Crypto Enters Era of Rapid Technological Advancement, Says Cardano Founder
Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson has declared that the cryptocurrency sector is on the cusp of a period of accelerated technological growth, drawing parallels between the evolution of blockchain and transformative advancements in nuclear technology, the internet, and artificial intelligence.
Speaking at the United Nations, Hoskinson elaborated on the nature of exponential technologies, explaining that their development often appears gradual in its initial stages before experiencing a dramatic surge in impact. “Exponential technologies are counterintuitive in that very little does something, a little bit more does everything,” he stated.
Hoskinson highlighted the internet as a prime example of an exponential technology, citing its profound impact on the speed of communication and information access. He recalled a time when communication was heavily constrained by physical distance, with some exchanges taking months. The internet, he noted, subsequently revolutionized this by enabling near-instantaneous global communication. “The internet comes around. It’s our next exponential technology, computing and the internet,” he remarked.
He asserted that a similar paradigm shift is currently underway with artificial intelligence and blockchain technology.
The Cardano founder also pointed to progress in artificial intelligence as another indicator of rapid technological evolution. He observed that AI models are becoming increasingly efficient, enabling more sophisticated systems to operate with reduced computational resources. This improvement in model efficiency, he suggested, signals a potential for advanced AI to become more broadly accessible, moving beyond the confines of large data centers. “Intelligence is basically becoming ubiquitous and universal,” Hoskinson commented.
Furthermore, Hoskinson addressed the growing trend of representing traditional assets on-chain through blockchain technology. This process, known as tokenization, can be applied to assets such as equities, currencies, and real estate. Blockchain-based systems also offer the potential for faster transaction settlements compared to some existing traditional financial infrastructures.
Data on tokenized equity, for instance, indicated a significant increase from approximately $600 million at the start of 2025 to around $3 billion. This growth coincides with financial institutions actively exploring blockchain-based settlement, tokenized assets, and digital forms of currency.
Hoskinson cautioned that predicting the pace of a new technology’s growth based solely on its early progress can be misleading. He cited the example of renewable energy in Germany, where initial projections suggested it would contribute no more than 4% of the country’s electricity. By 2025, however, renewables were supplying 55.9%. His underlying point was that technologies can achieve far more rapid expansion than early estimates might suggest, particularly as adoption rates climb and efficiency gains are realized.
