Cardano Founder Says $23M Spent on Cardano Native Tokens, Announces Partnership with Copper

Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson recently said $23 million has been spent supporting Cardano Native Tokens while dismissing claims that Midnight is separate from Cardano.

Hoskinson revealed this during a surprise Ask Me Anything (AMA) session while announcing a new partnership with Copper, a notable digital asset custody firm.

Cardano Founder: $23M in Ecosystem Support

Hoskinson revealed that the funding demonstrates active backing for the ecosystem. He dismissed claims that Midnight functions independently, emphasizing that they designed the project to work within Cardano rather than apart from it

While backing Midnight, Hoskinson criticized the Cardano Foundation, accusing it of failing to provide meaningful support. He argued that the foundation mismanaged ADA funds and should not be entitled to Midnight tokens.

Hoskinson also warned that the foundation’s involvement in governance could harm productivity and said the ecosystem has moved forward without its participation.

Copper Partnership Expands Custodian Reach

Hoskinson pointed to a new agreement with Copper, a digital asset custodian, which allows any exchange using Copper’s custody services to support Cardano-based assets, including Midnight. He described the deal as a step toward expanding custodian coverage for the ecosystem.

The Copper partnership builds on earlier agreements with Bitcoin.com, Blockchain.com, and Brave. These platforms are committed to backing both Midnight and Cardano, expanding adoption opportunities across multiple exchanges and custodians.

Notably, Hoskinson had earlier announced Cardano’s integration with Blockchain.com, opening access to 37 million users. He credited the Midnight Foundation for securing the deal through successful negotiations.

Hoskinson Hints at Cross-Chain Collaboration

Meanwhile, Hoskinson also emphasized the importance of cross-chain partnerships in his broadcast. He cited discussions with Solana’s Anatoly Yakovenko, NEAR’s Ilya Polosukhin, and XRP representatives about potential collaborations

Notably, Hoskinson also noted plans for XRP support within Cardano’s Lace wallet by the end of the year, alongside potential joint community events.