Cardano (ADA) Tokenomics
Cardano (ADA) Information
Cardano is a decentralised public blockchain and cryptocurrency project and is fully open source.
Cardano (ADA) Tokenomics & Price Analysis
Explore key tokenomics and price data for Cardano (ADA), including market cap, supply details, FDV, and price history. Understand the token's current value and market position at a glance.
In-Depth Token Structure of Cardano (ADA)
Dive deeper into how ADA tokens are issued, allocated, and unlocked. This section highlights key aspects of the token's economic structure: utility, incentives, and vesting.
Issuance Mechanism
- Maximum Supply: 45 billion ADA.
- Initial Distribution: Cardano was funded through a multi-stage Initial Coin Offering (ICO) in Asia from September 2015 to February 2017. Approximately 25.93 billion ADA (~57.62% of the max supply) was sold during the ICO.
- Ongoing Issuance: New ADA is issued as staking rewards. 0.30% of ADA’s reserve (maximum supply minus circulating supply) is distributed every five-day epoch, with rewards split between stakers and the Cardano treasury. The reserve started with ~13.8 billion ADA (~30.66% of max supply).
Allocation Mechanism
| Allocation Category | ADA Amount (Billion) | % of Max Supply | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| ICO Participants | ~25.93 | ~57.62% | Distributed via multi-stage ICO (2015–2017) |
| Cardano Foundation | ~0.65 | ~1.44% | For ecosystem development |
| EMURGO | ~2.07 | ~4.61% | For commercial ventures |
| Input Output Global (IOG) | ~2.46 | ~5.47% | For protocol development; 1/3 unlocked at launch, 2/3 unlocked in 2018 and 2019 |
| Reserve (for staking) | ~13.8 | ~30.66% | Used for ongoing staking rewards |
Usage and Incentive Mechanism
- Network Fees: ADA is used to pay transaction fees on the Cardano network. Fees are calculated based on transaction size and a minimum constant.
- Staking: ADA holders can delegate their tokens to stake pools or operate their own pools. Both delegators and pool operators receive ADA rewards for securing the network and producing blocks.
- Governance: ADA is used for on-chain governance, including voting in Project Catalyst, which funds ecosystem projects.
- DeFi and Native Tokens: ADA is required for interacting with DeFi protocols and for minting/transacting native tokens on Cardano.
Locking Mechanism
- Staking: ADA delegated for staking is not locked; users retain full control and can move their tokens at any time, though rewards are distributed at the end of each epoch.
- Governance (Voting): For Project Catalyst and future Voltaire governance, ADA may be temporarily locked to represent voting rights and prevent double voting.
- Smart Contracts: ADA can be locked in smart contracts for DeFi, escrow, or other use cases, depending on contract logic.
Unlocking Time
- Team/Entity Allocations: For IOG, 1/3 of ADA was unlocked at network launch (September 2017), with the remaining 2/3 unlocked on June 1, 2018, and June 1, 2019.
- Staking/Delegation: No lock-up period; ADA can be withdrawn or redelegated at any time.
- Governance: ADA used for voting is typically locked for the duration of the voting period, after which it is released.
Summary Table
| Mechanism | Details |
|---|---|
| Issuance | Multi-stage ICO + ongoing staking rewards from reserve |
| Allocation | ICO, Cardano Foundation, EMURGO, IOG, Reserve |
| Usage | Network fees, staking, governance, DeFi, native token minting |
| Incentives | Staking rewards, governance participation rewards |
| Locking | No lock for staking; temporary lock for governance; contract-dependent for smart contracts |
| Unlocking | Team unlocks (2017–2019); staking/governance unlocks per protocol rules |
Additional Notes
- No Superuser Functions: There is no evidence of superuser privileges (e.g., pausing, freezing, or forcibly transferring ADA).
- Native Token Support: Cardano natively supports custom tokens without smart contracts, but only ADA is used for fees and rewards.
- Treasury and Rewards: A portion of staking rewards is allocated to the Cardano treasury for future ecosystem development.
For further details, see the official Cardano documentation and Cardano monetary policy.
Cardano (ADA) Tokenomics: Key Metrics Explained and Use Cases
Understanding the tokenomics of Cardano (ADA) is essential for analyzing its long-term value, sustainability, and potential.
Key Metrics and How They Are Calculated:
Total Supply:
The maximum number of ADA tokens that have been or will ever be created.
Circulating Supply:
The number of tokens currently available on the market and in public hands.
Max Supply:
The hard cap on how many ADA tokens can exist in total.
FDV (Fully Diluted Valuation):
Calculated as current price × max supply, giving a projection of total market cap if all tokens are in circulation.
Inflation Rate:
Reflects how fast new tokens are introduced, affecting scarcity and long-term price movement.
Why Do These Metrics Matter for Traders?
High circulating supply = greater liquidity.
Limited max supply + low inflation = potential for long-term price appreciation.
Transparent token distribution = better trust in the project and lower risk of centralized control.
High FDV with low current market cap = possible overvaluation signals.
Now that you understand ADA's tokenomics, explore ADA token's live price!
How to Buy ADA
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Cardano (ADA) Price History
Analyzing the price history of ADA helps users understand past market movements, key support/resistance levels, and volatility patterns. Whether you are tracking all-time highs or identifying trends, historical data is a crucial part of price prediction and technical analysis.
ADA Price Prediction
Want to know where ADA might be heading? Our ADA price prediction page combines market sentiment, historical trends, and technical indicators to provide a forward-looking view.
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Disclaimer
Tokenomics data on this page is from third-party sources. MEXC does not guarantee its accuracy. Please conduct thorough research before investing.
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Amount
1 ADA = 0.8272 USD