The ledger team added minor features like ledger state queries for voting on proposals and transaction size computations, while focusing on Conway testing and conformance tests. The Lace team released version 1.14 with CIP-95 support and bug fixes. Hydra released version 0.18.0, addressing a Conway fork issue and adding incremental decommits. GovTool is active on preview and SanchoNet, with 67% of stake upgraded to node v.9.1.0 for the Chang upgrade. Catalyst released the Catalyst Horizons report and is preparing for engagements at Rare Evo. The education team is reviewing the Cardano Developer course and updating "Mastering Cardano".

Doom (1993) remains a cultural icon, now demonstrated on Cardano's blockchain using Hydra heads. By leveraging Hydra's ability to handle complex operations off-chain, the game runs in real-time through smart contracts validating deterministic game states. While running Doom on a blockchain is impractical, this tech demo highlights Hydra's potential, offering open-source components and innovative approaches that could inspire new blockchain applications.

The consensus team began work on Q3 2024 goals, focusing on db-truncater behavior, EmptySlot error details, new trace messages, and UTXO-HD feature branch updates. Lace is prepared for the Chang upgrade and DRep registration on the mainnet. Plutus completed testing bitwise primitives, now improving Plinth documentation. Hydra made progress on bug fixes and Agda transition, while Mithril worked on stake distribution certification and nearly completed a CIP draft. Catalyst Fund12 onboarding is progressing, and the education team wrapped up a successful course in Argentina, preparing for the upcoming Cardano Days event in Wyoming.

The ledger team focused on Conway features and fixed a bug affecting functionality post-bootstrap. Hydra worked on network reliability, upgraded the Hydra head for node compatibility, and introduced a technical writing guide. Mithril released distribution 2430.0, supporting Cardano node 9.1.0, activated transaction certification in test networks, and continued CIP drafting. Catalyst's onboarding is progressing, with Town Hall 173 marking Fund12's end. The education team completed a Cardano Developer course in Buenos Aires and organized a graduation event for smart contract developers.

Input Output Global has launched the alpha v1 release of partner chains, enabling new blockchain networks to bootstrap security by leveraging Cardano's stake pool operators (SPOs). This release introduces innovations like shared security, mixed validator committees, and consensus model flexibility, allowing partner chains to benefit from Cardano's extensive network. While this release is not for live production, it marks a significant milestone in realizing Charles' vision. Midnight will be the first partner chain to use this technology, with further developments and feedback expected in the coming months.

Cardano node v.9.1.0 has been released, featuring critical updates for the upcoming Chang upgrade, including a Conway genesis file, CLI enhancements, and CIP compatibility. Performance benchmarks for node v.9.0.0 showed significant improvements. The networking team advanced tx-submission design and reviewed Genesis pull requests. The Lace team is preparing for version 1.14, and Plutus TX has been rebranded as Plinth. The Hydra and Mithril teams made progress on network reliability and transaction certification. The education team is in Argentina teaching a Cardano Developer course.

This monthly report on Cardano's Hydra and Mithril scaling projects provides an insightful overview of the latest advancements and plans. Notably, the Mithril team released a new distribution (2428.0) with critical updates, prepared for upcoming distributions supporting Cardano node 9.1.0, and showcased a transaction verification demo in the Nami wallet. Meanwhile, Hydra's roadmap saw significant progress with the completion of incremental decommits, integration of an SDK for wallet developers, and ongoing efforts towards defining Hydra Head V1. The July 2024 stakeholder meeting featured engaging presentations, including Blockfrost's Mithril certificate demo and discussions on enhancing Hydra's functionality, reflecting the community's growing interest and collaboration in Cardano's scaling solutions.

The ledger team focuses on testing for the Chang upgrade. Lace v.1.14 is upcoming. Hydra updated for node v.9.0.0 and simplified the demo setup. Mithril released distribution 2428.0, supported node v.9.0.0, fixed bugs, and optimized certification. Node users should upgrade to v.9.0.0. Fund12 results announced 258 new projects, with Town Hall 171 celebrating winners. Catalyst completed 900+ projects and allocated over 100M ADA. The education team is in Buenos Aires for the Cardano Developer course.

This week, the teams released node version 9.0.0, enabling the Conway ledger era with CIP-1694, Plutus V1 reference scripts, and CIP-69 support. The performance team released benchmarks for node v.8.12.0 and conducted DRep benchmarks. The consensus team supported the 9.0 release with security audits and NoThunks tests. The Plutus team improved contract blueprints and documentation. The Lace team focused on bug fixes. Mithril supported node v.9.0.0, worked on a new distribution, and fixed REST API bugs. Town Hall 170 and Fund12 voting concluded with 1.5bn ada used. The education team prepared for the Cardano Developer course and Voltaire training.

Decentralized applications (dApps) use programmable smart contracts on blockchain to provide accessible services without central authority. Unlike traditional apps with centralized backends, dApps run on open-source, decentralized networks like Cardano, offering transparency and security. Cardano, a third-generation blockchain, supports scalable, secure, and interoperable dApp development. Aiken simplifies dApp development on Cardano by offering familiar syntax, an easy compiler, and clear error handling. It’s used by popular Cardano dApps like Minswap, Sundae Swap, LenFi, and JPG Store, facilitating faster and more efficient dApp creation.