Cardano executed the Van Rossem hard fork on Saturday, advancing the network to version 11. The upgrade was approved by a community vote for the first time, rather than by the project’s founding development company.
What the upgrade means
A hard fork is a coordinated change to a blockchain’s core rules that requires nodes and validators to update their software. Moving to version 11 signals a new protocol iteration for Cardano, a proof-of-stake blockchain launched in 2017 that aims to provide secure, scalable infrastructure for decentralized applications.
First community-ratified upgrade
Unlike prior network changes, the Van Rossem hard fork was greenlit through a vote by the Cardano community. This marks a governance milestone for the project, shifting decision-making for protocol changes toward stakeholders rather than relying solely on the company that originally built the network.
Why it matters
Community approval of a core protocol upgrade underscores Cardano’s progression toward decentralized governance. Establishing a precedent for stakeholder-led decisions could shape how future network changes are proposed, evaluated, and implemented across the ecosystem.