ADA is the native cryptocurrency of Cardano, a decentralized, open-source blockchain platform founded in 2017 by Charles Hoskinson, co-founder of Ethereum. Named after Ada Lovelace, a 19th-century mathematician recognized as the first computer programmer, ADA facilitates peer-to-peer transactions and is integral to Cardano's proof-of-stake consensus mechanism, Ouroboros. Holders can stake ADA to participate in network validation and governance, earning rewards in return. Cardano's layered architecture enhances scalability and security, supporting the development of decentralized applications (dApps) and smart contracts. With a maximum supply capped at 45 billion tokens, ADA plays a crucial role in Cardano's mission to create a more secure and transparent global financial infrastructure.