Is Cardano’s Hydra project ‘abandoned’? Hoskinson says…

Charles Hoskinson, the co-founder of Cardano [ADA], has addressed the blockchain community amid speculation and concern surrounding the Layer 1 blockchain. 

Dispelling rumors, Hoskinson confirmed the commitment to the Hydra layer-2 scaling project, aimed at enhancing the network’s efficiency.

On the 18th of March, Hoskinson took to X (formerly Twitter) and noted, 

“I’m seeing some videos claiming that Hydra has been abandoned. It is just pure FUD.”

​​Addressing concerns about Hydra 

Launched in May 2023 as part of Cardano’s “Basho” phase, Hydra aimed to boost transaction capacity and cut costs.

However, a video from The Cryptoviser on the 17th of March suggested a shift in focus.

It cited Charles Hoskinson’s announcement about integration with Hyperledger Firefly on the 13th of March for enterprise scaling in Web3 applications.

In response, Hoskisnon said, 

“The team has never been more productive and motivated, there is great community engagement and new papers on the way for enhancements to the protocol,”

This underscored Hoskinson’s consistent efforts to alleviate concerns (“FUD”) surrounding Hydra.

In October, he defended Hydra as a scaling solution, clarified Cardano’s transaction priorities, and noted its middleware development for DApps. 

On the 18th of March, he addressed FUD again, defending Cardano’s collaboration with World Mobile and reaffirming its scaling plans.

“Man, it’s raining FUD this weekend, and I’m not sure about the origin. I guess it’s that time of the cycle where everyone freaks out about Cardano’s potential and roadmap, so they throw a wave of FUD at us.”

This emphasized Cardano’s roadmap for achieving ambitious goals, with identity, partnerships, and a unique EUTXO-based programming model shaping its resilient digital ecosystem.

Are partner chains integral?

Of particular note are partner chains, integral to Cardano’s vision. Operating alongside the main network, these chains boast unique protocols and rules, bolstering the network’s adaptability and strength.

Addressing concerns about partner chains not being directly tied to Cardano, Hoskinson emphasized, 

“I guess everyone forgot about the idea that hypercomplex projects like WMC need the freedom to have unique protocols, including variations in consensus, ledger rules, network design, and transaction semantics.”

As the journey unfolds, Hoskinson foresees Cardano facilitating a multitude of chains to power authentic Web3 applications.

With governance slated to evolve in 2023 and tangible outcomes expected by 2024, these milestones signal pivotal advancements in the network’s development trajectory.