Here’s how we’ll optimize & scale securely as we grow
1️⃣ Block size increase📈
The bigger the block, the more transactions it can carry. We recently increased block size by 12.5%; we’ll apply further increases over time based on ongoing system monitoring and network health.
2️⃣ Pipelining
Improves block propagation times by coalescing validation & propagation. The goal is for blocks to be propagated to at least 95% of peers within five seconds by reducing the ‘dead time’ between blocks.
3️⃣Input Endorsers
Input endorsers improve block propagation times and throughput by allowing transactions to be separated into pre-constructed blocks. This improves the consistency of block propagation times and allows higher transaction rates.💪
🖥️ More efficient memory usage across the chain. Specifically, memory improvements in Unspent Transaction Output (UTXO) handling, stake distribution, live stake distribution and pools, and hash representation.
5️⃣ Plutus script enhancements
Even more effective usage of the powerful eUTXO model through smart contract optimization, including reference inputs, #Plutus Datums & script sharing.
6️⃣ Node enhancements
Improvements will help even distribution of stake and reward computations across the epochs, thus providing greater headroom for block size increases.
7️⃣ On-disk storage 💿
By storing portions of the protocol state on disk, nodes will need to hold less in memory.So RAM-constrained systems will be able to run nodes provided they have sufficient storage, and memory will no longer be a bottleneck on scalability.
8️⃣ Sidechains ⛓️
EVM sidechains will add capacity; projects coming to Cardano include dcSpark’s Milkomeda and IOG’s Mamba.
9️⃣Hydra
Introduces isomorphic state channels to maximize throughput, minimize latency, incur low to no costs & reduce storage requirements. Hydra provides a more efficient means to process transactions off-chain while using the main-chain ledger as the secure settlement layer.
🔟Off-chain computing
Offloading some of the computation, for example with Asynchronous Contract Execution (ACE) can drive greater core network efficiency. Transactions occur outside the blockchain itself, yet can offer fast, cheap transactions via a trust model.
1️⃣1️⃣ Mithril
Mithril will improve chain synchronization while maintaining trust. The result? Multi-signature aggregation that is fast and efficient without compromising security features.
Scaling #Cardano is a process. Early in this process, we do anticipate periods of intense demand, with network congestion at peak times. We’re early on an exciting journey & usage will be high.
At times we’ll all feel we want to move quicker. But secure, incremental improvements & building for the long term remains paramount. Remember: slow & steady wins the race 🏁.
Security, decentralization and steady, careful scalability. It's all in the plan. Always has been.
We’ve made remarkable progress in Cardano’s first year as a fully decentralized ecosystem.
We always knew this journey would be challenging. As a community, we’ve moved fast, and yes, too fast for some. Missteps and bumps in the road were inevitable. And yes, even the odd pivot.
But zooming out, we’ve come a very long way in a short time. All thanks to the engagement, commitment and grind from so many across the ecosystem. Now, at the midpoint of the year, it’s time to pause, reflect, and recalibrate. 🧵
1/5
As a prequel to Rare’s Governance & Dev Day, Input | Output will be sponsoring two days of focused reflection and forward thinking — to assess the governance journey so far and start to align on what comes next.
This additional workshop event over 5th & 6th August is an opportunity for community leaders and builders to come together and ask big questions, like:
❓How can we improve both on-chain and off-chain budget/decision-making processes?
❓What new channels or working methods could help drive constructive debate and build consensus?
What other difficult conversations still need to be had — and how can we have them constructively?
❓How do we balance the need for fiscal responsibility with bold, confident investment in the ecosystem?
❓Where should we focus our energy and funding to help Cardano grow into 2026?
By bringing together a representative cross section of DReps and other stakeholders from across our decentralized ecosystem, these two days aim to:
🔎Capture an after action review (AAR) that details constructive, actionable feedback from the diverse perspectives of all stakeholders on the 2025 budget process. And start to shape a more efficient, more refined version for 2026.
⚖️Identify and align on the key governance and constitutional topics requiring clarification or amendment, feeding into a community-validated roadmap for proposed changes to the constitution in 2026.
⚙️Discuss the creation of an executive function for Cardano, including structure, accountability, and decision-making roles. How do we leverage the power of a decentralized community in a coherent, strategically aligned way?
But we want to shape the agenda together. We will be reaching out to community members over the week ahead and gathering feedback on what other topics should be discussed and included. So please drop us a comment below to let us know what you’d like to see included?
3/5
Cardano’s next chapter will be shaped by all of us.
In an ongoing series of threads, IO shares its proposed roadmap with the community, focusing on scalability, usability, and interoperability. These aren’t standalone ideas, but together, they help drive us towards a vision for where we take Cardano next.
Grinding attacks, where network leaders manipulate block additions for re-election advantages, pose a threat, and existing Ouroboros anti-grinding measures can impact settlement times. 2/7🧵
The anti-grinding feature, proposed as part of node improvements, focuses on improving Ouroboros by making grinding attacks harder for adversaries, with minimal overhead for honest participants. 🛡️
3/7🧵
The age of Voltaire brings on-chain governance to Cardano! The community, along with DReps, SPOs, and committees, are now stewards for Cardano's development, guided by the constitution.
Informed and active participation is key to shaping Cardano's future. Discover 10 useful resources that help drive transparent and inclusive governance! 🧵
1/12
A New Dawn
A curated hub highlighting Cardano governance. A New Dawn offers educational content on delegation, participation, and viewing proposed enhancements while spotlighting ecosystem builders.
A platform for budget reconciliation polling, Ekklesia helps DReps support treasury proposals. It has been key to the 2025 budgeting process, encouraging early, transparent coordination.
Cardano's EUTXO model brings determinism and predictability to blockchain! It builds on Bitcoin's UTXO but enhances it for smart contracts and complex apps without sacrificing security or simplicity.
So what does it mean?
1/7
@IOHK_Charles says EUTXO is ‘hand-in-glove built for isomorphism between the off-chain and on-chain.’
Essentially, equality between the two. This means what you see off-chain is what happens on-chain.
2/7
A Bitcoin wallet is like a jar holding coins (UTXOs). To spend $30, you'd use a $50 coin and get $20 change – a new UTXO. Cardano extends this by adding data and logic, creating more versatile UTXOs beyond simple value storage.
3/7
Cardano's sustainable future and competitiveness depends on research & innovation.
Today, Input | Output Research submitted its 'Cardano Vision - Work Program 2025' proposal to fund the foundational work required for long-term growth.
All aimed at scalability, sustainability & interoperability and defined through an evidence-based approach.
2/6
Execution will be led by the Input | Output Research team, the leading blockchain research network worldwide including more than 14 universities, who have published over 200 peer-reviewed papers involving more than 150 researchers.
This continues the foundational research that built Cardano.
3/6