Cardano has activated the V11 hard fork on the Preview testnet, with a May 29 vote currently scheduled for the mainnet rollout. The upgrade moved forward after a governance proposal initiated by Intersect on May 8, giving developers and service providers a near-production environment to test smart contracts, updated system features, and new functions.
Preview testnet now running V11 for live-condition checks
According to Intersect, the V11 upgrade is expected to make smart contract execution on the network cheaper and more efficient. It also introduces stronger cryptographic methods and tighter protections for stake pool security across the Cardano ecosystem. The Preview network is being used as a dry run. Teams are watching network behavior closely to decide whether the system is ready for public deployment.
A central requirement in this process is the adoption of node software version v11.0.1, which operators need in order to pass the hard fork threshold safely. That node release has been available for several weeks, giving infrastructure teams time to prepare. Cardano is also using DB-Sync v13.7.0.5 to maintain compatibility through the upgrade cycle.
PreProd still needs work after cost model changes
The PreProd environment has not finished its upgrade path. On May 16, a new Plutus Cost Model update went live, changing several key parameters. Because of that change, developers have been asked to retest their applications and configurations before Cardano moves toward mainnet deployment.
On-chain records show that hard fork operations on PreProd have already been documented, but the Hard Fork Working Group said final approval is still pending. The team is waiting for fixes to late-stage issues, with particular attention on services tied to the Ogmios infrastructure.
A smooth transition from PreProd to mainnet depends on whether those critical software requests are resolved in time. Coordination between the Cardano community and Input Output engineers is still part of the final preparation effort. Weekly meetings are continuing as teams track the readiness of wallets, network tools, and service providers ahead of the vote.
Mainnet schedule details to come before the vote
The Cardano team said it plans to publish the timeline and technical details for the Plutus Cost Model mainnet update in the coming week. Performance results for the new cost model will also be released before the vote, intended to show whether the network is ready for the upgrade. The V11 hard fork vote is set for May 29, though the date may still change depending on final testnet checks and any late ecosystem developments.
The upgrade carries the name “Van Rossem,” a reference to Max van Rossem. He was described as a governance contributor representing the Dutch Cardano community and was involved in the Constitution Committee Election Working Group as well as the drafting of the Cardano Constitution.