboros, which reduces energy use compared to Proof-of-Work systems like Bitcoin. ADA is used for transactions, staking, and governance within the Cardano network. It supports smart contracts and decentralized apps (dApps), making it a competitor to Ethereum. Cardano emphasizes academic research and peer-reviewed development, which appeals to some but frustrates others due to its slower rollout. ADA’s long-term success hinges on adoption, real-world use cases, and evolving blockchain innovations.