Cardano ADA’s Leios Upgrade: A Game-Changer for Scalability with 30-55x Throughput Boost

Cardano's much-anticipated Leios upgrade, spearheaded by lead architect Sebastian Nagel, is set to roll out in August with its initial phase, Leios Lite. This protocol enhancement, resulting from Input Output Global's summer research, aims to dramatically increase transaction throughput by 30-55 times. The phased implementation strategy not only ensures a smooth transition but also serves as a robust stress-testing mechanism for the network. As of September 2025, this upgrade marks a significant milestone in Cardano's roadmap, promising to elevate its scalability and performance to new heights.

Cardano's Leios Upgrade Set to Boost Throughput with Phased Rollout

Sebastian Nagel, lead architect for Cardano's Leios project, confirmed an August release for the Leios CIP-164 upgrade. The phased implementation begins with Leios Lite, targeting a 30-55x increase in transaction throughput. Input Output Global's summer research culminated in this protocol enhancement, now formally integrated into Cardano's roadmap.

The staged deployment serves as a stress-testing mechanism. Leios Lite will provide real-world performance data before full implementation. "This approach allows for iterative refinement," Nagel noted, emphasizing the importance of stability before scaling. Charles Hoskinson has publicly reaffirmed Leios' strategic role in Cardano's development pipeline.

Cardano Price Prediction: ADA at Crossroads Amid Volatility and Ecosystem Growth

Cardano's ADA token faces a pivotal moment as conflicting technical and fundamental forces drive market uncertainty. Trading NEAR $0.78 with a 3.7% daily decline, the digital asset shows heightened volatility—dipping to $0.76 before partial recovery. Market capitalization holds at $28.4 billion despite the pullback, supported by $2.1 billion in daily trading volume.

Technical indicators reveal ADA hovering above critical $0.78 support, with resistance looming at $0.82-$0.85. A breakdown below $0.75 could trigger a test of $0.70 support. Meanwhile, Cardano's development team continues advancing ecosystem upgrades, creating a divergence between price action and network fundamentals.

Cardano's Struggle for $1 as Traders Shift Focus to Emerging Protocols

Cardano's ADA, once a darling of the smart contract arena, faces mounting skepticism as its price fails to breach the $1 barrier. Futures activity has dwindled by 23% since mid-September, with the $0.76 support level teetering and repeated attempts to reclaim $0.84 falling short. The fading momentum raises questions about ADA's near-term prospects.

Meanwhile, protocols like Paydax Protocol are gaining attention by prioritizing utility over speculation. Paydax ties its token's value to tangible engagement metrics, offering a contrast to ADA's reliance on market sentiment. As Cardano grapples with slow adoption, the market's appetite shifts toward projects delivering measurable functionality—regardless of broader crypto volatility.

Cardano (ADA) Tests Key Support at $0.77 Amid Mixed Technical Signals

Cardano's ADA slid 2.01% to $0.77 in early trading, testing critical support levels as bearish momentum clashed with oversold technical indicators. The RSI at 38.4 flirts with potential bounce territory while price action probes the lower Bollinger Band at $0.75.

Absent fresh catalysts, ADA moves reflect broader market sentiment and technical trading dynamics. Chart-focused participants dominate the action, creating amplified swings in both directions for traders who can interpret conflicting signals—the MACD shows bearish momentum even as oversold conditions emerge.