Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson has urged the community to embrace projects such as Midnight, arguing that the blockchain’s long-term success depends on the applications built on its infrastructure.
Hoskinson made the remarks during his recent livestream, titled “Devs versus Builders,” where he addressed criticism surrounding Midnight and its recent strategic changes. He stressed that the privacy-focused blockchain should not be viewed as a competitor or separate venture. Instead, he described Midnight as a major project built within the broader Cardano ecosystem.
Cardano’s Value Depends on the Projects Built on It
According to Hoskinson, Cardano’s purpose extends beyond serving as a smart contract platform or facilitating ADA transactions. He argued that the network creates greater value when developers use its infrastructure to build applications that attract real users, customers, and economic activity.
He pointed to existing Cardano projects, including SNEK, DexHunter, and SundaeSwap, as examples of applications the community has generally embraced. However, he questioned why some community members appear resistant to Midnight despite its scale and growing prominence within the ecosystem.
Moreover, Hoskinson warned that pushing back against successful projects could discourage other developers from building on Cardano.
“If Cardano is going to succeed, Cardano needs to embrace the projects that make it succeed,” Hoskinson remarked.
Hoskinson Calls for a More Welcoming Ecosystem
Against this backdrop, Hoskinson argued that the Cardano community must foster an environment that encourages projects to grow rather than criticizing them for becoming too successful or prominent.
He suggested that the community should not treat Midnight differently simply because it has emerged as one of the largest and most significant projects associated with Cardano. Instead, projects that build on Cardano and expand its reach should strengthen the ecosystem’s overall value.
At the same time, Hoskinson emphasized that Midnight must also meet users where they are. In particular, he urged the project to prioritize simplicity, universality, and low-cost operations. According to him, technological improvements alone cannot overcome cultural challenges within an ecosystem.
Hoskinson Urges the Cardano Foundation to Promote Midnight
Meanwhile, Hoskinson also called on the Cardano Foundation to publicly support Midnight and give greater visibility to its developments.
He questioned why the Foundation would not actively promote Midnight, which he described as the largest project built on Cardano, noting that other major blockchain ecosystems regularly highlight significant applications and projects within their networks.
Furthermore, Hoskinson criticized what he viewed as an imbalance in public messaging. According to him, negative developments surrounding Midnight tend to attract attention, while positive milestones, including partnerships and other progress, receive less visibility.
Midnight’s Success Could Strengthen Cardano
Ultimately, Hoskinson framed Midnight’s success as closely tied to Cardano’s broader growth. In his view, the ecosystem cannot thrive merely by operating blockchain infrastructure; it must also support the projects that use that infrastructure to deliver products and services.
He also reiterated his commitment to Cardano’s long-term success. Although he said he has the option to step away and retire, Hoskinson stressed that he remains involved because he believes the work is far from finished.