Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson publicly dismissed criticism from Ark Invest's Director of Research, Lorenzo Valente, who questioned why the blockchain continues to receive industry attention in 2026. Valente had posted on X: “It’s 2026, and we’re still talking about Cardano. We’re still inviting Charles to conferences, treating Cardano as newsworthy, accepting its sponsorship money, and giving it airtime on podcasts. Then we wonder why this industry struggles for credibility.”
Hoskinson responded directly, suggesting Valente’s remarks reflected personal bias rather than an objective assessment. “Well, I don’t think I’ll get a fair shake from ARK Invest anytime soon :( It’s sad that VCs hire people like this. An entire institution is biased by one person,” Hoskinson wrote.
The exchange drew attention because Ark Invest had previously included Cardano in its CoinDesk 20-based ETF filing with U.S. regulators in January 2026. The criticism thus appears to represent Valente’s personal stance, not the firm’s official position. Meanwhile, the Cardano community is counting down to August 9, 2026, when a six-month observation window following the ADA futures launch on CME Group will conclude, potentially paving the way for a spot ETF approval later in the year.
