Charles Hoskinson, the founder of Cardano and CEO of Input Output Global (IOG), has introduced that Cardano’s original development roadmap is officially complete. During a recent ask-me-anything session, Hoskinson reflected on the years of building and declared that the foundational goals set for the blockchain have been fully achieved. While this marks a significant milestone for the Cardano ecosystem, Hoskinson also revealed that future advancements, including key projects like Hydra and Leios, are now in a precarious position due to unresolved funding issues.

According to Hoskinson, IOG has completed the scaling goals originally promised for Cardano, which included introducing the Ouroboros proof-of-stake system, deploying smart contracts via Plutus, and establishing a decentralized governance framework. Despite this success, he emphasized that development is not ending, but rather evolving. The company is actively working on Hydra, a layer-2 protocol designed to significantly increase transaction throughput, and Leios, a more advanced layer-1 upgrade meant to further improve network performance. However, these efforts are being carried out at risk, without guaranteed financial support from the Cardano Treasury or other sources.

Hoskinson made it clear that if funding is not approved soon, IOG will complete what it started and then potentially move on to other ventures. He expressed frustration over delays in approving current budget proposals, urging the community to act. He reminded the Cardano ecosystem that the treasury contains a substantial reserve of ADA specifically intended for development and expansion. In his view, failing to utilize those funds to support core builders could harm the ecosystem in the long run.

Some community members have questioned whether Cardano is truly complete and have raised concerns about past performance and accountability. One user recently suggested that the original 2.4 billion ADA allocated to IOG at the network’s genesis should be re-evaluated, even calling for a potential audit. In response, Hoskinson explained that the initial funding contract expired in 2020 and reaffirmed that the original goals have been met. While acknowledging previous missteps, including the underwhelming results of the Atala Prism project in Ethiopia, Hoskinson pointed to Cardano’s current status as one of the top ten blockchains by market capitalization, boasting millions of users and thousands of applications.

The debate around funding has also revealed deeper divisions within the community. Hoskinson noted that some critics appear to be using budget decisions as an opportunity to revive personal grievances. While recognizing the right to question leadership, he warned that obstructing progress over individual disagreements risks undermining the broader success of the platform. He called on the community’s delegated representatives, or dReps, to vote based on the needs of the ecosystem rather than personal sentiments.

As Cardano moves forward, the completion of its original roadmap is being seen as a turning point. The platform has reached a level of technical maturity, but its long-term sustainability now relies heavily on community governance. Whether the next generation of projects like Hydra and Leios can be realized will depend on the collective decisions of those who hold ADA and participate in shaping its future. For Cardano, the question is no longer about capability—it is about commitment.