Cardano’s Dijkstra Upgrade: Plans for 2026 and 2027 Rollouts

Cardano’s Dijkstra Upgrade: A Multi-Phase Rollout Plan

Cardano is progressing with its Dijkstra upgrade, which is on schedule to introduce several new features over the next two years. The current technical roadmap outlines plans to implement Linear Leios and Nested Transactions in Phase 1, targeting mainnet delivery by the end of 2026.

Upcoming Features and Timeline

Phase 1 of the Dijkstra upgrade aims for a Q4 2026 code completion, with mainnet block production expected to start in November 2026. Following this, a separate activation for Ouroboros Peras is projected for Q2 2027, following an intra-era hard fork.

As part of Dijkstra’s preparations, a constitutional amendment will be proposed to add necessary parameters related to the upgrade. This amendment is targeted for submission by September 11, 2026.

Details of Phase 1

Phase 1 will introduce the new Dijkstra ledger era as well as the Linear Leios features, which are designed to enhance the network’s throughput without altering the existing security model. Rather than replacing the Praos security model, Linear Leios will incorporate Endorser Blocks that reference additional transactions certified by stake-based committees.

In addition to Linear Leios, Phase 1 includes the integration of Nested Transactions and updates to serialization structures. This phase will also set the groundwork for the technology required for the Peras activation next year.

Strategic Initiatives and Node Diversity

Cardano’s strategy emphasizes node-client diversity, moving away from exclusive reliance on its Haskell implementation. The development of Amaru, a Rust-based open-source implementation, is underway and has already reached relay capability.

Amaru aims for an initial block-producer release by the end of September 2026, with plans to be compatible with Dijkstra features by late November.

Governance and Community Involvement

As the Dijkstra upgrade progresses, governance adaptations are necessary to ensure the specified parameters are incorporated within the existing constitutional framework. Input Output plans to submit the governance changes no later than Epoch 655, coinciding with community discussions already facilitated through the Constitutional Amendment Portal.

Final Considerations

While the roadmap indicates ambitious timelines, it cautions that testing and governance processes may adjust the final mainnet launch dates. Nonetheless, Cardano’s focus on Dijkstra aims to enhance its scalability and efficiency, with expectations for significant upgrades in the upcoming months.