TLDR
- Charles Hoskinson responded to critics who accused him of misusing Cardano treasury funds.
- He pointed out the irony of being labeled a villain while the Cardano Foundation receives praise.
- A Stake Pool Operator alleged that Hoskinson caused friction between IOG and the Cardano Foundation.
- The Cardano Foundation proposed a 31 million ADA cut from Intersect’s 2025 budget.
- Hoskinson agreed with claims that the budget cut was aimed at undermining IOG’s development role.
Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson responded firmly to accusations made by a Stake Pool Operator (SPO) over treasury fund allocation. The SPO alleged that Hoskinson redirected funds to support ventures outside the Cardano ecosystem. In contrast, the Cardano Foundation received praise from the same critic, triggering Hoskinson’s latest reaction.
Critics Accuse Hoskinson While Defending the Cardano Foundation
Hoskinson addressed what he described as a
“pattern of inconsistency” within segments of the Cardano community. He emphasized the irony of being called a villain while critics applaud the Cardano Foundation. “It’s amusing how I’m the enemy, yet they cheer for the Cardano Foundation,” Hoskinson said sarcastically.
Love seeing the “Charles is the enemy of Cardano and he needs to leave” followed by “We have a great time working with the CF”
See how the culture propagates… https://t.co/0ArkYPpotA
— Charles Hoskinson (@IOHK_Charles) October 16, 2025
The SPO accused Hoskinson of creating friction between Input Output Global (IOG) and the Cardano Foundation. However, the SPO claimed the Cardano Foundation was cooperative and helped improve protocol development. This stance sparked mixed reactions from Cardano community members.
One user questioned why the Cardano Foundation escaped criticism while continuing to earn returns on staked ADA. This user pointed to its limited visible contributions to Cardano’s growth. Hoskinson amplified this sentiment by questioning the fairness of such selective accountability.
Tensions between IOG and the Cardano Foundation have been ongoing for several years, often centering on the use of the treasury fund. Earlier in 2025, the Cardano Foundation proposed a 31 million ADA cut from Intersect’s ecosystem budget. This reduction primarily targeted funds meant for IOG’s core development.
Hoskinson and others saw the proposal as an attempt to undermine IOG’s contributions to Cardano’s technical progress. Many in the community echoed concerns about intentional interference from the Cardano Foundation. Hoskinson publicly agreed with the interpretation and criticized the foundation’s approach.
In 2024, he accused the Cardano Foundation board of being unelected and lacking accountability. He also claimed its members planned to vote against the proposed budget and ecosystem constitution. Despite these allegations, the Cardano Foundation has not publicly responded to these criticisms.
Calls for Unity Amid Longstanding Disagreements
Hoskinson’s frustrations come shortly after an audit cleared him of wrongdoing involving $600 million in ADA voucher claims. He urged critics and the Cardano Foundation to apologize, stating the accusations were unfounded. Yet, the foundation remained silent on the outcome of the audit.
This incident added to Hoskinson’s perception of bias from those favoring the Cardano Foundation. He argued that such behavior discourages collaboration and harms Cardano’s long-term vision. Meanwhile, several community members pushed both sides to settle differences for the network’s progress.
Despite internal conflicts, the Cardano Foundation continues its independent activities within the ecosystem. Hoskinson insists that fair evaluation of all parties, including the Cardano Foundation, is necessary. He concluded that constructive discourse is vital if Cardano is to evolve sustainably.
