Cardano vs Algorand

General

Description

Cardano Logo
Cardano
 (ADA)

Cardano, similar to Ethereum, is a blockchain platform designed for running smart contracts. It operates on a proof-of-stake consensus mechanism, making it particularly energy-efficient. The technology is developed and rigorously reviewed by a network of academics and researchers, following a peer-review process.

Cardano overview
Algorand Logo
Algorand
 (ALGO)

Algorand is another smart contract platform aiming to solve the blockchain trilemma: achieving scalability, security, and decentralization without compromising any of these factors. It seeks to accomplish this through several technical innovations, including its “Pure Proof of Stake” consensus algorithm. Algorand is therefore seen as a direct competitor to Ethereum.

Algorand overview

Purpose and goals

Cardano Logo
Cardano
 (ADA)
  • Smart contract platform
  • Decentralized finance (DeFi)
  • Decentralized applications
Algorand Logo
Algorand
 (ALGO)
  • Smart contract platform
  • Fast transactions
  • High scalability

Price and market data

Price chart

Cardano
 (ADA)

$0.923

+19.47%
Algorand
 (ALGO)

$0.255

+1.22%
Market data
CardanoAlgorand
Market cap
$33.67B
$2.23B
Market share
0.84%
0.056%
Current price

$0.92

-$0.039-4.23%

$0.26

-$0.010-4.10%
ADA converterALGO converter
All-time high
$3.09
Sep 02, 2021-70.00%
$3.56
Jun 20, 2019-92.81%
Crypto all-time highs
Cycle low
$0.23
+293.80%Jun 10, 2023
$0.085
+200.76%Aug 17, 2023
Prediction for 2025
Powered by AI
$1.83
+97.89%
$0.46
+79.36%
ADA predictionALGO prediction
Momentum
Neutral
NegativePositive
Neutral
Negative
NegativePositive
Negative
Relative Strength Index
Neutral
BuySell
Neutral (68.75)
Neutral
BuySell
Neutral (52.93)
Price trend
Positive
(17/30 days)
Negative
(16/30 days)
Price performance
+173.48%
+112.27%
Price performance
-4.11%
-34.33%
Price performance
+12.04%
-11.74%
Price performance
+19.47%
+1.22%
Price performance
-4.23%
-4.10%
Price performance
-0.81%
-1.28%
Annual return
+7.40%
-22.18%
Annual return
+42.81%
+48.58%
Annual return
+145.00%
+30.73%
ADA returnsALGO returns
Total return
+3,487.99%
2017 – 2025
-91.61%
2019 – 2025
Average annual return
+390.26%
+48.83%
Transaction volume
$2.64B
24h
$143.01M
24h
Max supply
45B
10B
Circulating supply
36.45B
8.72B
Inflation
0.023%
Year
6.74%
Year
Crypto inflation

On-chain data

Market data
CardanoAlgorand
Total Value Locked (TVL)
$421.06M
$80.39M
What is Total Value Locked?
Market cap/TVL (ratio)
79.97
27.72
Transactions (avg./day)
Active addresses (24h)
29,013

Our rating

Our rating
CardanoAlgorand
Our overall rating
Cardano
Algorand
How we evaluate cryptocurrencies

Our individual ratings

Risk
Cardano: 5 of 10
Risk (Cardano)
Algorand: 2 of 10
Risk (Algorand)
Cardano Logo
Algorand Logo
riskyless risky
Community
Cardano: 8 of 10
Community (Cardano)
Algorand: 5 of 10
Community (Algorand)
Cardano Logo
Algorand Logo
smalllarge
Hype & momentum
Cardano: 7 of 10
Hype & momentum (Cardano)
Algorand: 4 of 10
Hype & momentum (Algorand)
Cardano Logo
Algorand Logo
weakstrong
Active usage
Cardano: 3 of 10
Active usage (Cardano)
Algorand: 2 of 10
Active usage (Algorand)
Cardano Logo
Algorand Logo
lowhigh
Network effect
Cardano: 2 of 10
Network effect (Cardano)
Algorand: 1 of 10
Network effect (Algorand)
Cardano Logo
Algorand Logo
weakstrong
Decentralization
Cardano: 5 of 10
Decentralization (Cardano)
Algorand: 3 of 10
Decentralization (Algorand)
Cardano Logo
Algorand Logo
centralizeddecentralized

Our opinion

Cardano Logo
Cardano
 (ADA)
Cardano has solid technical foundations and an intriguing scientific approach. The problem: development is often too slow for the fast-moving crypto space, and this shows in its lack of real adoption. While competitors like Solana or Avalanche rapidly ship features and attract developers, Cardano has relatively little Total Value Locked (TVL) and few active projects despite having smart contracts since 2021. The DeFi ecosystem exists on paper, but most developers are still building elsewhere. The scientific approach may be theoretically superior — but without genuine adoption, it remains an academic exercise.
Cardano overview
Algorand Logo
Algorand
 (ALGO)
Algorand is taking an interesting technological approach and could evolve into an exciting project in the future. Its founder, MIT professor and computer scientist Silvio Micali, is considered a brilliant mind in the field, having been awarded the Turing Award in 2012—the highest honor in computer science. Several well-known investors have already backed the project through multiple funding rounds to support development and marketing efforts. However, we must always look at the current reality: from our perspective, Algorand is currently one of the weaker competitors to Ethereum, as network usage remains far below where it needs to be. Only a handful of projects are actively building on Algorand at present, which tempers our optimism, especially given the fierce competition in the smart contract platform sector.
Algorand overview

Details

Info
CardanoAlgorand
Founder
Charles Hoskinson
Silvio Micali
Developer
Cardano Foundation, IOHK, Emurgo
Algorand Foundation
Published
2017
2017
Open source
Yes
Yes
Sector
Smart Contracts
Smart Contracts
Key feature
Scientific Approach
Performance
Blockchain
Cardano Blockchain
Algorand Blockchain
Staking
Yes
Yes
Consensus mechanism
Proof of Stake (Ouroboros)
Pure Proof of Stake
Energy consumption
Low
Low
Transactions per second
250 TPS
10,000 TPS
Institutional investors
  • Cognitive Blockchain Capital
  • Union Square Ventures
  • Polybius Capital
  • Multicoin Capital
  • NEO Global Capital
  • Arrington XRP Capital
  • Foundation Capital
  • etc.
Community
840,187 followers
358,865 followers
Website
cardano.org
algorand.co
Whitepaper
Whitepaper
Whitepaper
Cardano vs Algorand

Cardano or Algorand

Market data comparison of ADA versus ALGO

The current price of Cardano is $0.92 and has decreased by in the last 24 hours. Algorand is currently trading at $0.26, with a drop of over the same period. Cardano has a market cap of $33.67B and ranks 9th. Algorand follows with a market cap of $2.23B, ranking 58th — meaning it is valued lower.

We automatically update all market data every 15 minutes, so you always have the latest figures for your comparison.

Should I buy Cardano or Algorand?

You should be aware that investing in cryptocurrencies carries risks, and we are neither allowed nor intending to provide investment advice. Still, we'd like to offer some food for thought: consider the opportunities and risks associated with both Cardano and Algorand. What target markets and problems are these two projects aiming to address?

If you're still unsure whether to invest in Cardano or Algorand, you can take a look at some additional market data to help with your decision:

Currently, Cardano is about below it's all-time high of $3.09 reached on Sep 02, 2021.
In comparison, Algorand is down approximately from it's all-time high of $3.56 on Jun 20, 2019.
Cardano currently has a 1,746.78% higher 24h transaction volume of $2.64B compared to Algorand with $143.01M.
Over the past year, Cardano achieved a total return of , while Algorand returned . Keep in mind, however, that past performance rarely guarantees future results.

Additional criteria for comparing cryptocurrencies:

  • What problem does the project aim to solve, and is a decentralized network meaningful and necessary for it?
  • How actively is the network being used?
  • Does the project have a large and active community?
  • How strong is the development activity? (e.g., on GitHub)
  • How decentralized is the underlying blockchain and the project itself?

How we evaluate cryptocurrencies

These are just a few indicators you can use to better evaluate and compare cryptocurrencies like Cardano and Algorand. Cryptocurrencies and their underlying technologies are often difficult to compare — even for professionals. So don’t stress yourself out, and never let emotions or fear of missing out drive your investment decisions.

Where can I buy Cardano or Algorand?

Today, there are many reputable and secure exchanges that make it easy to invest in Cardano and Algorand. We're happy to help you choose the right one: simply use our exchange comparison tool to find the platform that best suits your needs. Both Cardano and Algorand are well-known and in high demand, which means they're available on most major exchanges.

Crypto exchanges comparison

Which crypto wallet is best for Cardano and Algorand?

If you want to store cryptocurrencies like Cardano or Algorand yourself, choosing the right wallet is essential. Consider your personal preferences when deciding: Is ease of use important to you? Do you prefer maximum security with a hardware wallet (USB device), or is a software wallet sufficient for your needs? Our crypto wallet comparison helps you find the best wallet for Cardano, Algorand, and many other cryptocurrencies.

Crypto wallets comparison

How does our comparison work?

Data & Interfaces

Our market data is automatically updated every 15 minutes. This means you can always use the latest data for your comparisons. We obtain the data through web interfaces (API) from CoinGecko, Santiment, DefiLlama, CoinCodex and many more

Research & Deepdive

We regularly sift through a jungle of technical whitepapers, websites, social media and forums for you. In doing so, we filter out essential and relevant information in order to present it to you clearly and comprehensibly in our comparison

Analysis & Valuation

We research and use analysis tools for blockchains and their networks, to form a fact-based foundation for our valuation. Please note that this is not an investment recommendation, but merely our personal opinion.

Community & Feedback

We check our information every 1-2 months to ensure it is up to date and correct. With the help of our community, we can find outdated or incorrect data even faster. Of course, we also welcome your feedback or suggestions for improvement!

Our data on cryptocurrencies was last updated on 2025-08-18T23:50:33.036172+00:00. Sources: CoinGecko, santiment.net, defillama.com, coincodex.com.

The content on this website is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, legal, or tax advice. It should not be interpreted as a guarantee of future price developments or as an invitation to act. All visitors are responsible for independently verifying any information before using a listed service. Trading cryptocurrencies involves significant risk and may result in the total loss of your invested capital. Past performance is not indicative of future results. We do not assume any liability for the timeliness, accuracy, or completeness of the information provided, including third-party content. Some of the links on this website are affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service through one of these links, we may receive a commission — at no additional cost to you. All actions are taken at your own risk.