Cardano Leios Upgrade Set to Boost Network Throughput by 30-65 Times
Cardano's upcoming Ouroboros Leios upgrade is set to significantly boost the network's throughput, thanks to parallel processing through endorser blocks and regular ranking blocks. This upgrade, according to Charles Hoskinson, will be the largest in the network's history.
The development has already passed 6,400 total updates, with IOG targeting a mainnet hard fork before the end of 2026. Recent MusashiNet testnet runs showed throughput near six times current mainnet levels, with longer-term targets ranging from roughly 30 to 65 times that baseline.
Leios will help the network absorb demand spikes from DeFi, NFT drops, or gaming apps, and it supports long-term sustainability. As more transactions are processed, stake pool operators will earn more fee revenue, despite reserve rewards shrinking.