Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson has announced the upcoming integration of XRP into Cardano’s Lace wallet and confirmed that XRP holders will be included in the Midnight airdrop. Despite promising news, a potential partnership with Chainlink is facing delays due to technical issues. Hoskinson also hinted at future support for Ripple’s stablecoin.
In a recent YouTube Q&A, Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson confirmed significant updates regarding Cardano’s integration with XRP and an upcoming airdrop. The Lace wallet, introduced in April 2023, which originally supported only Cardano assets, will now accommodate XRP, allowing seamless management alongside ADA and BTC. Although Hoskinson didn’t give a specific launch date, he appears optimistic about the integration process with Ripple’s team.
On the topic of the Midnight airdrop, Hoskinson announced that XRP holders will be included in this airdrop related to Cardano’s privacy project. This initiative is set to distribute NFTs to approximately 37 million eligible users across various blockchains, including Bitcoin and Ether. The Midnight airdrop marks yet another move in Cardano’s ongoing ambition to expand its ecosystem and deliver value to its user base.
Hoskinson further hinted at potential support for Ripple’s fiat-backed stablecoin (RLUSD), suggesting ongoing discussions between Cardano and Ripple’s teams. His close collaboration with Ripple and its CTO, David Schwartz, may pave the way for this development. Schwartz, a pivotal figure in the creation of the XRP Ledger, is known for his work in blockchain and cryptography.
However, not all news is positive—Hoskinson disclosed that the partnership with Chainlink has met some setbacks due to codebase issues. While he maintains cordial relations with Chainlink founder Sergey Nazarov, integration efforts have faced multiple delays of up to six months due to the complexities and outdated systems involved. While exploring alternatives like Flare and Pyth Network, Hoskinson hopes to resolve these issues soon.
As Cardano remains in an active development phase, sceptics have questioned the platform’s viability. Many have speculated whether Cardano could eventually surpass Ethereum, but even its most optimistic supporters foresee a timeline of up to 20 years for that to occur. In any case, Cardano’s focus on decentralisation and user engagement could prove essential for its future progression in the blockchain space.
