Latest news with #2015
Forbes
2 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
Cardano Vs. Ethereum: Key Differences Every Crypto Investor Should Understand
Ethereum's 2015 debut introduced a programmable layer that transformed blockchains from static ledgers into bustling, decentralized marketplaces for everything from art to arbitrage. A little over two years later, Cardano entered the fray with an 'academic-first' approach that promised to fix what Ethereum was still figuring out. In 2025, these two platforms anchor many 'Which crypto should I buy?' debates, yet they are built on markedly different blueprints. This article unpacks those blueprints. We'll explore histories, consensus mechanics, token economics, staking and real-world deployments, then explore the technical elements so investors can decide which network, if either, fits their portfolio. Ethereum's white paper was published in late 2013, and the network went live on July 30, 2015. Its founding mission was bold: to become a 'world computer' that would let anyone deploy self-executing smart contracts without third-party involvement. That vision has delivered a thriving decentralised finance (DeFi) market, a multibillion-dollar NFT industry and a developer community that dwarfs any other blockchain. Two headline upgrades reshaped that trajectory. EIP-1559 (August 2021) introduced fee-burning, partially offsetting new ETH issuance. Then the Merge (September 15, 2022) swapped energy-intensive proof-of-work mining for proof-of-stake (PoS), cutting the network's electricity footprint by roughly 99.95%. Ethereum still dominates smart-contract activity, but the network's popularity may be its curse: base-layer transactions remain comparatively slow and expensive despite a constellation of Layer-2 rollups racing to ease the bottlenecks. A spring-2025 Pectra upgrade has lowered costs and raised the validator cap, yet daily fees still spike during on-chain frenzies. Cardano went live on September 29, 2017, spearheaded by Ethereum co-founder Charles Hoskinson and engineering firm IOHK (now Input Output Global). It brands itself as the first peer-reviewed blockchain: every protocol change is vetted through a typically very academic discussion before being implemented. That deliberate pace frustrates critics, but advocates insist it reduces the 'move fast and break things' risk that haunts crypto. The project's roadmap unfolds in named eras: Byron, Shelley, Goguen, Basho and Voltaire, each unlocking features such as staking, smart contracts and on-chain governance. Cardano's core pitch is a secure, scalable backbone for identity, supply-chain and financial applications, especially in emerging markets. For example, Ethiopia's Ministry of Education is rolling out blockchain-verified academic credentials for five million students via Atala PRISM. Both networks secure themselves with proof-of-stake, but they implement it very differently. Understanding those mechanics is important as consensus shapes energy use, decentralization incentives and long-term economics. Ethereum's Beacon Chain coordinates ~1 million validators who each post 32 ETH (≈$82k at recent prices) as collateral. Validators win block-proposing rights roughly every twelve seconds; correct behaviour earns ETH, while downtime or malicious activity can trigger 'slashing' penalties. Average yields hover around 3%-4% annualised, slightly higher if nodes capture maximal extractable value (MEV) via MEV-Boost. PoS reduced ETH issuance roughly 90%, yet ETH recently flipped to marginally inflationary after the March 2025 Dencun fork pushed transactions to cheaper Layer-2s, lowering base-layer fee burns. Supply is now just above 120.4 million ETH. Cardano's Ouroboros is the first PoS algorithm with formal security proofs. Time is sliced into five-day epochs, each subdivided into slots that slot leaders (chosen proportionally to stake) fill with transactions. Because stake pools can accept delegation without bonding periods, anyone can earn ADA in minutes using a mobile wallet; no 32-coin hurdle like ETH exists. Rewards adjust over time and currently sit around 1.7% – 2% on major exchanges, though independent pools sometimes top 4%. Ethereum set the standard for smart contracts with Turing-complete Solidity contracts that now secure ~$63 billion in total value locked (TVL). A rich toolbox including ERC-20 tokens, composable DeFi 'money legos,' decentralized autonomous organisations and NFT standards has attracted developers despite high gas fees. Cardano followed later; the Alonzo hard fork (September 2021) introduced Plutus smart contracts written in Haskell-inspired PlutusCore and Marlowe, domain-specific languages for financial agreements. Uptake was slow, hampered by technology gaps, but 2024's Aiken compiler and Hydra scaling heads lowered entry barriers. Cardano smart contracts run off-chain during the validation process. This design improves determinism and enhances security, but it also limits real-time (synchronous) interactions between decentralized applications, a deliberate trade-off in the platform's architecture. In practice Ethereum still hosts the lion's share of DeFi liquidity, yet Cardano's ecosystem is growing, helped by recently launched stablecoins, on-chain order books like Minswap, and identity-driven dApps targeting African small and medium-sized enterprises. Both platforms issue native coins, ETH and ADA, to compensate validators and fund development, but they differ on hard caps and monetary policy. Ethereum intentionally avoided a fixed ceiling to provide a perpetual security budget. Pre-Merge emissions ran ~4.3% annually; post-Merge, emissions dropped under 1%, and base-fee burning has occasionally pushed net issuance negative. With fees migrating to Layer-2s, the pendulum has swung back to mild inflation, a design choice that keeps validator rewards competitive. ADA is hard-capped at 45 billion coins, of which ~35 billion circulate today. A treasury releases new ADA each epoch, tapering gradually until emissions cease circa 2060, after which on-chain transaction fees will pay for security and governance. The absolute cap mirrors Bitcoin and gives holders a clear dilution schedule. For retail investors, the hurdle of 32 ETH to run an Ethereum validator means most users join validation pools or liquid-staking tokens like stETH, which add smart-contract risk and, in some jurisdictions, securities-law ambiguity. Unstaking is now permissionless but subject to a queue; exits can take hours in calm periods or days when many validators leave simultaneously. Gas fees average $2-5 but spike into double digits when demand is high, such as during the recent meme-coin mania. Cardano, by contrast, lets holders delegate in a few clicks with no lock-ups and zero slashing. Transaction fees are predictable, roughly 0.17 ADA plus 0.1 ADA per kilobyte, and rarely breach $0.30 even at network peaks, thanks to larger block sizes and lower demand. The trade-off is lower absolute yield and a younger DeFi stack, which means slower capital gains versus ETH may erode staking rewards. Ethereum has become the default settlement layer for stablecoins ($100 billion+ in circulation), derivatives, lending markets and high-profile NFT collections. Fortune 500 giants, from Visa to Starbucks, pilot loyalty, carbon and supply-chain tokens on Ethereum or its Layer-2 cohorts. That critical mass has attracted talent, but also regulatory scrutiny. Cardano's use-case map focuses on social-impact projects, including, as mentioned above, verifiable diplomas in Ethiopia, land-registry proofs in Georgia, agricultural supply chains in Tanzania and tokenized micro-loans for farmers in Kenya. Although these projects are smaller in monetary value, they align with Cardano's objective of banking the unbanked, and have the potential to expand if regulators in emerging markets adopt blockchain technology. If you want exposure to the broadest developer mind-share, second-largest crypto market cap and a bet on Layer-2 scaling economics, Ethereum fits. It is, however, more correlated with speculative buzz: fee spikes, regulatory headlines and Layer-2 token dilution can whipsaw returns. Cardano appeals to long-term investors comfortable with slower iteration and emerging-market narratives. Its capped supply and non-custodial staking with instant liquidity reduce some risk, but lower dApp activity means fewer fee burns to prop long-term security once the treasury depletes — an open-ended governance problem. Bottom Line Ethereum and Cardano share a PoS basis yet diverge on philosophy: Ethereum prizes rapid composability and market capture; Cardano values formal verification and methodical rollout. That contrast shows in consensus mechanics, supply curves, fee dynamics and developer cultures. Investors needn't pick a single winner; diversification across ecosystems can hedge regulatory or technical shocks, but understanding how each chain pays validators, processes transactions and drives demand is important before allocating capital. As the crypto market continues to develop, watch whether Ethereum's Layer-2 thesis lowers barriers fast enough to fend off faster base-layers, and whether Cardano can convert academic credentials into mainstream traction beyond Africa. Both are smart-contract blockchains, but Ethereum prioritizes first-mover composability and remains fee-burn, open-ended supply. Cardano emphasizes peer-reviewed upgrades, a 45 billion-coin cap and the Ouroboros PoS algorithm. Ethereum hosts the largest dApp ecosystem and developer tooling; Cardano's Plutus contracts are catching up but still lag in total value locked and library support. Yes. ETH requires 32 coins for solo validation or participation via pools; ADA can be delegated in any amount with no lock-up, though yields differ. Ethereum powers DeFi, stablecoins and NFTs globally. Cardano focuses on identity, supply-chain tracking, and financial inclusion projects in emerging markets.
The Independent
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Diddy's former stylist makes unprompted claim he set Cassie up with Hollywood star Michael B Jordan
Sean 'Diddy' Combs's former stylist was keen for the court to know that he allegedly played matchmaker for Cassie Ventura and Hollywood A-lister Michael B Jordan. Deonte Nash did not wait for the defense attorney to finish their question on Thursday, before offering up the information unprompted to the court. The celebrity stylist, who worked for both Combs and Ventura, was being cross-examined about events in 2015, when Ventura was in South Africa shooting a film. As attorney Xavier Donaldson began a question about how Ventura got approval from Combs to shoot the film, Nash cut him off, replying: 'Yes, I did hook her up with Michael B. Jordan. I know where we're going with this,' according to the Washington Post. 'He fine, she fine. I mean why not?' he added. Judge Arun Subramanian told Nash to wait for attorneys to finish their questions before offering information. Nash said that while on the South African shoot, Ventura had found out that Combs had been with another woman, referred to as Gina, but was not as jealous as the defense had previously suggested. 'Honestly, she wasn't that pressed about Gina,' he said. Gina is the pseudonym that one of Combs' alleged victims is being referred to at trial. She had been slated to testify but had a change of heart in the lead up to trial. However, he said, she was concerned about the impact of Combs 'running around with other women' might have on her career. Jealousy may have run the other way however, Nash testified, claiming that Combs contacted him and Ventura when he discovered she was dating Jordan. On Wednesday, Nash testified that he witnessed Combs' violence against his ex-girlfriend firsthand, saying that he and Ventura hid from Combs "too many times to count.' Combs is facing sex trafficking, transportation to engage in prostitution, and racketeering conspiracy charges. The mogul was arrested in September 2024 as federal authorities alleged he threatened, abused, and coerced victims 'to fulfill his sexual desires' between 2004 and 2024. Combs has denied any accusations of wrongdoing.
Hans India
3 days ago
- Hans India
Massive child trafficking racket busted in Suryapet
Suryapet: In a major breakthrough, the Suryapet police busted an illegal child adoption and trafficking racket, arresting 13 individuals and rescuing 10 children from various locations in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. The accused were part of a well-organized gang involved in illegal adoption and trafficking of children, particularly targeting poor families. They took advantage of vulnerable situations and lured parents under the pretense of care and adoption. These activities were in clear violation of the Juvenile Justice (JJ) Act, 2015. Children aged between 10 days and 10 years During the operation carried out on May 28, 2025, police teams rescued 10 children – 7 boys and 3 girls – from areas such as Suryapet town, Nalgonda, Tekumatla, and Vijayawada. The children ranged in age from just 10 days old to 10 years. 13 accused arrested The arrested include auto drivers, housewives, nurses, and brokers, all playing different roles in the child trafficking network. er 173/2025 with relevant sections of the JJ Act and BNS, and further investigations are ongoing. The rescued children are being handed over to child welfare authorities for proper care and rehabilitation.
Economic Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Economic Times
RITES shares in focus after signing MoU with Shree Cement
Shares of RITES are likely to be in focus on Thursday after the company announced it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Shree Cement. The agreement pertains to the development of rail infrastructure and allied services. ADVERTISEMENT In a regulatory filing, RITES informed the exchanges about the MoU, stating that the collaboration aims to facilitate infrastructure-related services in the rail sector. 'Pursuant to Regulation 30 of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015, we hereby inform you that RITES has entered into an MoU with M/s Shree Cement Limited for the development of rail infrastructure and allied services,' the company said. No additional details regarding the contract size were the past one year, shares of RITES have declined by 19.12%. In the last six months, the stock has seen a marginal dip of 0.86%. However, short-term performance has been strong, with a 35.16% gain over the past three months and a 22.91% rise in the last one month. ADVERTISEMENT On Wednesday, RITES shares closed 3.95% higher at Rs 287.45 on the NSE.(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times) (You can now subscribe to our ETMarkets WhatsApp channel)
Telegraph
4 days ago
- General
- Telegraph
After 40 years as a cat person, I've abandoned them for dogs
When we got our first dog in 2015, there was much talk within the media about the scourge of loneliness and social isolation. The more time we spent on our phones in this modern world, the less we knew how to interact in real life. And we were suffering accordingly. But thanks to Missy, a border terrier I sourced, as it happened, on my phone, I found that people are still only too eager to talk to strangers; they just need an excuse to do so. And nothing quite facilitates easy conversation better than walking your dog in a park. I was in my mid-40s when we got her, and she was, at least initially, an unknowable thing to me: over-friendly, over-eager, tauntingly tireless. I'd previously been a cat person, drawn to their aloof independence, and the fact that they could treat you the way Zsa Zsa Gabor occasionally did her husbands. I liked that, for some reason. The dog, in comparison, was a love bomb, always exploding in your face. She arrived at a stage in my life – specifically, midlife – when I was beginning, with palpable relief, to extricate myself from certain friendships, while lamenting those that just seemed to unravel of their own accord. But the dog then led me, without fanfare, into an entirely new social circle, comprised of people I'd never have encountered, much less befriended, without her. Over the next 10 years, she would open up the world in all sorts of ways, a beguiling companion at home, and a perpetual liability outdoors. She'd require me first to interact with strangers, then apologise to them as and when needed, which was often. Like the time she knocked a little girl flying while in pursuit of a pigeon, her mother distinctly unimpressed, or the homeless man whose Greggs' sausage roll she daringly swiped. I'd routinely watch her waltz off with total strangers simply because they had better treats than me, and occasionally stood helpless as she darted out into oncoming traffic because it seemed a good idea at the time. Life with her has been complicated, certainly, but rarely dull. Find your tribe In the small neighbourhood park I'd previously blithely ignored, I found endless drama and incident, and fell in with people who were young and old, and from every conceivable background, each eager to connect. It was here where a graffiti artist, with a limping pug, offered me an unsolicited TED talk on the benefits of investing in bitcoin one morning, while on another I walked with a stoned martial arts enthusiast – barefoot alongside his majestic Akita – to help him look for his shoes, 'which I seem to have misplaced'. I watched arguments erupt and quickly settle, new love blossom, and offered solace to those for whom it had ended. People with dogs seem to talk more openly than those without. While our pets mooched about us, they shared their anxieties, the trials of menopause, their myriad gripes and grouches. It felt lovely to be taken into quite so many confidences, and we became a community. True, I don't think any of us ever met outside the park, and we didn't always learn each other's name quite as quickly as we did the dogs', but within here we had each other's backs. When, for example, the man with Alzheimer's continued to turn up long after his own border terrier had died, and advancements in his condition became increasingly evident, one of us always silently volunteered to walk him home again afterwards. And when we encountered an emotional woman crying into her poodle's fur, the group offered her refuge from her abusive relationship, then helped her to break free from it completely. If ever I lost faith in humanity, I need only come back here to see it restored. Train your dog to obey I would come quickly to learn that getting a dog is much like having a baby. Everyone has an opinion on how you are raising it, and are quick to tell you where you're going wrong. 'Get a firmer grip,' they said. 'Teach her to obey you.' 'Ha,' I replied. 'Good one.' One July, we went to the river to cool off, only to watch – horrified – as Missy was swept away in the water's current in pursuit of a tennis ball that hadn't been thrown for her. The further she drifted, the louder we cried. A crowd gathered. 'You want to control her,' someone chided. 'That's my dog's ball,' said another. We called out to her, but she suffers from selective hearing. Her focus was entirely on the ball. The more she tried to bite it, the further away it bobbed. You'd think she'd give up, but no. Terriers. A large cruise boat loomed into view. This was getting serious. My wife spotted a kayaker, and pleaded for his help. Cheers rose from the crowd. We'd become the afternoon's entertainment, folk abandoning their barbecues to watch. The kayaker paddled fast, grabbed her, then clamped her tight between his thighs. In this way, a life was saved. The reunion was tearful, the kayaker awkward amid the gratitude. And then the cheers turned to jeers. Missy had waded back into the water. The tennis ball was still out there, unclaimed. 'That's my ball,' the lady next to me said again. Be in the moment It's an unavoidably sad fact that our animals age much faster than we do. When Missy was a puppy, I was still clinging hard to youthful energy levels, but both of us have been through much in the intervening years – existential crises (me), clogged anal glands (her) – and it shows on both of us. We've each got grey in our muzzles, both increasingly set in our ways. And our daily walks have become a battle of wills. We don't meet with the same crew any more – some have moved on, a few have died – and Missy doesn't like the newer arrivals. There've been incidents, fights. And so now we head elsewhere. But while I turn right, she veers left. Often, in the middle of the road, she will simply stop, impervious both to the encroaching traffic and to my pulling on the lead, happy to allow her neck to extend like a giraffe's in order to exert her will. I try to stare her out, but she doesn't blink. She leads me instead to a nearby cemetery, where it's quieter. Here amongst the gravestones, I contemplate my mortality while she sniffs every blade of grass at least twice, then lies down. Time slows. At first, this tested my patience greatly – I've things to do, deadlines to meet – but now I've given into it, embraced the mindfulness of it all. Away from my desk for a blessed hour, I take in the trees and the birds, and I feel almost, almost, at peace. Of course, the moment we get home, all is forgiven between us. Her eyes brighten, her tail wags, and she smiles up at me (I swear she smiles). Truly, I'd be lost without her. She's my constant companion, my significant other.
