By Key Points
- Hoskinson claims Cardano’s original roadmap was completed in 2020
- Community questions Cardano’s scalability and readiness for mass use
- Hydra and Leios development delays spark major backlash
- Hoskinson warns of layoffs if funding expectations aren’t met
Charles Hoskinson, the founder of Cardano and head of Input Output Global (IOG), sparked intense debate this week after stating that the Cardano roadmap was completed back in 2020. He claimed that the original obligations set out in Cardano’s launch contract were fulfilled—and that he’s worked without compensation since then due to his belief in the project.
But the Cardano community isn’t on the same page.
Many are now questioning the claim, citing that key promises, especially around scalability, remain unfulfilled. Hoskinson said that major scaling goals—like those involving Hydra and Leios—are technically met, yet they are still not fully live on the mainnet.
Scaling as of the original roadmap is done. Its a moving target given we are now in 2025 and being compared to Sui, Solana, and Aptos not Ethereum, Bitcoin, and Litecoin.
We are currently doing all the Leios and Hydra work at risk whether we get paid or not. If we don’t get…
— Charles Hoskinson (@IOHK_Charles) April 23, 2025
Hydra is designed to enhance Cardano’s throughput to rival Solana’s 65,000 transactions per second (TPS), but current performance remains far from that benchmark.
“If the scaling goals were achieved, why can’t Cardano handle heavy transaction loads yet?” one user asked.
I mean this respectfully: How was the contract completed if scaling wasn’t fully delivered as per the roadmap?
— Nietz (@CryptoNietz) April 23, 2025
The Cardano roadmap originally positioned the network as a third-generation blockchain, meant to surpass Bitcoin and Ethereum in speed, scalability, and sustainability. But with parallel processing solutions like Hydra and Leios still being refined, many say the mission isn’t accomplished.
The backlash is reminiscent of other moments in crypto where bold project claims met skeptical communities. Just recently, the Zora content coin launch was slammed by analyst ZachXBT for being “hollow hype,” questioning whether such projects deliver real utility or just buzz. Read more here.
Cardano TPS. Source: cexplorer.io/tps – Techtoken
Governance and Funding: The Bigger Picture in the Roadmap Debate
Beyond technical concerns, there’s growing unrest over how Cardano is governed and funded. Hoskinson stated that IOG’s continued work on the project hinges on adequate funding. Without it, he warned of potential layoffs and relocating teams to lower-cost countries.
“We’re not competing on who can offer the cheapest bid,” he emphasized. “We’re here to build strong, secure systems.”
Scaling as of the original roadmap is done. Its a moving target given we are now in 2025 and being compared to Sui, Solana, and Aptos not Ethereum, Bitcoin, and Litecoin.
We are currently doing all the Leios and Hydra work at risk whether we get paid or not. If we don’t get…
— Charles Hoskinson (@IOHK_Charles) April 23, 2025
His comments are aimed at proposals for a decentralized, competitive bidding model that would allow external teams to compete for development tasks. While this approach might align with blockchain’s open ethos, Hoskinson argues it disadvantages skilled developers in regions with higher living costs.
It’s not the first time Cardano’s internal politics have come under scrutiny. The community has already had heated debates over budget allocations and the recently introduced Cardano constitution. The foundation, while supportive of future changes, is moving cautiously—asking for more transparency before approving large expenses.
This debate mirrors tensions in other ecosystems too. Look at KiloEx, which recently saw its token plunge after internal confidence shook. Governance, clearly, remains a make-or-break factor for many crypto projects.
It would be a race to the bottom and we’d lose money every year. IOG will not work at a loss or for free. I’m also not going to lay off hundreds of employees and replace them with low cost developers in the developing world to compete with low cost bids like most companies do.…
— Charles Hoskinson (@IOHK_Charles) April 23, 2025
ADA Price Slips While Investor Confidence Wavers
At the heart of all this controversy is ADA—the native token of the Cardano blockchain. Amid growing community frustration and governance debates, ADA’s price fell nearly 2% in the last 24 hours to trade around $0.68.
While that may seem minor in crypto terms, it reflects rising investor hesitation. If promises about scaling and decentralization continue to stall, ADA could face increased volatility.
And with Bitcoin surging recently thanks to easing U.S. Fed fears as Trump calmed the financial drama, investors may start reallocating their portfolios toward safer or more stable-performing crypto assets.
Long-time Cardano believers may still have faith, but newer investors could be drawn to other opportunities like Bitcoin investment funds—now gaining attention as a more passive yet potentially rewarding option. Learn more here.
Meanwhile, trust remains key. Earlier this month, even after a hacker returned $5.7M to zkSync, token momentum remained shaky, showing that security wins alone can’t fix narrative problems.
So what’s next for Cardano? With its founder under fire, its roadmap questioned, and its funding model in flux, the community is clearly demanding more than vague milestones—they want delivery, transparency, and results.
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