Key Highlights
- Cardano is preparing to take over control of Project Catalyst from Input Output Global after four years since its launch.
- Fund15 and Fund16 are paused, but focus remains on Fund14 to support active projects.
- Over 2,200 projects have been funded so far, with more than 500 still active.
The Cardano Foundation is taking over the leadership of Project Catalyst from Input Output Global, a blockchain research company, after a joint internal review.
Both teams shared the announcement today, marking a new phase in how community funding will be handled in the Cardano ecosystem after four years of Input Output managing the program since its launch.
“We would like to share an update regarding Project Catalyst. Following our joint review, Input Output Global, which operates Catalyst today, and the Cardano Foundation have agreed to work expediently towards the Cardano Foundation assuming stewardship of Project Catalyst,” the teams shared on X.
What is Project Catalyst
Project Catalyst is a funding system for the Cardano community created to help developers, builders, and beginners turn ideas into real projects that can benefit the Cardano ecosystem. These ideas could be building apps or creating learning platforms. Once an idea is submitted, the community reviews the proposal and takes a vote to decide which project will receive funding.
The program started as a small pilot in September 2020 but has quickly expanded into a large system due to its community. Over time, new funding categories were also added to support different kinds of projects.
According to the update, more than 2,200 projects have already received funding through Project Catalyst, while over 500 projects are still active and moving through different development stages.
Ongoing changes amid the transition
Because of the ongoing transition, the team said upcoming funding rounds will change. This includes the 15th (Fund15) and 16th round of funding (Fund16), which will no longer run in their original format.
Instead, the main focus will stay on its 14th round of funding so that projects that are already approved can continue receiving funding. These payments are linked to milestones, meaning teams receive funds as they complete each stage of their work.
The team also said that funds in the form of ADA, the native token of Cardano, that have already been set aside for Fund15 and Fund16 will be returned to the treasury while a new funding structure is being prepared. This is expected to give the teams enough time to review how future funding rounds should work.
During the process, the Cardano Foundation and Input Output Global will continue working with Intersect MBO, an organization within the Cardano ecosystem, to design a clear path for the funding. The team has also asked for feedback from the community, as the ecosystem wants the program to remain open and community-driven.
Overall, the transition is focused on stability first, then improvement later, as Project Catalyst moves into its next stage of development.
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