Key facts
- Cardano developer Input Output is transferring control of core blockchain infrastructure to external specialist teams.
- Key components like the Haskell node, Plutus platform, and Daedalus wallet will be managed by independent companies.
- This initiative is part of Cardano's Voltaire era, aiming for full decentralization of node and blueprint development.
- Se7en Labs and Teragone are among the external companies taking on development responsibilities.
- The handover process will commence in August and extend into 2027.
- The Van Rossem hard fork activates July 18, upgrading the network and cutting smart contract execution costs.
Cardano developer Input Output announced it will transfer control of core blockchain infrastructure, including the Haskell node, Plutus smart-contract platform, Daedalus wallet, and Hydra scaling technology, to external specialist companies. This handover, beginning in August and extending through 2027, is the final stage of Cardano's Voltaire era, aimed at achieving full decentralization of node and reference blueprint development. Input Output, led by founder Charles Hoskinson, stated that this move is essential for the network's long-term growth and resilience. The transition will result in at least three independent node implementations running in parallel, overseen by community bodies Intersect and Pragma. Input Output will shift its focus to research and new ventures through IO Labs and IO Ventures. The announcement coincides with the activation of the Van Rossem hard fork on July 18, which will upgrade Cardano to Protocol Version 11 and reduce smart contract execution costs. The ADA token saw a modest 2% increase to approximately $0.165, remaining significantly below its 2021 all-time high.