Cardano Advances with Node 9.0 Release Ahead of Chang Hard Fork
On July 8, the Cardano development team launched “Node 9.0,” the latest version of their validator node software, marking a significant milestone for the upcoming Chang hard fork.
Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson announced the release in a YouTube video on July 7, indicating it as the final step towards the Chang upgrade. The new software supports crossing the hard fork boundary on mainnet and long-running testnets like PreProd.
Node 9.0 is crucial for initiating Cardano’s “Age of Voltaire,” a phase aimed at achieving fully decentralized governance. This transition is outlined in Cardano Improvement Proposal 1694 (CIP 1694), which proposes the election of Delegate Representatives (DReps) by ADA tokenholders. These representatives will draft and propose changes to a Cardano Constitution, establishing the network’s governance framework.
Although Node 9.0 does not yet enable full governance actions, it supports the bootstrap phase of CIP-1694 in production environments. Hoskinson expects the hard fork process to begin shortly, contingent on 70% of nodes upgrading to the new software. This upgrade follows a recent node update on June 26, addressing a distributed denial-of-service attack on the network.
Complementing these advancements, EMURGO has announced the upcoming launch of the USDA stablecoin, managed by the experienced Encryptus team. Encryptus, founded in 2021, specializes in secure and efficient high-volume crypto transactions, holding compliance certifications in Europe. They have partnered with EMURGO and the Yoroi Wallet team to integrate ADA-to-fiat conversions, enhancing Cardano’s functionality for real-world settlements. Shantnu Saxena, CEO of Anzens, emphasized the importance of compliance and technology in the stablecoin industry.
These combined efforts underscore Cardano’s commitment to leveraging advanced technologies and robust governance structures to maintain its position as a leading global trade and blockchain hub.
