Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson has forcefully denied rumors that he is stepping away from the blockchain project, calling the claims "categorically untrue" and blaming influencers for spreading fabricated narratives. The speculation had grown so pervasive that business partners and even a London taxi driver reportedly believed Hoskinson was retiring.
Rumors Spread via Edited Clips
Hoskinson released a video directly addressing the rumors, which he said originated from selectively edited clips and misleading reaction content. These clips falsely suggested he had declared Cardano to be failing. "The influencers really have screwed the pooch on this one," Hoskinson said. "They perpetuated a lie that I said Cardano was failing and I'm leaving the ecosystem. It's categorically untrue." He urged the community to share his rebuttal video whenever encountering such claims.
Ongoing Initiatives and Commitment
Hoskinson emphasized his full commitment to Cardano's long-term development, pointing to several upcoming milestones. These include the Leios scaling upgrade, the partner chains model, the RealFi testnet with a mainnet launch expected soon, and the expansion of Bitcoin decentralized finance on Cardano through Pogen. "I'm not leaving. I'm not going anywhere," he stated, adding that Input Output Group remains one of the largest entities building in the ecosystem.
Misinformation as a Threat
Hoskinson characterized the false reports as deliberate attempts to undermine confidence in Cardano, calling them "offensive" and in some cases "libelous." He warned that such narratives aim to "diminish, defame, and demean" the project while spreading fear, uncertainty, and doubt. He expressed hope that media outlets and content creators who amplified the retirement rumors would issue corrections.
Future Plans
Beyond technical upgrades, Hoskinson revealed that the team is working on a political party initiative expected to launch soon, alongside preparations for future hard forks and broader roadmap milestones. He reiterated that Cardano is "finding new footing" and remains focused on ecosystem expansion.