Cardano Developer Seeks Reduced Funding of $46.8 Million for Expansion and DeFi Integration

The organization responsible for developing the Cardano blockchain is seeking a substantially lower amount of funding from the project's treasury this year. Input Output has submitted nine proposals amounting to $46.8 million for 2026, marking a notable reduction from the $97.5 million requested in 2025. The proposals focus on enhancing Cardano's scalability and exploring Bitcoin DeFi opportunities. This reduction in funding is part of a broader plan to decrease Input Output's reliance on community funds, aiming to make the company self-sustainable through its own revenue. The proposals are divided into two primary categories: scaling the network and integrating Bitcoin DeFi. A key proposal, Leios, promises to increase Cardano's transaction processing capacity significantly, potentially positioning it as a competitor to other major blockchains like Solana and Ethereum. Another proposal, Pogun, aims to facilitate Bitcoin-based decentralized finance on the Cardano network, enabling bitcoin holders to lend and earn yield without relying on centralized intermediaries. Smaller proposals address performance enhancements, security, and developer tools. Each proposal is tied to specific delivery milestones, ensuring that funding is allocated based on tangible progress. The voting process, which involves roughly 1,000 elected delegates, will determine the fate of these proposals and reflect the evolving dynamics of Cardano's governance structure.