IOG, Emurgo & CF Unite on 70M ADA Plan to Power Cardano’s DeFi Future

• Cardano’s ₳70M proposal targets five major gaps holding back DeFi and institutional scaling.
• Without stablecoins, custody, oracles, bridges, and analytics, Cardano risks falling further behind rivals.

A new budget proposal requesting ₳70 million from the Cardano Treasury has been officially submitted. It introduces a joint initiative led by Input Output Global (IOG), EMURGO, the Cardano Foundation, Intersect, and the Midnight Foundation.

The goal is to address missing infrastructure that has limited Cardano’s ability to support large-scale decentralized finance (DeFi) and institutional involvement.

The proposal, named the “Cardano Critical Integrations Budget,” is designed to cover five major infrastructure needs. These include the onboarding of tier-one stablecoin frameworks, institutional-grade custody and wallets, pricing oracles, cross-chain bridges, and advanced analytics platforms.

The budget, if passed, would introduce a milestone-based funding structure. Payments would only be released by Intersect upon submission of signed contracts and clearly defined scopes of work. This structure aims to ensure accountability and prevent misuse, with oversight from Intersect’s committee.

Expanding Cardano With Tier One Tools

Stablecoins are central to this initiative. A tier-one stablecoin requires reliable pricing data and interoperability frameworks. With those in place, it can act as the network’s base unit of account, encouraging volume and enabling RWA and DePIN transactions.

Institutional custody and wallet services are also expected to provide a secure and scalable interface for asset management and user interaction. Features like multi-asset support, dApp compatibility, and secure cross-chain access are considered essential.

Another major focus is on advanced on-chain analytics. These platforms will give institutions, developers, and regulators real-time insight into asset flows, liquidity conditions, and risk exposure. Mature analytics support informed decision-making and ecosystem health monitoring.

Cross-Chain Links Could Unlock Billions for Cardano

Bridges and interoperability layers will create secure pathways to other blockchains. These links will bring liquidity into Cardano and enable users and assets to move in and out freely. Without this, Cardano risks staying isolated from broader markets.

Pricing oracles are another focus. Though projects like Charli3 and Orcfax are live, none yet offer the institutional recognition that larger financial applications require. A globally trusted pricing oracle is needed to support stablecoin issuance and advanced finance.

Despite its high market capitalization, Cardano’s Total Value Locked (TVL) stood at only $190.92 million as of November 28, 2025, according to Defillama.

With the current NCL expiring on January 4, 2026, the entities behind this proposal see the timing as important. If it passes, it will allow strategic infrastructure integrations to start. Some work is already underway, and the budget could be used immediately over a 24-month window, depending on contract speed and project delivery.