3 - 4 minute read
Cardano has experienced a rapid expansion within its ecosystem over the last year, according to a new report by crypto insights firm Messari. The report indicates that the total value locked (TVL), or the amount of assets sitting within Cardano’s protocols, has increased by 172% quarter over quarter (QoQ). This growth has been attributed to the recent launch of Cardano-stablecoins, which were previously missing from the ecosystem.
Minswap, an automated market maker (AMM) on Cardano, remains the chain’s leading decentralized exchange (DEX) in terms of TVL, though its dominance decreased in the first quarter due to the emergence of several DeFi (decentralized finance) protocols. These include Djed, an overcollateralized ADA-backed stablecoin minting protocol, Liqwid, a borrowing and lending protocol, and Indigo, an issuer of synthetic assets and stablecoins.
While Q1 of this year saw significant progress in technological developments such as advancements in scalability and VM compatibility, the recent launch of Lace, a new Cardano-native crypto wallet that supports hardware wallet integration and access to NFT (non-fungible token) marketplaces, decentralized apps (DApps), and DeFi services, has generated excitement among Cardano users. The wallet also enables users to stake ADA directly, while the developers are already working on new features such as a DApp Store, a desktop app, and digital identity solutions.
Given that the recent adoption of new stablecoins was the catalyst for the significant growth in Cardano’s TVL, this development bodes well for the platform’s future. As it stands, Cardano’s TVL denominated in USD has risen from $50.8 million to $138.3 million. As Cardano continues to make technological advancements and move toward a proof-of-stake protocol, it presents an excellent opportunity for traders to invest in the platform, especially given that the current trends in DeFi seem conducive to continued success.
The Bottom Line
Cardano’s explosive growth in Q1, driven mainly by the recent launch of stablecoins and new DeFi protocols, stands to benefit traders who choose to invest in the platform properly. With the continued development of Lace and the promise of new features on the horizon, traders should consider leveraging Cardano’s success in the DeFi space.
