This episode outlines the foundational principles and architectural design of Cardano, a cryptocurrency project initiated in 2015 by IOHK. It details Cardano's objective to establish a balanced and sustainable cryptocurrency ecosystem by addressing limitations observed in existing systems like Bitcoin and Ethereum. The paper emphasizes a layered approach, separating accounting and computation, and advocates for rigorous science and engineering practices, including peer review and formal verification. Furthermore, it explores key aspects such as interoperability with other cryptocurrencies, regulatory considerations, and mechanisms for future sustainability and governance.