The Cardano Managed Contracts API provides a high-level interface for interacting with pre-deployed Plutus smart contracts on the Cardano blockchain. It abstracts the complexity of script interactions into intuitive endpoints, allowing developers to build and manage powerful dApps with minimal effort.

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Key Features

  • Vesting Contracts: Create and manage time-based vesting schedules for tokens, enabling linear or staged release mechanisms.
  • Direct Swap Contracts: Facilitate peer-to-peer swaps of native assets without relying on centralized intermediaries or third-party trust.
  • Single Asset Staking: Launch staking campaigns where users can lock tokens and earn rewards. Includes full lifecycle: config, stake, update, withdraw, and reward distribution.
  • Subscription Payments: Power recurring payment models using NFTs. Includes service creation, user account setup, subscription flows, and merchant fee withdrawals.
  • Multisig Smart Contracts: Set up multi-party authorization schemes with thresholds, signer updates, and controlled fund distribution.
  • Unsigned Transaction Builder: All actions return unsigned CBOR transactions (cbor_hex, tx_hash), enabling flexible signing with any wallet or custody solution.

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Key Benefits for Developers

Developers can leverage on-chain contracts without needing to write or deploy any Plutus code. The API offers simplified dApp integration through straightforward REST endpoints that manage complex workflows such as staking, vesting, and multisig operations. It’s fully compatible with Cardano Mainnet, Preprod, and Preview networks for seamless development and testing.