How to Vote in Project Catalyst
Project Catalyst lets ADA holders vote on which projects receive funding from the Cardano treasury. Voting requires a minimum of 500 ADA at the snapshot and a QR code registration in the Catalyst Voting app. Here is how to get set up and cast your first vote.
Voting power and the 500 ADA minimum
Your voting power in Catalyst is proportional to the ADA you hold at the moment of the snapshot — a fixed point in time (usually announced a few days in advance) when balances are recorded. You need a minimum of 500 ADA at the snapshot address to register and vote. Staked ADA counts toward voting power — you do not need to unstake.
Registering with a QR code
To register for voting, open your Cardano wallet (Eternl or Lace support Catalyst registration natively) and navigate to the Catalyst Voting or Governance section. Click Register for Catalyst. You will generate a voting key and receive a QR code. You will also create a 4-digit PIN to use in the Catalyst Voting app.
Download the Catalyst Voting app (available for iOS and Android) and scan your QR code during the registration process. The app stores your voting key locally. Complete the registration before the snapshot deadline — late registrations do not count for the current round.
Browsing proposals on IdeaScale
All Catalyst proposals are published on IdeaScale (cardano.ideascale.com). Browse by challenge category to find proposals in areas you care about. Each proposal has a description, team information, budget breakdown, and success metrics. Community reviews with scores (impact, feasibility, value for money) are published after the review period.
Take time to read proposals before voting rather than voting randomly — the quality of your vote depends on your engagement with the proposals. Many voters develop a strategy: focusing on a specific challenge category where they have domain knowledge.
Submitting votes in the app
During the voting period, open the Catalyst Voting app, enter your PIN, and browse the proposals loaded into the app. Swipe right (or tap the checkmark) to vote Yes, swipe left (or tap the X) to vote No. You can vote on as many proposals as you wish — voting on more proposals increases your total voting impact.
When you are done selecting votes, tap Submit Votes to broadcast them to the Catalyst network. Your votes are cryptographically signed with your voting key, ensuring they cannot be altered. The transaction happens within the app — no gas fees or wallet interaction required after registration.
Key Takeaways
- You need at least 500 ADA at the snapshot (not at vote time) to register and vote.
- Register via your Cardano wallet to get a QR code, then scan it in the Catalyst Voting app before the snapshot deadline.
- Browse and evaluate proposals on cardano.ideascale.com before voting.
- Vote in the Catalyst Voting app during the designated voting period — there are no on-chain fees for casting votes.
- Voting on more proposals maximizes your participation and impact on the outcome.