Cardano (ADA), the native token behind the eponymous proof-of-stake blockchain network, has become the fourth-largest cryptocurrency, reaching its highest peak on cryptocurrency ranking website CoinMarketCap.
It has now surpassed Ripple-affiliated XRP cryptocurrency for the first time. The token’s market cap has swelled to $21.7 billion.
The “Mary” hard fork
On Feb. 3, the team behind one of the fastest-growing cryptocurrency projects successfully rolled out the “Mary” hard fork that has transformed it into a multi-asset network and brought the network one step closer to transitioning to the Goguen era.
The process of tokenization is handled natively on the Cardano blockchain without deploying smart contracts. This sets it apart from rivaling Ethereum and its popular ERC-20 token standard.
Apart from the project’s active development, digital asset manager Grayscale registering a series of trusts for Cardano and other altcoins in late January could be yet another catalyst behind the sustained ADA momentum.
Cardano leaves Bitcoin Cash in the dust
Cardano is still 40 percent below its current all-time high of $1.18 that was reached on Jan. 4, 2018. Back that, the cryptocurrency peaked at fifth place with a market cap of $32.4 billion. Bitcoin Cash (BCH) was in fourth place with a market cap of $43.2 billion.
ADA’s recent ascent to fourth place coincided with Bitcoin Cash leaving the top 10 for the first time since its creation. The once-formidable Bitcoin fork is now sitting below Stellar (XLM).
BCH is currently down a staggering 87 percent from its all-time high of $3,785 reached on Dec. 20, 2017.
Valeria Blokhina
