Charles Hoskinson, the creator of Cardano, responded to criticism made by Lorenzo Valente, head of research at Ark Invest’s digital asset team, in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
In a recent post on X (formerly Twitter), Valente expressed confusion about why Cardano still gets so much attention within the cryptocurrency industry. He criticized its ongoing visibility, arguing that the crypto world damages its own reputation by continuing to include Cardano’s founder, Charles Hoskinson, in events like conferences, accepting their sponsorships, and showcasing Cardano on podcasts.
In 2026, Cardano continues to receive attention within the crypto space – invitations to conferences, media coverage, sponsorships, and podcast appearances are still common. According to Valente, this constant spotlight on a project perceived as unsuccessful contributes to the broader industry’s lack of credibility, arguing that rewarding projects without real-world impact damages its reputation.
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Charles Hoskinson replied to a post by Valente, directly calling out what he saw as clear bias. He rejected the criticism, implying it was based on personal feelings instead of a fair evaluation of Cardano.
I doubt I’ll ever be treated fairly by ARK Invest, which is disappointing. It’s concerning to see venture capital firms hiring individuals who exhibit such bias, as it seems to influence the whole company.
— Charles Hoskinson (@IOHK_Charles) July 25, 2026
Hoskinson expressed disappointment with ARK Invest, believing he won’t receive unbiased consideration from them. He also criticized the practice of venture capital firms hiring individuals who create such strong biases within an organization.
It seems Valente’s negative comments about Cardano and its creator are his own views, not necessarily Ark Invest’s official stance, since Cardano was listed as an asset in the company’s ETF application.
Earlier this year, ARK Invest – the investment company run by Cathie Wood – applied to U.S. regulators for permission to start a new ETF that invests in cryptocurrencies. This fund would follow the CoinDesk 20 index, which measures the performance of the most easily traded digital currencies and includes Cardano.
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Cardano supporters are eagerly awaiting August 9, 2026. That’s when a six-month period after the start of ADA futures trading will end, potentially making it easier to get approval from U.S. regulators (the SEC) for a Cardano ETF.
Trading in regulated futures contracts for Cardano (ADA) began on CME Group on February 9, 2026. While a direct investment fund (spot ETF) for Cardano hasn’t been approved yet, many experts believe it could happen between late September and December of 2026.
2026-07-25 17:50