Cardano, a public blockchain platform, is on the verge of achieving a significant milestone in its development journey. The network is preparing to transition into a fully decentralized system with a sophisticated governance system. According to the founder, Charles Hoskinson, the Cardano Node will soon reach version 9.0, signaling the start of the Voltaire era. This era is named after the famous philosopher Voltaire and is the final stage in Cardano's development roadmap.

The Voltaire era will introduce a decentralized governance system that allows community members to participate in decision-making processes. The network's native token, ADA, will be used for voting and treasury management. This means that ADA holders will have a say in the blockchain's future development and direction. The decentralized governance system will also feature annual budgets and a treasury system to fund community projects.

The transition to the Voltaire era will be triggered by the Chang fork, named after Phil Chang, a pioneer in Cardano governance. The Chang fork will implement on-chain governance capabilities on the mainnet, allowing community members to initiate and vote on proposals. Cardano's development team has been working towards this milestone for years, and it represents a significant achievement for the network.

The Voltaire era is the final stage in Cardano's development roadmap, which has been marked by significant milestones. The Byron era saw the launch of Cardano as a proof-of-stake protocol, while the Shelley era focused on decentralization, security, and robustness. The Goguen era introduced smart contracts on Cardano, and the Bashō era is centered on scaling and optimization. The Voltaire era will mark the culmination of Cardano's development journey, transforming it into a decentralized civilization with millions of participants worldwide.

In summary, Cardano's transition to the Voltaire era will mark a significant milestone in its development journey. The decentralized governance system will allow community members to participate in decision-making processes, and the network will feature annual budgets, a treasury, and community member input. This development will transform Cardano into a decentralized civilization with millions of participants worldwide.