Welcome to Intersect’s Development Update #64. This week, we highlight the ₳275M Budget Info Action vote now live on Ekklesia, Intersect’s clarified role as Administrator in Cardano’s funding process, and the final days to register for the Constitutional Committee election. We also share updates on GovTool’s revised proposal, spotlight new enterprise members, and bring you the latest from our global community hubs.

Have you voted on the Ekklesia results in our Budget Info Action?

To maintain pragmatism, clarity, and momentum, our Budget Info Action reflects the final temperature check in Ekklesia, where DReps saw 194 proposals whittled down to 40. 39 of those requested Intersect as their Administrator and complete the budget allocation currently proposed on-chain. We recognize this may not be the right model for future cycles, and we will revisit its effectiveness in a 2025 budget retrospective. This year, a single submission will allow us to move forward without unnecessary friction, recognizing that Treasury Withdrawal governance actions require follow-up and have a higher approval threshold.

This approach:

• Aligns with the temperature check outcome
• Reduces procedural complexity at a critical moment
• Limits overhead for DReps and the Interim Constitutional Committee (ICC), who are already responding to an increasing number of on-chain governance actions
• Keeps the focus on delivery rather than administration

The real driver here behind a single large Budget Info Action is momentum. We're aware that real people carry out the actual building of Cardano, and we want to avoid adding unnecessary pressure at a time when the system is scaling up.

It's important to clarify that a budget info action does not release any funds. It is a formal signal of approval and intent. Treasury withdrawals, where approval moves funds from the Treasury, follow as a separate step and have a higher threshold to pass.

Review the full proposal and vote by heading to Gov.Tools.

For an in-depth explanation of how this ₳275m package was assembled, see our blog post “Making Sense of the ₳275m Budget Info Action.”

Members can find answers to common questions in the Budget Info Action FAQ or by contacting the Intersect Core Operations team at procurement@intersectmbo.org.

In case you missed it, we published a comprehensive article and presentation explaining our role as an Administrator in Cardano’s ecosystem funding process. We will operationalize community-approved proposals by coordinating due diligence, contracting, and on-chain disbursements in this capacity. This role is grounded in transparency, decentralization, and adherence to the Cardano Constitution.

Intersect does not evaluate proposal merit or act as a funding body, but ensures that the governance process is carried out with integrity and that delivery is trackable, auditable, and aligned with community decisions. 

Notably, developed by Sundae Labs and Xerberus, we are implementing a smart contract-based framework that enhances transparency and accountability to support this process. Treasury Reserve Contracts and Vendor Contracts are used to manage and distribute funds in accordance with governance-approved milestones - Read more! 

Registration nearing deadline
Fourteen candidates have registered. Registration closes this Saturday, May 31, at 6 PM UTC. Apply now!

Candidate profiles remain editable.
Edits for existing candidate profiles will remain open until June 5 at 6:00 PM UTC, when voting is scheduled to begin.

Voting accessibility and guidelines
Voting guidelines will be made available ahead of the start. Voting will be available for all ada holders, including those using CLI and HW wallets.

Intersect’s Constitutional Council transition

In alignment with our commitment to decentralization and community-led governance, Intersect has announced that it will not stand for election to the forthcoming Constitutional Committee (CC). This decision underscores our dedication to serving as a neutral enabler within the Cardano ecosystem.

Key highlights:

• Non-candidacy decision - Intersect, along with other appointed seats on the Interim Constitutional Committee (ICC), will not seek election but will continue to serve until the end of Epoch 580 (September 1, 2025)
  
  
• Promoting neutrality - By stepping aside, Intersect aims to create space for fresh, elected voices, reinforcing the principle that community-led governance is paramount.
  
  
• Continued contribution - Although not part of the elected council, several members have expressed interest in contributing through new community-formed groups, bringing valuable experience to the evolving governance landscape.
  
  
• Council toolkit - To support the council's operations, Intersect developed the open-source Council Toolkit, which enables members to manage ICC voting keys using standard wallet software securely.

This transition marks a significant step in Cardano's journey towards fully decentralized governance, with Intersect reaffirming its role as a facilitator and supporter of the ecosystem's growth and autonomy. Read the full announcement.

GovTool – What’s next and why it matters

GovTool is an open-source interface designed to make Cardano’s on-chain governance accessible to everyone, from individual ada holders to Delegated Representatives (DReps). It enables users to register, delegate, submit proposals, and vote without requiring in-depth technical knowledge. It's not just a frontend - it's infrastructure.

What Happened in the Recent Vote?

GovTool’s proposal for continued development and maintenance was downvoted by a majority of active DReps. This result doesn’t just affect funding; it raises broader questions about how we sustain vital public goods in the Cardano ecosystem.

New Proposal One-Pager Published

In response, a clear and concise one-pager has been published outlining the updated, lower-cost GovTool proposal. It reflects lessons learned, focuses on lean delivery, and highlights recent cost efficiencies thanks to completed development phases.

Why the Difference?

Initial GovTool funding covered foundational research and development, as well as the establishment of multi-network infrastructure. Today’s proposal reflects a transition to maintenance, refinement, and long-term stability. Many of the heavy-lift features are already live, which means future costs will be lower.

Intersect’s Commitment

Many prominent projects rely on the data produced by govtool, accessing it via open APIs. To ensure continuity, Intersect has committed ₳100,000 to keep GovTool running until the end of 2025, covering hosting and critical issue fixes. This ensures ada holders still have access to governance tooling, even as the funding discussion evolves.

Where to go to learn more

Everything you need to know about GovTool – what’s at stake and what’s coming next:

• Future of GovTool Blog
• Original Budget Proposal
• Updated Proposal (Short)
• Full Proposal – Feedback Welcome
• Detailed Cost Breakdown 
• GovTool Open Analytics 

Governance tools working group

The Governance Tools Working Group continues to refine the revised GovTool proposal, incorporating a more transparent structure, messaging, and alignment with community needs. Updates include a tiered funding model, FTE transparency, and sharper positioning as a community-built tool. A blog post, one-pager, and X Spaces are in development to enhance accessibility.

The group also addressed risks around centralized or unmaintained tooling, the constitutional role of Info Actions, and the need for decentralized support through partnerships. Work is ongoing to improve onboarding, clarify terminology, and expand educational content, shaped by community feedback and collaboration.

Proposals include hosting X Spaces, broader outreach, and marketing support. GovTool remains fully open source and community-maintained. Feedback is welcome via GitHub suggestions or in the Governance Tools Discord channel, where new ideas are actively discussed and debated.

Membership and Community

We’re excited to welcome Sundial,  Blockdaemon Limited, and Artes Juris as our three newest enterprise members!

Sundial Protocol - a Cardano Layer-2 that bridges Bitcoin liquidity via zero-knowledge proofs. It enables trustless BTC transfers, gas abstraction, and supports scalable DeFi and Web3 use cases.

Blockdaemon Limited - a leading provider of institutional blockchain infrastructure, serving over 400 clients and securing more than $110 billion across 60+ protocols since 2017.

Artes Juris - a Geneva-based law firm specializing in digital, business, and tech law, including Web3, AI, and cybersecurity, providing multilingual, tailored legal solutions worldwide.

As our membership continues to grow, here are our latest numbers:

Enterprise membership spotlight: iagon

Iagon is building a decentralized cloud platform on Cardano, offering secure, scalable, and cost-effective storage and computing solutions. By tapping into unused resources across individuals and enterprises, it creates a distributed network that supports data privacy and regulatory compliance (e.g. GDPR). Key components, such as Adagio and Fermato, manage incentives and subscriptions, while advanced encryption and sharding ensure security. Iagon aims to be a sustainable, decentralized alternative to traditional cloud providers.

Community hubs

Sri Lanka hub, led by CoinCeylon

As a follow-up to last week’s featured workshop at the University of Kelaniya, here’s a quick reminder to check out the highlight video from the 4-part blockchain series organized by Coin Ceylon x Intersect Sri Lanka Hub:

Workshop 04 Highlights: Building Real-World dApps & Cardano Governance | University of Kelaniya

This week, the Sri Lanka Hub continues the momentum with its May Townhall, featuring exciting guest speakers and community discussions. Join us on May 30, 2025, at 14:30 UTC / 8:00 PM Sri Lanka Time via this link.


Special guests include: Sebastien Guillemot – Co-founder of Paima Studios, dcSpark, and Shinkai Network.

Daniel Friedman – Founder & CEO of Zengate Global


Don’t miss out on insights around real-world adoption and building on Cardano!

Japan Hub: The link to join is here for the X space to be held on May 30th at noon UTC.

Africa hub, led by WADA: The hub held its meeting last week, featuring discussions on various Intersect committees and a community dialogue around expectations for the newly elected African Intersect Committee members. If you missed it, you can catch the full recording here: Watch Now

This week's hub internal meeting will be held on May 29 at 17:00 UTC. The link to join is here.

That’s it for this week’s update — thank you for reading. To learn more about Intersect’s work, explore our Knowledge Base, which provides detailed information on governance structures, committees, and funding. Additionally, visit the Intersect website for the latest news, updates, and roadmap information.

Join the conversation on Discord, and follow us on Twitter (X) and LinkedIn to engage with fellow members, working groups, and the broader community.

Your voice helps shape the future of Cardano governance.