How Cardano's Chang Upgrade and Voltaire Revolutionize Community Governance

On September 1st at 21:44 UTC, the Cardano blockchain underwent the Chang upgrade, a significant step toward enabling the Voltaire governance system.

This upgrade marks the beginning of an exciting new era where every ADA holder can participate in decision-making and contribute to Cardano's future.

Key Highlights of Chang and Voltaire system:

• Voltaire Governance: The upgrade implements CIP-1694, setting the stage for a decentralized governance model where ADA holders can vote and make decisions collectively.
• Decentralized Power: The new system emphasizes governance "by the many, for the many," aligning with Cardano’s decentralization and community involvement ethos.
• Sovereign Wealth Fund: Chang unlocks a $600 million ADA fund to support the community and future developments, showcasing Cardano's commitment to long-term growth and stability. The upgrade is named after Phil Chang, a leading figure in governance within Cardano before he died in 2022. Under the new model, the entire community can directly participate in setting the direction of the protocol.

What Does This Mean for ADA Holders?

A New Governance Model

All ADA holders can now:

• Register as DReps (Delegated Representatives)
• Vote directly
• Or delegate voting power to a trusted representative

In addition, Stake Pool Operators (SPOs) and a temporary Interim Constitutional Committee (ICC) oversee governance during the transition phase.

Transition Phase: Two Hard Forks

• Chang #1 Already live. Begins the governance transition phase.
• Chang #2 Expected later this year (around end of November), pending community approval.

This phase will last about 90 days, allowing the ecosystem to learn and adapt before full governance activation.

New Governance Actions

The new system allows the community to:

• Modify protocol parameters
• Approve future upgrades (Hard Forks)
• Submit “information actions” for discussion and planning

This ensures Cardano evolves through transparent, collective decision-making.

A New Era for Cardano

Power is shifting from founding entities- IOG, Cardano Foundation, and EMURGO -to the community.

Cardano is now governed by its users.

This is your opportunity to take part in shaping the future of the Cardano ecosystem.

Join the Governance Movement

Become an active community member today with Gero Dashboard, a secure, non-custodial Cardano wallet that helps you manage ADA, participate in governance, and explore Web3.

Download Gero Dashboard below and take the first step toward decentralized governance.