Intersect 2026 Budget Proposal
This page provides an overview of the 2026 Intersect Budget Proposal and FAQs
Where to read the full proposal
You can review and comment the latest version of the Intersect Budget proposal on the Intersect Hydra-Voting tool
Proposal overview
This proposal funds Intersect’s core operating model for June 2026 to June 2027: the Member Based Organization that supports open ecosystem coordination, a reserved capacity to address critical unowned processes, and critically technical stewardship, incident response, and release coordination required to help keep Cardano secure, reliable, and operationally resilient.
This proposal reflects how Intersect has evolved to better match the needs of the ecosystem. Over the past two years, Intersect has matured from a new coordination body into a more focused operational layer for Cardano. That includes supporting committees and working groups, stewarding the core Haskell repositories, coordinating upgrades and incident response, and administering community-approved initiatives through a distinct and more scalable model.
Our proposal is more focused than last year’s. Compared to last year, the overall ask has reduced from $7.875M to $6.35M, while preserving the functions that are most critical to Cardano’s continuity and maturity.
That technical remit should not be underestimated. Intersect has already coordinated two network upgrades, is preparing for a third, and led ecosystem coordination during the November 2025 chain partition incident. As Cardano moves further into decentralized governance, a multi-client future, and the advancements of AI models this function becomes more important, not less.
Funding this proposal means Cardano retains an open coordination layer for governance participation, a mechanism to respond to critical unowned issues, and a technical stewardship function covering release coordination, incident response, repository management, and security initiatives such as bug bounties. Together, these functions provide the operational backbone that helps Cardano evolve with resilience, accountability, and confidence.
FAQs
What is this proposal trying to achieve?
This proposal funds Intersect as a coordination and technical stewardship layer for Cardano, ensuring governance works effectively and the network remains stable, secure, and operational over the next 12 months.
Why does Cardano need this?
In a decentralized ecosystem, many critical functions (coordination, incident response, upgrades) don’t have a single owner. Without a coordination layer, these become fragmented and risky.
What are the main components of the proposal?
The proposal is structured into three work packages:
Governance & ecosystem coordination (MBO operations)
Technical stewardship & incident response
Coordination of critical unowned processes
What is actually being funded?
Funding covers:
Operational infrastructure (legal, finance, governance ops)
Committee and governance support
Technical coordination (repos, upgrades, incident response)
Security (bug bounties, response teams)
Ecosystem coordination tools and processes
How much is being requested?
The total ask is ~$6.35M (down from ~$7.875M last year), with detailed breakdowns across work packages and cost categories.
What value should DReps expect?
Expected outcomes include:
Better coordination across ecosystem actors
More reliable upgrades and incident response
Higher-quality governance proposals
Increased participation and ecosystem alignment
How will success be measured?
Key metrics include:
Participation in governance (committees, working groups)
Successful upgrades and incident response
Output quality (proposals, reports, initiatives)
Ecosystem trust and feedback
What has Intersect delivered so far?
Track record includes:
Coordinating multiple network upgrades
Managing the 2025 chain partition incident
Supporting governance structures (committees, constitution, budget process)
Maintaining 100+ repositories
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