Charles Hoskinson, founder of Cardano and one of Ethereum’s original co-founders, predicted that Ethereum may not survive the next 10 to 15 years. The claim, made during an interview with Altcoin Daily, sent shockwaves through the industry, raising concerns about Ethereum’s long-term viability amid intensifying competition and internal complexity.

Ethereum’s Future at Risk?

Hoskinson’s warning is based on what he views as a fundamental flaw in Ethereum’s development strategy—its growing reliance on Layer 2 (L2) networks. L2s are designed to scale Ethereum by handling transactions off-chain and settling them on the main Ethereum network, thereby reducing congestion and gas fees. However, Hoskinson believes that this approach is diluting the strength and utility of Ethereum’s base layer.

“Ethereum is becoming a victim of its own success,” he said. “Instead of strengthening the main chain, they’re pulling value away from it. That’s not sustainable in the long term.”

To make his point, Hoskinson drew a parallel with once-dominant tech platforms like Myspace and Blackberry—innovative leaders that failed to adapt and were ultimately overtaken by more agile competitors. In his view, Ethereum is at risk of meeting the same fate if it continues down its current path without addressing core structural issues.

Crypto Community Reacts

Unsurprisingly, Hoskinson’s comments triggered a polarized reaction across social media and crypto forums. Critics accused him of hypocrisy, pointing out that Cardano itself borrows heavily from Ethereum’s early innovations and has faced criticism for delays and limited smart contract adoption.

One user wrote on X (formerly Twitter), “Hoskinson bashing Ethereum is like Blackberry telling Apple how to build a better phone.”

Others, however, saw merit in his analysis. Ethereum has faced multiple delays in rolling out upgrades and transitioning fully to Ethereum 2.0. Its complex, modular architecture, combined with consistently high gas fees during peak periods, has caused frustration among users and developers alike. Some agree that the increasing fragmentation caused by L2 solutions—while beneficial in some respects—has introduced new challenges around interoperability, security, and user experience.

Ethereum Strikes Back With Major Upgrade

Despite criticism, Ethereum is far from standing still. One of its leading L2 solutions, Scroll, has just introduced a major upgrade called Euclid. This update promises to reduce gas fees by up to 90% and significantly improve performance across decentralized applications.

Scroll’s Euclid upgrade is part of Ethereum’s broader roadmap to improve scalability and usability, a response to growing competition from faster blockchains like Solana, Avalanche, and Cardano itself. By investing heavily in Layer 2 technologies and rollups, Ethereum developers are betting that these innovations will ultimately support rather than undermine the ecosystem.

The upgrade also highlights Ethereum’s ongoing commitment to adaptability—a trait that has allowed it to remain the top smart contract platform despite years of challenges.

ETH Price Under Pressure

While the technical advancements are notable, Ethereum’s price continues to face downward pressure. As of April 2025, ETH remains down nearly 360% from its all-time high of $4,878. Investors have increasingly turned to alternative blockchains offering faster transaction speeds, lower costs, and a smoother user experience.

The rise of Solana and the growing popularity of zero-knowledge rollups are particularly threatening to Ethereum’s dominance in DeFi and NFT spaces. With more capital and developer attention shifting to newer platforms, Ethereum must prove it can evolve fast enough to maintain relevance.

Final Thoughts

Charles Hoskinson’s comparison of Ethereum to fading tech brands may seem extreme, but it underscores real tensions in the blockchain industry. Ethereum, once the uncontested leader in smart contracts, now faces pressure from every direction—whether from technological complexity, alternative platforms, or growing user expectations.

Still, it’s important to recognize Ethereum’s resilience. Its massive community, established developer base, and continuous innovation through upgrades like Euclid suggest it is not ready to be written off.

As the blockchain ecosystem matures, only time will tell whether Ethereum adapts to remain a foundational pillar of Web3—or whether it becomes a cautionary tale of innovation outpaced.