Cardano's smart contract progress, particularly with Plutus V2, has boosted its DeFi and dApp capabilities, with over 41,700 contracts by April 2024. This technical advancement enhances ADA's utility, potentially driving its value. However, declining new wallet creation signals weaker investor interest, which may cap ADA's price growth. Compared to Ethereum, Cardano offers scalability and energy efficiency via its eUTXO model and Ouroboros PoS, challenging ETH's dominance. Yet, Ethereum’s first-mover advantage and robust ecosystem keep it ahead. Long-term, Cardano’s innovations could narrow the gap if adoption rises, but ETH remains the leader for now.