Cardano, the 30th largest blockchain network, is preparing for its ‘Chang’ hard fork upgrade, now scheduled for September 1. Initially set for this week, the upgrade was postponed to ensure all parties, including major exchanges like Binance, are ready for the transition. This hard fork represents a significant milestone in Cardano’s final roadmap stage, Voltaire, which aims to transform the network into a fully self-sustaining and decentralized ecosystem.
Charles Hoskinson, Cardano’s founder, addressed the delay on social media platform X, explaining that the postponement has spurred urgency among those who were slow to prepare
. “The magic of deadlines is that people who aren’t taking upgrades seriously suddenly say, ‘Damn, we got to get moving.’ When they get moving, we converge quickly,”
Hoskinson noted, confirming that the hard fork is now set for September 1.
Decentralized Governance Takes Center Stage
The upcoming upgrade is a crucial step in Cardano’s journey toward decentralized governance. With the implementation of the ‘Chang’ hard fork, ADA holders will gain the ability to participate directly in governance by selecting Delegate Representatives (dReps) and voting on proposals for technical changes to the network. This transition will empower the Cardano community to have a direct influence on the network’s future.
“The Chang upgrade marks a pivotal moment in the history and development of Cardano, representing the culmination of many years of preparation and consultation. It will fulfill Cardano’s promise of becoming a self-governing, completely decentralized ecosystem as defined in CIP-1694,”
the Cardano Foundation stated in a recent blog post.
CIP-1694, the Cardano Improvement Proposal that underpins this upgrade, introduces a governance model that includes users, dReps, a Constitutional Committee, and Stake Pool Operators (SPOs). This collaborative approach ensures that Cardano’s governance is decentralized and representative of its global user base.
To support this transition, the Cardano Foundation is encouraging users to participate in its Constitutional Workshops, designed to educate and involve the community in the network’s governance processes.
