Intersect MBO

If you have been in the Cardano ecosystem for a minute, the name “Intersect” has popped up in a few discussions on governance, proposals and budget. So what is Intersect MBO, and why should you care?

What is Intersect?

For starters, it is in the name: it is an MBO, which stands for Member-Based Organization. This means actions and directions are guided not by any individual or small cohort running the thing, but by the members. As the age of Voltaire came into play, Intersect was born too, to help the community shape Cardano’s future and shift away from the three founding entities (IOG, Cardano Foundation, and Emurgo.)

What is the MBO model?

The membership part is what is crucial: to participate in an MBO, one has to be a member. To become a member, it is as simple as heading over to their website here: intersectmbo.org and register. Membership is open to:
i) Individuals (community members, developers, educators etc)
ii) Institutions (SPOs, Universities, NGOs, businesses)

Intersect offers free memberships and paid membership with different benefits in each tier. The best part about the free tier is that you can participate in the Working Groups (collaborative teams formed under the guidance of a committee) right from the start. Paid memberships take it a step further by granting you the ability to vote. Getting a paid membership allows you to fully engage with the Cardano ecosystem and developments (Voting, working groups, grants etc.) More information on the individual membership can be found at the Intersect website when signing up.

Voting on Intersect

The members get to participate in working groups, discussions and more importantly vote. Members can vote on the following: changes to the constitution, working group formation, leadership roles and policy proposals.

In the last few weeks the voting of the Committees (leadership roles) has been in action. If you have yet to jump into Intersect, now is a great time to check it out and make an impact with your vote on these committee elections!

Here is a simple procedure on how to get started:

1. Sign up for Intersect at intersectmbo.org

2. Once you have finished setting up your account you can access the voting section from the dashboard. This will show you what is currently being voted on (Currently: Committee Elections)
   

3. Take your time to review what is in the voting section and cast your vote before the deadline.
   You can get started here with your very own Lido Peeps:

• Emmanuel Titi (Intersect Profile) - Running for a voting seat on the Open Source Committee
• Donbosco Otunga (Intersect Profile) - Running for a voting seat on Growth and Marketing Committee

Why you should participate

Since its launch back on July 12th, 2024, Intersect MBO has been a key player in the Cardano Ecosystem. Some of the milestones achieved are:

1. Took charge of the Cardano Constitution Ratification.
2. Initiated regional hubs across the different parts of the world to increase local engagement and decentralization participation.
3. Released the Cardano 2025 Roadmap
4. Launched GovTool WebApp

Voting ensures inclusivity of the Cardano’s Roadmap isn’t only left to the powerful voices but distributed across geographies, cultures and people with different backgrounds. Intersect offers the community a chance to go beyond just being members and help shape the future.

While on-chain governance tools like CIP-1694 will eventually empower ada holders to vote on protocol-level decisions directly, Intersect provides the off-chain organizational scaffolding to get us there. It’s a place where the community can gather to draft proposals, form working groups, and elect leaders who help shape proposals and processes. In other words, Intersect is the structured, collaborative space where Cardano’s decentralized future is being built—brick by brick, and member by member.

Some Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Is voting open to anyone?
A: As of this moment only the paid members can vote.

Q: Do I need to hold ADA?
A: No, the membership is not staked or tokenized

Q: What happens if I miss voting?
A: Future rounds are still coming, be active and informed

Q: Is voting anonymous?
A: While you will need to verify your identity, all ballots are confidential

Q: Where can I see the results?
A: Your dashboard will have all the information you need.

Cardano development and its future relies on its people. Join Intersect, cast your vote and help lead its development!