How are Cardano's on-chain transactions tracked?

Cardano's immutable blockchain ensures the integrity of its recorded transactions, providing a secure and verifiable record of all network activity.

Feb 17, 2025 at 11:06 pm

Key Points:

• Cardano's on-chain transactions are recorded on a distributed ledger called the blockchain.
• The blockchain is a secure and transparent record of all transactions that have ever taken place on the Cardano network.
• Transactions on the Cardano blockchain are immutable, meaning they cannot be altered or reversed.
• Cardano uses a proof-of-stake consensus mechanism to validate transactions and secure the network.
• The Cardano blockchain is open-source, meaning anyone can view and audit the code.

How Cardano's On-Chain Transactions Are Tracked

1. Transactions are initiated by users. When a user wants to send ADA or other assets on the Cardano network, they create a transaction. The transaction includes the sender's address, the recipient's address, the amount of ADA being sent, and a transaction fee.
2. Transactions are broadcast to the network. Once a transaction is created, it is broadcast to the Cardano network. The network consists of nodes, which are computers that run the Cardano software.
3. Nodes validate transactions. Each node on the network validates the transaction to ensure that it is valid. The transaction must be properly signed by the sender, and the sender must have enough ADA in their account to cover the transaction fee.
4. Transactions are added to the blockchain. If a transaction is valid, it is added to the blockchain. The blockchain is a distributed ledger that records all transactions that have ever taken place on the Cardano network.
5. Transactions are immutable. Once a transaction is added to the blockchain, it is immutable. This means that it cannot be altered or reversed.

Cardano's Proof-of-Stake Consensus Mechanism

Cardano uses a proof-of-stake consensus mechanism to validate transactions and secure the network. In a proof-of-stake system, users who hold ADA can stake their coins to become validators.

Validators are responsible for validating transactions and adding them to the blockchain. The more ADA a validator stakes, the more likely they are to be selected to validate a transaction.

The proof-of-stake consensus mechanism is more energy-efficient than the proof-of-work consensus mechanism used by Bitcoin. This is because validators do not need to solve complex mathematical problems to validate transactions.

Cardano's Open-Source Blockchain

The Cardano blockchain is open-source, meaning anyone can view and audit the code. This transparency helps to ensure that the blockchain is secure and reliable.

FAQs

Q: How can I track my Cardano transactions?

A: You can track your Cardano transactions using a block explorer. A block explorer is a website or tool that allows you to view and search the blockchain for transactions.

Q: Are Cardano transactions anonymous?

A: Cardano transactions are not anonymous. The blockchain is a public record, so anyone can view the sender's address, the recipient's address, and the amount of ADA being sent.

Q: How long does it take for a Cardano transaction to be confirmed?

A: Cardano transactions typically take about 2 minutes to be confirmed. However, the confirmation time can vary depending on the network congestion.

Q: What is the transaction fee for Cardano transactions?

A: The transaction fee for Cardano transactions is typically around 0.17 ADA. However, the transaction fee can vary depending on the size and complexity of the transaction.