Top DRep Casts Abstention Vote on Input Output’s Research Proposal
For context, the controversy centers on the “Cardano Vision 2026: Human Centred, Scalable, Post Quantum Secure – IO Research” proposal, which seeks 32.9 million $ADA in treasury funding for advanced research initiatives, including Leios scaling technology and quantum-resistant cryptography.
After casting an abstention vote, DRep YUTA argued that the proposal mixes valuable research with what he considers unnecessary treasury spending. Consequently, he said the ideal outcome would have been to split the proposal into separate submissions.
However, YUTA claimed that Input Output’s research division indicated it would not resubmit the proposal if voters rejected it. He also warned that several research labs could shut down entirely under that scenario.
Input Output Won’t Resubmit Research Proposal: Hoskinson
In response, Hoskinson reaffirmed that Input Output would not submit the proposal again if it failed to pass.
“We will not resubmit if it fails,” Hoskinson stated.
In a separate commentary, Hoskinson criticized DReps opposing the proposal. He argued that concerns over $ADA’s temporary price downturn could undermine years of technological progress. Furthermore, he warned that layoffs could follow if proposals fail and suggested that $ADA’s downturn could become permanent if Cardano loses its research-driven edge.
According to him, Cardano’s research-focused development model remains one of the ecosystem’s strongest competitive advantages. Therefore, he warned that weakening that foundation could permanently damage the network.
Meanwhile, voting on the proposal is still ongoing. The voting process began on May 7, 2026, and is scheduled to conclude on June 8, 2026. Currently, the proposal appears headed toward failure, with 86.72% of votes cast as “No” and only 13.28% supporting it.
Potential Implications of Not Resubmitting the Proposal
Meanwhile, YUTA described the governance decision as a high-risk calculation between approving imperfect spending and risking the loss of critical research infrastructure.
The DRep further warned that rejecting and failing to resubmit the proposal could trigger broader market concerns. According to him, $ADA could potentially crash by more than 50% if investors interpret the closure of research labs as a sign that Cardano is abandoning its peer-reviewed development philosophy.
In the meantime, investors are closely monitoring the proposal’s outcome and its potential impact on $ADA’s price if it fails.