Cardano not only facilitates peer-to-peer transactions and enables smart contracts, but also is a platform for launching projects and bringing innovative ideas to life.

Since smart contracts went live on the Cardano network in September 2021, more and more projects have launched or migrated to the blockchain. The network now supports over 200 projects — a number that we believe will increase tremendously over the course of 2022.

Cardano’s recent developments have opened up a wealth of opportunities for Cardano supporters and blockchain entrepreneurs, as the network’s speed and scalability make it a perfect platform for developing innovative ideas. Indeed, these are exciting times. And as Cardano’s leading launchpad, we couldn’t be more excited at KICK.

In Part 3 of our Cardano Ecosystem Series of articles, we’re going to take a look at some of our favorite Cardano projects. These projects will transform their respective industries for the better while helping to elevate Cardano’s place in the world of crypto.

• Check out Part 1 of our Cardano Ecosystem Series.
• Check out Part 2 of our Cardano Ecosystem Series.

Ardana

Ardana (DANA) is a decentralized exchange stable asset liquidity pool and a stablecoin protocol that is fully asset-backed. To make the exchange of stablecoins more efficient, it is overcollateralized using assets that are native to Cardano. The goal is to allow for the minting of a stablecoin known as sUSD based on the US dollar with ADA as its collateral.

The Ardana team consists of talent from some of the top tech and finance companies in the world, including Microsoft, Apple, the Central Bank of Jordan, Barclays, and Jane Street.

MuesliSwap

MuesliSwap is a decentralized exchange that enables users to swap tokens, earn and invest with ease. All you have to do to begin trading is connect your wallet to the platform. Applying the order book model used by traditional stock exchanges, MuesliSwap provides crypto traders with advanced features, like limit orders and stop losses — which is quite impressive for a DEX.

MuesliSwap hosted their IDO on KICK.IO, and they had a very successful sale. They sold 235,837 MILK, their governance token.

Sundaeswap

This decentralized exchange essentially creates a way for participants to generate liquidity. It will also help people exchange their tokens through the creation of a market. One thing to consider is that you’ll have to pay a minor fee upon making a swap, whereas you can get a return on your deposit for providing liquidity.

The goal is for Sundaeswap to eventually become the top DEX on Cardano. The creators of the project also hope that Sundaeswap will eventually become one of the top IDO hubs on the blockchain.

Checkpoint

Checkpoint is perhaps one of the most unique projects on Cardano at the moment. A web 3.0 content pioneer, Checkpoint is a digitally interactive media brand in the metaverse that examines the role of video games in society. More specifically, Checkpoint aims to use video games to enact positive change.

The Checkpoint Hub in the Multiverse has already been built, so you can go check it out here for yourself. The Checkpoint IDO will take place on KICK soon, and users will be able to invest in LOAD tokens (Checkpoint’s governance token).

Drunken Dragon Games

Axie Infinity has taken the world by storm, but Drunken Dragon Games is hoping to one-up their success up until this point. As you may have guessed, Drunken Dragon Games is based on the Cardano chain, and it is based around the collection of pixel tiles, which are fungible tokens.

Pixel tiles are essentially player characters that get sent on quests, though some tiles also represent decorations that can be used to spruce up the inn or tavern that they inhabit. Each pixel tile has its own advantages and disadvantages, but all are designed to be balanced with one another.

At launch, the game featured 10,000 exclusive adventurers that were made for Drunken Dragon Games’ early investors.

Flickto

A Cardano-powered community media incubator, Flickto aims to solve two major challenges for content producers: funding and financing. Using the unique benefits within the Cardano ecosystem, Flickto engages the community to sponsor and fund new media projects, whether that be an independent film or YouTube show.

Flickto hosted their IDO on KICK.IO as well, and had a ton of success. They sold out of their initial allocation and held an extension round. We look forward to seeing how they progress this year, as many of us in the KICK community have invested in the project.

Meld

This lending protocol is designed to be trustless and decentralized, and it works using smart contracts. The token that governs the protocol is the MELD token. The goal of this project is to allow people to use crypto so that they get immediate cash loans.

However, Meld also promises to allow the leveraging of fiat investments by investors so that they can benefit from higher returns. There are even debit cards produced by Meld, which can be used to get a line of credit using your investments in the crypto space.

Finally, this DeFi protocol also allows users to borrow and lend tokens on the Cardano chain.

Empowa

Empowa’s goal is to make it easier to afford housing in Africa, particularly in Mozambique. Empowa deems itself a RealFi platform.

Empowa works by allowing for property development that is decentralized, though it also incorporates a facet of digital collectibles. The goal is to allow people to access a financial system when they may not otherwise have access to it based on where they live or their life circumstances.

Adadao

A DeFi protocol on the Cardano blockchain, Adadao facilitates the creation of fully collateralized stablecoins leveraging native Cardano assets. The protocol advertises itself as the first stablecoin project based on interest free borrowing, with every AUSD stablecoin backed by on-chain collateral. Adadao is completely decentralized and based on smart contracts.

Adadao recently held their IDO on KICK too, having a good deal of success. Clearly, there’s a ton of interest in an interest-free stablecoin.