Charles Hoskinson Criticizes Vitalik Buterin’s Influence, Calls for True Decentralization

In a bold interview at the TOKEN2049 conference, Cardano founder and former Ethereum executive Charles Hoskinson didn’t hold back when he labeled Ethereum a ‘dictatorship.’ Hoskinson expressed concern over Ethereum’s governance model, which he feels is too heavily influenced by its co-founder, Vitalik Buterin, even though Buterin doesn’t hold absolute power. He pointed to Ethereum’s shift from sharding to rollups and layer-2 networks as evidence of Buterin’s central role in decision-making. Following the publication of an article by Cointelegraph, Hoskinson criticized legacy crypto media for sensationalized headlines and vowed to stop granting interviews. This article breaks down his sharp critique of Ethereum’s governance and explores how Cardano’s decentralized approach differs.

Hoskinson Slams Ethereum’s Governance, Dubs It a ‘Dictatorship’ Compared to Cardano
Charles Hoskinson, founder of Cardano and former CEO of Ethereum, recently took aim at Ethereum’s governance structure, describing it as a "dictatorship" compared to the decentralized model embraced by Cardano. Speaking at the TOKEN2049 conference in Singapore, Hoskinson shared his concerns about Ethereum's reliance on its co-founder, Vitalik Buterin, when it comes to major decision-making. While he acknowledged that Buterin does not wield absolute power, Hoskinson emphasized that Buterin’s influence on the direction of Ethereum remains undeniable.

Hoskinson pointed to Ethereum's transition from sharding-based scaling to rollups and layer-2 networks as a clear example of Buterin’s significant impact. Despite the Ethereum Foundation and broader community playing roles in decision-making, Hoskinson believes that the platform often looks to Buterin for guidance, likening this dynamic to a centralized dictatorship.

The controversy deepened when Hoskinson criticized the crypto media, specifically Cointelegraph, for dramatizing his comments. Shortly after their article was published, Hoskinson took to his X account (formerly Twitter), declaring he would no longer give interviews to legacy crypto media due to their focus on sensationalism and "wasted interviews."

Despite stepping away from Ethereum, Hoskinson continues to push forward with Cardano, championing its governance model as a true example of decentralization. He hopes that Cardano’s community-driven approach will set a new standard for blockchain governance in the crypto world.