Technical and operational preparations for the Cardano network’s V11 hard fork are nearly complete, signaling the update—officially named van Rossem—is almost ready for deployment. On-chain data indicates the ecosystem has reached a critical point, with the update now awaiting the final green light from the Constitutional Committee.
Final approval pending
Named in honor of Max van Rossem, a community figure recognized for his contributions to Cardano’s growth and governance, the V11 update represents both a technical milestone and a tribute. With this upgrade, van Rossem’s legacy becomes a symbolic part of Cardano’s evolution as the network enters its next phase.
Cardano is a leading layer-1 blockchain, noted for its smart contract infrastructure and on-chain governance model. The upcoming upgrade is classified as an intra-epoch hard fork—designed to implement protocol improvements just before the blockchain transitions to a new period, laying the groundwork for further advancements.
While V11 is technically ready, its activation is contingent on final approval from the Constitutional Committee.
Technical scope and network support
Developers and participants report that V11 will introduce more cost-effective smart contracts, enable cryptographic components compatible with zero-knowledge proofs, and deliver several new built-in functions. Additionally, the update is expected to serve as a bridge to Cardano’s upcoming Dijkstra era, supporting the next phase in the network’s development.
Glossary: DRep refers to delegates with voting power in Cardano’s governance model. An intra-epoch hard fork is an upgrade that adds new features or technical improvements before moving to a new chain epoch.
The van Rossem hard fork process unfolds through decentralized consensus—rather than by a single entity—with multiple independent actors providing approval. Both the Delegated Representatives (DReps) and the Stake Pool Operator community have reached the required voting thresholds, marking a significant step toward the update’s finalization.
| Indicator | Status |
|---|---|
| Constitutional Committee approval | Pending |
| DRep voting threshold | Reached |
| SPO voting threshold | Reached |
| Percentage of blocks produced with V11 in last 7 days | 88% |
Exchanges and testnets prepared
To guarantee network stability, the update was previously rolled out on the Preview and Preprod testnets. The successful completion of these tests helped minimize technical risks ahead of activating the hard fork on the mainnet.
On-chain indicators also suggest robust backing for the upgrade: 88% of blocks produced in the last seven days have been generated using V11 node software, reflecting swift adoption by stake pool operators across the network.
Major crypto exchanges, including Binance and Coinbase, have confirmed their operational readiness for the V11 hard fork.
Preparations by leading exchanges signal that, beyond technical acceptance within the network, crucial steps for market infrastructure compatibility have been completed. With these prerequisites fulfilled, only the final stage of governance approval remains before Cardano’s V11 hard fork can be activated.
