Cardano developers are narrowing the roadmap for the Dijkstra upgrade, with Linear Leios and Nested Transactions planned for the first phase and Ouroboros Peras reserved for a separate activation in 2027. The schedule gives the network a clearer path toward higher throughput and faster settlement, although developers stress that the dates remain estimates rather than guarantees.
Two Phases, Two Goals
The published plan divides Dijkstra into two stages. Phase one introduces the new ledger era, Linear Leios, Nested Transactions, updated serialization structures and related protocol parameters. The target is code completion in the fourth quarter of 2026, with mainnet delivery dependent on testing, readiness and governance.
Phase two would activate Ouroboros Peras through an intra-era hard fork targeted for the second quarter of 2027. Peras would add a voting layer that allows committees of stake pool operators to vote on recent chain tips, giving Cardano a faster settlement mechanism.
What Linear Leios Adds
Linear Leios is the primary scaling component in the first phase. It is designed to increase throughput without replacing Cardano's existing Praos security model. Endorser Blocks can reference additional transactions and have them certified by stake-based committees.
Amaru and Client Diversity
Dijkstra is also connected to Cardano's effort to support more than one node implementation. Amaru, an open-source Rust client, is currently able to validate and synchronize with the chain tip, with block production milestones targeted for later in 2026.
Governance Before Activation
The upgrade requires a governance step because some of its protocol parameters must be written into Cardano's constitutional guardrails. A narrow amendment is expected to add the relevant parameters and permitted ranges without changing governance roles or voting thresholds.
Why the Roadmap Matters
Cardano's near-term challenge is execution. The roadmap provides a sequence, but the final launch will depend on testing, node readiness and community approval. The competitive pressure among smart-contract networks remains intense, making delivery as important as the technical design itself.
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