The Cardano ecosystem has reached a significant milestone in its journey of decentralized governance. For the first time in Cardano’s history, a budget proposal by DReps surpassed the 50% approval threshold in less than two days, setting a record. This proposal, titled “Cardano Critical Integrations Budget,” seeks to allocate 70 million ADA from the treasury fund for critical ecosystem integrations. This development highlights the maturity of Cardano’s governance structure and the community’s rapid decision-making process.
Collaboration in Action: Institutions Unite Over 70 Million ADA
The swiftly accepted budget proposal signifies more than a technical decision; it showcases unprecedented institutional collaboration within the Cardano ecosystem. The proposal was jointly prepared by Input Output, EMURGO, Cardano Foundation, Intersect, and Midnight Foundation. This marks the first time a formal budget proposal was presented by all the main structures in Cardano’s history.
The record-breaking voting process is considered one of the most concrete outcomes of the Voltaire era. The two-phase governance model, implemented with the Chang hard fork update, directly hands control to ADA holders. Through this system, every user can have a say in various matters, from budget decisions to protocol updates.
The primary aim of the 70 million ADA fund is to address the ecosystem’s large-scale infrastructure needs. The planned funds aim to include first-class stablecoin integrations, institutional custody solutions, on-chain analysis systems, cross-chain bridges, and global price oracles. This move aims to position Cardano as more competitive technically and financially on its growth journey extending into 2026.
Hoskinson’s “Awakening Giant” Message and Midnight Token Development
Charles Hoskinson, the founder of Cardano, shared a bold message following these developments. He emphasized that Cardano is an “awakening giant” and is now taking action, promising exciting steps for the ecosystem in the near future. These statements have heightened expectations among investors.
Another noteworthy development for the Cardano ecosystem is the launch of the Midnight network’s NIGHT token as a Cardano native asset on December 8. Upon launch, the NIGHT token will be available for trading on both Cardano-based DEXs and some centralized exchanges, offering a new alternative for institutional users and projects prioritizing data security, given its privacy-focused design.
Recent reports also indicate that Cardano is engaged in technical integration talks with some major stablecoin projects, which are closely followed by the ecosystem. When considered alongside the budget fund, these steps indicate that Cardano is entering a period of strength not only on the application side but also in terms of liquidity and institutional infrastructure.
In conclusion, this move by Cardano not only addresses present technical needs but also lays the foundation for strong infrastructure post-2026. The rapid decision-making process reflects the network shedding bureaucratic hindrances and transforming into a more predictable ecosystem for institutional investors. However, whether this budget will be utilized effectively and transparently remains a critical test affecting Cardano’s reputation moving forward.