Input Output Global (IOG), the primary developer of Cardano, has proposed a significant budget reduction for its 2026 initiatives, cutting funding requests by about 50% compared to the previous year. The proposals focus on the Leios scaling upgrade, which aims to boost Cardano's monthly transaction volume from 800,000 to over 27 million. The Leios upgrade is slated to enter the testnet phase in June, with a mainnet launch expected by the end of the year. IOG is requesting 62.1 million ADA (approximately $15.8 million) to support node upgrades, monitoring, and security maintenance. The proposals also include the introduction of Babel Fees, allowing transaction fees to be paid in non-ADA assets. Additionally, IOG is exploring new economic models, such as micro-fees on wallets, Bitcoin staking credits, and yield opportunities, to enhance the Cardano ecosystem.