Cardano Day Trading 2025 – Tutorial & Brokers
Cardano, also known as the Japanese Ethereum, is one of the most popular crypto coins by market cap. But what is Cardano and how does it work? In this article, we’ve explained all there is to know about this ambitious altcoin, including how to buy it, whether it is a good investment, and future price forecasts. We’ve also listed some of the best brokers for trading Cardano.
Cardano Brokers & Exchanges
Here is a short overview of each broker's pros and cons
- Dukascopy - Dukascopy facilitates day trading on popular cryptos like Bitcoin against the US Dollar. You can go long or short with leverage up to 1:5. Unusually, clients of Dukascopy are also protected to the tune of CHF 100'000 in the event of brokerage insolvency.
- Uphold - You can buy and sell 250+ crypto assets with fiat currencies or in crypto pairs using the straightforward mobile app or through Uphold's browser-based account homepage. This is significantly more than many rivals. You can also earn up to 16% APY by staking one or more out of 32 valid tokens, or send tokens to an external wallet.
- CEX.IO - CEX.IO offers hundreds of popular cryptocurrencies including big names like Bitcoin, Ethereum and Litecoin. The trading platform is well-designed with sophisticated charting and analysis tools, including 50+ in-built indicators. Traders can also reduce their monthly volumes through the tiered pricing structure.
- Nexo - Nexo offers trading on an impressive suite of around 70 tokens, including Bitcoin. Digital assets can be bought, sold and swapped directly on the exchange or traded in over 500 pairs. Digital assets can also be used as collateral for fiat loans or used to generate passive income with the ‘smart staking’ tool or from interest earned via peer-to-peer loans.
- Kraken - Kraken is a specialized crypto exchange and supports more than 220 cryptocurrencies. These include all of the established tokens like Bitcoin as well as some altcoins. Traders can make trades on spot crypto markets with up to 1:5 leverage or on futures with up to 1:50. Fees are low and the platform is super easy to pick up.
- Pionex - Make spot, future and leveraged trades on 120 cryptocurrencies via Pionex's proprietary platform with built-in trading bots and highly customizable automated trading options. On the negative side, the range of tokens is narrower than many alternatives.
Dukascopy
"If you’re an experienced trader, Dukascopy provides the tools you need: JForex for algorithmic strategies, competitive spreads from 0.1 pips, leverage up to 1:200, and the peace of mind of using a Swiss-regulated bank and broker."
Christian Harris, Reviewer
Dukascopy Quick Facts
| Bonus Offer | 10% Equity Bonus |
|---|---|
| Coins | ADA, AVE, BAT, BCH, BTC, CMP, DSH, ENJ, EOS, ETH, LNK, LTC, MAT, MKR, TRX, UNI, XLM, YFI |
| Crypto Mining | No |
| Auto Market Maker | No |
| Crypto Spread | 0.1 |
| Crypto Lending | No |
| Crypto Staking | No |
| Platforms | JForex, MT4, MT5 |
| Minimum Deposit | $100 |
| Regulator | FINMA, JFSA, FCMC |
| Account Currencies | USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, NZD, JPY, ZAR, TRY, SEK, NOK, DKK, CHF, HKD, SGD, PLN, CZK, AED, SAR, HUF, MXN |
Pros
- The proprietary JForex platform is highly advanced, offering tools for algorithmic trading, extensive charting, and access to deep liquidity for short-term traders.
- Dukascopy features some of the best research we’ve seen, even a professional TV studio in Geneva covering financial news, market analysis, and daily insights from professionals.
- Dukascopy is regulated by the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) as both a broker and a bank, ensuring top-tier financial security and adherence to strict standards.
Cons
- While JForex is feature-rich, it has a steep learning curve, making it less suitable for beginner traders who might prefer simpler platforms.
- Dukascopy's withdrawal fees are higher than most competitors we’ve tested, particularly for bank wire transfers, which may deter traders who require frequent access to their funds.
- While Dukascopy provides some educational resources and 24/7 support, the complexity of its platforms and tools required extensive testing and may overwhelm newer traders.
Uphold
"Uphold remains a top choice for crypto investors looking for a one-stop-shop solution to accessing the markets. There are over 250 tokens to buy, sell and trade through flexible platform options."
Uphold Quick Facts
| Coins | BTC, BTCO, AAVE, ALCX, DYDX, INH, XYO, API3, GHST, LSK, AUDIO, GLMR, NMR, CAKE, GODS, REQ, CHR, TRB, DAO, ROOK, XRP, ETH, BAT, ADA, ALGO, ATOM, AVAX, AXS, BCH, BAL, BTG, CSPR, COMP, CRV, DASH, DCR, DGB, DOGE, DOT, EGLD and many more |
|---|---|
| Crypto Mining | No |
| Auto Market Maker | No |
| Crypto Spread | Up to 1.5% |
| Crypto Lending | No |
| Crypto Staking | Yes |
| Platforms | Desktop Platform, Mobile App |
| Minimum Deposit | $0 |
| Account Currencies | USD, EUR, GBP |
Pros
- Uphold continues to remain ahead of the industry, often being one of the first platforms to list new crypto tokens
- UK users can get the Uphold card with up to 2% cashback in XRP
- Uphold is 100% reserved which helps to protect client funds
Cons
- Customer service is slow based on tests, with limited contact options
- There is a 2.49% fee if you want to use debit or credit cards
- The charting analysis features on the platform trail specialist exchanges
CEX.IO
"CEX.IO continues to serve a range of crypto investors looking to buy, sell, trade, hold and earn with low fees. The tiered pricing structure will appeal to active traders while rookie investors will enjoy the straightforward platform interface and excellent education."
CEX.IO Quick Facts
| Coins | ZRX, 1INCH, AAVE, BTC, BCH, ADA, LINK, COMP, ATOM, DAI, DOGE, ETH, GUSD, ICP, LTC, LRC, MATIC, MKR, DOT, SHIB, SOL, XLM, SUSHI, SNX, USDT, XTZ, USDC, UNI, WBTC, ZIL |
|---|---|
| Crypto Mining | Yes |
| Auto Market Maker | No |
| Crypto Spread | 0.15% maker & 0.25% taker (Standard) |
| Crypto Lending | Yes |
| Crypto Staking | Yes |
| Platforms | TradingView |
| Minimum Deposit | $20 |
| Regulator | GFSC |
| Account Currencies | USD, EUR, GBP |
Pros
- The broker offers 24/7 support with fast response times during tests
- The range of 200+ cryptocurrencies is competitive and will serve more experienced traders
- The proprietary terminal features an advanced charting package from TradingView, including 50+ technical indicators
Cons
- The Exchange Plus platform delivers a cluttered interface compared to competitor platforms
- A maintenance fee applies after 12 months of no activity
- The broker has limited regulatory oversight
Nexo
"Nexo gives crypto traders the capability to trade, invest, lend and borrow digital assets in one place, and it’s especially good for its credit functions that pay out very high yields to lenders. However, its fees are relatively high and many day traders will prefer a more tightly regulated crypto broker."
Michael MacKenzie, Reviewer
Nexo Quick Facts
| Bonus Offer | Loyalty scheme with various bonuses, plus referral program and bonus paid to lenders on credit line |
|---|---|
| Coins | BTC, ETH, NEXO, USDT, USDC, AXS, RUNE, MATIC, DOT, APE, AVAX, KSM, ATOM, FTM, NEAR, BNB, ADA, SOL, XRP, LTC, LINK, BCH, TRX, XLM, EOS, PAXG, UNI, DOGE, MANA, SAND, GALA, SUSHI, AAVE, CRV, MKR, 1INCH, DAI, USDP, TUSD |
| Crypto Mining | No |
| Auto Market Maker | No |
| Crypto Spread | N/A |
| Crypto Lending | Yes |
| Crypto Staking | Yes |
| Platforms | Nexo Pro |
| Minimum Deposit | $10 |
| Account Currencies | USD, EUR, GBP |
Pros
- Reputable crypto exchange that has been in business since 2018 and has taken some steps toward regulation
- Value-add tools integrated into the trading platform including social media analysis and newsfeeds by asset
- Nexo’s crypto staking and credit features support crypto lending and borrowing, and the yields lenders receive are among the best going
Cons
- Very few educational resources are available, reducing its appeal to beginners who can find more helpful resources at category leaders like eToro
- Although Nexo has registered with some reputable watchdogs, it is riskier to trade with than established crypto brokers like AvaTrade and Vantage
- The range of tokens is extensive compared to most crypto brokers but still much smaller than similar crypto exchanges like Kraken
Kraken
"Kraken will suit traders looking for a diverse list of cryptos including Bitcoin and a good security track record."
Kraken Quick Facts
| Bonus Offer | Lower fees when trading volume exceeds $50,000 in 30 days |
|---|---|
| Coins | AAVE, ALGO, ANT, REP, REPV2, BAT, BAL, XBT, BCH, ADA, LINK, COMP, ATOM, CRV, DAI, DASH, MANA, XDG, EWT, EOS, ETH, ETC, FIL, FLOW, GNO, ICX, KAVA, KEEP, KSM, KNC, LSK, LTC, MLN, XMR, NANO, OCEAN, OMG, OXT, PAXG, DOT and many more |
| Crypto Mining | No |
| Auto Market Maker | No |
| Crypto Spread | 0-0.26% average |
| Crypto Lending | No |
| Crypto Staking | Yes |
| Platforms | AlgoTrader, Quantower |
| Minimum Deposit | $10 |
| Regulator | FCA, FinCEN, FINTRAC, AUSTRAC, FSA |
| Account Currencies | USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, JPY, CHF |
Pros
- Low minimum deposit of $10
- NFT marketplace and crypto staking available
- Mobile investing
Cons
- Slow verification process on Pro account
- Does not accept fiat deposits
- Does not support many newer altcoins
Pionex
"Pionex is an excellent option for crypto traders with an interest in cutting-edge AI like ChatGPT and automated trading."
Pionex Quick Facts
| Coins | BTC, LTC, ETH, BUSD, EOS, BTT, TRX, NFT, DOGE, XRP, HT, ALICE, FIL, DOT, JST, AXS, UNI, AAVE, WIN, SUN, CAKE, LINK, BAKE, BCH, ETC, SNX, TFUEL, ADA, PUNDIX, ICP, MDX, FLOW, DODO, MFT, BSV, MATIC, CSPR, SHIB, ATOM, SUSHI and many more |
|---|---|
| Crypto Mining | No |
| Auto Market Maker | No |
| Crypto Spread | Market |
| Crypto Lending | No |
| Crypto Staking | No |
| Platforms | Own |
| Minimum Deposit | $0 |
| Regulator | FinCEN |
Pros
- Excellent and innovative liquidity engines aggregated from Binance and Huobi
- 40+ cryptocurrency funding coins accepted
- Powerful integrated AI chatbot 'PionexGPT' helps users programme trading bots on Pine script
Cons
- Does not accept fiat deposits
- Weak regulatory oversight raises safety concerns
- Limited contact options
What Is Cardano?
Cardano is a cryptocurrency with the ticker symbol ADA, named after the mathematicians Gerlado Cardano and Ada Lovelace. Just like other cryptos, it uses blockchain technology to record transaction history.
Founder, Charles Hoskinson, was one of the original creators of Ethereum (ETH) but left the project following a disagreement with co-founder Vitalik Buterin over venture capital investment.
The coin launched in 2017. After its first round of investment, Cardano went public via an initial coin offering (ICO) with a market cap of $600 million, sparking interest within the community. The crypto is now worth over $48 billion and continues to beat its highest price record on a weekly basis.
Similar to Ethereum, Cardano’s aim is to run smart contracts which can be developed using the programming language, Javascript. ADA itself is written in Haskell.
Cardano has no official owner. It is a decentralized currency meaning every ADA holder has a stake in the Cardano network. It does not have a white paper, unlike most other altcoins, but instead is the first crypto to be peer-reviewed.
The Cardano Foundation set out its mission statement, with the core aim to increase adoption of the network. Cardano is a limited supply coin with a max of 45 billion ADA.
How Cardano Works
Cardano works by using a two-layer system. The first layer is called the Cardano Settlement Layer (CSL) which processes transactions in the ADA cryptocurrency. The second layer is known as the Control Layer, which is used to process the smart contracts.
Underpinning all of this is the Ouroboros algorithm. It is Ouroboros that uses the proof-of-stake protocol to mine coins. This means that rather than everyone mining new blocks all the time, the network elects a few nodes to mine the next block. For this reason, ADA is known as a 3rd generation cryptocurrency.
How To Start Trading Cardano
To start trading Cardano, you’ll need to select a broker that offers crypto. Popular platforms listing ADA include eToro, Binance, Coinbase and Gemini. There are a number of brokers that offer CFDs on cryptos which have benefits over owning the underlying asset, such as negating the requirement for an e-wallet to store your funds and are therefore the preferred choice for some traders. It’s worth shopping around for the best fees on offer. Many crypto brokers also offer joining bonuses to new traders.
Regulated brokers are subject to Know Your Customer (KYC) identity checks. So you’ll often need to provide a form of ID and a photograph before you can trade any substantial amount. Once you’ve been verified, you can purchase Cardano through most payment methods, including wire transfer and credit/debit card.
Broker functionality is also vital. If you’re looking to start day trading Cardano, you’ll likely be interested in the live 1-minute and 1-hour charts. For those looking for more long term investments, you can use the likes of Yahoo Finance and Google Trends to view charts over 5 years.
Pros Of Trading Cardano
- Development – ADA is undergoing constant development to resolve issues that restrict ETH and BTC. The ‘Goguen’ roadmap details vast plans for improvement with the aim of adding the ability to build decentralized applications (DAPPS). This has included the addition of a multi-currency ledger, Native Tokens and NFT marketplace functionality. The release date of Goguen was 1st March 2021 (AKA the Mary hard fork). Plus, a 2018 deal with the government in Ethiopia, Africa, allowed them to deploy throughout the country in various industries.
- Scaleable – Because Cardano uses a POS chain, it is much more scalable than other coins. With Bitcoin, all holders are mining the crypto all the time, making it incredibly resource intensive. The ADA network is different because it nominates a holder to mine during an epoch slot (a period of time). If the holder does not show up or mine, someone else will be reelected instead. ADA owners can increase the likelihood of being nominated to mine by adding their share to a stake pool. In this way, ADA is more environmentally friendly and scalable than competitors.
- The internet of blockchains – Currently, cryptocurrency is limited because while there are numerous coins available, they require an intermediate broker to allow you to exchange them. ADA has released a multi-currency ledger as part of the Goguen update which will allow you to store multiple currencies on one blockchain. This means that exchanging Litecoin (LTC) for Polkadot (DOT) will soon be possible on the Cardano network, making the crypto market as decentralised as possible.
- Governance – Cardano’s fresh take on project governance puts the power in the hands of ADA holders. Individuals with a stake in ADA can vote on the future of the platform. Ideas go through funding rounds as part of Project Catalyst. Fund 3 closed in March 2021 and Fund 4 is next to open. ADA holders can vote on ideas such as the ability to earn staking rewards from your ADA holdings while also generating yield from DeFi protocols or new blockchain explorers. In this way, Cardano curates an ecosystem where the robustness of the network is put front and centre.
Cons Of Trading Cardano
- Capability – Despite ambitious development plans, Cardano has yet to release many capabilities. Ethereum already has smart contracts, the main focus of ADA’s development. There’s a lot of hype about Cardano being better than the rest, but much of this progress has yet to materialise.
- Traction – Some investors would say that the low price means room to grow. But Cardano sitting outside the top two or three by market cap means that it is potentially suffering from a lack of adoption. As investors pile into the likes of Ethereum and Bitcoin, the smaller players are just not seeing the same traction. If the crypto race becomes a VHS vs Betamax game, those sitting further down the list have a lower chance of success.
Security
Cardano is provably secure, meaning that it has been mathematically proven. This security is guaranteed as long as 51% of the stake is held by honest participants, which are achieved through random leadership selection. However, its reliance on this fact means that it is technically not immune to 51% attacks, like the one that left Ethereum Classic vulnerable in early 2019.
If this happened, the blockchain would have to be forked, which risks losing ledger information. Despite this, an attack of this scale is unlikely. Currently, a 51% stake in ADA would require over $20bn in capital, making it an expensive game for hackers to undertake.
Price Prediction Tips
Since its ICO in 2017, there has been continued speculation around if and when Cardano will reach the $2, $3 and $4 mark.
Historically, the price has been fairly stable, hovering at around 10c or less since the first crypto bull run in 2017. But interest in the currency sparked again when the 2020 crypto breakout took off. This continued throughout February and March 2021, when the news that the Goguen release was confirmed, leading ADA to break the 1 dollar mark.
The latest long-term price prediction is that Cardano will continue to rise, as the crypto market becomes increasingly cemented and its long-term developments begin to materialise.
The forecast for 2025 is healthy. In general, predictors’ outlook suggests a continued bullish market for the next year is likely. However, beyond that, 5 and 10-year price predictions become much murkier. Some speculators think a bearish trend is due, just like the one seen after the 2017 surge. Others believe that ADA will reach 40 dollars by 2030. While the future is uncertain, the piqued interest in crypto means that volatility is likely.
Final Word On Trading Cardano
In conclusion, Cardano is a cryptocurrency with serious ambition. Its aim to resolve the faults that plague Bitcoin and Ethereum make it an attractive proposition for investors. With NFTs, Native Tokens and the so-called ‘internet of crypto’ all in the development pipeline, there’s a lot to be excited about. But it still has some way to go to match the adoption of the top altoins like BTC. Plus, the development of functionality has been slow. So, is Cardano a good investment for traders? That remains to be seen.
FAQ
Is Cardano Better Than Bitcoin?
Cardano developers have worked to overcome many of Bitcoin’s biggest faults. In particular, its proof-of-stake blockchain means reduced environmental impact vs BTC. The altcoin’s ambitions are vast, with smart contracts, native tokens and multi-currency ledgers in the pipeline. But, its market cap is much lower than Bitcoin, suggesting that adoption is not yet sufficiently strong to push it into the top tier.
What Is A Cardano Staking Pool?
A staking pool is a collection of Cardano holders that join together with the aim of being selected to stake the network. Staking is the process of validating transactions on the ADA blockchain. Those that do so can earn a return on their investment and so staking pools help coin holders maximise their returns.
Why Is The Cardano Ticker Symbol ADA?
Cardano’s founders named the ticker symbol after the mathematician Ada Lovelace. Lovelace is widely regarded as the first person to publish an algorithm that intended to be carried out by a machine.
Who Is The Founder Of Cardano?
Cardano was founded by Charles Hoskinson. Hoskinson was one of the co-founders of Ethereum but left following a disagreement about venture capital.
Is Cardano Decentralized?
Yes, Cardano is the world’s most decentralized cryptocurrency with over 21.75 billion ADA staked on the network which represents 69 per cent of its total circulating supply.