The Cardano blockchain is poised for a significant upgrade with the upcoming Chang hard fork. This critical development marks another step towards the network’s ultimate goal of decentralized governance.
The Chang hard fork is a cornerstone of Cardano’s Voltaire era, which aims to transition governance power from the Input-Output Hong Kong company (IOHK) to the community. The latest release of the validator node software, Node 9.1.0, incorporates the necessary changes to facilitate the hard fork. This upgrade requires the use of the Conway Genesis file on the mainnet, a crucial step in preparing the network for the transition.
Once 70% of validators have successfully upgraded to Node 9.1.0, the Chang hard fork can be activated. While the upgrade process is underway, with approximately 11% of validators already on the new node, challenges related to scripts and tooling remain.
The Intersect Cardano user group has emphasized the transformative potential of the Chang hard fork, describing it as a “significant transformation” for the Cardano ecosystem. The first phase of the upgrade will introduce “bootstrap governance,” laying the groundwork for a more decentralized decision-making process. This phase is aligned with Cardano Improvement Proposal (CIP) 1694, which outlines the roadmap for on-chain governance.
The second phase of the Chang hard fork, scheduled for later this year, will further solidify Cardano’s decentralized governance model. This phase will establish on-chain mechanisms for a constitutional committee and delegate representatives, empowering Ada holders to participate directly in decision-making. Additionally, stake pool operators will assume a new governance role, contributing to the overall decentralization of the network.
The Chang hard fork represents the latest milestone in Cardano’s evolution. Previous upgrades, such as the Vasil hard fork in September 2022, have significantly enhanced the network’s capabilities, including faster block creation and improved smart contract performance. The Alonzo hard fork, introduced in September 2021, marked a pivotal moment with the introduction of smart contract functionality.
While the development of the Chang hard fork has been delayed by a month due to a distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack on Node 8, the Cardano community remains committed to achieving its long-term vision of a fully decentralized network.
The Chang hard fork is a crucial step towards Cardano’s ultimate goal of decentralized governance. By introducing on-chain mechanisms for decision-making and empowering Ada holders to participate actively, the network is moving closer to its vision of a community-driven ecosystem. As the Cardano ecosystem continues to mature, the success of the Chang hard fork will be instrumental in shaping its future.
