Cardano Developer Submits $46.8 Million Funding Proposal for Scalability and Bitcoin DeFi Expansion

The company behind the Cardano blockchain is seeking a reduced amount of funding from the community treasury, marking a shift towards greater financial independence. Input Output has submitted nine proposals totaling $46.8 million for 2026, with a focus on scaling the network and expanding into Bitcoin decentralized finance. The proposals include a consensus upgrade called Leios, which aims to increase Cardano's transaction processing capacity, and a system called Pogun, which will allow bitcoin holders to borrow and earn yield on their holdings through Cardano. The funding request is part of a plan to phase out Input Output's dependence on community funds, with the goal of sustaining itself on its own revenue. The vote, which will be decided by roughly 1,000 elected delegates, will test the Cardano community's governance and its willingness to support Input Output's proposals.