Name Protocol Version 11 hard fork - van Rossem
2026-02-07
Summary
- This proposal seeks to name Cardano Protocol Version 11 the “van Rossem Hard Fork”.
- RCADA voted YES in recognition of Max van Rossem’s meaningful contributions to Cardano governance and community life.
- The action is symbolic, non-financial, and does not introduce protocol, treasury, or governance changes.
What this action does
This governance action proposes assigning a commemorative name to the upcoming Protocol Version 11 hard fork. It does not alter protocol parameters, authorize treasury withdrawals, or delegate governance authority. Its sole effect is the naming convention associated with the hard fork.
Analysis Findings
Constitutional / Guardrails Assessment
- ✔ The proposal does not conflict with any constitutional tenets or guardrails.
- ✔ No treasury, parameter, or governance authority changes are introduced.
- ✔ The action is consistent with established Cardano precedent for naming hard forks.
Assessment: Pass
Process & Governance Quality
- Proposal scope is narrow, clear, and non-technical.
- Recommendations are supported by the Hard Fork Working Group and the Technical Steering Committee.
- No bundling, administrative delegation, or precedent risk beyond continuation of an existing tradition.
Assessment: Strong
Impact & Risk Analysis
- No execution, financial, or governance risk introduced.
- Positive symbolic value for the Cardano community and governance culture.
- No impact on decentralisation, security, or treasury discipline.
Assessment: Low
Ratings (Decision Support Only)
| Dimension | Score (1–5) |
|---|---|
| Constitutional clarity | 5 |
| Governance quality | 5 |
| Execution credibility | 5 |
| Ecosystem value | 4 |
| Risk balance | 5 |
RCADA Rationale
This governance action proposes naming Cardano Protocol Version 11 the “van Rossem Hard Fork” in memory of Max van Rossem, a respected contributor to the Cardano community and its governance foundations.
RCADA recognises that naming hard forks has long served as a symbolic tradition within Cardano, reflecting milestones in the protocol’s evolution while honouring individuals whose contributions have had lasting impact. This proposal continues that tradition and has received broad support across the DRep community.
Max van Rossem made meaningful contributions to Cardano’s governance development, including constitutional discussions, participation in the Constitutional Convention, and sustained community representation through the Dutch DRep Collective. He also contributed to the election process of the first fully community-elected Constitutional Committee and supported governance coordination efforts that will continue to shape the network’s future.
From a governance perspective, this action is intentionally narrow in scope, constitutionally neutral, and non-precedent-expanding beyond the continuation of an established naming practice. It does not affect protocol rules, treasury access, or governance authority, and therefore does not raise concerns related to guardrails, fiscal discipline, or decentralisation resilience.
RCADA also acknowledges the broader community sentiment expressed by many DReps in support of this proposal and supports the naming in that spirit. For these reasons, RCADA votes YES.
RCADA’s full vote assessment can be found here:
https://brolloks.github.io/rcada-drep-votes/