Cardano’s Charles Hoskinson Reacts to Ripple CTO’s Acknowledgment of Midnight

Ripple's CTO tips his hat to Cardano's new privacy-focused sidechain. Charles Hoskinson fires back with a classic crypto retort.

The Ripple-Cardano Exchange

It started with a simple nod from David Schwartz, Ripple's chief technology officer. A public acknowledgment of Cardano's 'Midnight' project—a data-protection protocol designed to let developers build smart contracts with confidentiality baked in. No small praise from a competing blockchain's top engineer.

Hoskinson didn't let the moment pass. The Cardano founder seized the opportunity, framing the recognition as validation for his ecosystem's relentless push toward research-driven development. His response cut straight to the core of crypto's eternal debate: flashy marketing versus substantive, peer-reviewed tech.

Why This Acknowledgment Matters

In the tribal world of blockchain, public compliments between rivals are rarer than a bearish tweet from a crypto influencer. This brief exchange signals a subtle shift. It highlights a growing, if grudging, respect for Cardano's methodical—some would say plodding—approach to building infrastructure.

Midnight itself aims to solve a critical trilemma: balancing transparency, privacy, and regulatory compliance. A tough nut to crack, and one that's becoming a billion-dollar battleground as institutions dip their toes into digital assets.

The Bigger Picture for ADA

For ADA holders, moments like this are pure rocket fuel. They're not just about technical validation; they're about narrative. Every nod from a competitor helps chip away at the 'ghost chain' criticism, replacing it with a story of underestimated technology finally getting its due.

It proves that in the long game of blockchain, relentless building can eventually force even your rivals to pay attention—though it does make you wonder how much faster things could move if they spent less time on blog posts and more on, well, shipping code.

One thing's clear: the race for a privacy solution that doesn't scare off regulators is heating up. And for once, Cardano isn't just in the race—it's forcing the front-runners to glance in the rearview mirror. A welcome change from simply watching the price charts, which, let's be honest, have offered about as much excitement as a yield-bearing stablecoin lately.

TLDR

• Ripple’s CTO David Schwartz acknowledged Midnight, Cardano’s privacy token, sparking interest.
• Charles Hoskinson responded to Schwartz with a playful message, fueling crypto community excitement.
• Midnight, launched in December 2025, quickly gained attention with a market cap of $1.6 billion.
• Legal expert John Deaton praised the exchange as a positive step for both communities.

A surprising interaction between Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson and Ripple CTO David Schwartz has captured the attention of the crypto community. In a tweet on December 29, 2025, Schwartz acknowledged the Midnight token, a privacy-focused cryptocurrency developed by Cardano. The acknowledgment came as a surprise given the history between the two blockchain communities, who have often had differing views in the past.

Charles Hoskinson quickly responded to Schwartz’s tweet with a message expressing goodwill. “Love you man,” he wrote, alongside a humorous meme from the 2008 film Step Brothers. The meme featured a scene in which two characters ask if they’ve just become best friends, with one answering “Yep.” This lighthearted response further fueled the excitement in the crypto world and led to speculation about the potential for future collaborations between the two prominent blockchain figures.

Ripple CTO Acknowledges Midnight Token

David Schwartz’s tweet acknowledging Midnight (NIGHT) marked an important moment in the crypto space. Midnight, a privacy token launched by the Cardano network in December 2025, has quickly gained attention. At the time of Schwartz’s tweet, the token had risen to a market value of $1.6 billion, ranking it among the top 100 cryptocurrencies.

Schwartz’s acknowledgment of Midnight was a notable gesture, given the competitive nature between Ripple and cardano communities. While both networks focus on different use cases, Schwartz’s recognition of a Cardano initiative signals a possible shift toward more open collaboration in the crypto space. This moment added an unexpected layer to the growing relationship between the two blockchain leaders, which had often been marked by rivalry in the past.

Charles Hoskinson Responds to Schwartz’s Gesture

Charles Hoskinson’s response to David Schwartz’s tweet took the crypto world by surprise. The Cardano founder’s reply was both warm and humorous. “Love you man,” Hoskinson wrote, alongside a clip from the movie Step Brothers.

The playful nature of Hoskinson’s response resonated with many in the crypto community, leading to further speculation about the future of the relationship between the two blockchain figures.

Hoskinson had previously suggested that it WOULD be fun to work with the XRP community. In past statements, he mentioned the potential for cooperation with Ripple, and this recent exchange appeared to affirm his openness to such a partnership. By responding with humor and goodwill, Hoskinson signaled a potential shift toward more friendly relations between Cardano and Ripple.

The Community’s Reaction

The interaction between Hoskinson and Schwartz sparked a wave of positive reactions within the crypto community. Legal expert and Ripple enthusiast John Deaton praised the exchange, calling it a “good way to end the year and start the next one.” Deaton, known for his support of Ripple, also referred to both Hoskinson and Schwartz as “incredibly smart minds,” underscoring the significance of their mutual respect.

Many crypto enthusiasts took to social media to express excitement about the possibility of greater collaboration between the two communities. The unexpected interaction has led to growing anticipation about what the future holds for both Cardano and Ripple.