Cardano has built a reputation as the “academic” blockchain, one that moves carefully and relies on peer-reviewed research and methodical innovation. But a crypto analyst named Lucid on X believes ADA could soon reach up to 1 million transactions per second (TPS), even surpassing Visa’s legendary payment speed.
That is a huge statement. Visa currently handles around 24,000 TPS at peak performance, a number most blockchains can only dream of. So, could Cardano’s upcoming upgrades really put it in the same league?
How Fast Is Cardano Right Now?
Today, Cardano processes roughly 250 to 1,000 TPS, depending on network activity and testing conditions. It uses Ouroboros, a Proof of Stake system that is known for being secure, eco-friendly, and decentralized. This allows it to handle many transactions at once while keeping energy use and fees low.
But speed has never been ADA’s only focus. The real mission is to create a scalable, sustainable blockchain that can serve millions of users and apps without losing security or decentralization. Still, if it wants to compete with payment giants like Visa, faster performance will be essential.
Hydra and Leios: The Tools for Speed
Cardano’s upgrades like Hydra and Leios are designed to change how fast the network operates.
Hydra is a layer 2 protocol that allows off-chain processing through small groups called “Hydra Heads.” It lets multiple users transact at the same time without clogging the main chain. This setup could raise transaction speeds significantly while keeping fees low.
Leios, on the other hand, aims to divide Cardano’s workload into specialized layers, one for payments, another for smart contracts, and another for settlement. By letting each layer focus on its own job, Cardano could streamline how transactions move through the system.
Both upgrades sound revolutionary on paper. But whether they can collectively reach or surpass Visa’s speed is another question entirely.
Why Outperforming Visa Might Still Be Too Ambitious
Lucid’s claim of 1 million TPS is bold. Achieving that would require not just Hydra and Leios to function perfectly, but also major enhancements in Cardano’s base infrastructure.
Cardano will be Faster than Visa!⚡$ADA is Scaling to 1 Million TPS using the most advanced UTxO technology ever invented! Hydra & Leios are giving Light Speed transactions & Instant Finality a secure place to Prosper on Cardano! $10 Trillion crypto MCap in 2026!😤$ADA 👑
— Lucid (@LucidCiC) November 3, 2025
To even get close to Visa, Cardano would need faster node communication, stronger bandwidth across its network, and optimized block times to finalize transactions in near real time. In other words, it is not just about coding faster software. It is about scaling an entire ecosystem to industrial-grade speed.
Even if Cardano hits 1 million TPS in lab conditions, real-world adoption is a different story. Visa’s speed is battle-tested in global commerce, handling billions of payments daily with near instant finality. That kind of reliability takes decades of optimization and physical infrastructure that no blockchain yet matches.
Cardano’s Progress Is Still Impressive: Not Just Speed, But Purpose
Even if it does not reach Visa-like speed soon, Cardano’s progress is significant. Transactions on Cardano typically settle within 20 to 40 seconds, already faster than many competing networks.
As Hydra scales and Leios rolls out, ADA transactions could become smoother and faster, especially for decentralized apps and financial services. That alone is a huge win for the blockchain world, proving that decentralized systems can handle high demand efficiently.
In the end, Cardano’s real mission is not simply to “beat” Visa. It is to show that blockchain can support large-scale financial systems without sacrificing decentralization or sustainability.
If Hydra and Leios work as intended, Cardano could set a new standard for blockchain design, one that balances performance, scalability, and trust. Visa may remain faster for now, but Cardano is moving closer to proving that the future of payments does not have to rely on centralized systems.
And when that happens, it might not matter who is faster but who is fairer.