Cardano Announces ‘Alonzo’ Upgrade Launch Date; Price Jumps 16%

Cardano Announces ‘Alonzo’ Upgrade Launch Date; Price Jumps 16%

Cardano (ADA) jumped past $2 for the first time in nearly three months as the blockchain’s chief developer announced a September release date for the planned “Alonzo” upgrade – a move that would usher in smart-contract functionality and thus address what critics have described as one of the network’s most glaring deficiencies.

Smart-contract functionality would allow Cardano to incorporate more applications including so-called decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms that allow for automated cryptocurrency lending and trading. The improvement could put the network in a better position to challenge Ethereum, currently the leader among blockchains with smart-contract functionality.