Input Output Global’s (IOG’s) research arm has formally asked the Cardano community to bankroll a twelve‑month programme of cutting‑edge R&D that it says is essential to keeping the blockchain competitive through the end of the decade. In a post on X on Thursday, the company wrote, “Cardano’s sustainable future and competitiveness depends on research & innovation. Today, Input | Output Research submitted its ‘Cardano Vision – Work Program 2025’ proposal to fund the foundational work required for long‑term growth.”
The message goes on to spell out the scope of the request: twenty fundamental research streams—among them Ouroboros, Tokenomics, Hydra and Interchains—and six technology‑validation streams covering Leios, Minotaur, Jolteon Liveness, RSnarks and a revamped anti‑grinding defence, all of them “aimed at scalability, sustainability & interoperability and defined through an evidence‑based approach.”
‘Cardano Vision 2025’
The proposal, archived on the Cardano Gov Tool, sits in the Research budget category and is formally titled “Input Output Research (IOR): Cardano Vision – Work Program 2025.” It seeks 26.848 million ADA—equivalent to $13.42 million at a placeholder rate of $0.50 per ADA—to finance a head‑count of 56.1 full‑time equivalents and the associated equipment, licences, subcontracting and overhead. According to the cost breakdown, the research department would receive roughly $5.895 million for 27.5 FTEs, while the innovation arm would absorb $7.525 million to field 28.6 FTEs. IOG says that equates to an average burdened cost of about $239,000 per person, or $1,030 per working day.
At the heart of the application is a five‑year vision that IOG describes as “an ambitious research initiative spanning nine thematic focus areas, organised into structured annual work programmes.” The 2025 tranche alone covers next‑generation consensus (Ouroboros Omega, Leios vertical scaling, the hybrid Minotaur protocol, proof‑of‑useful‑work schemes and congestion‑aware fee markets), macro‑level tokenomics, decentralised identity, a two‑part governance overhaul dubbed Democracy 4.0, an expanded Hydra layer‑2 stack, and a suite of Interchains studies on light clients and partner‑chain tokenomics. Each stream will, the firm says, be staffed by multidisciplinary teams drawn from what it calls “the leading blockchain research network worldwide including more than 14 universities,” a consortium whose previous output already exceeds 200 peer‑reviewed papers.
The problem statement attached to the filing is blunt: “Commercialising deep technologies like Web3 cannot rely solely on market demand; it depends on sustained scientific and technical excellence. Without proactive investment, valuable opportunities may be lost.” IOG argues that Cardano’s clean record of 100% uptime will count for little unless the protocol can absorb quantum‑resistant cryptography, high‑throughput zero‑knowledge proofs and sophisticated smart‑contract logic fast enough to match an accelerating competitive field. “By focusing on high‑potential R&D areas,” it writes, “this initiative builds a strong foundation for innovation, accelerates time to market, and drives meaningful economic and societal outcomes.”
Deliverables are framed in software‑readiness terms. On the research side, IOR promises “at least 20 peer‑reviewed publications and artefacts” every year, noting that a typical paper now takes two years from inception through conference acceptance. Six of those streams are expected to graduate each year to technology‑validation status, yielding formal specifications, prototypes, simulations, Cardano Problem Statements and Cardano Improvement Proposals. Quoting the proposal, “Prototypes and technical documentation will provide in‑depth analysis and serve as critical foundations for product development within the Cardano ecosystem,” while CIPs “promote transparency and community‑driven evolution.”
Cardano stakeholder endorsement, a prerequisite for funding, appears to be gathering momentum. The proposal notes that eighteen months of drafting culminated in six months of review by the Intersect Product Committee. According to the Cardano Gov Tool website, 63% of participating Delegated Representatives are signaling support for the proposal.
At press time, ADA traded at $0.61
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