Cardano is a decentralized blockchain platform that aims to provide a sustainable solution for the development and implementation of smart contracts and decentralized applications. It is a third-generation blockchain that uses a proof-of-stake consensus algorithm, which is considered more energy-efficient than the proof-of-work algorithm used by Bitcoin. Cardano also has built-in governance mechanisms to ensure that the network remains decentralized and efficient. It was founded by Charles Hoskinson, co-founder of Ethereum.