The main roles
| Who | What they do |
|---|---|
| Ada holders | Use the network, delegate stake to pools and voting power to DReps |
| Stake pool operators (SPOs) | Run block-producing nodes; vote on some governance actions |
| DReps | Registered representatives who vote with the voting power delegated to them |
| Constitutional Committee | Votes on whether governance actions are constitutional |
| Builders | Create wallets, dApps, tools and infrastructure |
Organisations you will hear about
- Intersect – a member-based organisation that coordinates Cardano development and facilitates processes such as the annual budget.
- Cardano Foundation – a Swiss non-profit; since 2026 it also stewards Project Catalyst, Cardano’s community funding programme.
- Input Output (IO) – an engineering company that has built much of Cardano’s core technology.
- Community groups such as AACC – independent coalitions connecting local communities to the wider ecosystem.
Example
A developer in Hanoi finds a bug in an open-source library, reports it on GitHub, joins an Intersect working group to discuss a fix, and later applies for funding through an open programme.
Common mistakes
Assuming one organisation speaks for all of Cardano. Decisions are made through on-chain governance.