Cardano Successfully Launches Historic Chang Hard Fork

Cardano successfully launched its Chang hard fork on September 1, 2024, marking a major step toward its goal of decentralized governance.

This upgrade kicks off the “Conway ledger era,” which is part of the broader Voltaire phase aimed at giving Cardano (ADA) holders more control over the network.

The key feature of the update is a new governance model, allowing ADA token holders to directly participate in decision-making processes. This shift was celebrated by the Cardano Foundation, which highlighted the move toward a self-governing system.

Input Output Global CTO, Romain Pellerin, expressed gratitude to the Cardano community for their efforts in making this decentralized governance possible, while founder Charles Hoskinson compared the upgrade to an “independence day” for the network, emphasizing that every ADA holder now has a say in its future.

On the technical side, the Chang hard fork introduced enhancements to smart contracts and cryptographic features, improving performance and cross-chain compatibility. However, a minor issue related to node synchronization was reported, with a hotfix being prepared to address it.

Despite this hiccup, the overall reception of the upgrade has been positive, with the Cardano community and analysts alike praising the network’s progress toward decentralization and increased user control.