Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson recently confirmed several important developments related to the integration of XRP and the upcoming Midnight airdrop during a recent “Ask Me Anything” session on YouTube. These updates involve major collaborations and advancements, promising new opportunities for Cardano users and XRP holders alike.

Hoskinson shared that Cardano’s Lace Wallet, which initially supported only Cardano’s native assets like ADA, will soon integrate XRP. This means XRP holders can securely store their tokens alongside ADA and BTC in one multi-chain wallet. The Lace Wallet, introduced in April 2023, has evolved significantly through updates, becoming more versatile by supporting assets across multiple blockchains. This upcoming integration will make it easier for users to manage their XRP alongside other cryptocurrencies directly from the wallet, increasing its utility.

In addition to the wallet integration, Hoskinson revealed that XRP holders will be included in the Midnight (NIGHT) airdrop. This airdrop is part of Cardano’s new privacy-focused project, Midnight, which aims to protect user privacy while enabling seamless transactions. The NIGHT airdrop is expected to reach 37 million users, with distribution across eight blockchains, including XRP Ledger, Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Cardano. This inclusion provides XRP holders with a direct opportunity to participate in Cardano’s emerging privacy project, which is gaining attention in the cryptocurrency space.

During the session, Hoskinson also touched upon Cardano’s ongoing discussions with RLUSD, which could lead to the future support of Ripple’s fiat-backed stablecoin on the Cardano network. He emphasized the strong relationship he shares with Ripple’s team, particularly with their CTO, David Schwartz. This connection is reportedly speeding up their collaborative efforts, which could bring new functionalities and opportunities to Cardano’s ecosystem.

Furthermore, Hoskinson discussed Cardano’s partnership with Flare Network, which plans to bring its oracle services to Cardano. Oracles are crucial for blockchain functionality, as they provide real-world data that smart contracts can use to execute functions based on external events. By integrating Flare’s oracle services, Cardano could significantly enhance its smart contract capabilities, positioning itself as a more versatile platform in the decentralized finance (DeFi) space.

However, not all collaborations have been as smooth as the one with Ripple. Hoskinson provided an update on the delayed partnership with Chainlink, a decentralized oracle network that has yet to integrate with Cardano. Although talks with Chainlink’s founder, Sergey Nazarov, remain friendly, the partnership has been delayed multiple times due to issues with Chainlink’s outdated codebase. These delays, often spanning three to six months, have been a setback for Cardano’s plans to integrate Chainlink’s oracle solutions. Hoskinson also mentioned alternative oracle services like Pyth Network and Flare, which may provide solutions in the meantime.

In conclusion, the integration of XRP into Cardano’s Lace Wallet and the inclusion of XRP holders in the Midnight airdrop mark significant steps forward for Cardano’s growth and cross-network collaborations. Although some partnerships, like the one with Chainlink, face delays, the progress with Ripple, Flare, and other ecosystem developments demonstrate Cardano’s ongoing commitment to expanding its offerings and driving innovation within the blockchain and crypto space. As Cardano continues to build on its strong ties with Ripple and other key players, its position in the market is set to strengthen, offering users more value and opportunities in the years ahead.