Cardano Founder Charles Hoskinson Criticizes Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse Over US Crypto Bill
Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson criticized Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse for supporting an imperfect bill on how to structure the crypto market, warning that poor regulation could become permanent.
The debate between two of the cryptocurrency industry’s biggest voices highlights growing tensions within the industry over whether crypto should now embrace “good enough” rules or fight harder for stronger, fairer frameworks that don’t disproportionately benefit traditional financial institutions.
Hoskinson’s comments came after Garlinghouse praised lawmakers for pushing forward “workable frameworks,” suggesting that “clarity is better than chaos” and that remaining issues could be addressed during the markup process. Hoskinson strongly opposed this approach, arguing that compromises with flawed regulation could cause long-term damage to the industry.
Key Points of the Debate
Hoskinson criticized Garlinghouse for supporting a bill that many believe could favor banks and incumbents over open crypto innovation. Ripple’s CEO supported “workable frameworks” and emphasized that regulatory clarity is better than uncertainty. Hoskinson warned that passing “imperfect” laws could be a permanent mistake if they expand the power of regulators and limit DeFi.
According to Hoskinson, this moment is bigger than a political victory or loss. Instead, it is an existential decision about whether crypto remains an open, permissionless layer of innovation or becomes another regulated system driven primarily by legacy financial interests.
Garlinghouse’s Pragmatic Approach
Garlinghouse’s stance reflects a more pragmatic strategy: secure a workable baseline for regulation now, then refine it over time. Proponents of this approach argue that the lack of clarity has harmed U.S.-based innovation, driven talent abroad, and created uncertainty for companies trying to operate legally.
Garlinghouse’s comments signal optimism that lawmakers can fix problems through the markup process rather than scrapping the framework entirely. From Ripple’s perspective, any progress that reduces regulatory confusion can be viewed as positive, even if the math isn’t perfect on day one.
The Battle Between DeFi and Incumbents
Hoskinson’s frustration also reflects a broader industry concern: that a market structure law could inadvertently (or intentionally) shift the playing field away from decentralized finance and toward heavily regulated institutions, including banks and centralized intermediaries.
Although regulation can speed up adoption, it’s the details that matter. If the rules increase compliance burdens for new projects while creating advantages for large incumbents, innovation could slow, and smaller ecosystems could struggle to compete.
What’s Next for the US Crypto Market
For now, the conflict between Hoskinson and Garlinghouse is a sign of what’s to come: more public disagreements as crypto leaders seek to influence the shape of US regulation. One side wants an immediate structure, even if it is imperfect. The other side believes the uncertainty is worth enduring to avoid entrenching rules that could limit crypto’s future.
Read more about the debate and its implications for the US crypto market at https://crypto.news/hoskinson-garlinghouse-as-us-crypto-bill-debate/
