Charles Hoskinson, the founder of Cardano, gave a strong message about where blockchain is headed during his keynote at the ongoing Paris Blockchain Week. Speaking to a packed audience, he urged the industry to move past old habits and focus on lasting value that serves everyday people, not only tech insiders or early adopters.
The Fourth Generation of Blockchain Innovation
Charles Hoskinson said the blockchain industry is entering its fourth stage. He explained that the early days were about Bitcoin and decentralization. Later came smart contracts and efforts to improve how fast and large systems could grow. Now, this fourth phase must tackle real-world challenges at scale.
In a powerful keynote at @Parisblockweek, @IOHK_Charles laid out a vision that challenged the zero-sum mentality that’s long defined the Web3 space.
He reflected on where we’ve been, and where we’re headed.
The fourth generation is on the horizon. It’s built on privacy,… pic.twitter.com/o6NbAhVs33
— Input Output (@InputOutputHK) April 30, 2025
He argued that blockchain should not just be for a few people who understand code or finance. It needs to be reliable, secure, and usable by billions. He pointed to Cardano’s research-driven model as a key part of that mission. The recent airdrop linked to the Midnight sidechain, which could involve 37 million users, shows how serious that goal is.
It is important to add that Hoskinson believes some platforms may not survive the next blockchain iteration. For example, CoinGape reported earlier that Hoskinson predicted that Ethereum may crash in the next 15 years. According to him, the technology is becoming outdated and is not built for long-term use.
However, some market participants think differently, as Ethereum is set to launch its Pectra upgrade on May 7. The upgrade is expected to drive significant development across the blockchain network.
Charles Hoskinson on Privacy, Decentralization and Interoperability
It is worth mentioning that more people are beginning to use blockchain in everyday settings like healthcare or shopping. The Cardano founder believes that privacy and identity protection will become more critical.
He also pointed out that blockchains need to connect, especially in the supply chain and logistics industries.
The absence of standard rules and security issues remains key challenges to overcome. However, Hoskinson said those are necessary hurdles in building a stronger future.
Merging TradFi and DeFi: The New Focus
At the event, Charles Hoskinson also mentioned that traditional and decentralized finance must stop acting like rivals. Instead, he proposed they merge into what he simply calls “Fi”. According to him, this model could help blockchain earn public trust while following real-world rules.
CoinGape earlier reported that Hoskinson believes the future of finance is already taking shape. For example, Cardano recently outperformed several top S&P 500 companies, and some analysts predict that ADA could reach $10.
If such outcomes materialize, investor focus may shift unless TradFi and DeFi innovations harmonize effectively. As of writing, data from CoinMarketCap shows Cardano (ADA) trading at $0.6856, down 3.69% in the past 24 hours.
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