The Layer-1 blockchain network Cardano (ADA) has publicly released its planned hard fork roadmap for the “Dijkstra Era,” representing the ecosystem’s next major technical transformation. According to the roadmap published through Cardano’s official channels, the network’s next-generation upgrade process will proceed in several phases, with the first target being the completion of code development in the last quarter of 2026.
According to the announcement, the first phase involves completing all core software development from the Dijkstra era and finalizing preparations for the mainnet upgrade. This process includes upgrading the Cardano protocol to version 12 and deploying new features. Developers state that these updates will include significant improvements to support network performance, scalability, and future governance mechanisms.
The second phase of the roadmap aims to implement the Ouroboros Peras update, a significant innovation in Cardano’s consensus mechanism. According to the plan, this upgrade is intended to be enabled via an internal hard fork in the second quarter of 2027. The main goal of the Peras update is to speed up transaction finalization and improve the user experience.
The Cardano team also highlighted an important detail regarding the announced dates. They emphasized that the targets outlined in the roadmap are the projected dates for completing the code development process and preparing the mainnet for the update. However, for the update to be actually deployed on the mainnet, community approval will be required under Cardano’s on-chain governance mechanisms.
Experts note that the Dijkstra era represents one of the most significant updates aimed at strengthening Cardano’s technical infrastructure, while investors and developers are closely monitoring the network’s development over the next two years. The roadmap is considered a crucial part of Cardano’s long-term growth strategy.
*This is not investment advice.
