Charles Hoskinson, the founder of Cardano, recently gave a two-hour livestream update on some exciting partnerships. Let’s dive into the details:
Cardano and Ripple: A Budding Partnership
Hoskinson described the relationship with Ripple as still in its early stages. The main focus is integrating Ripple’s infrastructure into Cardano’s upcoming privacy-focused sidechain, Midnight. They’re having technical discussions, exploring how both platforms can benefit. Cardano’s smart contract language, Marlowe, is also being considered for use by Ripple developers. While things are progressing well, Hoskinson emphasized that these partnerships take time to develop fully.
Chainlink: Rekindling the Connection
Hoskinson addressed the lack of Chainlink integration on Cardano. Initial talks in 2021 seemed promising, but the project stalled. He clarified that there’s no bad blood between the teams, and they plan to revisit the integration soon. Cardano is still interested in oracle services and is exploring alternatives in the meantime.
Bridging Bitcoin to Cardano: A Secure Approach
A significant portion of the livestream focused on bringing Bitcoin into the Cardano ecosystem. This involves creating a secure and reliable bridge between the two blockchains. Hoskinson stressed the importance of security, given the history of cross-chain hacks. The goal is to develop a cryptographically sound bridge by the Bitcoin 2025 conference in May 2025. While other community groups are working on similar projects, the Cardano team is prioritizing robust security measures. They’re aiming for a solution that’s built to last, not a quick fix.
