Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson has announced that a significant hard fork is on track to go live on the protocol this month, potentially bringing substantial upside for ADA.

Cardano Hard Fork Launch

In a recent post on X, Charles Hoskinson revealed that the Cardano Node is expected to reach version 9.0 in June. The Chang Hard Fork, which has been in development for multiple years, is now ready for deployment. The next step is to get 70% of the protocol's Stake Pool Operators (SPOs) to install the new node, after which a hard fork can occur, ushering in the Age of Voltaire.

Decentralized Governance and Roadmap

Despite facing criticism from industry experts regarding centralization, Cardano has remained focused on advancing its governance structure. The incoming hard fork will introduce the most sophisticated decentralized governance system in the industry, according to Hoskinson. He envisions Cardano becoming a decentralized civilization spanning the entire world with millions of residents, an annual budget, a treasury, and the collective wisdom of the community to guide its future.

Potential Impact on ADA Price

The community is eager to understand the potential impact of the Chang hard fork on ADA's price. Despite ranking among the top 10 most capitalized digital currencies, many consider ADA to be undervalued. At the time of writing, Cardano is trading at $0.4398, up 0.68% in the past 24 hours, but down 27% year-to-date.

Upside Potential

The Cardano hard fork could trigger increased demand from investors interested in the protocol's enhanced governance system. This upside potential may help ADA decouple from Bitcoin (BTC) and drive its price to new highs. However, the extent of the price impact remains to be seen as the hard fork is implemented.

Conclusion

Cardano's upcoming hard fork, which has been in development for nearly a decade, represents a significant milestone for the protocol and the broader blockchain industry. The introduction of a sophisticated decentralized governance system could attract new investors and drive adoption, potentially leading to an ADA price surge. As the hard fork approaches, the Cardano community eagerly awaits the potential benefits it may bring to the ecosystem and its native token.