Charles Hoskinson says Ethereum lacks on-chain treasury, contrasts Cardano’s $4.5 billion peak

The Cardano founder argued Ethereum’s funding model is structurally weaker because it relies on outside support rather than a built-in treasury mechanism.

ETH
ADA

Summary

Charles Hoskinson said Ethereum’s long-term development model is structurally weak because it does not have an on-chain treasury (blockchain-managed funding pool). He contrasted that with Cardano’s treasury, which he said peaked at $4.5 billion, and argued Ethereum developers would be “perpetually living by charity.” The remark frames a broader debate over how blockchain ecosystems fund core development over time, with treasury systems designed to create native, protocol-level financing rather than relying on external donors or affiliated organizations.

Terms & Concepts
  • on-chain treasury: Blockchain-managed pool for ecosystem funding
  • Cardano: Blockchain network with a native treasury system
  • development model: How a project funds and organizes building