Hoskinson described Zcash as a proof-of-work blockchain that launched without a premine and cited Hal Finney’s 1993 views on private electronic cash.
Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson publicly defended Zcash, describing it as a proof-of-work blockchain that launched without a premine and emphasizing its privacy-focused design. In the same remarks, he quoted Hal Finney’s 1993 writings on private electronic cash to frame privacy as a longstanding part of digital money discussions. Hoskinson also criticized Bitcoin maximalists, calling them a "cargo cult," highlighting an ideological divide within the crypto sector over privacy features, monetary design, and which blockchain principles best reflect the original goals of electronic cash.