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IO Global

Blockchain research and development for institutions

Overview

IO Global (now Input Output) builds blockchain technology for enterprises, government, and academia. Its core offering is Cardano, a public proof-of-stake blockchain for smart contracts and decentralized apps, with Ada as its currency; it also provides Atala PRISM for decentralized identity, the Lace wallet, and Midnight for data protection. The company follows a peer-reviewed, evidence-based research approach to engineering, focusing on long-term sustainability and scalability. Its goal is to deliver scalable, interoperable Web3 infrastructure for trusted, verifiable applications and to broaden Cardano through a venture studio and expanded product lines.

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About IO Global

Simplify's Rating
Why IO Global is rated
B-
Rated B on Competitive Edge
Rated B on Growth Potential
Rated C on Differentiation

Industries

FintechCrypto & Web3Financial Services

Company Size

N/A

Company Stage

N/A

Total Funding

N/A

Headquarters

Colorado

Founded

N/A

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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • May 2026 DReps approved Leios funding, unlocking 27.7 million ADA.
  • September 4, 2026 ChatterPay's WhatsApp integration expanded ADA and USDCx payments reach.
  • July 7, 2026 CANS advanced trustless Bitcoin-Cardano swaps, widening DeFi utility.

What critics are saying

  • Leios remained mid-development in April 2026, risking a missed year-end mainnet target.
  • September 18, 2026 YouTube hijack exposed weak account security and brand trust.
  • Cardano's treasury-funded model needs Leios success; failure starves fees and stalls the ecosystem.

What makes IO Global unique

  • IO Global pairs peer-reviewed cryptography with Cardano engineering and governance.
  • Leios targets 10x-65x throughput gains while preserving Ouroboros consensus.
  • IO's Buenos Aires office now advises Argentina fintechs, banks, and public institutions.

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Benefits

  • Health Insurance
  • Dental Insurance
  • Vision Insurance
  • 401(k) Retirement Plan
  • Health Savings Account/Flexible Spending Account
  • Life Insurance
  • Paid Vacation
  • Professional Development Budget

Company News

Gate.com
Oct 13th, 2026
Cardano research challenges proof-of-stake reserve security assumptions.

Cardano research challenges proof-of-stake reserve security assumptions. 2026-10-13 08:25:49 Key takeaways. * Paolo Penna and Manvir Schneider presented research challenging proof-of-stake security assumptions at London conference October 2026. * The paper argues large native token reserves alone cannot guarantee long-term network security and introduces state-dependent framework. * Cardano's design draws 0.3% of remaining reserves each epoch to fund network rewards. Paolo Penna of Input Output Global and Manvir Schneider of the Cardano Foundation presented research at the 8th Conference on Advances in Financial Technologies held in London from October 6-9, 2026, challenging assumptions about proof-of-stake blockchain security. The paper, titled 'Reserve Depletion and Security Runway in Proof-of-Stake Systems,' argues that large native token reserves alone cannot guarantee long-term network security. The research introduces a state-dependent reserve threshold framework to analyze how proof-of-stake systems transition between security states based on market conditions and reserve management mechanisms. Research introduces state-dependent reserve threshold framework. The paper appears in the LIPIcs proceedings dated October 2, 2026. The authors describe a state-dependent reserve threshold as a dividing line whose position moves depending on current network conditions. The framework identifies three distinct security conditions for proof-of-stake systems: complete failure, where the network cannot sustain adequate security regardless of circumstances; reserve-dependent security, where the network remains secure only because reserves support it; and fee-only security, where the network can maintain security on transaction fees alone without reserve drawdowns. The authors built their model using discrete-time stochastic methods, treating key variables as uncertain rather than fixed. According to the research, the findings point to vulnerabilities that may persist even when reserves are substantial, particularly in the face of market volatility. Cardano reserve design uses fixed percentage drawdown model. Under Cardano's design, 0.3% of the remaining reserves is drawn each epoch to fund rewards. Taking a fixed percentage from a pot means the absolute size of each withdrawal gets smaller as the pot itself shrinks. Because the threshold is state-dependent, a network does not get assigned one permanent category. Shifts in market conditions could move it from one region to another. Paper identifies reserve size as potentially misleading security metric. The research suggests two factors stand out: whether a protocol's reserves are adequate relative to its security needs, and how its reward disbursement mechanism actually works over time. A slow, percentage-based drawdown behaves very differently from a fixed payout schedule, and both behave differently when markets swing. The paper does not predict when or whether any chain will cross into the failure region. Faq. What did the Cardano Foundation research paper find about proof-of-stake security? The paper titled 'Reserve Depletion and Security Runway in Proof-of-Stake Systems' found that large native token reserves alone cannot guarantee long-term network security. The research introduced a state-dependent reserve threshold framework identifying three security conditions: complete failure, reserve-dependent security, and fee-only security. How does Cardano's reserve drawdown mechanism work? Under Cardano's design, 0.3% of the remaining reserves is drawn each epoch to fund rewards. Taking a fixed percentage means the absolute size of each withdrawal gets smaller as the reserve pot itself shrinks. Disclaimer: The information on this page may come from third-party sources and is for reference only. It does not represent the views or opinions of Gate and does not constitute any financial, investment, or legal advice. Virtual asset trading involves high risk. Please do not rely solely on the information on this page when making decisions. For details, see the Disclaimer.

Maxbit
Sep 18th, 2026
Cardano's IOG warns users after official YouTube channel hijacked for crypto scam.

Cardano's IOG warns users after official YouTube channel hijacked for crypto scam. Input Output Group alerted users to avoid its compromised YouTube channel after scammers livestreamed an AI-manipulated video of Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson promoting a fraudulent cryptocurrency giveaway scheme. Security 1 hour ago 10 views Input Output Group (IOG) has warned users to avoid its official YouTube channel following a security breach in which scammers hijacked the account and livestreamed a suspected deepfake video of Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson. The livestream, which ran for nearly two hours, was disguised as an official Project Catalyst town hall - a community-driven fund supporting Cardano development projects. During the broadcast, the AI-manipulated video showed a Hoskinson lookalike promising to "double your wealth" and directed viewers to a QR code linked to a cryptocurrency giveaway scheme. The scam mechanism. The fake video is typical of hijacked-account scams that use artificial intelligence to recreate a public figure's voice and appearance. Viewers are directed to send cryptocurrency to a wallet address under the premise that funds will be matched or doubled. In practice, funds sent through such schemes are typically lost permanently. IOG's response. Input Output Group posted a warning on its official X account on Friday, urging users not to interact with the YouTube channel until further notice. The company instructed people to avoid clicking links shown during the stream and warned against sending funds or sharing personal information through the compromised channel. IOG did not disclose how the channel was compromised or provide a timeline for regaining full control. The company has not released information about how many viewers interacted with the stream or the QR code. Why official channels are targeted. Hijacked channels with large followings and verification status are frequently targeted by scammers because they carry built-in trust with existing audiences. Attackers prefer to compromise established, verified accounts rather than create new ones, as older channels with subscriber histories appear more legitimate to viewers. The use of AI-generated video and audio has made these scams increasingly difficult to identify. The choice to frame the stream as a Project Catalyst event added credibility, as Project Catalyst is a recognized and active part of the Cardano ecosystem. * homepage * Security * Cardano's IOG warns users after official YouTube channel hijacked for crypto scam.

MarketForces Africa
Sep 4th, 2026
Cardano Gains 8% on WhatsApp payment integration boost.

Cardano Gains 8% on WhatsApp payment integration boost. By Olu Anisere September 4, 2026 Updated:September 4, 2026 News No Comments 3 Mins Read Cardano (ADA) price surged over 8% in 24 hours to $0.2225, outperforming a broader market rally primarily driven by a combination of macro relief and positive ecosystem momentum. Take Economics Courses Broader crypto rally on dovish Fed signals, amplified by Cardano-specific confidence from a successful governance vote and enterprise adoption news. ADA price surged over 8% driven by news that ChatterPay integrated with WhatsApp. The service allows users to send ADA and USDCx to any contact globally directly through the messaging app, leveraging its massive user base for seamless peer-to-peer transactions. This is bullish for ADA as it represents a significant step toward mainstream adoption and real-world utility. Simplifying payments for billions of users could drive new demand and network activity, though sustained volume is needed to maintain price momentum. The entire crypto market rose after Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller signalled support for holding interest rates steady, easing near-term hike fears. Cardano's sharper gain was amplified by its own positive catalysts: a critical governance vote to renew its Constitutional Committee narrowly passed on September 2, averting a governance stall, and the recent launch of its blockchain as a public proof layer for a major supply-chain platform demonstrated enterprise utility. ADA benefited from a risk-on market shift, with investor confidence bolstered by resolving internal governance risks and showcasing real-world use. Trading volume exploded 81.18% to $772 million, indicating strong conviction behind the move. Social sentiment turned mildly bullish with a net score of 5.19, as traders highlighted breakout structures and potential for extended gains. High volume confirms the price move wasn't a fluke, while positive chatter can attract further retail interest. Technically, ADA is testing resistance near the recent swing high of $0.226. The 50% Fibonacci retracement level at $0.215 and the 200-day moving average near $0.204 are key supports. The structure is bullish but approaching a resistance test. A clear breakout above $0.226 could target the 127.2% extension near $0.232. A daily close above $0.226 would confirm breakout strength, or a rejection and fall below $0.215 ADA rode a macro-driven market wave, with internal governance stability and utility news providing the fuel for outperformance. Take Economics Courses CFTC-regulated exchange Kalshi expanded its offerings, launching USD-margined perpetual contracts for ADA and four other altcoins for eligible U.S. traders. This provides a new, regulated venue for price exposure and hedging. The move comes amid an ongoing legal dispute between CME Group and the CFTC over the classification of such products. This is bullish for ADA because it enhances liquidity and provides a compliant on-ramp for U.S. institutional and retail capital. However, it's neutral in the near term due to the unresolved regulatory debate, which could impact the long-term availability of such products. Input Output Global confirmed the RealFi mainnet launch for October 1, following its public testnet. The ecosystem introduces USDr, an asset-backed stablecoin, and aims to bridge traditional finance with Cardano's DeFi, enabling lending and borrowing against real-world value. This is bullish for ADA as it addresses a key gap in Cardano's DeFi landscape, potentially attracting significant capital and increasing total value locked (TVL). A successful launch could be a major catalyst for ecosystem growth and investor confidence. Cardano Gains 11% on ETF Inflows, SecondFi Launches Migration Tool Olu Anisere is a financial and economic journalist at MarketForces Africa, specialising in African macroeconomic policy, international finance, energy markets, and continental development.He covers major multilateral institutions, including the International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank, and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), providing readers with frontline reporting on policies shaping Africa's economic trajectory.Olu has reported extensively on Nigeria's fiscal and monetary policy landscape, including CBN interest rate decisions, Nigeria's bond market, FX inflows, and the country's engagement with global financial institutions.His coverage spans IMF and World Bank Spring and Annual Meetings, African Ministers of Finance conferences, and high-level economic forums where Africa's development agenda is set.His reporting captures perspectives from Africa's most influential economic voices, including Tony Elumelu, senior IMF officials, and CBN leadership, bringing institutional insight and policy depth to MarketForces Africa's readers.Olu also covers Inside Africa - tracking economic, investment, and development stories from across the continent. Olu Anisere is based in Lagos, Nigeria. Financial News Subscription

CoinGape
Sep 3rd, 2026
Cardano price outlook after RealFi sets October 1 mainnet launch: how high can ADA go?

Cardano price outlook after RealFi sets October 1 mainnet launch: how high can ADA go? Highlights * RealFi's October mainnet launch could boost Cardano adoption and liquidity. * ADA's buy signal echoes earlier rallies but still requires confirmation. * Cardano price above $0.20 supports a possible recovery toward $0.25. Cardano price held above $0.20 after gaining 7% over 24 hours, reaching $0.207 during a market recovery. Market capitalization rose 1.64% to $2.62 trillion, while BTC price topped $77,900 and ETH reached $2,400. XRP price was also up 4% higher, which boosted risk appetite within major digital assets. RealFi mainnet launch strengthens ADA outlook. Following its public testnet, RealFi is scheduled to launch on Cardano's mainnet on October 1. The platform provided by IOG will launch the USDr, a stablecoin based on real-world assets and productivity capital. Charles Hoskin anticipates that RealFi will grow the total value locked in Cardano but more transactions will be conducted within the network. JUST IN: RealFi is coming to Cardano $ADA Mainnet on October 1st. | Following its public testnet, the product will transition to Mainnet. RealFi is supported by Input Output Global, bringing USDr, a stablecoin backed by real-world assets and productive capital, to Cardano. pic.twitter.com/yG3ag7Du7g - Cardanians (CRDN) (@Cardanians_io) September 2, 2026 Hoskinson remarked that the product would assist Cardano in its endeavor to increase the activity of decentralized finance and stablecoins. The successful launch would reaffirm the momentum of ADA, in case users provide liquidity and use USDr. Analyst predicts potential cardano price rebound after new buy signal. Crypto analyst Ali Charts says Cardano's daily chart has flashed a fresh TD Sequential buy signal. The indicator has since registered in advance of ADA rallies of 44.5%, 11.5% and 50% since bottoms in the market. CARDANO: BUY SIGNAL The Tom DeMark Sequential has just flashed a new buy signal on Cardano's daily chart. These signals have done an excellent job identifying recent bottoms: - June 25: +44.5% rally - July 15: +11.5% rally - August 18: +50.9% rally Now the indicator is... pic.twitter.com/dAnEKn1vID - Ali Charts (@alicharts) September 2, 2026 Despite this favoring optimism, the past history cannot be used to confirm that there is another similar development that Cardano will bring. Traders can now observe price action to confirm a sustained ADA recovery is taking shape. Cardano open interest reaches $452 million Following a 1.44% increase. The activity of the cardano derivatives increased as the trading volume increased by 1.49% to reach $453.30 million. There was also an increase in open interest 1.44% to $452.29 million indicating increased participation in the market. The gains are closely matched, which points to new positions entered and increased trading turnover. But the small gains indicate a restrained participation as opposed to speculative action. Traders can now observe the direction of ADA to identify market momentum. Will ADA price rally toward $0.25 as bullish momentum builds? At the time of writing, the ADA price surged 7% to $0.2073 on the four-hour timeframe. Cardano price also continued its recovery since the support at $0.20 as the momentum continued to pick up in the most recent session The RSI increased to 63.95, affirming increased momentum, but not yet overbought. Meanwhile, Chaikin Money Flow was 0.24, which indicates the inflow of more capital and more active participation in the market. An established break above $0.22 would propel the future ADA outlook to the second target at $0.25. Further strength beyond $0.25 can reveal $0.28, though that longer target is yet to be confirmed. However, weakening momentum could push Cardano price toward immediate support at $0.20. Any close below $0.20 can reveal the more powerful $0.19 support and undermine the recovery perspective. Investment disclaimer: The content reflects the author's personal views and current market conditions. Please conduct your own research before investing in cryptocurrencies, as neither the author nor the publication is responsible for any financial losses. Ad Disclosure: This site may feature sponsored content and affiliate links. All advertisements are clearly labeled, and ad partners have no influence over its editorial content. BestChange Instant Currency Exchange at BestChange with Ease * Compare Rates Across 1000+ Exchanges * Access 250+ Cryptocurrencies & Pairs * Save Time with Real-Time Price Tracking * Trusted & Verified Exchange Listings Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 1. Why is Cardano price recovering? 2. When will RealFi launch on Cardano? Why Trust CoinGape $0.20300465 1.38% (24h) 24 Hours volume Market Cap Max Supply * Latest * / * Trending

Input Output
Jul 7th, 2026
Introducing the CANS protocol: unlocking Bitcoin liquidity for Cardano DeFi.

Introducing the CANS protocol: unlocking Bitcoin liquidity for Cardano DeFi. Edmund Judge July 07 2026 How Input Output's cyclic atomic swap protocol enables trustless cross-chain exchanges - no bridges, no custodians, no compromise * New protocol: CANS (Cyclic Atomic N-party Swap) lets multiple parties swap assets across different blockchains at once - with a mathematical guarantee that either everyone gets what they agreed to, or nobody loses anything * Decentralized: the CANS protocol does not require bridges, wrapped tokens, or trusted intermediaries - the cryptography enforces the rules * Locked liquidity: Bitcoin holds approximately $1 trillion in market capitalization, yet its limited scripting keeps that liquidity locked away from DeFi users * Adaptable: the pattern is not limited to Bitcoin and Cardano: any blockchain with native Schnorr signature support, or a smart contract layer capable of verifying Schnorr signatures, can participate in a CANS swap session * Proven: a reference implementation in Rust, formally verified and tested with up to 20 concurrent parties, proves this is achievable in practice today Bitcoin's liquidity problem. Bitcoin is the most valuable asset in cryptocurrency - but it isn't liquid. Its deliberately simple scripting language was never designed to support lending, trading, or the kind of complex financial interactions that have flourished on programmable blockchains like Cardano. Meanwhile, Cardano has a mature DeFi ecosystem: decentralized exchanges, lending protocols, liquid staking, oracles - with a fraction of Bitcoin's potential liquidity. Connecting these two worlds sounds straightforward. In practice, most solutions involve a compromise: a bridge that holds the Bitcoin assets while issuing a stand-in token, a custodian you have to trust, or a centralized exchange that introduces the very counterparty risk that blockchain was supposed to remove. These are not decentralized solutions - they are centralized solutions wearing a decentralized mask. What is CANS? The Cyclic Atomic N-party Swap protocol (CANS) is developed by Input Output under the Intersect IOR proposal. This is part of the work package WP4.1 Bridges, Atomic Swaps, & Agent Chains. This protocol takes a different approach by arranging participants in a ring: each person agrees to send assets to the next person in the chain, with the last person completing the loop back to the first. Each participant sends exactly once and receives exactly once. Crucially, the entire swap is atomic: either everyone gets what they agreed to, or nobody loses anything. There is no partial outcome, and there is no intermediary holding funds in the middle. Think of it like a coordinated round of gift exchanges, where everyone simultaneously hands over their gift - except the coordination is handled by mathematics, not trust. No one hands over their gift until they are certain everyone else will too. The protocol supports any combination of assets and blockchains within a single swap session. Two parties can exchange BTC for ADA. Ten parties can swap across multiple chains at once. The ring structure scales naturally. How does the CANS protocol work? The core innovation of the CANS protocol is that digital signatures can be made conditionally valid - locked behind a secret that only becomes visible once someone commits to the swap. CANS uses this property to choreograph the exchange. Before any funds move, every participant contributes a piece of a shared cryptographic puzzle. Once the designated leader confirms that everyone has locked their funds, they reveal the final piece. That single act unlocks the entire ring: every participant can now claim their incoming funds, on whatever blockchain those funds sit. The beauty of this approach, compared to earlier techniques like hash time-locked contracts, is that nothing sensitive appears on-chain. Spend transactions look like ordinary transfers. There is no shared hash linking the legs of the swap together, which is good for privacy and for scalability beyond two parties. One primary hurdle is that Bitcoin and Cardano use different cryptographic systems under the hood. Bitcoin uses the secp256k1 elliptic curve with Schnorr signatures (via Taproot), while Cardano natively relies on Ed25519. The reference implementation elegantly solves this by deploying a Cardano smart contract (a Plutus validator) capable of verifying Bitcoin's Schnorr signatures. This allows a single cryptographic event on the Bitcoin network to instantly trigger and unlock UTXOs on Cardano. What if someone backs out? Every participant holds a fully signed refund transaction before a single lock transaction is broadcast. No one locks their funds unless their exit is already guaranteed. Refund transactions are time-locked - only valid after a certain block height - and the windows are staggered deliberately: each party's window opens after the person claiming their funds has had a chance to act. This ordering ensures that if the leader stops cooperating mid-swap, every honest participant can recover their funds safely, without racing against each other. The implementation. The reference implementation demonstrates that trustless, multi-party, cross-chain atomic swaps are practically achievable. The prototype is written in Rust and runs as a daemon that manages the full protocol lifecycle - key exchange, transaction construction, broadcast, and settlement - for a single participant in a swap session. Daemons communicate directly over TCP; there is no central server. Regression tests validate correct behaviour with up to 20 concurrent parties, each running an independent daemon against Bitcoin and Cardano nodes on a private test network. The protocol's safety and liveness properties have been formally verified, giving mathematical confidence that honest participants cannot lose funds. The pattern is not limited to Bitcoin and Cardano: any blockchain with native Schnorr signature support, or a smart contract layer capable of verifying Schnorr signatures, can participate in a CANS swap session. Why does CANS matter? The trade finance gap perfectly illustrates why CANS matters. Each year, $1.7 trillion in trade remains static - not for lack of capital, but for lack of trust infrastructure. Banks turn away small and mid-sized deals as they are too small, too costly, and too risky to service, leaving SMEs with poor options: ship and hope for payment, demand full prepayment until the deal collapses, trade only with known partners, or accept steep premiums from intermediaries. The result isn't expensive trade; it's absent trade. By applying CANS technology, Input Output Global, Inc. can service the trade finance gap and unlock trillions in new trade activity. Every prior attempt - TradeLens, Input Output Global, Inc..trade, Contour, Marco Polo - was a proprietary walled garden, and each failed because you can't force a whole competing industry to join one company's platform. CANS instead is an open, chain-agnostic protocol. Concretely, in a cross-border trade, CANS lets a buyer, seller, shipper, insurer, and financier settle in a single atomic transaction across whatever chains each prefers. Cryptography - N-of-N multi-signature locks, adaptor signatures, and staggered time-locked refunds - gives the same guarantee a letter of credit does: either every leg executes, or none executes, and no principal is ever lost. That removes counterparty risk without a bank's credit assessment, compressing settlement from weeks to minutes and removing bank margins and subscription fees. The CANS protocol turns deals that simply couldn't happen into deals that settle safely in minutes, by replacing the missing trust infrastructure with cryptographic guarantees instead of yet another platform nobody wants to join. The reference implementation is being developed on GitHub. Input Output Global, Inc. welcome contributions, integrations, and feedback from the community by raising pull requests or issues, or adding comments. Timelines and product features are not final and are not guaranteed; all future developments are subject to change. IO does not review, approve, monitor, endorse or make representations with respect to third-party protocols or offerings.

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