TLDR
- Charles Hoskinson rejected claims that Cardano abandoned scalability for governance.
- He said Cardano began scaling research before the Shelley era and continues that work today.
- Hoskinson stated that scaling requires scientific research and cannot be rushed.
- He highlighted Layer 2 solutions, zero-knowledge tools, and the Extended UTXO model as core strategies.
- He pointed to Leios and Peras as key parts of Cardano’s scaling roadmap.
Charles Hoskinson rejected claims that Cardano shifted focus from scaling to governance. He stated that scaling has remained a central priority since early development. He also said governance reforms support, rather than replace, scalability efforts.
Cardano Scaling Strategy Remains Core Focus
Hoskinson addressed criticism on X and rejected claims that Cardano sidelined scalability. He said the project began scaling research before the 2020 Shelley era and continued without pause. He added that engineers and scientists have worked on performance upgrades for years.
I am getting insanely tired of hearing a false narrative that we abandoned scaling in favor of governance. There was continuous effort and work from before even Shelley on scaling (for example https://t.co/qgeGxEePRb)
It was an enormously challenging problem that we relentlessly…
— Charles Hoskinson (@IOHK_Charles) May 5, 2026
He explained that Cardano funds academic research and technical papers to solve scaling limits. He said scaling “requires research, not speed,” and he dismissed rapid development demands. He also argued that adding more developers would not solve scientific barriers.
Hoskinson listed Layer-2 systems, zero-knowledge tools, and the Extended UTXO model as active approaches. He said these tools increase flexibility and network throughput. He added that teams continue to test and refine each proposal.
He pointed to Leios and Peras as pillars of the scaling roadmap. He confirmed that developers now run a 24/7 schedule for Leios. He expects the protocol to launch later this year.
Hoskinson said Cardano now holds the strongest scaling plan in crypto. He stated that no resources shifted away from research programs. He maintained that dozens of experts remain dedicated to performance solutions.
Governance Reform Supports Ongoing Development
Hoskinson said Cardano introduced the Voltaire system while scaling work continued. He explained that governance reforms did not replace technical upgrades. Instead, he said they empowered community oversight.
Through Voltaire, Cardano unlocked its treasury for decentralized funding decisions. Hoskinson said the treasury holds over $1 billion in ADA. He stressed that community voting now guides allocations and upgrade proposals.
He argued that governance protects decentralization and strengthens coordination. He warned that ignoring governance would centralize authority and weaken user control. He said community votes now shape protocol direction.
Hoskinson compared Cardano’s governance model with debates in Bitcoin. He referenced discussions around BIP-360 and BIP-361. He said limited decision structures create coordination disputes.
He stated that structured voting reduces fragmentation risks. He said Cardano integrates governance with technical progress. He concluded that both systems advance together under the current roadmap.
