Cardano’s Catalyst Shakeup: ADA’s Future in the Hands of… Who?

Well, well, well, looks like the Cardano Foundation has decided to play musical chairs with Project Catalyst, swiping the stewardship baton from Input Output Global (IOG). Bridget Jones would be proud of this level of drama, darling. Could this be the biggest plot twist in the Cardano saga since someone forgot to stake their ADA? Possibly.

Previously, IOG-the brainy bunch behind Cardano’s protocol-was the fairy godmother handing out grants like party favors. Catalyst, Cardano’s on-chain funding engine (fancy, right?), has been the sugar daddy to over 2,200 projects and is currently juggling 500 active grants. But now, the Foundation’s stepping in, and it’s like your mum taking over your Tinder account-things are about to get interesting.

What’s This Mean for ADA? Grab Your Popcorn.

During this glamorous transition, team members are packing their bags and moving to the Foundation, ensuring Fund14 doesn’t turn into a hot mess. But Fund15 and Fund16? Canceled. Like that second date you never went on. The ADA earmarked for those rounds? Back to the treasury, darling. Intersect’s got it covered.

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From a regulatory standpoint, this is like telling your boss you’re “working remotely” from the pub-it’s all about appearances. If IOG takes a backseat, Cardano looks less like a one-man band and more like a decentralized orchestra. Jurisdictions love that kind of jazz, especially when they’re deciding if ADA’s a security or just a fancy token.

We would like to thank @IOGroup for their commitment to Catalyst since its inception and their continued support throughout this transition phase.

We will begin conversations with the community regarding Catalyst as soon as this phase is complete.

We intend to continue working…

– Cardano Foundation (@Cardano_CF) February 24, 2026

Financially speaking, sending unallocated ADA back to the treasury is like putting your credit card in the freezer-it limits how much you can spend. Many grantees turn ADA into cold, hard cash to fund their operations, which floods the market. Pausing two funding rounds? That’s like hitting the snooze button on your liquidity cycle.

Strategically, this move screams, “We’re getting serious, folks.” Catalyst’s been criticized for funding projects that are about as impactful as a diet Coke-small, fizzy, and forgettable. The Foundation’s now saying, “Enough with the pet projects; we want results, not just participation trophies.” Expect them to be pickier than a bridezilla choosing her wedding flowers.

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2026-02-24 19:39