18 Mar 2025

light mode

Charles Hoskinson: on the Ethereum&Cardano split

Charles Hoskinson: on the Ethereum&Cardano split

Charles Hoskinson is not an ordinary crypto millionaire. This math professor joined the world of blockchain and digital currencies to realize his potential as a cryptographer-mathematician.

On this page

Charles Hoskinson is 35 years old. He is a technology entrepreneur and mathematician from Colorado. He was born in Hawaii and comes from a family of doctors. The guy was expected to continue the dynasty of doctors, but he decided to focus on the exact sciences rather than medicine.

Charles has a passion for solving complex cryptographic problems and analytic number theory. He attended Metropolitan State University of Denver and University of Colorado at Boulder to study advanced mathematics. He has a master's degree and is currently pursuing his Ph.D. 

He stands out from popular crypto-personalities since they are more focused on the financial possibilities of the blockchain than on its practical applications. Nevertheless, Hoskinson’s capital made from crypto projects is estimated at $580 million as of September 2022. But this amount is not stable, as it depends on the market price of ADA and ETH.

Hoskinson started in consulting, but left his position in 2012 to focus on cryptocurrencies and their potential. He considered Bitcoin to be the digital equivalent of gold due to its limited supply. Later that year, he created the BitShares network, a pioneering BTC-to-fiat DEX platform.

Collaboration with Buterin

Charles’ journey to wealth and fame began when he first met Vitalik Buterin. At that time, Vitalik was in the process of creating a decentralized, censorship-resistant blockchain, and needed the advice of a cryptographer. In 2013, their collaboration resulted in the development of the Ethereum network. Then Joseph Lubin and Gavin Wood from the Polkadot and Solidity projects joined them.

However, the partnership was short-lived. Disagreements among the co-founders started already in 2014. Charles insisted on making a commercial project to get rid of the pressure and control of Japanese venture investors, and Buterin saw the Ethereum blockchain as a non-profit open-source structure. As Wood and Lubin sided with Vitalik, Hoskinson, who was in the minority, slammed the door and left the project. He enticed Jeremy Wood, director of strategic development, to follow him.

However, those disagreements did not stop him from making tens of millions on the rapid growth of Ethereum in 2018, since he invested some of the money in ETH during the partnership.

IOHK and Cardano

After leaving the Ethereum co-founding team, Charles and Jeremy registered Input Output Hong Kong (IOHK), an engineering and technology company. It has been successfully engaged in research activities in the fields of blockchain and cryptography since 2015.

The IOHK decentralized platform was created for the remote development of distributed ledgers of public and private companies. In 2019, IOHK signed a cooperation agreement with the Georgian government. Hoskinson's company has committed to managing the development of a blockchain for the country's higher education system. An earlier initiative of a similar nature was started in Greece.

The second collaborative project between Hoskinson and Wood is Cardano, a blockchain with its own ADA coin and green mining technology. It was launched in September 2017. Cardano is the first successful Proof-of-Stake (PoS) platform for creating smart contracts based on mathematical proof algorithm combined with game theory. Hoskinson believes that this algorithm gives a 100% guarantee against hacking.

And indeed, so far the platform proves to be highly reliable. “You can certainly steal ADAs from a holder’s wallet, but try to hack its blockchain,” Charles Hoskinson said at one of the hackathons.

The master's degree in Advanced Mathematics of Cardano's “spiritual leader” had a positive impact on the reliability of the system. So far, no one has been able to hack it.

Charles Hoskinson, Cardano’s founder. Source: publish0x.com

Charles Hoskinson, Cardano’s founder. Source: publish0x.com

Hoskinson has funded several energy-saving blockchain technology research labs throughout the world, including at the University of Edinburgh, Tokyo Institute of Technology, and the University of Wyoming. In September 2021, Hoskinson donated $20 million to Carnegie Mellon University to establish the Hoskinson Center for Formal Mathematics.

Charles Hoskinson quotes

We were the first to prove that proof-of-stake can have the same security properties as Bitcoin.

People aren’t evil for the sake of being evil, they are evil because systems are unjust, and it allows for manipulation.

A society grows great when old men plant trees in whose shade they know they shall never sit. And that’s the point — why we’re here planting trees. It takes a long time to grow these systems and build these systems up.

All these people who predict the prices are hedge fund traders, they are really rich… I am not that guy, I don’t know why the price goes up or down. I don’t want anything to do with baseless speculation.

A lot of people hate me in the Ethereum ecosystem. They say I’m a monster, that the only reason I got involved was because I wanted to hurt Ethereum, they said that I’m the DAO hacker! This is not true.

The content on The Coinomist is for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as financial advice. While we strive to provide accurate and up-to-date information, we do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any content. Neither we accept liability for any errors or omissions in the information provided or for any financial losses incurred as a result of relying on this information. Actions based on this content are at your own risk. Always do your own research and consult a professional. See our Terms, Privacy Policy, and Disclaimers for more details.

Articles by this author
Tether Increases Bitdeer Stake to 21%

Tether Increases Bitdeer Stake to 21%

Tether, the world’s largest stablecoin issuer, has reported to the SEC that it has increased its stake in Bitdeer, a leading Bitcoin mining company, to 21%.

Vlad Vovk
Cronos and Crypto.com Reignite 70 Billion CRO by Reversing Token Burn

Cronos and Crypto.com Reignite 70 Billion CRO by Reversing Token Burn

Cronos, a blockchain project tied to Crypto․com, has restored 70 billion previously burned CRO tokens following a highly debated community vote.

Anton Kryshtal
FalconX and StoneX Complete First Block Trade of CME’s SOL Futures

FalconX and StoneX Complete First Block Trade of CME’s SOL Futures

Ahead of the CME SOL futures launch on March 17, digital asset prime brokerage FalconX and financial service provider StoneX completed the first block trade of the product.

Anahit Avetisyan
Immutable Rallies Back After Profit Decline, Betting on Blockchain Gaming

Immutable Rallies Back After Profit Decline, Betting on Blockchain Gaming

Immutable, a key player in the crypto gaming industry, saw improved financial performance in 2024 compared to 2023. According to the Australian Financial Review, the company recovered from a $79 M loss in 2023.

Anahit Avetisyan
How Olaf Carlson-Wee Built Polychain Capital Into a Crypto Giant

How Olaf Carlson-Wee Built Polychain Capital Into a Crypto Giant

In 2011, Olaf Carlson-Wee stumbled upon Bitcoin by chance. Instantly, he recognized its potential to revolutionize finance. The rest is history.

Ivan Dikalenko
Anatoly Yakovenko: The Visionary Behind Solana’s Rise

Anatoly Yakovenko: The Visionary Behind Solana’s Rise

The name Anatoly Yakovenko has become synonymous with blockchain innovation. As the founder of Solana, one of the fastest-growing blockchain networks, he has revolutionized transaction speed in decentralized systems.

Ivan Dikalenko
Who Is Gary Gensler: Crypto’s Most Controversial Figure?

Who Is Gary Gensler: Crypto’s Most Controversial Figure?

Gary Gensler is Wall Street’s regulator-in-chief—and crypto’s biggest roadblock. As SEC Chair since 2021, he’s led the fight to bring digital assets under stricter financial rules.

Ivan Dikalenko
OnyxCoin (XCN): Why This Layer-3 Blockchain Is Gaining Investor Attention

OnyxCoin (XCN): Why This Layer-3 Blockchain Is Gaining Investor Attention

OnyxCoin isn’t just a crypto project—it’s an infrastructure built for the digital age, offering scalable, secure, and low-cost transactions for a globalized economy.

Vlad Vovk
Uniswap v4: The Game-Changing DEX Upgrade

Uniswap v4: The Game-Changing DEX Upgrade

In February 2025, the Uniswap team officially launched the 4th version of its protocol. Uniswap v4 is not only the biggest upgrade in the platform’s history but also a major milestone for the entire DeFi ecosystem.

Vlad Vovk
Best Blockchain Courses to Boost Your Career in Web3

Best Blockchain Courses to Boost Your Career in Web3

The Web3 industry is booming, but universities aren’t ready. Private education platforms are stepping in—here’s where to find the best Web3 developer education.

The Coinomist
What Is Fiat Currency and Its Role in the Crypto World?

What Is Fiat Currency and Its Role in the Crypto World?

Discover fiat currency—a government-issued money without intrinsic value—and learn how it interacts with cryptocurrencies and influences digital financial systems worldwide.

The Coinomist
How to Short Crypto Safely and Effectively: Tips and Strategies

How to Short Crypto Safely and Effectively: Tips and Strategies

Learn advanced strategies for shorting crypto safely. This guide covers key tips, risk management techniques, and various methods like direct shorting, futures, margin trading, and options.

The Coinomist
Risk Reversal: A Deep Dive into Best Practices

Risk Reversal: A Deep Dive into Best Practices

Explore risk reversal strategies and learn best practices for managing risks in trading and business. Understand how to balance risk and reward to optimize outcomes.

The Coinomist
Trump’s “US Crypto Reserve” Plan: A Game Changer or Just Talk?

Trump’s “US Crypto Reserve” Plan: A Game Changer or Just Talk?

It takes just one post from Trump to stir the crypto market. Recently, he announced on Truth Social that the evaluation of a strategic crypto reserve is in progress as part of his broader Trump crypto policy.

Anahit Avetisyan
Trump’s Crypto Tax Plan: Smart Policy or Risky Gamble?

Trump’s Crypto Tax Plan: Smart Policy or Risky Gamble?

There’s been a lot of talk about possible changes to crypto tax policies in the U.S. One of the more controversial ideas floating around is “Trump no tax on crypto.” As Trump adopts a more crypto-friendly stance, major rumors have surfaced that he’s considering a 0% tax on crypto gains.

Anahit Avetisyan
MORE
Wealth, Influence, and Bitcoin: The Market Moves of the Ultra-Rich

Wealth, Influence, and Bitcoin: The Market Moves of the Ultra-Rich

Billionaires have a significant impact on digital asset prices, often driving instability and engaging in crypto market manipulation. This view is echoed by American entrepreneur David Wolfe.

The Coinomist
The New Crypto Sports Economy: Sponsorships, Fan Tokens, and NFTs 

The New Crypto Sports Economy: Sponsorships, Fan Tokens, and NFTs 

Crypto companies are shaking up crypto sport, partnering with clubs and stadiums for high-profile sponsorships. This means big bucks for athletes, thanks to advertising and fan tokens.

The Coinomist
MORE