The Cardano network is on the verge of a hard fork on Chang’e that will usher in the Voltaire era. This transition is enabled by the latest version of the node validator, version 9.1.0, which includes critical updates required for the hard fork. Charles Hoskinson, Cardano founder, Advertise Via X, “That’s it. After all, Node 9.1 is Voltaire. Happy SPOs promotion. Welcome to Chang.”
Additionally, Intersect, a membership-based organization within the ADA ecosystem focused on blockchain sustainability and future improvements, confirmed the announcement, stating via X, “Node 9.1.0 is here! The final release to bring on-chain decision-making to Cardano is here. As with all hard forks, Cardano will upgrade when the community is ready.”
Cardano Chang hard fork ready
Upgrading from Node version 9.0.0 to 9.1.0 is important, primarily because it introduces the mandatory Conway configuration file at startup, which is critical to the transition through the Chang hard fork. Previously, the configuration file was optional.
In addition to the configuration file integration, Node 9.1.0 includes several bug fixes and improvements to both the CLI and API. Among these improvements is the introduction of the “Treasury Inquiry” command, which provides improved insights into the network’s financial operations.
Additionally, the updates ensure compatibility with two important Cardano improvement proposals: CIP69, which standardizes metadata structures, and CIP119, which introduces a metadata label for transactions to make it easier to identify and process transactions.
As Intersect explained, the community will decide when the Chang hard fork will be activated. The Chang hard fork will start once 70% of validators have adopted the new node.
The Chang hard fork is set to significantly advance Cardano’s capabilities, moving from the Vasil upgrade to a decentralized decision-making foundation by implementing CIP-1694 governance mechanisms on-chain.
This includes community-driven governance where ADA holders are directly involved in decision-making through on-chain consensus. Furthermore, Delegate Representatives (DReps) will play a pivotal role in expressing the interests of the community and guiding the future of the network.
The Chang upgrade is designed in two distinct phases. The first, Chang #1 upgrade, will see the initial set of governance features deployed to Cardano and marks the beginning of the technical bootstrapping phase as outlined in CIP-1694.
The second phase, Chang Upgrade #2, will transform these governance mechanisms from the technical boot stage. This will enable full on-chain governance, including DRep sharing and comprehensive governance procedures.
The upgrade also pays tribute to Phil Chang, a key figure in IOG’s Cardano governance strategies, who passed away in 2022. His contributions were instrumental in envisioning the Voltaire era, which Chang’s upgrade seeks to achieve.
At the time of publishing this report, ADA was trading at $0.4134.
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