Cardano, a smart contracts platform and Ethereum competitor, is currently in the process of transitioning and preparing for Voltaire after completing the Basho phase. During the last phase, developers focused on scaling and performance enhancement to improve the overall functionality of the network.
A key part of this transition will be the complete activation of the Chang hard fork. According to Cardanoscan, as of August 19, only 33% of all stake pool operators (SPOs) were ready for the transition, while 14% of all supportive exchanges were prepared.
Once all SPOs update their nodes and the network transitions to Voltaire, there will be multiple benefits for Cardano. One significant advantage will be the adoption of a decentralized governance model, which will enhance the overall efficiency and transparency of the platform.
One observer, sharing insights from Philip DiSarro, the founder of Anastasia Labs, believes that Cardano will lead the zero-knowledge (ZK) scaling race after the Chang hard fork. DiSarro argues that the additions brought by the hard fork, including the integration of Plutus v2 for more efficient smart contract creation, will give Cardano a considerable advantage in the scaling war.
While Ethereum currently leads in layer-2 scaling solutions through optimistic rollups, Cardano’s emphasis on transaction determinism will make off-chain transactions through rollups more effective and decentralized. The platform’s focus on ensuring that all transaction inputs produce the same outputs will make transaction outcomes highly predictable, which is crucial for ZK scaling.
Despite the positive developments, the price of ADA remains under pressure as the network transitions, with the coin down 60% from its March 2024 highs and retesting key support at $0.30. However, with the upcoming changes and enhancements, Cardano is poised to make significant strides in the smart contracts and scaling space, potentially setting itself apart from its competitors.
