The release of Cardano node version 9.0.0 lays the groundwork for the Chang hard fork, a crucial step towards the Voltaire era and decentralized governance of the network.
Cardano has taken a significant step towards its goal of becoming a fully decentralized ecosystem governed by its community of users. With the launch of version 9.0.0 of its node, announced on July 8, the blockchain is paving the way for the arrival of the “Chang” hard fork, a crucial event in Cardano’s roadmap to usher in the Voltaire era.
La Node 9.0.0 version introduces a number of important changes, including on-chain governance via Cardano Improvement Proposal (CIP) 1694 and support for Plutus v1 reference scripts.
All of these changes are critical for Chang and will begin the transition of control and governance of the project from the Cardano Foundation and Input-Output Global to the user community.
Cardano will have the most effective governance system with Voltaire, its founder assured
Charles Hoskinson, founder of Cardano, highlighted the importance of this launch, stating that “Node 9.0.0 basically means that Cardano has the best, most decentralized and hopefully most effective decentralized governance in the entire cryptocurrency industry.”.
The implementation of the Chang hard fork will introduce new entities to Cardano, such as Delegated Representatives (DReps), who will be elected by ADA holders to be responsible for drafting the “Cardano Constitution” and guiding the future development of the network.
According to Hoskinson, Cardano’s transition to decentralized governance is crucial to securing the future of the network and ensuring it becomes a highly scalable and innovative ecosystem.
On the other hand, now that Node 9.0.0 has been released, Cardano's next step is Chang. However, this hard fork will not be implemented immediately on the network, as Stake Pool operators must first upgrade their nodes to the new version. As Hoskinson explained, the date for the implementation of this hard fork is expected to be set once at least 70% of Stake Pool operators have upgraded their nodes.
Still, the release of Node 9.0.0 marks a major milestone on Cardano’s journey toward full network decentralization.
Strengthening interoperability with the IBC Protocol
In addition to the launch of Node 9.0.0 to move towards full decentralization and self-governance, Cardano is also betting on interoperability and scalability in the blockchain ecosystem.
Last week, the network announced its Integration with the Inter-Blockchain Communication (IBC) Protocol, a fact that represents a major advance in the strengthening and security of the blockchain.
According to the announcement shared by the Cardano Foundation on social media platform LinkedIn, the integration of its network into the IBC Protocol will enable trusted transactions and data exchanges between different blockchain networks, while maintaining Cardano’s robust security and fee structure.
Cosmos developers stressed that the IBC protocol represents “the gateway to the interconnected economy of the future.” This protocol has become the standard for blockchain interoperability and, thanks to its integration with Cardano, the network will be able to connect with More than 115 blockchains in the Cosmos ecosystem and offer options to connect sidechains based on the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM). All of this opens up a range of possibilities for the deployment of EVM-compatible decentralized applications (DApps) on Cardano sidechains.
In short, Cardano’s integration with IBC not only improves the network’s connectivity and interoperability in the blockchain ecosystem, but also expands Cardano’s reach in the blockchain ecosystem and makes it easier for developers to access and utilize Ethereum’s development tools along with the security and scalability features of the network founded by Hoskinson.
What is the IBC protocol?
The Inter-Blockchain Communication (IBC) Protocol is an advanced mechanism that enables the secure and reliable transfer of data and assets between different blockchains. This protocol works by establishing a connection between chains through dedicated communication channels, which are overseen by smart contracts and light client modules.
These light clients act as verifiers of the state information of the connected blockchains, ensuring that the transmitted data is authentic and has not been altered.
Cosmos developers highlighted that the integration of this interoperability protocol with Cardano seeks to extend a bridge between the network and SDK-based sidechains, unlocking new tools for the creation of agile and flexible applications based on Cardano's trustless and decentralized infrastructure. This, according to the developers, can serve to enhance the potential of blockchain in the development of business solutions.
