Cardano ($ADA) stands as a beacon of decentralization and security within the blockchain sphere. Its unique approach to tokenization has led many to wonder why widely-used stablecoins like USDC and USDT are absent from its ecosystem. The answer lies in Cardano’s resolute stance against censorship, setting it apart from its contemporaries.
A New Paradigm: Defying Censorship
Cardano operates on a bedrock of censorship resistance, a principle that fundamentally shapes its ecosystem. This unwavering commitment means that Cardano does not host stablecoins like USDC and USDT. While these tokens provide liquidity, they do so at the cost of compromising the core principle of decentralization.
EVM Platforms and Control over Tokens
In contrast, platforms like Ethereum allow token issuers to exert significant control through smart contracts. These contracts can enforce transaction censorship or even freeze accounts. While this provides flexibility, it introduces a risk of centralization, potentially undermining users’ authority over their assets.
Cardano’s Immutable Token Ecosystem
Cardano’s approach to tokenization is a breath of fresh air. Tokens are minted without the necessity of smart contracts. This means that once tokens are created, they operate independently of the issuer. While minting policies govern the token supply, the issuer’s influence is confined to their own holdings. This design ensures that no external entity, including the issuer, can tamper with tokens held by other users.
Cardano’s unwavering stand against censorship is the cornerstone of its blockchain philosophy. This commitment, while resulting in the absence of certain stablecoins, reaffirms Cardano’s dedication to a decentralized and user-empowered ecosystem. As the blockchain landscape continues to evolve, Cardano’s unique approach serves as a shining example of integrity and innovation. It underscores the importance of preserving core principles in the face of prevailing industry trends.
“Cardano employs a so-called multi-asset ledger. Tokens are stored directly in the ledger and treated similarly to ADA coins. No smart contract is needed to mint tokens on Cardano. Issuers must define a minting policy script and sign a specially created mint transaction.
To issue tokens on EVM platforms, it is necessary to deploy a smart contract, which is then used for transferring tokens. The token issuer can define support for transaction censorship and token freezing in the contract. Let’s explore how the two approaches differ and think about what Cardano should be.
TLDR
- USDT and USDC can only be issued by complying with the requirements of the regulators.
- The ecosystem’s dependence on a stablecoin that can be frozen at any time by a centralized entity is very dangerous.
- Cardano does not have USDT and USDC because it is unable to meet the requirements of the regulators.
- Owners are always in full control of their tokens in the Cardano ecosystem. Even the issuer cannot change that.
- It can’t be said that Cardano has fewer capabilities than EVM platforms just because it doesn’t allow transaction censorship.
Regulatory Compliant Stablecoins
The issuers of the well-known stablecoins USDT and USDC had to comply with the requirements of regulators in order to be allowed to tokenize USD on blockchain platforms. It’s important to note that this has brought huge liquidity to the ecosystem and stablecoins are one of by far the most used tokens. DeFi ecosystems definitely benefit from the ability to use this kind of stablecoins. Unfortunately, and users are not always fully aware of this, this comes at the cost of violating the basic principles of decentralization.
See for yourself what the smart contract for Tether USD contains.
How is it actually possible to censor transactions on EVM-compatible platforms?
When people want to mint fungible tokens on Ethereum, they use standards like ERC-20, ERC-721, or ERC-1155. These standards are essentially smart contracts. Smart contracts define a common list of rules that EVM tokens should adhere to. A customized and deployed smart contract is then used each time tokens move from address to address. A smart contract can define any behavior that EVM will allow and this can be the ability to censor transactions based on a blacklist or freeze an account. The owner may lose the ability to spend or use the tokens in any way.
A deployed smart contract can never be stopped or otherwise manipulated by a third party. Ethereum and other EVM-compatible platforms are mostly decentralized at the network level. Token issuers, however, can write whatever they want in smart contracts, including the things described above.
People sometimes ask why Cardano doesn’t have USDT and USDC. Cardano is unable to censor transactions or freeze an account. All tokens have exactly the same properties as ADA coins. Transfer of tokens is done directly by the protocol through transactions.
Cardano has an accounting infrastructure for assets defined in the ledger model and can transfer tokens and NFTs natively. Tokens are stored directly in the ledger similar to ADA coins.
No smart contract is needed to mint tokens on Cardano. Issuers must define a minting policy (monetary script) and sign a specially created mint transaction. The rules might specify who (what private key owner) has control over the asset supply through minting and burning. The owner of the private key (issuer) can only burn tokens that he has at his address.
It is not possible to affect the existence of tokens at other users’ addresses in any way. In other words, the issuer is not able to burn coins remotely or restrict the token owner from signing the transaction and sending the tokens.
Once the tokens are minted, Cardano does not need any smart contract to interact with the tokens. All the logic for transmission, transaction fee calculation, etc. happens at the protocol level, similar to sending ADA coins. Owners are always in full control of their tokens and the issuer cannot change that.
Cardano stablecoins like DJED, USDA, iUSD are native assets i.e. you have full custody and they can’t be frozen.
SOURCE: https://cexplorer.io/article/cardano-will-have-stablecoins-without-censorship”
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