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Cardano Node 10.1.1 has officially launched, marking a critical milestone in the platform’s journey toward decentralized governance.
This release supports the Chang 2 hard fork, an upgrade to complete Cardano’s on-chain governance as outlined in CIP-1694. The upgrade moves Cardano beyond its initial “bootstrap” governance phase, which began with the Chang 1 hard fork on September 1.
Cardano Next Upgrade: Chang Upgrade 2
Notably, the Chang upgrade is important for Cardano as it implements the final features of its on-chain governance system based on principles from the Voltaire era. The upgrade process was split into two parts to streamline adoption and ensure a smooth transition.
With Chang 2, Cardano’s governance evolves as it allows ADA holders to participate in protocol decision-making directly.
Following this upgrade, ADA holders will have the option to delegate their voting power to Delegated Representatives (DReps) or assume a DRep role themselves.
New Capabilities and Technical Enhancements in Node 10.1.1
Cardano Node 10.1.1 incorporates several key improvements beyond governance. This release introduces new Plutus primitives, enhancing smart contract functionality, as detailed in CIP-0122, CIP-0123, and CIP-0127.
Stake Pool Operators (SPOs) will find improved support for SPO delegation to predefined voting options, along with enhancements across the ledger, API, CLI, and networking.
However, this release includes breaking changes. As older features phase out, SPOs and developers are to review the release notes on Intersect GitHub to ensure compatibility.
Technical Readiness and Community Involvement
The enactment of Chang 2 requires a vote from the Interim Constitutional Committee (ICC) and 51% of the stake from SPOs. Upon meeting these thresholds, a one-epoch ratification period will follow, after which the hard fork will be take full effect.
SPOs, DApps, and exchanges must prepare for this upgrade, as compatibility with Node 10.1.1 will be essential to support seamless post-upgrade operations.
Intersect, the organization facilitating Cardano’s governance infrastructure, will provide an ecosystem readiness page for tracking progress through the upgrade phases. The hard fork working group will also host Q&A sessions to answer community questions and provide guidance on the technical changes.
After Chang 2: Era of Community-Driven Governance
Once Chang 2 is in place, Cardano’s governance will operate through decentralized voting, allowing ADA holders to shape the future of the blockchain through GovTool and other governance initiatives.
The community will have opportunities to join working groups and participate in open sessions to craft and refine governance proposals, including budgeting and protocol improvements.