Cardano Unveils Dijkstra Hard Fork Roadmap with Linear Leios and Enhanced Throughput

The Cardano network has unveiled its roadmap for the Dijkstra hard fork, which is set to roll out in two phases. The first phase, scheduled for Q4 2026, will introduce Linear Leios with several transaction and ledger enhancements, including increased throughput while maintaining security guarantees.

Linear Leios will use Ranking Blocks and Endorser Blocks to handle additional transaction references, allowing the network to process more transactions without requiring larger blocks or faster slots. The first phase also includes Nested Transactions under CIP-118 and Guard Scripts under CIP-112.

The Dijkstra hard fork roadmap also covers a staged testing process before mainnet activation. A Dijkstra-compatible node will become available for testnet operators, followed by a two-week testing window that will cover integration checks, tooling validation, Endorser Block propagation, and throughput benchmarking.