Cardano is a blockchain platform designed for secure, scalable, and sustainable decentralized applications (dApps) and smart contracts. It utilizes a unique proof-of-stake consensus mechanism called Ouroboros, which aims to be more energy-efficient than traditional proof-of-work systems. One of its standout features is its layered architecture, separating the ledger of account values from the reason why values are moved, enhancing both security and flexibility.