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Input Output is a blockchain research and development organization focused on building and maintaining the Cardano blockchain. It provides a decentralized platform supporting smart contract execution and asset transactions. Its technical mechanisms use proof-of-stake and layered architecture for scalability and security. Visit iohk.io or follow its Twitter for technical documentation and updates.
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About Input Output
Input Output (IO), the R&D company behind Cardano, develops core blockchain infrastructure including the Haskell node, Plutus smart contract platform, Daedalus wallet, Hydra Layer 2 scaling solution, and Mithril protocol. Its core competency lies in rigorous formal methods and Haskell-based engineering, positioning Cardano as a research-driven, security-focused blockchain. The main problem IO addresses is the lack of scalable, secure, and decentralized infrastructure for real-world applications, while also tackling the challenge of transitioning from a single-vendor model to a community-owned ecosystem.
In the past six months, IO announced a major decentralization push (July 2026) to hand over core component maintenance to independent teams such as Se7en Labs and Teragone, with at least three node implementations in Haskell, Rust, and Go to be maintained under community oversight. This coincided with the Van Rossem hard fork (July 18, 2026) that upgraded Cardano to Protocol Version 11, reducing smart contract execution costs. However, the network faces significant headwinds: total value locked (TVL) stands at only ~$70 million versus $4B+ on competing chains, and ADA has fallen ~95% from its 2021 peak to ~$0.16. IO acknowledged growth stagnation and framed the transition as necessary "growing pains" toward full decentralization, with risks including interface drift, governance gridlock, and security regression as multiple teams take over critical code.
From March to September 2026, Input Output (IO) advanced several core initiatives on Cardano:
Key Progress
- CV26 Mid-Year Report: All seven work packages on track; Scalability & Execution and Applications, Adoption & Liquidity ahead of plan
- Leios: Musashi Dojo public testnet launched June 23, first live-network run of Ouroboros Leios, targeting 5-20x base-layer throughput increase
- Mithril: ZK proof work advanced from prototype to testnet with recursive SNARK compressing certificate chains; development transferred to Teragone Solutions on June 26
- Hydra: Released versions 2.1.0 and 2.2.0 with partial fanout, simplified opening protocol, and reproducible benchmark suite
- Peras (CIP-0140): Continued research on instant confirmation to address throughput and latency constraints
- CANS Protocol: Proposed Bitcoin liquidity bridging to expand Cardano DeFi asset base
- Engineering Decentralization: Platform Engineering, QA, Cryptography, Performance & Tracing teams moved to ICAN Group
Future Focus H2 priorities: complete post-quantum security analysis and Linear Leios node work; deliver data availability and sharding research; formalize zk-rollup and succinct proof results; produce bridge benchmarks and agent-chain proofs; advance SPO incentives and PoUW analysis; refine governance DSL and proof-of-personhood.
Charles Hoskinson: Co-founder & CEO; former Ethereum co-founder; co-founded Input Output with Jeremy Wood in 2015, leading Cardano development.
Jeremy Wood: Co-founder; formerly Chief Strategy Officer (stepped down in 2020); previously managed Ethereum operations; co-founded IOHK with Hoskinson in 2015.
Tamara Haasen: President; joined in 2017 as Corporate Culture Officer, later became President; focuses on culture and operations.
Romain Pellerin: Chief Technology Officer; joined in 2020; founded three tech startups, serving as CEO/CTO.
Dave Dionisio: Chief of Staff to COO & VP of Strategy & Partnerships, Cardano; former Head of Operational Risk at Fannie Mae, Senior Associate at KPMG.
Ryan Davis: Chief Financial Officer & Chief Investment Officer; over 20 years in investment management, capital markets, and digital assets.
J.J. Siler: VP of Commercial; helps founders forge strategic partnerships and unlock growth.