
Unlike most crypto logos, the Cardano logo is an emblem of mystique and intrigue. Crypto logos are generally quite self-explanatory. Need convincing? Think of some iconic cryptocurrency logos.
Bitcoin (BTC) is a white B on an orange background, while Dogecoin (DOGE) is a picture of Doge on a coin. These logos are efficient and instantly recognizable, but theyโre hardly a masterpiece of creative design.
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This guide will explore the Cardano logo’s enigmatic origins and why it was selected to represent Charles Hoskinsonโs third-generation layer one blockchain.
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What Is the Cardano Logo?
In case you werenโt aware, the Cardano logo is a network of dissipating blue circles. When sliced, the logo is multi-symmetrical. Given that Cardano is one of the top ten cryptocurrencies in the blockchain industry, it has become instantly recognizable by the crypto community.
What were the inspirations behind ADAโs logo design?
A Quick History Lesson: Gerolamo Cardano
Beginning what would become a trend of cultured naming choices within the ecosystem, Charles Hoskinsonโs network was named after Gerolamo Cardano, an Italian polymath, philosopher, and physician.
Best known for being one of the first European mathematicians to use negative numbers, Cardano was one of the central figures of Italyโs mathematical progress during the Renaissance.
Gerolamo Cardano had a penchant for gambling and was particularly interested in games of chance. His studies into probability are a big part of why the Cardano network, with its randomized Proof-of-Stake (PoS) consensus mechanism, is named Cardano in the first place.
Beyond his fascination with games of chance, Gerolamo Cardano is also known for his work on a key mathematical plane curve called hypocycloids, or โCardano Circles.โ
What Are Hypocycloids?
Simply put, a hypocycloid is a special mathematical pattern created by tracing the fixed point of a small circle within a larger circle. This unique formula can give us a variety of patterns, as shown below.
Hypocycloids are occasionally used in popular culture to inspire other geometric designs and logos, as we see in the case of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
While many of these hypocycloids are similar to the Cardano logo, you cannot deny that Cardanoโs emblematic symbol is slightly more developed. To achieve this, Cardano designers calculated what would happen if a new pattern began at the terminus of the previous pattern.
This gives us the unique hypocycloid-within-a-hypocycloid structure that has become the symbol of Cardanoโs thriving ecosystem. But why did the Cardano Foundation design its logo using repeated hypocycloids?
Whatโs the Link Between Cardano (ADA) and Hypocycloids?
The answer is rather simple. Cardanoโs iconic logo is an homage to its namesake, Gerolamo Cardano. Centuries ago, the Italian philosopher’s work and passion for probability laid the foundations to inspire Cardanoโs unique PoS consensus, Ouroboros.
According to Emurgo and the Cardano community, Gerolamo Cardano was the first to describe hypocycloids. The geometric design reinforces many of Cardanoโs fundamental principles, like its research-driven, peer-reviewed approach to blockchain design.
The ADA Symbol
Unless youโre involved in the Cardano ecosystem, you might have assumed that the Cardano and the ADA logos were the same. However, itโs worth mentioning that the ADA currency symbol is represented by a stylized A with two dashes through it.
The native token of the Cardano network, ADA, is named after Ada Lovelace, the worldโs first programmer.
On the Flipside
- While Emurgo and the Cardano community have mentioned that Gerolame Cardano was the first mathematician to describe hypocycloids in the 1500s, some historians would argue that Nasir al-Din al-Tusi beat him to it in the 1200s.
Why This Matters
While learning more about the Cardano logo and its origins wonโt give you a profound understanding of the network’s unique capabilities, the inspirations behind the cryptocurrency’s logo design are still fun facts.
FAQs
You may use the Cardano logo, provided youโve been given express permission by the Cardano Foundation, and do not make any alterations to the logo.
You can sell ADA tokens on popular crypto exchanges like Binance and Coinbase.
There are 30 dots in the Cardano logo.