# Why I'm Stepping Down as a Cardano DRep and Why Governance Isn't Working

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/learn-cardano-podcast-3673541/why-i-m-stepping-down-as-a-cardano-drep-and-why-governance-isn-t-working
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/learn-cardano-podcast-3673541/why-i-m-stepping-down-as-a-cardano-drep-and-why-governance-isn-t-working.md
Podcast: [Learn Cardano Podcast](https://stenobird.com/podcast/learn-cardano-podcast-3673541)
Published: 2026-06-12T14:12:57+00:00
Episode link: https://www.spreaker.com/episode/why-i-m-stepping-down-as-a-cardano-drep-and-why-governance-isn-t-working--72498716
Audio file: https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/72498716/drep.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/learn-cardano-podcast-3673541/episodes/why-i-m-stepping-down-as-a-cardano-drep-and-why-governance-isn-t-working
Duration seconds: 877

## Resource

Peter explains why he is stepping down as a Cardano DRep and why, in his view, the current governance process is not working well enough to justify the time, energy, and scrutiny it demands. He walks through the practical reasons behind that decision, including lobbying for votes, unclear conflict-of-interest boundaries, public backlash, fatigue, and the growing burden of proposal review. The episode also looks at the broader governance environment around Intersect, treasury withdrawals, and the post-Catalyst landscape. Rather than writing off governance entirely, Peter argues that Cardano's model still has room to improve, but that most people are better off avoiding the DRep role until the process becomes more sustainable and easier to navigate. Key Takeaways: - Peter is stepping down as a Cardano DRep at the end of the month and is asking current delegates to consider moving to another active DRep. - He argues that constant lobbying, direct messages, and social pressure have made governance feel unhealthy and difficult to navigate fairly. - Conflict-of-interest lines are too blurry for someone involved across multiple roles in the ecosystem, which often pushes him toward abstaining rather than voting. - The time burden has grown far beyond what many participants originally expected, especially after the shift from Catalyst-style funding to heavier on-chain and Intersect proposal review. - He believes the current model does not properly compensate DReps for the hours of review, voting, and public accountability involved. - Despite stepping away, he still expects Cardano governance to evolve and improve over time, just not in its current form. Links & References: - Peter Bui · Cardano DRep — Informed Voting, Public Rationales: https://link.learncardano.io/vG2x1z W…

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