Cardano (ADA) founder Charles Hoskinson has called for a renewed sense of direction within the ecosystem, saying the project should be judged by more than just ADA’s market performance.
His comments come amid growing fatigue in parts of the Cardano community, as prolonged price stagnation and governance disputes continue to weigh on sentiment.
Notably, ADA has fallen from a top-five market cap position to 13th place in recent months, overtaken by assets such as DOGE, SOL, and newer entrants like HYPE, ZEC, and LEO. The token is also down roughly 92% from its $3.10 all-time high in 2021 and has been locked in a prolonged multi-month consolidation phase, further weighing on holder sentiment.
During a YouTube stream on Saturday, Hoskinson acknowledged both personal and ecosystem strain, while hinting at possible changes to his role in Cardano’s governance structure.
He stressed that both builders and holders have been under pressure, especially as ADA has struggled to deliver sustained upside.
 
“I really do get that. Don’t think for a moment I don’t. But it has to be more than price. There has to be a reason that if Cardano succeeds, the world is a better place. And we have to believe that,” he said.
Hoskinson also revealed the personal toll of the past market downturn, claiming that the decline in ADA’s value has had a significant impact on him.
“No one’s lost more money than me here. Over two and a half billion.” He noted.
He further explained that he has been forced to make difficult personal and professional decisions, including selling assets and shutting down projects that were important to him, to focus on Cardano.
Hoskinson also acknowledged that exhaustion is now widespread across the ecosystem, affecting both developers and long-term holders who had expected stronger momentum by this stage of development.
He reflected on governance and his possible role in it, suggesting he may take a more active position as a delegated representative (DRep).
“Maybe I become a DRep. Who knows?” he said.
The remarks come amid ongoing disputes over treasury funding and IOG’s role in shaping Cardano’s roadmap, with some proposals facing resistance from DReps.
Hoskinson framed these disputes as part of a broader identity crisis within Cardano governance, where financial dissatisfaction and ideological disagreement are increasingly intersecting. While some community members see decentralization as healthy accountability, others worry it is slowing development and creating fragmentation.
Beyond governance mechanics, Hoskinson’s central argument focused on redefining Cardano’s purpose. He urged the community to reconnect with the idea that blockchain projects must represent more than financial speculation.
He emphasized that the ecosystem risks losing motivation if success is measured only in price appreciation or trading cycles. Instead, he pushed for a long-term vision that ties Cardano’s growth to meaningful global moves.
Hoskinson also suggested that Cardano may require a refreshed roadmap and potentially new leadership voices within its governance structure. While he did not present a finalized plan, he emphasized the need for renewed clarity and coordination.
Notably, similar governance and ecosystem debates have also played out in other major networks, including Ethereum, with some investors wondering whether key figures like Vitalik Buterin care about ETH’s price.
Additionally, the Ethereum Foundation has faced periodic scrutiny over its role in coordination, strategy, and ETH sales used to fund operations.
Last week, Buterin said the foundation is becoming a “smaller ship,” focusing on core development and long-term sustainability while reducing ETH sales and acting as one node in a broader ecosystem.
At press time, ADA was trading at $0.23, reflecting a 1.6% surge in the past 24 hours.
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