Cardano Upgrade Nears as Van Rossem Hard Fork Clears Major Voting Milestone

• Cardano governance cleared DRep threshold while remaining approvals are still pending.
• Exchange readiness improved as node adoption reached eighty-seven percent across network.
• Leios testnet launched while RealFi prepares for scheduled July sixth debut.

Cardano’s next protocol upgrade has moved closer to activation as the Van Rossem hard fork cleared a key governance hurdle. According to Intersect, delegated representatives have approved the proposal above the required threshold, bringing the network closer to ratifying the upgrade.

The governance action was submitted to the Cardano mainnet during epoch 637, officially launching the on-chain approval process for the intra-era protocol upgrade. According to Intersect, the proposal has secured 62.76% approval from delegated representatives, exceeding the required 60% threshold. However, additional approvals remain necessary before the upgrade can proceed.

Stake pool operators have currently recorded 31.59% approval, remaining below the required 51% threshold. Meanwhile, one Constitutional Committee member has voted in favor, while six members have yet to cast their votes. The proposal requires support from five of the seven committee members before ratification can move forward.

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Ecosystem Readiness Continues to Improve

Besides governance progress, Cardano’s infrastructure has continued preparing for the proposed upgrade. According to Intersect, block production on node version 11 increased to 87% during epoch 639, indicating broader adoption of the latest software among stake pool operators.

Additionally, several major cryptocurrency exchanges confirmed they are ready to support the upgrade. Consequently, liquidity readiness climbed to 77.37%, strengthening ecosystem preparedness ahead of the expected activation.

https://t.co/iKbHU6LvBq

— Intersect (@IntersectMBO) June 26, 2026

Current governance timelines suggest the proposal could reach ratification during either of the next two epochs. Therefore, June 28 and July 3 remain the earliest possible ratification dates. If the remaining approvals arrive on schedule, the hard fork could be enacted on July 3 or July 8.

Leios Testnet Advances Scaling Roadmap

Beyond the governance process, Cardano’s development roadmap also recorded progress this week. The Musashi Dojo public testnet for Ouroboros Leios officially launched, allowing developers to test Cardano’s next-generation scaling technology. Leios has advanced from a research concept into a working public prototype within the past year.

Moreover, the Mithril project entered its next development phase under Teragone, which will continue coordinating the workstream through Intersect while contributing additional cryptography expertise.

RealFi Testnet Remains on Schedule

Cardano also continues preparing for the RealFi Phase 1 Testnet, which remains scheduled to launch on July 6. The initiative represents the first public step toward expanding stablecoin infrastructure and decentralized finance applications on the network.

The remaining votes from stake pool operators and Constitutional Committee members will determine the final timeline for the Van Rossem hard fork. If the proposal secures the outstanding approvals, Cardano could activate its next protocol upgrade during the first half of July.

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