Hoskinson Unaware of Trump’s Cardano Inclusion in Reserve: Details

Charles Hoskinson, the founder of Cardano, has revealed that he was completely unaware that ADA would be included in Donald Trump’s proposed U.S. crypto reserve until the announcement was made public.

Cardano Founder Caught Off Guard

In a March 5 video, Hoskinson admitted that he only found out when he woke up to 150 congratulatory messages and had “no idea what the heck was going on.” He further added that neither he nor anyone from Cardano had prior discussions about ADA’s inclusion in the reserve.

“We never even knew about it, and nobody even talked to us about it,” Hoskinson stated, adding that he had previously attempted to engage in discussions but was repeatedly brushed off with vague responses like, “We’ll call you back” or “We’ll figure it out.”

Trump’s March 2 proposal for a U.S. crypto reserve initially highlighted Bitcoin and Ethereum but raised eyebrows in the industry for also including XRP, Solana, and Cardano. The unexpected endorsement caused ADA’s price to surge 76% within hours, jumping from $0.647 to $1.14, before experiencing a 30% pullback the next day.

Hoskinson’s revelation has sparked conversations about transparency in policymaking, as many in the crypto space wonder how decisions regarding national-level crypto reserves are being made without engaging key industry stakeholders.

No Invite at White House Crypto Summit

Hoskinson also addressed the upcoming March 7 White House crypto roundtable, where policymakers and industry representatives are expected to discuss regulatory frameworks and digital asset policies. However, he noted that neither he nor any Cardano representatives had received an invitation to participate.

“I’m going to operate under the assumption that I have not been invited to go to this gathering,” he said, downplaying the significance of the event. He added that while these summits generate headlines, actual policy development is a slow process requiring cooperation from various government agencies and industry leaders.

“It’s not helpful as an industry to treat all this as some sort of popularity contest,” he remarked, suggesting that real progress in crypto regulation will require more than just high-profile meetings.