Hey Cardanians! Welcome aboard the Weekly Cardano Digest #103!

We've filtered through all the noise to distill crucial updates into a breezy, 5-minute read. No need for you to sift through endless info — we've got you covered. Ready to delve into this week's top Cardano news? Let’s dive in.

Here are the topics of the week:

• 🐙 Iagon Surpasses 26,000 TB and Expands to 55 Countries

• 💠 BitGo Integrates USDA for Institutional Access

• 🎅 Cardano Foundation Opens Seasonal Dev Challenge

• Weekly Development Report

• & More!

🐙 Iagon Surpasses 26,000 TB and Expands to 55 Countries

Iagon’s decentralized storage and compute network continues its rapid global expansion, now surpassing 26,000 TB of capacity across 392 cities in 55 countries.

 With 809 Storage Nodes, 167 Cyclone Nodes, and more than 91.8M $IAG staked, the platform is showing sustained growth and strong community commitment.

These metrics demonstrate not just geographic reach, but real operational scale. Enterprise-focused Cyclone Nodes keep improving performance, while storage nodes reinforce decentralization and reliability. Iagon is quickly becoming one of Cardano’s most robust infrastructure layers for AI-driven storage and compute.

As adoption spreads across industries, Iagon’s model showcases a practical path for Web3 cloud services. Its expansion highlights how Cardano-native networks can deliver global-scale functionality without sacrificing decentralization or user control, a strong signal for builders looking toward 2026.

👉 Learn more

💠BitGo Integrates USDA for Institutional Access

A major step for Cardano’s stablecoin ecosystem: BitGo, the global leader in institutional custody with $104B in assets and 9.3M wallets, now supports $USDA. Institutions can deposit and withdraw USDA directly, giving Anzens instant entry into high-trust institutional pipelines.

This integration brings USDA into the same infrastructure used by funds, corporates, and fintechs that require regulated custody and built-in compliance. It positions USDA for broader liquidity and opens the door to enterprise-grade use cases that demand transparent, fully backed stablecoins.

For Cardano, the move signals growing recognition from major industry players. BitGo’s adoption strengthens Cardano’s position in digital finance and demonstrates that institutional-grade infrastructure is expanding around the ecosystem, a key requirement for scaling real-world adoption.

👉 Learn more from BitGo and Anzens

🎅Cardano Foundation Opens Seasonal Dev Challenge

The Cardano Foundation has launched a seasonal hacking challenge featuring 21 practical blockchain use cases, complete with examples, tools, and an easy-to-navigate structure. Developers can submit their implementations and compete for prizes, including $1,000 USD.

The challenge goes beyond typical hackathons by focusing on concrete, real-world scenarios that Cardano teams are actively working on. It gives developers a way to contribute meaningfully, test new ideas, and explore Cardano’s tooling with clear objectives and low friction.

As the ecosystem grows, initiatives like this help onboard new talent while strengthening the open-source culture that defines Cardano. It’s an opportunity for builders of all levels to engage with production-grade ideas and become part of the network’s ongoing development.

👉 Open until January 16

Interesting Stories

Essential Cardano’s weekly development report