In a controversial interview on the podcast The Wolf of All Streets in mid-January 2026, Cardano founder - Charles Hoskinson - shocked listeners by admitting that his personal assets have "evaporated" by more than 2.5 billion USD over the past 4 years. However, behind this enormous loss figure are insightful observations about the structural changes in the cryptocurrency market.
1. Loss of 2.5 billion USD and disappointment about the policy
Charles Hoskinson clarifies that this loss does not stem from a failure of technology, but is a consequence of regulatory chaos and political factors in the U.S.:
"Rug pull" from the government: Hoskinson sharply criticizes the government's view of cryptocurrency as a political tool. He cites the example of politically related memecoins (like Official Trump coin) attracting speculative capital, leaving mainstream altcoins abandoned.
The separation of Bitcoin: While Bitcoin advances due to ETF funds and institutional acceptance, altcoins like ADA face significant legal uncertainties, severely impacting retail capital.
2. ADA investor sentiment: The fatigue of the retail market
Hoskinson acknowledges a harsh reality: Retail investors are gradually losing trust.
Retail "exhaustion": Many ADA holders have seen their assets decrease by 70-80% from the peak. Hoskinson shares: "The average users do not want to come back. They feel betrayed every time they hope for a 10x growth but end up being crushed."
The dominance of Wall Street: He warns that without change, the market will completely fall into the hands of large financial institutions, turning cryptocurrency into a "digital surveillance tower" instead of the original financial freedom tool.
3. Cardano (ADA) price forecast 2026: The year of "Reset"
Contrary to expectations of a booming Bull Market, Hoskinson calls 2026 the "Year of Reset":
Base scenario: Technical analysts forecast ADA will consolidate in the range of 0.38 USD - 0.45 USD by Q1 2026.
Medium-term target: If critical upgrades like Ouroboros Leios and Hydra (increasing processing speed to over 1 million TPS) are successfully implemented, ADA could aim for the milestone of 0.75 USD - 1.00 USD by the end of the year.
Momentum from DeFi: Cardano is strongly transitioning into the DeFi space and Partner Chains, striving to extend its stability efforts to other networks.
4. Light at the end of the tunnel: Why should we still have expectations?
Although acknowledging personal losses and market stagnation, Hoskinson remains optimistic in the long term:
Superior technology: Cardano remains one of the most decentralized and secure networks in the world, built on reputable academic research.
2026 roadmap: The focus on privacy and cross-chain interoperability will be the "key" to attracting real users back instead of short-term speculators.
Conclusion: Charles Hoskinson's loss of 2.5 billion USD is evidence of the market's harshness during the transition phase. For those holding ADA, 2026 is not the time to expect illusory price increases, but rather a period to observe the network's maturity and the clarity of the global regulatory framework.
Note: This article is a compilation based on interviews and on-chain data, and does not constitute financial investment advice.