The Cardano (ADA) community has rallied to defend the network’s founder, Charles Hoskinson, following an online dispute ignited by harsh criticisms.
The controversy began on Saturday when a user on X (Formerly Twitter), operating under the pseudonym “Dclay,” posted, “Is Charles Hoskinson really the cancer of Cardano? Would this chain be a lot better without him being as active as he is? Is he just too emotional?”
This sentiment was echoed by another user who claimed, “The biggest enemy of Cardano is Hoskinson; he’s done more harm than good. I’ve never seen a blockchain with this much drama.”
These remarks quickly captured the attention of the Cardano community, sparking a wave of responses in defense of Hoskinson, with many supporting Hoskinson’s involvement in Cardano.
“I disagree; Charles is making a significant contribution to Cardano and the overall crypto industry. We need more builders and long-term thinkers like Charles.” One supporter stated.
Hoskinson responded to the debate on Sunday by launching a poll titled “Is Charles Hoskinson a cancer for Cardano?” Preliminary results by Monday showed that 57.1% disagreed with the statement, while 42.9% were in favor.
In addressing the situation, Hoskinson reflected in another tweet that platforms like X have become breeding grounds for harsh criticism and personal attacks, eroding empathy and fostering a culture of harmful labeling. “We somehow think it’s acceptable to call people cancer, a criminal, or evil. The worst part is that the victims are told they can’t fight back. It’s an endless cycle.” He argued.
He also announced a shift in his social media engagement, stating, “I’m going to take a different approach to how I communicate with the Cardano ecosystem, using X less and focusing on more productive and curated mediums.”
That said, criticism of Hoskinson within the Cardano community is not new. It is important to note that although Hoskinson’s supporters prevailed in the poll, nearly 43% of voters expressed dissatisfaction, underscoring a divide within the community. Critics have long argued that his influence is disproportionately strong, an issue that Cardano addresses through ongoing efforts to bolster decentralized governance and enhance community control.
Currently, Cardano is deepening its commitment to decentralization through the Voltaire era, which aims to transition the network’s governance to a community-led structure. This includes initiatives like CIP-1694, which outlines on-chain governance, and the Cardano Constitution, which will guide the blockchain’s policies and framework. Intersect, a member-based organization, will also play a role in stewarding off-chain governance, ensuring Cardano’s future sustainability.
Meanwhile, amid the weekend controversy, ADA continued to trade sideways but declined further as the new week began. The token traded at $0.327 at press time, reflecting a 0.73% drop over the past 24 hours.