The wave of crypto optimism we've seen this year hasn't done much for Cardano (ADA +4.32%). The smart contract crypto's price is down 50% year over year and, at $0.41, is worth about 86% less than its September 2021 high of over $3.
However, Cardano still has considerable potential long-term. A flurry of announcements made during and around this month's Cardano Summit 2025 in Berlin indicates that the project is addressing its own issues and engaging with real-world problems. Nothing is certain in cryptocurrency investing, but in five or 10 years, that entry point around $0.40 could look like a bargain.
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Here are three key aspects of the summit that crypto investors should be aware of.
1. The Cardano Card is here
Cardano cardholders will be able to spend Cardano's ADA along with other popular cryptocurrencies and stablecoins, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and USD Coin. It's the result of a partnership between Emurgo, the commercial arm of Cardano, and Wirex, a digital-payments platform with over 6 million users.
CRYPTO: ADA
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In addition to spending and earning crypto rewards with the card, users will be able to access decentralized finance (DeFi) services, including loans and yield generation. Teaming up with Wirex and launching a crypto card could increase Cardano's visibility and add utility for investors. There are also plans to expand and eventually offer non-custodial card accounts.
2. AI and blockchain are a powerful combo
Artificial intelligence (AI) is on everybody's minds this year, so it's not surprising that it dominated the summit agenda. The ways that AI and the blockchain interact are noteworthy for all crypto investors, regardless of whether they hold Cardano. In essence, the transparent and verifiable nature of the blockchain could add trust to various aspects of AI processes.
That's where the Masumi Network comes in. Masumi is a Cardano-based protocol that focuses on enabling AI agents to collaborate effectively. AI agents are specific AI software systems. They utilize the blockchain to verify identities, enabling AI agents to make and receive payments.
It's hardly surprising that members of the Masumi team had a lot to contribute on the Cardano stage. Masumi opted to use Cardano because it's decentralized, scalable, and capable of processing a large number of transactions simultaneously.
Coinbase (COIN +6.47%) launched x402 earlier this year. Designed to work on multiple blockchains, it enables the embedding of digital payments into code, allowing developers and AI agents to transfer money instantly online. Coinbase says these on-chain payments cost less than $0.0001 -- significantly less than other methods.
The developers at Masumi recently announced they'd added a layer of identity and trust to the x402 payment rails. Masumi released a x402 meme coin mint as a proof of concept.
While other cryptocurrencies are using x402, Masumi's product takes it a step further, with verifiable payments and refund mechanisms. It means one AI agent would be able to pay another AI agent in a credible and trackable way.
Developments that drive more on-chain activity are particularly important for Cardano, as its DeFi usage lags behind that of its competitors. DefiLlama shows applications on Cardano have around $230 million of funds, compared to market leader Ethereum, which has over $72 billion. There's some debate about how those metrics are calculated, but that huge gap makes projects like Masumi crucial.
3. Digital identities matter
At its core, Web3 empowers individuals to own and control their own data. While discussions have long been in the pipeline, Web3 hasn't gained that much traction, partly because the current system makes online activity easy and convenient. However, as attitudes and laws change, the time when tech giants and other companies store huge amounts of personal information may be coming to an end.
At the summit, the Cardano Foundation released a Blockchain Research report on the new digital economy. Using real-world examples, it argues that people need a new way of thinking that supports their digital infrastructure. That includes the ways they handle compliance and who is authorized to approve credentials.
Cardano has its eyes on the future
Cardano gets its fair share of criticism in the crypto community. At the risk of oversimplifying, Cardano often prioritizes doing things right and building strong foundations over being first and popular. It is unclear whether that approach will ultimately prevail in the fast-paced world of cryptocurrencies.
What is clear is that there's a huge breadth of knowledge and experience in the Cardano community. Like any crypto project, Cardano may fail -- which is why high-risk assets like crypto should only make up a small percentage of your portfolio. However, Cardano remains a serious project that engages with some of the very real issues people face today.
