The Cardano blockchain ecosystem is undergoing a key development as the voting process for the Interim Constitutional Committee (ICC) started on June 13. This marks a significant move towards restructuring the governance model under the upcoming Chang hard fork. The voting, which allows ADA holders to elect three new members for the ICC, is conducted via the Summon Platform and will run until June 23, covering Epochs 491 and 492.
The ICC plays a vital role during the technical bootstrapping phase of the Chang hard fork, responsible for upholding the interim constitution and ensuring alignment of Governance Actions with its directives. The results of the election will be announced on June 26.
Insights from Cardano Founder Amid Criticism
During this crucial governance update, Pi Lanningham, the CTO of Sundae Labs – a Cardano-based project – expressed concerns regarding the current voting process, particularly around the non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) concerning the draft constitution.
Lanningham stated, “I am explicitly not voting on the ICC election until IOG void all NDAs regarding the draft constitution.” He criticized Input Output Global’s (IOG) approach, suggesting that it might exacerbate concerns rather than resolve them, leading to unnecessary controversies.
The argument put forth by Lanningham points to the risk that secrecy might hinder progress, especially in a decentralized environment where community trust and engagement are crucial. Lanningham recommended alternative approaches that could facilitate constructive discussions about the evolving governance structure.
Responding to the feedback and ongoing community discussions, Charles Hoskinson, the founder of Cardano and CEO of IOG, mentioned that a comprehensive governance package, including the fork-ready candidate node, the guardrail contract, and the interim constitution, is expected to be released soon.
Chang Hard Fork and the ICC
The Cardano Constitution, currently an off-chain informational document as per CIP-1694, aims to embody the fundamental values of Cardano and ensure its sustainability in the long run. It envisions a future where the constitution may evolve into a smart-contract based framework.
The ICC is positioned as the guardian of this constitution, equipped with mechanisms to amend it through specific governance actions when needed. This reflects a robust governance framework that strikes a balance between accountability and adaptability.
As Cardano progresses towards the Chang hard fork, the community dynamics and the evolving governance model remain critical. The results of the current voting process and the subsequent introduction of the interim constitution are expected to have lasting effects on the blockchain’s operational and governance landscape.
Currently, ADA is trading at $0.392.