Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson said in a recent interview that Cardano’s native token, ADA, has the potential to grow 100 times in value, outpacing Bitcoin (BTC). He argued that ADA’s design, staking system, and expanding DeFi ecosystem give it advantages that could drive faster growth than Bitcoin.
ADA is currently trading near $0.42, with a market capitalization of around $15 billion. A 100x increase would place its price above $42 and raise its market value to over $1.5 trillion, close to Bitcoin’s present market cap.
Why Hoskinson Believes ADA Can Surpass Bitcoin
Hoskinson compared Bitcoin to gold, describing it as a strong store of value but limited in functionality. He noted that Bitcoin’s network lacks the ability to handle decentralized applications (dApps) and financial products directly.
He argued that Cardano’s extended UTXO model — a blockchain design that improves transaction efficiency — allows for more complex smart contracts. This, according to Hoskinson, positions Cardano to capture more value as decentralized finance (DeFi) expands.
He also mentioned that Cardano could serve as a yield layer for Bitcoin, offering ways for BTC holders to earn returns by interacting with Cardano’s DeFi ecosystem without leaving the security of their assets.
According to Hoskinson, Cardano’s staking system is a key driver of long-term growth. Over $14 billion worth of ADA, nearly 60% of the circulating supply, is currently staked on the network. This locks tokens out of circulation and, in Hoskinson’s view, helps support price stability.
Cardano’s growing network of decentralized applications also plays a role. Hoskinson pointed to partner chain airdrops, where developers distribute tokens to ADA holders, as a way to boost participation and reward the community.
How Japan Became a Powerhouse Market for Cardano Investors
Hoskinson stressed that Japan has become one of the largest markets for Cardano. An estimated 50% of the ADA supply is held by Japanese investors. He said this strong regional base, combined with government openness to blockchain innovation, could support future demand.
He added that Japan’s reputation as an early leader in crypto regulation and adoption may help Cardano attract both developers and institutional investors.
While Hoskinson presented a bullish outlook, several factors could limit ADA’s ability to achieve 100x growth. Cardano still lags behind Ethereum (ETH) in total value locked (TVL), which measures the amount of crypto deposited in DeFi protocols. As of this week, Cardano’s TVL is under $356 million. This is compared with Ethereum’s more than $70 billion.
Cardano has also faced criticism for the slow rollout of some projects. This has limited its DeFi activity compared to other blockchains like Solana (SOL). Regulatory uncertainty, especially in the U.S., remains another challenge that could affect ADA’s expansion.
