In an important development in the Cardano blockchain ecosystem, the voting process for the Interim Constitutional Committee (ICC) began on June 13, marking a pivotal step towards restructuring the governance model under the upcoming hard fork of Chang. Voting, which allows ADA holders to choose three new members of the ICC, is being conducted through the convocation platform and will end on June 23, covering the 491st and 492nd eras.
The ICC plays a crucial role during the technical bootstrapping phase of the Chang Hard Fork, charged with upholding the interim constitution and ensuring governance procedures are consistent with its mandates. The election results are scheduled to be announced on June 26.
Cardano founder shares key update amid criticism
Amid this pivotal governance update, B Lanningham, CTO at Sundae Labs — a Cardano-based project —I expressed Her reservations about the current voting process, especially regarding the non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) surrounding the draft constitution.
“I will not explicitly vote on the ICC election until the ICC revokes all non-disclosure agreements related to the draft constitution,” Lanningham argued. He criticized the approach of Input Output Global (IOG), the development company behind Cardano, suggesting that its strategy may amplify concerns rather than allay them, creating unnecessary controversy.
By restricting open discussions about the draft, Lanningham believes the IOG is inadvertently fueling conspiracy theories and increasing societal discord. He expressed: “The Cardano community in general does not have a strong track record of nuance on complex topics (…) However, attempting to NDA these early drafts has the opposite effect, in my opinion; it amplifies anxiety, and provides conspiracy theorists with ammunition.” “.
This statement highlights a broader concern that secrecy can be counterproductive, especially in a decentralized ecosystem where community trust and engagement are paramount. Lanningham also criticized IOG's approach to early drafts and suggested alternative approaches that could foster a healthier dialogue about the evolving governance structure.
He suggested that the international oversight team proactively discuss the motivations behind controversial provisions and the rationale for their inclusion, thus addressing potential controversies proactively rather than reacting defensively. Embracing potential controversies can reduce speculative noise and build a more flexible governance framework, he said.
In response to criticism and ongoing community debate, Charles Hoskinson, founder of Cardano and CEO of IOG, provided an update indicating that the overall governance stack, including a fork-ready candidate node, guardrail node, and temporary constitution, will likely be released soon.
“My understanding is that the entire package will be released with the candidate node for release. So that is the candidate ready, the guardrail nodes, and the temporary constitution. I bet on or before Friday,” Hoskinson wrote.
Zhang Hard Fork and ICC
Cardano Constitution – Currently an off-chain informational document as stated in CIP-1694– It aims to capture Cardano's core values and ensure its long-term sustainability. It highlights a vision in which the Constitution could evolve into a smart contract-driven framework.
At the same time, the ICC is designed to serve as a guardian of this Constitution, with mechanisms to replace it through specific governance procedures if necessary, reflecting a strong and flexible governance framework aimed at accountability and adaptability.
As Cardano approaches the Chang hard fork, the dynamics within its community and the unfolding governance model remain crucial. The results of the current vote and the subsequent integration of the interim constitution will likely have long-lasting impacts on the operational and governance landscape of blockchain.
At press time, ADA was trading at $0.392.
Featured image from LinkedIn, chart from TradingView.com
