Input Output Announces Leios Upgrade for Cardano
The upcoming protocol upgrade aims to significantly boost transaction throughput across the Cardano network.
Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in Data Centers
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Input Output has unveiled a staged deployment plan for the Leios upgrade, which introduces a new endorser-block system to the Cardano network. The upgrade is designed to improve transaction capacity while maintaining the platform's decentralized architecture.
Why it matters
By decoupling transaction processing from block production through endorser blocks, this initiative seeks to scale network performance significantly. The move aims to address current throughput limitations without compromising the underlying security model.
The Leios upgrade targets an initial 3x to 5x increase in capacity, with a long-term path toward 15x. Endorser blocks require certification from votes representing at least 75% of active stake and use Boneh-Lynn-Shacham signatures.
The players
Input Output
Input Output is the primary technology company responsible for the design, development, and research behind the Cardano blockchain platform.
Cardano
Cardano is a decentralized, proof-of-stake blockchain network known for its research-driven development and peer-reviewed approach to protocol design.
The details
The Dijkstra hard fork will implement these protocol changes, necessitating that stake pool operators register BLS voting keys to achieve 90% to 95% delegated stake coverage. Input Output intends to perform controlled bursts of mainnet traffic to validate performance stability following these updates.
Timeline
August 20, 2026: The development team recorded 26.8 TxkB/s in MusashiNet testing.
October 20, 2026: Input Output published the official Leios upgrade rollout plan.
The Tech Race
This transition marks a significant architectural evolution for the Cardano network as it attempts to move beyond the constraints of the existing Praos protocol. The upgrade positions the platform to compete with high-throughput distributed ledgers by modernizing block validation.
Users can expect faster transaction confirmation times once the network capacity expands. Stake pool operators will need to update their systems to register BLS voting keys to participate in the new endorser-block voting process.
The takeaway
The Leios upgrade represents a shift in how Cardano scales by prioritizing modular transaction validation. Stakeholders should monitor upcoming protocol updates to ensure their infrastructure remains compatible with the new voting requirements.
Further reading
For more information on the infrastructure supporting distributed networks, visit our Data Centers section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Crypto Economy.
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