Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson has publicly pushed back against online claims that he dumped his ADA holdings — accusations some say helped fuel the token’s roughly 80% decline over the past four years. What happened On Dec. 25 Hoskinson took to X with a holiday message and an upbeat note about 2026, thanking the Cardano community and urging holders not to lose faith. The post drew both supportive replies and sharp criticism. One user, @injective_pie, explicitly accused Hoskinson of selling ADA at around $3 and failing to buy back at lower levels near $0.30 — an allegation implying founder-led selling hurt long-term price performance. Hoskinson quickly denied the claim, telling critics he did not “dump” his holdings and rejecting the narrative that he personally caused the decline. Why the accusations sting Frustration among some ADA investors has been simmering for years: Cardano has never reclaimed its 2021 highs and has seen prolonged downtrends. The token recently slid toward $0.35 after dropping more than 3% this week, and is down over 50% year-to-date. That sustained underperformance contrasts with other big-cap cryptos such as Bitcoin and Ethereum, which hit new all-time highs this year. Market indicators paint a bleaker picture Data from Coinglass shows futures open interest for ADA fell sharply from $1.72 billion in October 2025 to $651 million as of Dec. 26 — a drop of more than 62% in under three months. On-chain sentiment metrics also reflect caution: Cardano’s Fear & Greed Index sits at 37, firmly in “fear” territory. Even with reports of daily trading volume rising by more than 96%, the token has not yet found sustained upward momentum amid broader bearish pressures. Bottom line The exchange between Hoskinson and critics underscores a wider tension: a committed community facing disappointing price action and looking for accountability. Hoskinson’s denial closes one loop in the rumor mill, but questions about market structure, investor sentiment and Cardano’s roadmap remain central to whether ADA can rebound in 2026. Read more AI-generated news on: undefined/news

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