Cardano, the eighth-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, has ushered in 2024 with a series of updates and releases that promise to improve the platform’s performance, scalability, and interoperability.
The first notable update is version 0.15.0 of Hydra, a Cardano Layer-2 protocol designed to increase transaction processing capacity and overall efficiency.
First #Hydra release of 2024, version 0.15.0 is out ✨
* Run hydra-node in offline mode – contributed by @SundaeSwap
* Heads opened by this version can cross eras from Babbage to Conway and work on sanchonet
* L2 stays Babbage until after the HFC eventhttps://t.co/TDoiF44815— Sebastian Nagel (@ch1bo_) January 18, 2024
In this release, the ability to run hydra-node in offline mode has been introduced, thanks to the contribution of @SundaeSwap.
This new functionality allows users to perform operations even in environments without an Internet connection, increasing Hydra’s flexibility.
Additionally, the “Heads” opened by this version can traverse eras from Babbage to Conway and function in sanchonet.
This advancement highlights Hydra’s ability to seamlessly transition between different stages of development on Cardano, providing end-to-end compatibility.
On the Marlowe front, the team has announced the release of Marlowe 0.3.0.
Marlowe is a domain-specific language (DSL) and toolset for creating and running smart contracts.
🚨NEW RELEASE: Marlowe TypeScript SDK 0.3.0-beta
💪Node.js/Deno support
💪Completed 1-1 feature parity between the TS-SDK and Runtime 0.0.6
💪Added an open role example
💪Added a marlowe-object (merkleized contracts) example— Marlowe (@marlowe_io) January 18, 2024
Version 0.3.0 introduces several important milestones, including an open role example and a “marlowe-object” example illustrating merkleized contracts.
The update is also reflected in the revamped Marlowe website, which is now live as of January 11, improving the developer experience.
As for what’s new on the Cardano node, version 8.7.3 has been released to address a minor issue on the Ouroboros network.
These updates demonstrate Cardano’s commitment to constant improvement
Finally, the Lace team has released version 1.8, fixing bugs, improving the performance of stake pool rewards on a chart, and allowing synchronization with other multi-address wallets.
This focus on bug fixes and performance improvements underlines the importance of stability and efficiency in the Cardano ecosystem.
Cardano has entered 2024 with a number of major updates, from Layer-2 improvements with Hydra to advancements in the Marlowe smart contract language and performance improvements through Lace.
These developments support ADA position as a constantly evolving blockchain platform with a clear focus on innovation and technical excellence.
