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

Input Output, the primary developer of the Cardano blockchain, is seeking a substantially lower amount of funding from the community treasury for 2026, with a total of $46.8 million requested across nine proposals. This marks a notable reduction from the $97.5 million requested in 2025. The proposals focus on enhancing the scalability of the Cardano network, increasing its transaction capacity, and exploring the integration of Bitcoin DeFi. A key aspect of the proposals is the development of Leios, a consensus upgrade aimed at boosting Cardano's transaction processing capacity, potentially positioning it as a competitor to Solana and Ethereum's layer-2 networks. Additionally, the Pogun system is designed to facilitate Bitcoin-based decentralized finance on the Cardano network, enabling bitcoin holders to participate in lending and yield-earning activities without relying on centralized intermediaries. The funding requests are structured around specific delivery milestones, ensuring that funds are allocated based on the achievement of tangible outcomes. The voting process, which involves approximately 1,000 elected delegates representing ADA holders, will determine the fate of these proposals and reflect the evolving governance structure of the Cardano community.