Cardano Implements its Chang Hard Fork

The long-awaited hard fork of the Cardano blockchain has been successfully completed, paving the way for new advancements in voting systems and smart contracts. This marks a significant milestone for the project, ushering in a new era of decentralized governance.

On September 1, at block 10764778, the layer-1 proof-of-stake blockchain underwent the Chang upgrade, officially beginning the “Conway ledger era” as Cardano calls it.

One of the key changes brought about by the hard fork is the transformation of Cardano’s governance system.

This upgrade, part of the project’s “Voltaire” phase, allows any ADA holder to participate in the voting process for governance actions. In a statement on Sept. 2, the Cardano Foundation highlighted the significance of the Chang hard fork:

“Today’s hard fork is a major achievement for the Cardano blockchain, its ecosystem, and its community. It fulfills the promise of a truly self-governing and decentralized network.”