Cardano SL for Windows is an archived node client for the Cardano blockchain, aimed at developers and technically curious users who want to study or test the original Cardano codebase. It is free and open source, and it is available as a Windows build or installer. Before you go further, one important point: this codebase is deprecated, and its last code update was on June 25, 2020. It has been replaced by the new Shelley-capable Cardano implementation.
Treat this page as a reference rather than a recommendation for daily use. The most recent release listed is 3.2.0. The package bundles several components, including a node, a database sync tool, GraphQL and REST interfaces, and a wallet back end. Read the safety section before installing, especially if you plan to handle ADA keys.
What Is Cardano SL and Why Its Code Still Matters
Cardano is a proof-of-stake blockchain, and Cardano SL was the original software that ran its node. Over time, the project moved toward a newer Shelley-capable implementation, which splits the work into more granular components. That shift is the main reason this package is now an archive rather than a current client.
The code still matters for several reasons. It documents how the first generation of Cardano nodes handled blocks, peers and state. Engineers who maintain older tooling, or who are trying to understand why a specific behavior exists, can read the source directly. Because the repository is public, you do not need special access to inspect it.
Think of Cardano SL as a historical reference rather than a tool for everyday work. Its value lies in study, comparison and teaching, not in keeping up with live network activity. Keeping that distinction clear will save you time and prevent you from building on code that no longer receives updates.
Who Cardano SL Is For and Who Should Skip It
The package is most useful for three groups. Developers studying blockchain architecture can compare how older components were organized with the current design. Researchers and students can use the source as a concrete example of a proof-of-stake node. Technical writers and educators can build demonstrations around a real, public codebase.
Several groups should look elsewhere. If you need to run a node that follows the live Cardano network, the newer implementation is the right starting point. If you want to manage ADA for daily use, you need a current wallet, not an archived one. If you are building a commercial service, a deprecated codebase creates maintenance risk from the start.
A practical test is to ask what the software will be used for six months from now. If the answer depends on new protocol features or ongoing security fixes, Cardano SL is not the answer. If the goal is understanding how the early system worked, it is a reasonable place to begin.
Key Terms: Nodes, Indexing and APIs Explained
A full node is a program that stores and checks the blockchain on your own machine instead of trusting a third party. Syncing is the process of downloading and verifying history until the local copy matches the network. Syncing can take a long time and depends on disk speed and network quality, so plan for it.
Indexing means reorganizing raw chain data into a form that is fast to search. A raw node can tell you about a block, but it is slow to answer questions such as every transaction involving an address. That is the job of a database layer like the one cardano-db-sync feeds. An API is the interface applications use to ask questions. REST uses simple URLs and responses, while GraphQL lets a client specify the exact fields it wants in one request.
A wallet is different from a node. A node validates the chain; a wallet controls keys. A seed phrase, sometimes called a recovery phrase, is a list of words that can regenerate a wallet's private keys. Anyone who learns it can take the funds, which is why it should never be typed into a website or app you did not install from an official source.
Key features
Core node (cardano-node)
Database sync (cardano-db-sync)
GraphQL layer (cardano-graphql)
REST interface (cardano-rest)
Wallet back end (cardano-wallet)
Adrestia user guide
Supported coins
The documentation covers one coin and network: Cardano (ADA), the native asset of the Cardano blockchain. The package is built around that chain and is not a multi-chain tool. If you need to work with Ethereum, Bitcoin or Solana, the alternatives listed in the comparison section are built for those networks.
How to install Cardano SL on Windows
- 1
Get the installer from the official source
Open the project's official website or its GitHub Releases page at github.com/input-output-hk/cardano-sl. Download only from the official website or the official GitHub repository, and choose the Windows build or installer for version 3.2.0. Avoid mirrors, forum links and file-sharing sites.
- 2
Verify the file
Compare the file's SHA-256 checksum with the value published alongside the release, or check the signature if one is provided. Use the built-in PowerShell command Get-FileHash to calculate the hash. If the values do not match, do not run the file.
- 3
Run the installer
Launch the installer from your regular user account, read each prompt and choose an install folder. Keep the default location unless you have a specific reason to change it. If Windows warns about an unknown publisher, return to the verification step and confirm the checksum before continuing.
-
Confirm the version
Check that the installed build reports version 3.2.0 and review the bundled user guide before starting any component. Because the codebase is deprecated, plan any long-term work around the newer Cardano implementation rather than this installation.
How to use Cardano SL
Because this is a node package, your first session is mostly about configuration and observation rather than transactions. Plan to test in a separate environment before you rely on anything. The steps below assume installation is complete.
- Read the bundled user guide and decide which components you actually need.
- Start cardano-node on its own and let it begin syncing. Expect this to take a long time.
- Watch the console output for connection errors and warnings about disk space.
- Only after the node runs steadily, start cardano-db-sync if you need queryable data.
- Add cardano-graphql or cardano-rest when you have a concrete question the data should answer.
- Keep any wallet testing on a separate setup, and never enter a real seed phrase during trials.
Working in this order makes problems easier to isolate. If something fails, you will know which component to investigate first.
Pros & cons
- Free and open source, with the full source code published on GitHub
- Available as a Windows build or installer
- Modular set of components covering the node, indexing, GraphQL and REST access
- Useful for studying the original Cardano codebase and its design history
- Deprecated, and the project no longer receives code updates
- Last code update was on June 25, 2020
- Replaced by the new Shelley-capable Cardano implementation
- Includes a wallet component, so careless use can put real funds at risk
Is Cardano SL safe?
Cardano SL includes cardano-wallet, which handles keys and funds, so treat this package with the same caution you would give any wallet. Download only from the official website or the official GitHub repository, never from mirrors or forum links. Compare the SHA-256 checksum or verify the signature before running anything. Never type a seed phrase into a third-party website, app or chat support. The codebase is deprecated and has had no code updates since June 25, 2020, so it may contain issues that were never fixed. Check the latest version on the official website, and consider the newer implementation for any real activity. If you test wallet functions, use a dedicated machine and small amounts.
- Official source only. Download from github.com/input-output-hk/cardano-sl. Ignore ads and lookalike domains.
- Check the SHA-256. Compare the installer hash with the value the developer publishes before running it.
- Never share your seed phrase. No developer, support agent or website — including CryptApps — will ever ask for it.
Alternatives
Cardano SL sits in the same node category as Geth, Bitcoin Core, Nethermind, Agave, TON and Elements. Geth and Nethermind are execution clients for Ethereum, with Geth written in Go and Nethermind built on .NET. Bitcoin Core is the reference client for Bitcoin. Agave is a Solana validator maintained by the Anza team. TON and Aptos ship node and validator tooling for their own chains, and Elements is a sidechain platform used for Liquid.
The main difference is status. Cardano SL is an archive of one chain's earlier software, while the other entries are clients for their own networks. If you want to follow Cardano's live network, choose the newer Cardano implementation. If your work involves another chain, pick the client built for that network.
Specifications
- Price
- Free
- Type
- Open source
- License
- —
- Latest version
- 3.2.0
- Last update
- 25 Jun 2020
- Windows support
- Yes (Windows build or installer)
- Source code
- github.com/input-output-hk/cardano-sl
Frequently asked questions
No. The project is deprecated, and its last code update was on June 25, 2020. It has been replaced by the new Shelley-capable Cardano implementation, which is where current development happens. Cardano SL remains available as an archived codebase for study and reference.
Yes. Cardano SL is free and open source, and its source code is public on GitHub. You can read the code, build it yourself or install the ready-made Windows package. Being free does not make it suitable for new projects, because the codebase is no longer updated.
It can be, if you install it carefully. Get the file from the official website or GitHub Releases, verify its SHA-256 checksum, and never enter a seed phrase on a third-party site. An old codebase with no updates since 2020 carries its own risks, so weigh them before you install anything that handles funds.
The latest version listed is 3.2.0. Because development has moved to the newer implementation, do not expect new Cardano SL releases with fresh features. Check the version number after installation to confirm you have the build you intended.
Cardano SL covers Cardano (ADA) only. It is built around that chain and is not a multi-chain tool, so it is not the right choice for Bitcoin, Ethereum or other networks. For those networks, the clients listed in the comparison section are a better starting point.
The package includes cardano-wallet, a wallet component that manages keys and transactions. Use it only on a test setup or with amounts you can afford to lose. Never type a seed phrase into a website or app you did not get from an official source.
For Cardano, use the newer Shelley-capable implementation that replaced this codebase. For other networks, choose a client that matches the chain you are working with, such as Geth for Ethereum or Bitcoin Core for Bitcoin. Matching the client to the network matters more than matching the version number.
Verdict
Cardano SL is best understood as an archive: a free, open source Windows package that shows how the original Cardano node was assembled. It suits developers reading the code, researchers studying protocol history and educators who want a concrete example. It is not the right choice for syncing a live node, building a new service or managing ADA for everyday use. The codebase was deprecated, and it has had no code updates since June 25, 2020.