Van Rossem initiates Cardano upgrade with hard fork
June 16, 2026
The process of a hard fork in Cardano development is a complex and collaborative effort that involves many different teams and decisions. The van Rossem upgrade, which is currently in progress, serves as a prime example of the intricate governance processes that Cardano follows, showcasing the coordination among developers, infrastructure providers, DReps, SPOs, founding entities, and the broader community.
A key part of the van Rossem upgrade has been the involvement of the Hard Fork Working Group (HFWG), which includes contributors from entities such as Input Output, Cardano Foundation, Emurgo, Midnight, and Ensurable Systems, among others. The collaboration under the Intersect Hard Fork Working Group, in conjunction with the Intersect Technical Steering Committee, has been instrumental in managing a stable upgrade and ensuring technical coordination throughout the process.
Progress toward the van Rossem hard fork has been steadily advancing across the Preview and Preprod test networks in the months of May and June 2026. The governance actions taken have primarily focused on a Plutus Cost Model (PCM) parameter update and a hard fork initiation action.
The Plutus Cost Model parameter update introduces changes that affect existing primitives and enables new primitives, which takes effect at different stages. The update was essential before the hard fork to provide settings for the new primitives, ensuring a seamless transition for DApps and developers.
Following the Plutus Cost Model parameter update and the release of essential tools in early May, the Preview test network successfully hard forked to a new protocol version on May 8, 2026. On the Preprod test network, challenges arose regarding Ogmios and Kupo tooling hard fork compatibility, which were resolved by hosting forks of these tools to ensure continued testing on Preprod. The hard fork on Preprod was ratified on June 5 and enacted on June 10, 2026.
On Mainnet, the Plutus Cost Model parameter update action was approved by DReps and CC members on June 13, 2026, with enactment scheduled for June 18, 2026. The hard fork initiation governance action for Mainnet is set to be submitted in Epoch 637, with a proposed date of June 16, 2026.
As the focus shifts to on-chain governance, stakeholders such as DReps, SPOs, and CC members play a crucial role in executing Cardano’s decentralized governance system. It is important for stakeholders to stay informed and engaged with the implementation of the van Rossem hard fork, with resources available to enhance readiness and understanding.
Overall, the van Rossem hard fork signifies a significant moment in Cardano’s journey, demonstrating the evolution of governance structures and the importance of community decision-making in the development process. By keeping the community informed and engaged, Cardano continues to advance its mission through collaborative efforts and thoughtful decision-making.
