In a significant move for the Cardano blockchain ecosystem, the voting process for the Interim Constitutional Committee (ICC) commenced on June 13. This marks an essential step towards restructuring the governance model under the forthcoming Chang hard fork. The election allows ADA holders to select three new members for the ICC through the Summon Platform. Voting will conclude on June 23, encompassing Epochs 491 and 492, with results to be announced on June 26.
The ICC is pivotal during the technical bootstrapping phase of the Chang hard fork. It ensures that Governance Actions adhere to the mandates of the interim constitution, safeguarding the blockchain’s integrity and governance.
Criticism from Sundae Labs CTO
Pi Lanningham, CTO of Sundae Labs, has expressed concerns about the voting process, particularly criticizing the non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) surrounding the draft constitution. Lanningham stated, “I am explicitly not voting on the ICC election until IOG void all NDAs regarding the draft constitution.” He suggested that Input Output Global (IOG), the development company behind Cardano, is inadvertently fueling conspiracy theories and community discord by restricting open discussions.
Lanningham argued that IOG should openly discuss the motivations behind controversial provisions to foster healthier dialogue and preemptively address potential controversies. He believes this approach would build a more resilient governance framework and reduce speculative noise.
Charles Hoskinson’s Response
In response, Charles Hoskinson, founder of Cardano and CEO of IOG, indicated that the comprehensive governance package – including the fork-ready candidate node, the guardrail contract, and the interim constitution – would be released soon. “My understanding is that the whole package was going to be released with the release candidate node. So that’s the fork-ready candidate, the guardrail contract, and the interim constitution. I’d bet on or before Friday,” Hoskinson stated.
Chang Hard Fork and the Cardano Constitution
The Cardano Constitution, currently an off-chain document as per CIP-1694, aims to capture Cardano’s core values and ensure long-term sustainability. It envisions evolving into a smart-contract-driven framework. The ICC is designed to act as a guardian of this constitution, with mechanisms for replacement through specific governance actions, reflecting a robust and adaptable governance framework.
Market Impact
As Cardano approaches the Chang hard fork, the voting outcomes and integration of the interim constitution will likely have significant impacts on its operational and governance landscape. At the time of writing, ADA is trading at $0.392.
