Charles Hoskinson, the outspoken founder of Cardano and one of Ethereum’s co-creators, is urging an end to what he calls “petty tribalism” within the crypto industry.
In a rare admission of fault, Charles acknowledged his contentious history with rival blockchain communities like Bitcoin, Solana, and XRP. Posting on X, he apologized for past remarks and pushed for collaboration ahead of what he sees as a critical moment for blockchain in 2025.
“One suggestion that I have for all of us in the Cardano community is to let the comments and opinions of the past go and embrace a full reset of all ecosystems,” Charles wrote. He admitted to being “prickly” and said rival ecosystems have also criticized Cardano with “terrible and untrue things.”
Now, however, he believes they are giving Cardano’s technology a second look. According to Charles, this is a once-in-a-lifetime window to take blockchain mainstream and grow the market into the trillions, touching every home and government.
A career built on disputes?
Charles is no stranger to conflict. His journey in blockchain started with Ethereum, where he was part of the founding team. But his stint was short-lived. Charles wanted Ethereum to adopt a for-profit structure, clashing with Vitalik Buterin, who insisted on a non-profit model.
This disagreement got Charles booted from the project in 2014, an exit he has since described as politically motivated and unfair. After Ethereum, Charles built Cardano, which he promoted as a superior blockchain with decentralized governance.
And naturally, he has been critical of Ethereum, calling its governance model a “dictatorship” controlled by Buterin. This narrative set the stage for years of tension between the two communities, with Charles often at the center of heated debates.
But his ‘beefs’ extended beyond Ethereum.
Bitcoin maximalists were next in line for his sharp commentary. Charles frequently positioned Cardano as Bitcoin’s true rival, emphasizing its proof-of-stake model and smart contracts. His claims didn’t sit well with Bitcoin supporters, who thought he was overstepping.
XRP fans didn’t escape his wrath either. During the Ripple vs. SEC legal battles, he referred to the project’s community as “XRP trolls,” escalating the already tense relationship between Cardano and Ripple’s communities.
Legal battles and industry tensions
Charles’s combative approach hasn’t been limited to words. Last month, we reported that he threatened legal action against Wyoming’s Stable Token Commission. The issue? Cardano was excluded from a government-backed stablecoin project that included Ethereum and Solana.
Charles accused the commission of bias and claimed its selection process violated legal standards. Meanwhile, Cardano has struggled with adoption rates compared to Ethereum and Solana.
Adding to his list of controversies, former Ethereum colleagues have actually accused Charles of embellishing his credentials. Allegedly, he implied being Satoshi Nakamoto, Bitcoin’s elusive creator—an accusation he vehemently denies.
Still, these allegations linger, casting a shadow on his public persona. Now, Charles wants to turn the page.
He told his people: “2025 is about unity and progress. We have a window to make crypto mainstream and grow our markets to the tens of trillions of dollars of value, thereby entering every home and government alike. We can not allow petty tribalism to squander this opportunity.”
Land a High-Paying Web3 Job in 90 Days: The Ultimate Roadmap
