Cardano News Update: Cardano Bets $70M in ADA—Will Infrastructure Improvements Drive Expansion?
Cardano Seeks Major Treasury Funding for Infrastructure Expansion
A coalition of leading Cardano stakeholders—including Input Output Global (IOG), EMURGO, the Cardano Foundation, Intersect, and the Midnight Foundation—has put forward a proposal to allocate 70 million ADA from the network’s Treasury. This significant investment aims to drive essential infrastructure enhancements that form the backbone of Cardano’s growth ambitions through 2026.
Key Focus Areas for Development
- Integration of top-tier stablecoins
- Institutional-grade custody and wallet solutions
- Advanced on-chain analytics capabilities
- Cross-chain bridge technology
- Implementation of globally recognized pricing oracles
These targeted upgrades are designed to address longstanding challenges that have limited Cardano’s ability to attract institutional investors and expand its decentralized finance (DeFi) ecosystem. Research highlights that such improvements are crucial for unlocking new capital and supporting real-world asset transactions and decentralized physical infrastructure networks (DePIN).
Urgency Driven by Current Metrics
Despite Cardano’s substantial market capitalization, its Total Value Locked (TVL) stood at $190.92 million as of November 28, 2025. The proposal emphasizes the need for swift infrastructure progress to close this gap. Stablecoin adoption is seen as foundational for establishing a reliable unit of account and enabling practical use cases, while cross-chain bridges are expected to enhance liquidity and foster greater interoperability, reducing the risk of Cardano becoming isolated in a fragmented crypto landscape.
Accountability and Funding Structure
The funding plan features a milestone-based approach, with Intersect responsible for overseeing disbursements tied to the achievement of specific deliverables. This structure is intended to ensure transparency and accountability—an issue previously raised by Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson, who has cautioned against using Treasury resources for speculative purposes such as exchange listings for ecosystem tokens. By focusing on robust custody solutions and real-time analytics, the proposal aims to meet the evolving needs of institutional participants.
Market Outlook and Governance Shifts
Sentiment around ADA remains cautiously optimistic. On-chain data points to a bullish trend, with ADA stabilizing near $0.42 and technical indicators such as the RSI and MACD hinting at a possible move toward $0.50. However, the token faces resistance at $0.49, and a breakout above this level would signal renewed momentum. Meanwhile, the Cardano Foundation’s recent decision to support a related 5 million ADA loan proposal for global token listings marks a notable shift in governance strategy.
Competitive Landscape and Strategic Timing
These infrastructure initiatives could be pivotal for Cardano’s adoption, especially as rivals like Wemade focus on stablecoin ecosystems and companies such as Reliance consolidate crypto assets into privacy-centric platforms like Zcash (ZEC). Cardano’s ability to deliver on these upgrades may determine its competitiveness in a market where interoperability and institutional confidence are increasingly vital.
Looking Ahead: Voting and Implementation
The timing of this proposal is critical, with the current network upgrade (NCL) set to expire in January 2026. If approved, the 24-month funding period would enable Cardano to rapidly implement these improvements, leveraging established partnerships to accelerate its evolution into a leading platform for DeFi and institutional engagement. The outcome of the ongoing vote, which concludes on November 25, 2025, will play a decisive role in shaping Cardano’s future direction.
