I've Now Retired
As A DRep
To everyone who delegated to me, thank you, and sorry to leave you hanging. It's time to redelegate. Please help keep Cardano governance decentralised by picking a new active DRep with under 30M ADA in voting power. The quiz below matches you with DReps whose on-chain votes line up with yours.
Find Your Next DRep
Take a 60-second quiz on recent Cardano governance and we'll match you with active DReps under 30M ADA in voting power whose on-chain votes line up with yours.
Why Delegate to a Cardano DRep
Cardano gives every ADA holder a vote on governance proposals. Most people don't have time to read each one, weigh the trade-offs, and vote individually. That's where a Cardano DRep (Delegated Representative) comes in. The matchmaker above helps you find a Cardano DRep aligned with your views, and here's why it matters and how it works.
What a DRep does
Reads governance actions, votes Yes, No, or Abstain on your behalf, and publishes their rationale on-chain for anyone to inspect.
You stay in control
You can change DRep, vote directly on a specific proposal, or undelegate at any time. No lockup, no fee beyond the network transaction cost.
Pick an active one
If a DRep stops voting, the protocol marks them inactive after ~100 days and your voting power goes silent. Active participation matters more than name recognition.
Spread the power
A handful of large DReps already hold most of the voting power. Backing a smaller active DRep (under 30M ADA) is the simplest way to keep Cardano governance decentralised.
How to Delegate to a Cardano DRep with Lace Wallet
Step-by-step walkthrough of how to find a Cardano DRep ID and delegate to it from the Lace Wallet governance tab.
Cardano DRep FAQ
What is a Cardano DRep?
A Cardano DRep (Delegated Representative) votes on Cardano governance proposals on behalf of ADA holders who don't want to vote on every action themselves. DReps were introduced with the CIP-1694 governance upgrade. Anyone can register as a Cardano DRep, and any ADA holder can delegate their voting power to one.
How do I delegate to a Cardano DRep?
Delegating to a Cardano DRep takes about 30 seconds in any wallet that supports CIP-95 governance (Lace, Eternl, Typhon, Yoroi). Open the wallet's governance section, paste the DRep's drep1… ID, and confirm the transaction. The fee is usually under 0.2 ADA.
You can also use the Connect Wallet button on this page to delegate to your matched Cardano DRep in one click, no copy-pasting required.
How do I find a Cardano DRep that matches my views?
The matchmaker on this page takes a 60-second quiz on recent Cardano governance proposals, then ranks active DReps by how closely their on-chain votes match your answers.
You can also browse DReps directly on 1694.io or gov.tools. Look for DReps who vote consistently, publish their rationales on-chain, and align with what you care about (decentralisation, technical direction, treasury spend).
How much does it cost to delegate to a Cardano DRep?
Just the standard network transaction fee, usually around 0.2 ADA. There is no DRep service fee, no recurring cost, and no impact on your staking rewards. DRep delegation is completely independent of stake pool delegation.
Can I change my Cardano DRep delegation?
Yes. Delegation is fully reversible. You can switch DReps, vote directly on a single proposal, or undelegate at any time. No lockup, no penalty, just another small network fee.
What happens if I don't delegate to a Cardano DRep?
Your ADA's voting power doesn't count toward governance outcomes. Some proposals require a participation threshold to pass, so not delegating effectively counts as silent non-participation.
You can also delegate to the protocol's special pseudo-DReps: Always Abstain (your stake counts toward quorum but never votes yes or no), or Always No Confidence (votes against every proposal until you change your delegation).
What's the difference between stake delegation and DRep delegation?
They are completely separate. Stake delegation sends your ADA's stake to a stake pool to earn rewards by producing blocks. DRep delegation sends your ADA's voting power to a Cardano DRep for governance.
You can do both on the same ADA with separate certificates, and neither affects the other.
What happens if my Cardano DRep becomes inactive?
The Cardano protocol marks a DRep as inactive after roughly 100 days without any governance activity. While inactive, their voting power (and yours, by delegation) doesn't count toward any outcome.
If your DRep has gone quiet, redelegate to an active one. The matchmaker on this page only suggests DReps who have voted in the last 90 days.
Do I need a hardware wallet to delegate to a Cardano DRep?
No. Any Cardano wallet that supports CIP-95 governance works, including software wallets like Lace, Eternl, Typhon, and Yoroi. A hardware wallet (Keystone, Ledger) adds an extra security layer but isn't required to delegate to a Cardano DRep.
What is CIP-1694?
CIP-1694 (Cardano Improvement Proposal 1694) is the foundational document for Cardano's on-chain governance. It introduced DReps (Delegated Representatives), the Constitutional Committee, and the framework for ADA holders to vote on protocol upgrades, treasury withdrawals, and constitutional changes.
It activated with the Chang hard fork in 2024.
Can I delegate to multiple Cardano DReps at the same time?
Not from one stake key. One stake key delegates to one Cardano DRep at a time. If you want to split voting power across multiple DReps, you'd need separate stake addresses with separate delegations. Most users find it simpler to back a single DRep they trust.
Why should I delegate to a smaller Cardano DRep?
Cardano governance is healthier when voting power is spread across many active DReps rather than concentrated in a few large ones. A handful of DReps already control most of the on-chain vote.
Delegating to a smaller Cardano DRep (under 30M ADA voting power) directly counters that centralisation, and your individual delegation has more proportional influence on their voting weight. That's exactly the kind of DRep the matchmaker on this page surfaces.
Voting History & Rationales
Every governance vote I've cast on-chain, with my full rationale. Pulled live from Cardano via Koios.
Why I'm Stepping Down as a DRep
Being a DRep has been one of the most demanding roles I've taken on in the Cardano ecosystem. After careful reflection, I've decided to retire before the end of this month. Here's an honest account of why.
- Solicitation and begging. Constant DMs, messages, and pressure from proposers and projects asking or begging for votes.
- Conflicts of interest. Difficulty voting objectively when proposals involve projects, people, or ecosystems I'm connected to, risking accusations no matter what I decide.
- Being labelled a shill. Accusations of bias or being "paid" just for neutrally mentioning or supporting a project that has a governance proposal.
- Scrutiny and backlash. Votes are heavily criticised regardless of direction, with accusations of poor judgment, favouritism, or incompetence.
- Time and review burden. Properly evaluating proposals requires deep dives into complex tech, business models, budgets, and risks. It feels irresponsible to vote on behalf of others without fully understanding everything.
- Lack of time and energy. The ongoing responsibility drains personal bandwidth, especially combined with work, life, and other Cardano contributions. It's a voluntary role with no real compensation for most.
- Burnout and fatigue. The volume of proposals (dozens in the 2026 budget cycle alone), combined with meetings, debates, and constant community engagement, leads to exhaustion. I was originally told it would be about one hour a month at most.
- Lack of compensation. Many DReps invest hours reviewing and communicating with delegators, but rewards are indirect or absent. I built a website and published all my rationales on-chain and on X, and that still wasn't considered enough.
- Unsustainable performance expectations. Delegators expect high activity and clear rationales constantly. Even active DReps face accountability demands that aren't sustainable long-term.
- Toxicity and community dynamics. Harsh criticism, conspiracy accusations, double standards, and polarised debates make the role unpleasant. Governance is still in its growing pains.
I remain a Cardano supporter, educator, and stake pool operator. I'll still be producing content, running ADAOZ, and contributing to the ecosystem, just not in a DRep capacity. If you've been delegating to me, please take a moment to find a new active DRep below.
I created the Learn Cardano Podcast to simplify governance, highlight builders, and help ADA holders, like you, stay informed.
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All content on this site is for informational and educational purposes only and is not financial, investment, or legal advice. Peter holds no stakes in and receives no compensation from projects discussed. Always do your own research before investing.
