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Charles Hoskinson, founder of Input Output Global (IOG), has pushed back against rumors that his company has abandoned Cardano development.
His remark responded to claims circulating online that IOG had stopped working on Cardano and shifted its focus to the privacy-focused blockchain Midnight.
Key Points
- Charles Hoskinson has dismissed claims that he and his company have abandoned Cardano in favor of Midnight.
- He argues that the narrative persists largely because of a lack of critical thinking among some observers.
- The speculation gained traction following the launch of Midnight’s mainnet and after Input Output Global paused development on Project Acropolis and the Tiered Pricing mechanism.
- Despite these changes, the broader strategy continues to prioritize Cardano’s long-term growth and ecosystem development.
Hoskinson Subtly Shades Critics Behind Rumors
Taking to X, Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson dismissed speculation that IOG stepped away from the network. His remark came after “JUST_JINX,” an ambassador of the Midnight project, asked why some commentators in the community insisted that Hoskinson and IOG had left the project for Midnight.
To challenge the narrative, the ambassador highlighted recent updates to the Leios scaling initiative. The update appeared only hours earlier, demonstrating that development on Cardano continues actively.
In response, Hoskinson stated that critics spread the claims “because there is no IQ requirement to use a computer”. His remark suggested that many individuals share misinformation without verifying facts or applying critical thinking.
Potential Factors Behind the Rumors
Speculation about Hoskinson and IOG abandoning Cardano largely emerged following two major developments. First, the Midnight mainnet, a privacy-focused sidechain connected to the Cardano ecosystem, recently launched. During the rollout, Hoskinson and other top IOG figures actively promoted the project, which led some observers to believe the team had shifted priorities.
Second, IOG announced a strategic shift that halted development of the Acropolis project and scrapped the proposed tiered pricing model for the network. Instead of continuing those initiatives, IOG decided to redirect resources toward chain-abstraction technologies and research related to the Ouroboros Leios protocol.
For context, Leios is widely viewed as a key component of Cardano’s future scalability strategy. Specifically, the protocol aims to significantly increase transaction throughput and overall network efficiency.
Moreover, it forms a central part of Cardano’s 2026 roadmap, which Hoskinson believes will help the network address the blockchain trilemma.
IOG Still Prioritizing Cardano
As part of this strategic shift, IOG confirmed it would return 4.1 million ADA previously allocated to the Acropolis and pricing initiatives back to the Cardano treasury. The move ensures that the funds support developments aligned with Cardano’s long-term growth.
Despite the restructuring, development across the Cardano ecosystem continues. Engineers are still publishing updates related to Leios and other improvements. Consequently, Hoskinson maintains that the claims that IOG abandoned the project stem from confusion over shifting priorities, not from any real departure from the network.