Cardano's Latest Upgrade 'Node 9.0,' Sets Stage for Chang Hard Fork

Jul 09, 2024

Cardano, a prominent blockchain platform known for its focus on decentralized governance and smart contracts, is gearing up for a significant upgrade known as the Chang hard fork. This upgrade marks a pivotal step towards fully decentralized governance on the network, a development eagerly anticipated by the Cardano community and stakeholders.

The latest advancement in this journey is the release of Node 9.0, announced by Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson in a recent YouTube video. Node 9.0 is a critical update to the Cardano validator node software, paving the way for the upcoming Chang hard fork scheduled to commence shortly.

Scheduled for implementation on July 8, Node 9.0 introduces key functionalities necessary for the transition to the new governance model envisioned under Cardano Improvement Proposal 1694 (CIP 1694). This proposal outlines a roadmap towards the “Age of Voltaire,” where the network’s political structure will undergo substantial transformations.

According to the release notes, Node 9.0 is the first version capable of supporting the crossing into the 9.0 hard fork boundary on mainnet and long-running testnets such as PreProd. However, full governance capabilities, including DRep (Delegate Representative) voting, will be enabled in a subsequent release, specifically in version 10.0.

Hoskinson emphasized the importance of community participation in the upgrade process, noting that a successful hard fork requires at least 70% of nodes to adopt the new software. This adoption threshold serves as a critical signal for mass upgrades within the Cardano ecosystem.

The Chang hard fork represents a foundational step towards the establishment of a Cardano Constitution. This document, drafted by elected DReps (Delegate Representatives) and approved by ADA tokenholders, will serve as the fundamental governing law of the network. Through this framework, DReps will propose and implement network changes in alignment with the established constitution.

Despite initial expectations for the hard fork to occur earlier, delays pushed the timeline into early July. The development team’s proactive measures, including the recent node upgrade following a network attack attempt in June, underscore their commitment to ensuring the stability and security of the Cardano blockchain.

Jerry Christopher

An ardent admirer of NFT, crypto and metaverse, Jerry Christopher is passionate about covering such topics through his expert writing. Keeping up with the technological world, he ensures being updated about every latest activity and event surrounding the advancing space. When not writing, he is busy in exploring his above said interest areas; thus, staying close to what he truly admires.