Input Output, the engineering firm that essentially built Cardano from scratch, is handing over the keys. Starting in August 2026, IO will transfer control of critical infrastructure components to independent specialist teams, with community organizations providing oversight. The handover will extend through 2027.
What’s actually changing
The components being transferred are the foundational pieces of the entire Cardano ecosystem: the Haskell node (the software that runs the blockchain itself), the Plutus smart-contract platform, the Daedalus wallet, Hydra scaling technology, and developer relations.
Two independent firms, Se7en Labs and Teragone, will take over development responsibilities. Community entities Intersect and Pragma will provide oversight, ensuring multiple node implementations are maintained under what IO describes as rigorous formal specifications.
IO isn’t disappearing entirely. The company plans to shift its focus toward research and exploring new ventures through IO Labs and IO Ventures.
