Hoskinson's Vision: Why Cardano and XRP's Working Together Could Reshape DeFi

The notion of “working together” appears to be gaining traction in the blockchain space—and Charles Hoskinson, Cardano’s founder, is actively pushing this ethos forward. Rather than viewing other networks as competitors, Hoskinson envisions a landscape where ecosystems collaborate to strengthen the entire DeFi infrastructure, a sentiment that seems to have become something of a meme in forward-thinking crypto circles.

Direct Engagement with Ripple Leadership

In a recent “ask me anything” format video released on September 3, Hoskinson outlined his strategic approach to cross-chain partnerships. Notably, he confirmed ongoing discussions with Brad Garlinghouse, CEO of Ripple Labs, signaling serious intent behind Cardano’s outreach efforts. These conversations reflect a deliberate move to establish meaningful working relationships with major players like XRP, which currently operates without native smart contract functionality.

Cardano’s Infrastructure Play

Hoskinson articulated a compelling strategic rationale for these partnerships. He positioned Cardano as a foundational DeFi infrastructure layer that could serve external ecosystems—ranging from Bitcoin (BTC) to XRP. This approach challenges the traditional competitive narrative and instead frames collaboration as a mutual growth opportunity.

Building Bridges Through Midnight and DUST

The Midnight chain’s recent DUST token airdrop served as a gesture of goodwill toward other communities and ecosystem leaders. According to Hoskinson, this initiative has resonated particularly well with the XRP community, demonstrating that the “working together” philosophy can translate into tangible ecosystem benefits.

The Broader Context

What emerges from Hoskinson’s recent statements is a clear strategy: Cardano isn’t positioning itself as a standalone competitor but rather as an infrastructure partner. For networks like XRP that lack smart contract capabilities, such partnerships could unlock new DeFi possibilities. Whether this collaborative approach becomes the new standard or remains an outlier will likely depend on how successfully projects like Cardano execute on these announced partnerships.