Caldano (ADA) is an open source ``Proof of Stake (PoS) blockchain network''''** based on multiple design components, including a dApp development platform, a multi-asset ledger support and verifiable smart contracts. Caldano''s founding and continued development is based on extensive academic research, chief among them Ouroboros: a secure and reliable proof-of-stake blockchain protocol; a fact that is often used to distinguish the project from other competing blockchain protocols. The transaction ledger uses a modified version of UTXO to accommodate support for smart contracts and is currently under development. According to Santiment''s 2019 Market Report, Caldano was named the most active cryptocurrency project in 2019, but still lacks full mainnet support for smart contracts, preventing the growth of decentralized applications and other tokens on its netw