List of Cardano Hard Forks

Cardano has undergone several hard forks since its launch, each one marking a significant upgrade to its blockchain. These hard forks have introduced new features, improvements, and functionalities to enhance Cardano’s performance, scalability, and programmability.

Hard forks in Cardano do not signify division and differences within the ecosystem. On the contrary, they define a specific and collectively agreed-upon exact time (slot) when all nodes switch from the current era to a new one, applying new functions, validation rules, or parameter values. All stake pool operators need to install the upgrade, and they also have a say and must agree to it. A Cardano hard fork is, therefore, not a separation but a precise collective evolution. – https://cardano.org/hardforks/

Here’s an overview of the key hard forks on Cardano so far:

1. Byron Era Hard Fork (September 2017)

• What it introduced: The Byron era was Cardano’s initial launch phase. It introduced the foundational blockchain layer and the ADA cryptocurrency. During this phase, the network was federated, meaning the Cardano Foundation controlled block production.
• Impact: This era focused on setting up Cardano’s basic infrastructure and allowing users to buy, sell, and store ADA on supported wallets like Daedalus and Yoroi.

2. Shelley Era Hard Fork (July 2020)

• What it introduced: The Shelley hard fork transitioned Cardano from a federated network to a decentralized one. It introduced the staking mechanism and allowed ADA holders to delegate their stake to earn rewards.
• Impact: Shelley significantly decentralized the network by enabling community-run stake pools to participate in block production. This era focused on improving Cardano’s security and promoting decentralization, with over 2,000 active stake pools today.

Authors Note ✏️

Allegra, Mary, and Alonzo eras are all part of the Goguen development phase, which is focused on Smart Contracts.

3. Allegra Era Hard Fork (December 2020)

• What it introduced: Allegra brought about token locking functionality in preparation for smart contracts and the Cardano decentralized finance (DeFi) ecosystem.
• Impact: Token locking allowed users to reserve tokens for future use without transferring them. This feature was a key prerequisite for upcoming governance and voting mechanisms, particularly in the context of Cardano’s Project Catalyst.

4. Mary Era Hard Fork (March 2021)

• What it introduced: The Mary hard fork introduced native tokens, enabling the Cardano blockchain to support multi-asset transactions.
• Impact: This upgrade allowed developers to create and manage custom tokens on Cardano, similar to Ethereum’s ERC-20 tokens, without the need for smart contracts. This laid the groundwork for NFTs and decentralized applications (dApps) on Cardano.

5. Alonzo Era Hard Forks (September 2021)

• What it introduced: The Alonzo Era introduced Two Hard Forks: The Alonzo Hard Fork & The Lobster Hard Fork. Alonzo & Lobster brought full smart contract functionality to Cardano, allowing developers to build decentralized applications (dApps) on the platform using the Plutus programming language.
• Impact: With Alonzo & Lobster, Cardano fully entered the DeFi space, enabling decentralized exchanges (DEXs), NFT marketplaces, and other blockchain-based applications. This was a major milestone in Cardano’s goal of becoming a fully functional smart contract platform.

Authors Note ✏️

The Babbage Era is part of the Basho Development Phase, which is focused on Scalability.

6. Babbage Era Hard Forks (September 2022)

The Babbage ledger era introduced such features as inline datums, reference scripts, and reference inputs. However, the release is also known as Vasil, named to honor the late Bulgarian mathematician and Cardano ambassador Vasil Dabov.

• What it introduced: The Babbage Era introduced Two Hard Forks: The Vasil Hard Fork & The Valentine Hard Fork. The Vasil & Valentine Hard Forks upgrade focused on improving the scalability and performance of the Cardano blockchain. It introduced several Plutus script enhancements and reduced transaction costs.
• Impact: Vasil & Valentine improved the efficiency of Cardano’s smart contracts, leading to faster transactions and better scalability for dApps. It also optimized the overall network by introducing diffusion pipelining, which improved block propagation speeds.

Authors Note ✏️

The Conway Era is part of the Voltaire Development Phase, which is focused on Governance.

7. Conway Era Hard Fork(s) (August 2024)

The Chang hard fork introduced minimum-viable community-run governance to the Cardano blockchain by enabling on-chain community consensus governed by a formal constitution. This marked a crucial shift in how Cardano is governed, empowering all ADA holders to directly shape the network’s future direction.

The Chang hard fork initiated Cardano’s governance framework through a multi-stage rollout:

• Delegate Representatives (DReps): In August 2024, ADA holders were able to delegate their voting power to DReps, who act as elected representatives. This allowed the community to participate in decision-making without needing to vote directly on every proposal.
• Cardano Constitution Convention: Throughout 2024, representatives from global workshops will gather in Buenos Aires to draft the first version of the Cardano Constitution, outlining the principles and processes for decentralized governance.
• The Vote: By the end of 2024, the Cardano community will vote to ratify the first draft of the constitution, which will serve as the foundation for the network’s governance going forward.

This fork plays a key role in shaping Cardano’s future by giving the community more control over its evolution.

Conclusion

These hard forks represent key milestones in Cardano’s evolution, moving it from a simple transactional network to a robust platform capable of supporting complex smart contracts, dApps, and a wide range of assets. Each fork has enhanced Cardano’s decentralization, scalability, and programmability, making it a competitive player in the blockchain space.

💡 Helpful References

Cardano Hard Forks 🔴
https://cardano.org/hardforks/