The Cardano blockchain is set for a significant evolution following a decisive community vote. Decentralized representatives have overwhelmingly endorsed naming the upcoming Version 11 protocol upgrade the “van Rossem Hard Fork.” According to the Intersect Development Update from February 20, 2026, more than 80% of all active DRep voting shares supported the proposal.
This naming convention honors Max van Rossem, a longstanding contributor to Cardano’s governance framework and constitutional design. It continues the blockchain’s tradition of naming hard forks after influential individuals, following predecessors like Byron, Shelley, Alonzo, Vasil, and Chang.
Technical Rollout Progresses
Technical preparations are advancing in parallel. Cardano Node 10.6.2 moved out of its pre-release status this week. This version incorporates the hard fork functionality, which is currently undergoing testing on the SanchoNet test network. The testnet is already operating under Protocol Version 11.
Developers note that Node 10.6.2 is not the final mainnet candidate. The anticipated Node 10.7.0 is scheduled for release within the next two weeks and is expected to serve as the finished version for the mainnet upgrade. Formal performance testing for this release has already concluded.
In related infrastructure news, DB-Sync 13.7.0.1 is available as a pre-release. This version maintains compatibility with Node 10.6.2 and provides support for Protocol Version 11.
Mixed Results in Recent Governance Votes
Recent governance actions have yielded varied outcomes. A protocol parameter update to increase transaction and block memory units was ratified on February 13 and is now live on the network. This change enhances the blockchain’s capacity for processing transactions.
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However, two other proposals failed to meet the required approval thresholds. The initiative to establish a DeFi liquidity budget from the treasury did not pass. A separate proposal to reduce the minimum CC size was also unsuccessful.
An ongoing vote concerns the Net Change Limit for epochs 613 through 713. This proposal seeks to set a ceiling of 300 million ADA for treasury withdrawals until July 2027. Current DRep support stands at 29%, but passage requires over 50% approval. The voting period closes on March 10.
Builder DAO Initiates New Funding Phase and Committee Meetings
The Cardano Builder DAO has commenced preliminary checks this week for its second funding round via the Clarity.vote platform. This smart contract-managed decentralized autonomous organization provides financing for projects aimed at boosting user adoption and on-chain activity. Its current focus includes integrations with core Cardano infrastructure such as Hydra, Leios, and Midgard.
Separately, the Civics Committee convened on February 19 to discuss budget planning for the 2026/27 period. During this meeting, members observed that the constitutional safeguards functioned as intended during a recent parameter update.
The community can expect further updates during the Intersect Town Hall scheduled for February 26 at 12:00 UTC, which will cover the hard fork progress and other governance developments.
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