Key Highlights
- Input Output Global is proposing nine funding plans for 2026, with a budget request lower than last year and voting open until May 24, 2026.
- The main focus is the Leios upgrade for Cardano, expected to enter testnet in June 2026.
- The plan improves developer tools and Layer 2 systems like Hydra, while setting aside over $15.8M for network maintenance and system upgrades.
Input Output Global today shared nine treasury proposals for 2026 focused on upgrading Cardano through its planned Leios rollout. The proposal is intended to improve network speed, scale, and performance over the next few years.
‘We’re submitting nine proposals this year, with a funding ask just under 50% of last year’s, and a clear focus on getting the job done,” the firm wrote on X.
Funding plan and voting timeline
The company said it is asking for “just under 50%” of what it asked for last year, while voting is currently open and will close on May 24, 2026.
The proposals cover core areas such as infrastructure, developer tools, and economic design, but place strong emphasis on the Leios upgrade.
Leios upgrade timeline and testing phase
According to the roadmap, Leios is expected to enter the testnet phase in June 2026, with a full mainnet launch targeted by the end of 2026. However, development is still ongoing, with internal tracking showing the project in a mid-stage phase despite most specifications already being completed.
One of the key goals is scaling transaction capacity. According to the Consensus proposal, “The 2030 Vision sets a clear target: Cardano must scale from today’s approximately 800,000 transactions per month to over 27 million,” describing Leios as “the mechanism purpose-built to get there.”
The upgrade is expected to increase throughput by between 10 times and 65 times while keeping the existing consensus model unchanged.
Layer 2 expansion and network support
The plan also connects with Cardano’s Layer 2 approach, including systems like Hydra and the Midgard rollup. The proposal notes that both solutions are needed together, stating that “only with both does Cardano have a credible L2 story.”
Alongside scaling efforts, Input Output Global has proposed 62.1 million ADA, valued at over $15.8 million, to support ongoing network maintenance. This includes improvements to nodes, system monitoring, and security, with the company stating that “everything else depends on it.”
Developer experience is another focus area. Several proposals aim to fix what the company described as a “fragmented” system that slows growth.
A six-month plan has been put in place to improve tools and onboarding after research showed many developers leave due to a “high onboarding cost.” Moreover, there are plans to expand formal verification and improve the Plutus smart contract platform, with one proposal aiming to make these tools easier to use without requiring “a PhD and three months of setup.”
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