Cardano 2026 upgrade proposal revealed: Does this upgrade mark a turning point?

The proposal is an extension of a long-standing tradition within Cardano of naming major updates after historical figures or outstanding contributors to the community.

This approach began in the Byronic era, saw the first phases of the network’s technical construction, and continues through updates with names such as “Vasil,” “Valentine,” “Chang,” and “Plomin,” all of which are associated with influential members of the Cardano community who have passed away.

Technically, the update is classified as an “in-era upgrade,” meaning it bumps up the protocol version but doesn’t enter a new laptop era.

According to previous reports, protocol version 11 aims to improve in three main areas: security, governance and Plutus functionality.

These changes include improving Plutus performance, enhancing ledger consistency, and upgrading node security.

These updates also extend to elements such as the “Plutus” primitive, VRF key uniqueness, and “reference input” rules.

The package is part of a new wave of financially funded developments within the network and reflects a gradual transition to a more mature governance model.

Meanwhile, other governance developments are emerging; the Cardano Constitution includes a requirement to pass a new proposal to establish a Net Change Limit (NCL), which sets the maximum limit that can be withdrawn from the treasury during a specific period, proposed at 350 trillion Lovelace (equivalent to 350 million ADA).

IOG’s public follow-up to the “Leios” upgrade also demonstrates continued progress in specification, simulation, and implementation, fueling expectations for its later arrival on mainnet.

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