> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.dune.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Cardano Data

> Cardano blockchain data on Dune

## What is Cardano?

Cardano is an open-source, proof-of-stake blockchain platform designed for security, scalability, and sustainability. Built on peer-reviewed academic research and developed using the Haskell programming language, Cardano uses the Ouroboros consensus protocol — the first provably secure proof-of-stake protocol. The platform supports smart contracts through Plutus (based on Haskell) and Marlowe (a domain-specific language for financial contracts), and uses an extended UTXO (eUTXO) model that combines the security benefits of Bitcoin's UTXO model with the programmability of account-based systems.

Cardano's native token, ADA, is used for transaction fees, staking, and governance participation. The smallest unit of ADA is called a **lovelace** (1 ADA = 1,000,000 lovelace).

## Key Concepts of Cardano

### **Extended UTXO Model (eUTXO)**

Unlike account-based blockchains, Cardano uses an extended UTXO model where each transaction consumes unspent outputs and produces new ones. This model enables deterministic transaction execution — users can verify the outcome of a transaction before submitting it. The "extended" part allows UTXOs to carry arbitrary data (datums) and be locked by scripts (validators).

### **Epochs and Slots**

Cardano divides time into **epochs** (approximately 5 days each), which are subdivided into **slots** (1 second each). A block can be produced in each slot by a slot leader selected through the Ouroboros protocol. This structure governs staking rewards, delegation cycles, and governance timelines.

### **Staking and Delegation**

ADA holders can delegate their stake to stake pools without locking their funds. Staking rewards are calculated per epoch based on the amount of stake delegated to a pool. The `epoch_stake` and `pool_reward` tables provide visibility into delegation snapshots and reward distributions.

### **Native Assets**

Cardano supports native multi-asset functionality at the ledger level — tokens are treated as first-class citizens alongside ADA without requiring smart contracts. Each native asset is identified by a **policy ID** (the hash of the minting policy script) and an **asset name**. The `asset_mint` and `asset_data` tables track minting events and token metadata.

### **Plutus Smart Contracts**

Cardano smart contracts (validators) are written in Plutus and executed on-chain when UTXOs guarded by scripts are consumed. Transaction scripts include redeemers (input data to the script) and datums (data attached to UTXOs). The `transaction_scripts` table captures script execution details including resource consumption.

### **On-Chain Governance (CIP-1694)**

Cardano's Voltaire era introduced on-chain governance, allowing ADA holders, stake pool operators, and a constitutional committee to vote on governance actions such as protocol parameter changes, treasury withdrawals, and hard forks. The `gov_action_proposal`, `gov_action_vote`, and `gov_action_proposal_status` tables provide full visibility into governance activity.

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Cardano documentation" icon="link" href="https://docs.cardano.org">
    Explore comprehensive documentation of Cardano, detailing its architecture, protocol, and resources for developers.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Cardano explorer" icon="magnifying-glass" href="https://cardanoscan.io">
    Browse blocks, transactions, and stake pools on Cardano's block explorer.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Cardano Data on Dune

Cardano data on Dune covers core ledger activity (blocks, transactions, UTXOs), native assets, staking and rewards, smart contract execution, and on-chain governance. Here are the Cardano tables available on Dune:

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Blocks" icon="cube" href="/data-catalog/cardano/block">
    Block-level data including epoch, slot, transaction counts, total output, and fees.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Transactions" icon="message-arrow-up" href="/data-catalog/cardano/transaction">
    Transaction details including fees, validity status, and input/output counts.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Address UTXOs" icon="wallet" href="/data-catalog/cardano/address_utxo">
    Unspent transaction outputs with asset details, addresses, datums, and script references.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Transaction Inputs" icon="arrow-right-to-bracket" href="/data-catalog/cardano/tx_input">
    Records of UTXO consumption, linking spent outputs to the transactions that spend them.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Epoch Stake" icon="layer-group" href="/data-catalog/cardano/epoch_stake">
    Per-epoch stake delegation snapshots showing stake amounts and pool assignments.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Pool Rewards" icon="coins" href="/data-catalog/cardano/pool_reward">
    Staking reward distributions per epoch, including reward type and pool information.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Asset Mints" icon="fire" href="/data-catalog/cardano/asset_mint">
    Native asset minting and burning events with policy IDs and quantities.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Asset Data" icon="tag" href="/data-catalog/cardano/asset_data">
    Token metadata including name, ticker, decimals, and price information.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Transaction Scripts" icon="code" href="/data-catalog/cardano/transaction_scripts">
    Plutus and native script executions with redeemer data and resource consumption.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Smart Contract Registry" icon="book" href="/data-catalog/cardano/smart_contract_registry">
    Registry of known smart contracts with project names, categories, and script languages.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Transaction Metadata" icon="memo" href="/data-catalog/cardano/transaction_metadata">
    Arbitrary JSON metadata attached to transactions via metadata labels.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Governance Proposals" icon="scroll" href="/data-catalog/cardano/gov_action_proposal">
    On-chain governance action proposals including type, deposit, and anchor details.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Governance Votes" icon="check-to-slot" href="/data-catalog/cardano/gov_action_vote">
    Votes cast on governance proposals by DReps, SPOs, and the constitutional committee.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Governance Proposal Status" icon="chart-bar" href="/data-catalog/cardano/gov_action_proposal_status">
    Current status and voting statistics for governance proposals.
  </Card>

  <Card title="ADA Pot" icon="vault" href="/data-catalog/cardano/adapot">
    Per-epoch ADA supply distribution across treasury, reserves, UTXO, and reward pots.
  </Card>

  <Card title="DRep Distribution" icon="users" href="/data-catalog/cardano/drep_dist_enriched">
    Delegated representative voting power distribution and metadata per epoch.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Off-Chain Pool Data" icon="server" href="/data-catalog/cardano/off_chain_pool_data">
    Stake pool off-chain metadata including ticker, name, description, and homepage.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>