Update: Development progress report #99 – February 20, 2026
February 20, 2026
Welcome to the latest Intersect Development Update, highlighting progress on the van Rossem Hard Fork and other key initiatives. This week, the focus is on the Cardano Builder DAO, Coin Ceylon, the Civics Committee, and Delivery Assurance.
In terms of the Cardano hard fork update, SanchoNet has been upgraded to the latest Cardano node release, along with the availability of the DB-Sync pre-release. These developments signify significant milestones towards the van Rossem hard fork. The Cardano Node 10.6.2 release is now accessible, containing hard fork functionality meant for testing on SanchoNet, along with improvements enhancing node stability and networking. While version 10.6.2 is not the mainnet hard fork candidate release, Version 10.7 is being targeted for further enhancements to prepare for the hard fork. SanchoNet has been upgraded to run Protocol Version 11, aligning with these developments.
Additionally, the Key Tooling release of DB-Sync 13.7.0.1 Pre-Release is now available, compatible with Cardano Node 10.6.2 and newer versions, supporting hard forking to Protocol Version 11. This pre-release is intended for testing on SanchoNet and other testnets. Looking ahead, Cardano Node 10.7.0 is slated for release within two weeks as the mainnet hard-fork-ready candidate release, to be utilized for forking Preview, PreProd, and the Mainnet, with formal benchmarking and performance tests in progress.
Confirming the van Rossem Hard Fork, the Hard Fork naming action submitted for voting achieved over 80% DRep support, officially endorsing protocol version 11 as the van Rossem Hard Fork. To stay informed, individuals can join the Upgrade Discord channel #wg-hard-fork or reach out via email.
Shifting focus to Smart Contracts and Delivery Assurance, the Rainfire DAO is spotlighted this week, particularly the Cardano Builder DAO managed by Intersect. This project recently completed its latest milestone with temp checks for round 2 funding. The Cardano Builder DAO serves as a smart contract-enforced, member-governed funding mechanism dedicated to supporting growth within the Cardano ecosystem’s application layer. Through a transparent governance framework and metrics-first approach, CB DAO aims to facilitate sustainable scaling, integration of cutting-edge infrastructure, and contribute to long-term ecosystem success.
In Civics, the recent meeting covered committee operations, budget drafting, working group progress, and elections planning. Discussions included refining governance initiatives, measuring participation, and strengthening research methodology. The focus was on structural alignment, pragmatic budgeting, and enhancing participation infrastructure in preparation for upcoming elections.
The Open Source segment highlighted the State of Developer Experience Survey 2026 closing on February 27. Members and the community are encouraged to participate and provide feedback. In Membership and Community, the February Intersect Town Hall on February 26 will discuss governance decisions, open-source progress, delivery assurance updates, and global engagements. Additionally, CoinCeylon, operating as Sri Lanka’s leading blockchain innovations firm, focuses on empowering communities and promoting blockchain adoption, particularly within the Cardano ecosystem. Through its partnership with Intersect, CoinCeylon plays a crucial role in local adoption and innovation sharing. Members can access its services and benefit from its contributions to Intersect governance and operations, demonstrating a mutually beneficial collaboration within the Cardano community.
