Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson has raised alarm over what he describes as a coordinated attack targeting the Cardano ecosystem. His comments followed a series of posts on X on May 17, 2025, in response to recent on-chain activity and internal criticism.
Hoskinson and Cardano Whale Allege Targeted Campaign
An Ethereum (ETH) address holding 45,000 tokens was seen interacting with the Orbiter Finance voucher program, prompting the well-known Cardano advocate “@cardano_whale” to describe the move as part of an orchestrated attempt to damage Cardano.
“Just saw a 45k Ethereum account pick up the orbiter voucher nonsense and now it’s clear this is a coordinated attack on Cardano. The gloves come off,” the account posted.
Charles Hoskinson quoted the post, stating,
“The whale has been summoned. It seems we both are at our bullshit limit.”
Cardano Founder Points Finger at External Actor
Hoskinson alleged that the attack was being led by someone with malicious intent toward the Cardano ecosystem. He questioned the silence of the Cardano Foundation (CF), suggesting they were aware of the voucher activity from the beginning.
“Yes, led by someone with a clear intent to defame and harm the ecosystem as a whole,” Hoskinson wrote.
“I’m honestly surprised that the CF has said nothing, given they have intimate knowledge of the voucher sale and were in the redemption channel being briefed regularly on efforts.”
The Cardano Foundation has not issued a public response at the time of writing.
Internal Criticism Emerges Amid Public Defense
Andreas Pletscher, a former executive linked to the Cardano Foundation, responded critically to Hoskinson’s post, accusing him of shifting responsibility.
“Interesting move by @IOHK_Charles. Whenever he is in trouble (self-inflicted), he calls for help by the CF,”
Pletscher wrote.
“Sorry, but this one you need to solve by yourself. Or maybe just speak with @F_Gregaard and you could both solve it together, but no, you are still crudging in your corner.”
Hoskinson replied to Pletscher
“Your Cardano Foundation in a nutshell. We did call them. I’ll just make sure to include all the slack logs, meeting notes, and their KYC report in the audit report. ”
Background on the Orbiter Voucher Dispute
The disagreement stems from growing scrutiny of the Orbiter Finance voucher system and its link to Cardano. Critics argue that voucher redemptions may have been misrepresented or poorly managed. Supporters say that the campaign has turned into an external attack aimed at discrediting the blockchain’s reputation.
Further on-chain analysis of the Ethereum address that triggered the discussion has not yet confirmed any malicious intent. However, the intensity of the online exchange signals ongoing tension both within and outside the Cardano community.
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