TLDR
- Charles Hoskinson, founder of Cardano, publicly requested an apology from community influencer ItsDave_ADA on April 1, 2026
- The influencer expressed concerns about Midnight Network’s asymmetric bridge architecture, claiming it extracts value from Cardano without reciprocal benefit
- Hoskinson defended Midnight as Cardano’s most significant project, warning that negative attitudes threaten ecosystem growth
- The dispute has fractured the Cardano community, with supporters on both sides of the controversy
- Midnight Network’s mainnet went live in late March 2026, featuring validators including Google Cloud, Worldpay, and MoneyGram
On April 1, 2026, Charles Hoskinson, the creator of Cardano, issued a public challenge to a prominent community voice. The individual in question was Dave, known on X as ItsDave_ADA, who had posted critical remarks about Midnight Network and its technical infrastructure.
In a post on X, Dave stated he was “starting to really hate Midnight and the way they are approaching things,” adding that he intended to examine the project more closely.
The largest project on Cardano, which will add billions of dollars in value to Cardano, is being treated this way. Like Whale before him, this attitude will destroy Cardano if it is allowed to continue. I want an apology from Dave. pic.twitter.com/PlK3SWnmPc
— Charles Hoskinson (@IOHK_Charles) April 3, 2026
Dave’s primary objection centered on the bridge’s technical architecture. Currently, only a unidirectional trustless bridge operates—transferring assets from Cardano to Midnight. However, the reverse pathway lacks trustless properties and may be subject to delays, censorship, or additional fee structures.
Hoskinson fired back the same day through his X account, IOHK_Charles. He characterized Midnight as “the largest project on Cardano, which will add billions of dollars in value to Cardano.” Drawing a comparison to a previous community member known as Whale, Hoskinson warned that such negativity could undermine Cardano’s future. He concluded by requesting a public apology.
Dave responded with confusion, questioning what specifically warranted an apology. He challenged Hoskinson to clarify how billions would flow into Cardano via Midnight, maintaining that the current bridge design actually diverts value away from the mainchain.
Technical Architecture Fuels the Controversy
The bridge’s asymmetric design sits at the heart of this confrontation. Dave contends that a trustless mechanism functioning in only one direction signals an imbalanced relationship between the two networks. He emphasized his position as pro-Cardano rather than anti-Midnight, noting his long history of supporting Hoskinson.
A community account operating under the name CSWAP_Destroy came to Hoskinson’s defense, asserting that the Midnight-Cardano partnership was engineered for mutual advantage. The account also cautioned against repeating historical patterns that alienate valuable contributors.
X user NisargaCrypto floated the possibility that Dave might have received compensation to spread doubt. Dave categorically rejected this accusation. Meanwhile, SpentronSpence aligned with Dave, pointing out that the Cardano community has a history of silencing independent critical voices.
Not everyone agreed with Dave’s assessment. ZIMcoinADA characterized his perspective as “quite short-sighted,” arguing that Midnight was already generating fresh interest in Cardano. Another user, sergiu_cazan, told Dave he was “missing the forest for the trees.”
Divided Loyalties Emerge Within the Community
User _wdm33 argued that Dave owed no apology, emphasizing that challenging assumptions represents the fundamental principle of decentralized networks. User ada_ddy presented a nuanced position—acknowledging Dave’s legitimate concerns about the bridge while criticizing his framing of the situation as betrayal.
peaceKaur directly addressed Hoskinson, requesting a clear explanation of how Midnight’s achievements would translate to tangible benefits for ADA holders—identifying this as the central issue beneath the surface dispute.
Hoskinson has reportedly committed approximately $200 million of his own capital to Midnight. The network’s mainnet activation occurred in late March 2026, with Google Cloud, Worldpay, and MoneyGram serving as initial validators. No specific roadmap has been announced for implementing a bidirectional trustless bridge.
