Cardano developer cuts 2026 funding by 50%, focusing on Bitcoin DeFi infrastructure
- Input Output Global slashes its treasury funding portfolio by nearly 50% to $46.8 million, covering ten proposals.
- The proposals focus on Cardano’s most critical development needs, including the Bitcoin DeFi infrastructure and the Leios consensus upgrade.
- Voting on the funding proposals opens on Wednesday, with Cardano’s delegate representatives given until May 24 to cast their votes.
Input Output Global (IOG), the organization behind Cardano’s (ADA) development, has released its 2026 treasury funding portfolio, which is down nearly 50% to $46.8 million from last year’s $97.5 million.
Voting begins on IO’s Cardano treasury funding proposal
The funding portfolio supports up to ten proposals that address the Cardano ecosystem’s most critical needs in 2026. As stated in the press release, the proposals range from “the Leios consensus upgrade, targeting a 10–65x increase in L1 throughput, to Pogun, an end-to-end Bitcoin DeFi engine bringing a non-margin credit market, yield infrastructure, and a trust-minimized BTC bridge to Cardano.”
The voting process commenced on Wednesday through Intersect, Cardano’s governance organization, with delegates representative (DReps) expected to cast their votes until May 24.
Cardano’s developer reiterated its commitment to completing ongoing projects, with the Leios testnet release scheduled for June. Input Output said that the software mainnet will follow by the end of the year.
“IO is perfectly placed to adapt quickly, increasing the utility and experience across the ecosystem, and we feel that these proposals relate directly to growth for the community,” said Jeff Watson, Head of Technology at Cardano Business Unit at IO.
The developer stated that the 50% budget reduction is not a one-off decision, as IO is moving fast toward a self-sufficient model, with further cuts expected over the coming years.
Focus on decentralization and scalability
Input Out is doubling down on its efforts to expand the number of community contributors building the network. The organization said it has welcomed a new contributor, Catalyst.
“Several 2026 proposals will be delivered in collaboration with specialist partners, including VacuumLabs on Plutus, Midgard Labs on L2, Pragma and the Cardano Foundation on developer relations, and a potential new dedicated entity for Haskell engineering,” IO stated in the press release.
On scalability, Input Output promised to continue building a chain that is capable of operating efficiently and securely in the long run while reducing reliance on any single organization. The network has completed the distribution of some key functions, including block production and governance. Performance remains the final piece of the puzzle; however, IO expects to accomplish it with the launch of Leios.
Cardano’s co-founder, Charles Hoskinson, is expected to publish a video this week directly addressing DReps on the rationale behind the treasury portfolio funding proposal and what IO anticipates for the Cardano ecosystem in 2026.
Cardano trades at $0.25 at the time of writing on Wednesday, rising from a daily low of $0.248. Its overall outlook appears neutral-to-bullish, pressing into resistance at $0.26.
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Author
John Isige
FXStreet
John Isige is a seasoned cryptocurrency journalist and markets analyst committed to delivering high-quality, actionable insights tailored to traders, investors, and crypto enthusiasts. He enjoys deep dives into emerging Web3 tren
