Cardano Founder Says He Lost $3 Billion in Crypto But Refuses to Sell
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Highlights:
- Charles Hoskinson’s crypto portfolio value went down by more than $3 billion, but he doesn’t have any intention to sell.
- The price of Cardano’s ADA token declined by more than 3% to $0.26, which is a 92% fall from its all-time high.
- Hoskinson highlighted Hydra, Leios, and Midnight sidechain as key projects continuing development.
Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson revealed that his personal cryptocurrency holdings have dropped in paper value by more than $3 billion. He shared this during a livestream from Tokyo on Thursday, calling it an unrealized loss. He also clarified that he has no plans to sell his holdings.
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Red Days https://t.co/lO21fGjc0w
— Charles Hoskinson (@IOHK_Charles) February 5, 2026
Hoskinson Urges Crypto Builders to Stay Committed Despite Market Losses
Hoskinson said it would have been very easy to cash out and walk away, but he does not care about losing it all. He added that he is not doing this for money, and anyone who thinks otherwise is mistaken. His comments came while the wider crypto market faces a prolonged downturn. He noted that conditions are likely to get worse and urged developers and investors to stay committed despite these challenges.
The broader market fell 3.53% in the past day, according to CoinMarketCap. Bitcoin and Ether both faced double-digit losses. Cardano’s token ADA fell 3.53% to $0.26. This price is down 92% from its all-time high of $3.09, reached in September 2021.
Hoskinson spoke honestly about the hard situation. He said things will get worse, but urged people to stay positive. He reminded everyone in crypto that their work is important. His words show both the serious losses and his effort to keep builders motivated.
Hoskinson said:
“It’ll get worse. It’ll get redder. It is what it is. But at the end of the day, are you having fun? Find a way to. And know that each and every one of you in the cryptocurrency space, you’re doing something that matters. You’re doing something that has the potential to change the world.”
Hoskinson’s latest statement comes after a warning he gave in January on The Wolf of All Streets podcast with Scott Melker. Back then, he said he had lost about $2.5 billion in paper value over the previous four years. He blamed regulatory uncertainty and political interference, which he said kept retail investors from joining the market.
He also stressed that 2026 should not be seen as a normal bull cycle, but as a “reset” for the crypto industry. He believes the future depends on creating real utility and next-generation infrastructure, not just hype or speculation. This shows that Hoskinson thinks the sector must move beyond short-term trading and focus on building systems that support long-term growth.
Cardano Development Shows Progress
Despite the tough market conditions and his own losses, Hoskinson was optimistic about the technical development of Cardano. During the live stream, he spoke about the development of Hydra, which is a Layer 2 scaling solution, and the development of the consensus algorithm with Leios.
He also mentioned the Midnight sidechain, which focuses on data protection. These projects aim to strengthen Cardano’s infrastructure and prepare for the next phase of growth. Hoskinson’s confidence in the roadmap shows he believes in continuing to build even while prices stay low.
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