Charles Hoskinson, founder of Cardano and CEO of Input Output Global (IOG), stated in a YouTube question-and-answer session that he has fulfilled all promises related to the Cardano network. Hoskinson said the project’s planned development work is complete, directly responding to investors who remain frustrated with ADA’s performance.
Feedback from Investors on Progress
During the session, several Cardano investors voiced concerns about the rate of progress and the continued decline in ADA’s price. Hoskinson argued these criticisms were often tied to unmet expectations about ADA’s market value rather than the technological development of the blockchain platform.
A viewer identified as shevilkid1738 challenged Hoskinson regarding a statement allegedly made in the past, claiming Cardano would surpass Bitcoin. Hoskinson dismissed this, clarifying that while he would welcome such an outcome, he had never promised Cardano would eclipse Bitcoin’s market position.
Hoskinson emphasized that he never guaranteed price appreciation, stating that while significant growth was possible, he cautioned against expectations of inevitable gains. He said he had fulfilled promises concerning Cardano’s technical roadmap, noting all items he committed to building had been delivered and that the blockchain was now self-determining and self-governing.
He attributed much of the dissatisfaction in the Cardano community to price movements, suggesting many investors expected him to directly influence ADA’s value. Hoskinson highlighted that Cardano has millions of users and, at its peak, reached a market value four times that of Honda.
Market Performance and Ongoing Development
ADA has remained under downward pressure. The token was trading at approximately $0.17 during the AMA, more than 94% below its all time high of $3.10 set in September 2021. ADA was also 86% down from its 2024 high.
Despite the price decline, the Cardano blockchain has continued to introduce new features. The RealFi mainnet went live on October 1, 2026, alongside several technical upgrades aimed at expanding the platform’s capabilities. These developments, however, have not restored ADA’s market value to previous levels.
This extended period of weak price performance remains a key source of dissatisfaction among holders, especially those who entered the market near previous highs.
End of IOG Contract and Future Focus
Hoskinson revealed that the development contract signed between IOG and Cardano in 2015 has now expired. With this formal agreement concluded, he stated that the foundation of his work on the blockchain is finished as originally outlined. Ongoing development will be funded by alternative mechanisms, not the initial contract.
Future improvements for Cardano will focus on new objectives, including the continued expansion of applications and the Leios project, which aims to increase transaction throughput across the network. Once again, Hoskinson noted that further upgrades will be pursued through new funding plans.
Hoskinson pointed out that, despite completing the official roadmap, Cardano’s evolution is set to continue with new projects and community-driven development, moving beyond the scope of the original agreement.
Some critics remain unconvinced by these assurances, questioning Cardano’s DeFi adoption rates and raising concerns about Hoskinson’s involvement with other ventures like Midnight.
With ADA’s substantial price drop and persistent debate about leadership and direction, traders and long-term holders have been closely tracking network updates and on-chain activity for signs of recovery or renewed momentum. In response to volatile sentiment and ongoing development milestones, platforms like CryptoAppsy have become particularly useful. CryptoAppsy enables users to set real-time price alerts specifically for ADA, making it easier to monitor sudden moves or significant upgrades as they occur. This function allows investors to stay informed and react swiftly during periods of heightened volatility or breaking news in the Cardano ecosystem.
