Cardano Founder Responds to ADA Dump Allegations Amid Recent Price Drop

Charles Hoskinson, the founder of Cardano, has recently addressed rumors that he sold off his ADA holdings, a situation which has raised concerns regarding his potential influence over the cryptocurrency's significant 80% price decline. In light of speculation and discussions on social media, Hoskinson has categorically denied these claims, maintaining that he did not play a role in the recent downturn by selling his assets.

Key Takeaways

Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson addressed rumors claiming he sold his ADA holdings, denying involvement in the cryptocurrency's 80% price drop.
Despite positive community interaction, skepticism remains from certain members regarding ADA's declining value.
ADA has fallen over 50% this year, unable to recapture its previous highs, contrasting with major cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum.
Cardano's Futures Open Interest has decreased significantly, reflecting weakened market sentiment, with the Fear & Greed Index indicating fear among investors.

Cardano

Hoskinson Refutes Accusations of Selling ADA

Despite the holiday season's celebrations, Hoskinson has faced a barrage of accusations regarding his involvement in ADA's 80% price drop over the last four years. On December 25, the Cardano founder took to X to share a hopeful outlook for 2026, urging holders and community members not to lose faith.

He reiterated that even though the past few years have presented numerous obstacles, there is much to anticipate in 2026. Along with sending holiday greetings, Hoskinson expressed gratitude to the Cardano community and recognized members like @injective_pie, who has been vocal about ADA's price trends and the development of its blockchain.

While many community members reacted positively to his festive messages, @injective_pie confronted him, alleging that he sold ADA at $3 and failed to reinvest when prices dropped to around $0.3. This accusation raises concerns about potential eroded trust in the project.

In response, Hoskinson firmly rejected these claims, asserting that he has not sold any ADA and that misleading narratives do not alter reality. This exchange highlights the existing tension between the Cardano founder and certain skeptical voices within the community. It also showcases the ongoing discontent regarding ADA’s current price situation.

Investors in ADA have experienced mounting frustration as the cryptocurrency continues to struggle in regaining its past highs. Since peaking in 2021, ADA's value has consistently declined, recently dropping toward $0.35 after a further decrease of over 3% this week. Year-to-date, the altcoin has plummeted by more than 50%, illustrating the sustained challenges facing the network, despite the solid support from its community.

Cardano's performance starkly contrasts with that of other significant cryptocurrencies, like Bitcoin and Ethereum, which have reached new all-time highs (ATHs) in 2023. Even though ADA has seen a daily trading volume exceeding 96%, it has yet to demonstrate any notable upward movement, further declining as the overall market contends with continued bearish trends.

ADA Price Experiences Further Decline with Falling Open Interest

As ADA's price continues to show sluggish activity, Coinglass data indicates that ADA Futures Open Interest (OI) dropped sharply from $1.72 billion in October 2025 to just $651 million as of December 26, a staggering decline of over 62% in less than three months.

With essential fundamentals waning and market sentiment deteriorating, ADA's price is under increasing pressure. On-chain analysis has also revealed that Cardano’s Fear & Greed Index is currently at 37, firmly situated in the fear zone as the price trends downward.

Cardano ADA trading at $0.35 on the 1D chart | Source: ADAUSDT on Tradingview.com