Statements from Cardano's leader Charles Hoskinson have sparked renewed discussion in the crypto community: he declared the end of the so-called 3rd generation blockchain era and criticized short-term tokenomics and scams. According to him, further development is only possible through sustainable on-chain activity and mass adoption, with new approaches to network and economic design being discussed in this context.
Charles Hoskinson's Statements on the Blockchain's Future
Criticism of 3rd Generation Blockchains
Hoskinson announced the conclusion of the 3rd generation era, pointing out that the market is tired of scams, short-term tokenomics, and lack of real value. This criticism targets projects that, in his view, have failed to demonstrate sustainable on-chain usage and long-term economic models.
The Need for Sustainable On-Chain Activity
Instead of short-term schemes, Hoskinson emphasizes the importance of measurable on-chain activity metrics: integration density, network effects, and real usage. He stresses that strategic declarations are insufficient without data confirming network utilization.
Mass Adoption as a Key Factor
Hoskinson believes mass adoption remains a central condition for moving to the next stage of blockchain development, as only widespread use creates a sustainable economy and value for users. This aligns with the idea of shifting toward more practical, real-world use case–oriented solutions.
Crypto Community and Expert Reactions
Support from Robert Sags
Fogo co-founder Robert Sags endorsed the thesis of transitioning to 4th generation blockchains, affirming the shift toward real use and long-term economics. He noted that Cardano initiatives, including work on privacy, represent one possible path to realizing this transition.
Discussion of the 4th Generation Transition
Various interpretations of "4th generation" appear in discussions, but the common message centers on the need for practical utility and sustainable on-chain activity. This topic attracts interest from developers and projects focused on corporate and regulatory-sensitive cases.
Cardano's Ecosystem Resilience
Participants highlighted that despite relatively modest TVL compared to competitors, the network maintains a strong community and high market capitalization for nearly 10 years. Analysts view this as evidence of stable trust and long-term orientation among users and developers; a detailed perspective on long-term expectations can be found in the Cardano price forecast.
The Role of the Midnight Project in Cardano's Strategy
Focus on Privacy and Corporate Use Cases
The discussion notes the potential of the private layer Midnight as a tool for privacy and addressing corporate needs. This component is seen as one approach to attracting teams prioritizing data protection and regulatory compliance.
Potential to Attract New Developers
Experts point out that with improved developer experience, Midnight could draw teams focused on corporate and regulatory-sensitive use cases. However, the project's potential remains conditional until measurable signs of widespread adoption appear.
Improving Developer Experience as a Key Factor
Opinions suggest that developer tool convenience is a crucial success criterion for any initiative, including private layers. Without user-friendly SDKs, documentation, and integrations, attracting active developers is harder, making this aspect a top priority.
Analysis of Cardano's Current State
TVL Comparison with Competitors
The article notes that Cardano's TVL figures look relatively modest compared to competitors, but this does not negate other signs of network resilience. For a comprehensive assessment, participants recommend considering not only TVL but also on-chain usage, integrations, and network effects.
Long-Term Orientation of Users and Developers
The maintenance of a strong community and high market cap over nearly a decade serves as an argument for the ecosystem's long-term focus. Those interested in the network's prospects and growth factors may find it useful to study comprehensive reviews and forecasts, such as materials on Cardano's growth factors.
The Need to Demonstrate On-Chain Activity
Discussion participants note that strategic declarations must be backed by measurable usage metrics: number of real integrations, density of on-chain operations, and signs of network effects. Without such data, objectively assessing the transition to a more mature economy is difficult.
Why This Matters
For a miner in Russia with a small or medium-sized setup, Hoskinson's statement does not imply immediate technical changes in mining but signals a shift in ecosystem priorities. If the network develops toward real on-chain usage and corporate cases, it could impact the ecosystem's long-term sustainability and indirectly affect token demand and liquidity.
What to Do?
- Monitor on-chain metrics: focus on data regarding network usage, integrations, and DApp activity rather than just TVL.
- Track the development of Midnight and improvements in developer experience if interested in Cardano's ecosystem and privacy-focused project opportunities.
- Evaluate projects based on real use cases and tokenomics sustainability, avoiding decisions based solely on marketing claims.
- Support diversification: consider multiple network indicators when making storage or trading decisions instead of relying on a single metric.