Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson warned this week that the blockchain could lose its research scientists if a 32.9 million ADA proposal fails to pass an on-chain vote. Speaking just days before voting closes on June 8, Hoskinson said the core research lab at Input Output Global (IOG) would shut down before then unless delegates approve the funding. The proposal would bankroll work on post-quantum cryptography, zero-knowledge proofs, and scalability at IOG and partner universities—but right now it’s far from the required approval threshold.
Why the vote is stalled
The on-chain tally shows roughly 81% of active dRep (delegate) stake opposing the action, with about 18% in favor. That’s well short of the 67% approval needed under Cardano’s Voltaire constitution. The proposal seeks 32.9 million ADA—worth around $7.9 million at current prices of $0.2519. Critics argue it lacks tight milestones and reads like a bundled annual budget instead of auditable deliverables. Several dReps want competing teams to bid against IOG through open RFPs rather than automatic renewal.
Hoskinson’s push to Japanese delegates
Hoskinson directed his appeal specifically to Japanese dReps, who voted against the proposal. He described the vote as existential for Cardano’s identity as the “science coin,” saying the project has spent hundreds of millions of dollars over a decade to earn that brand. Aggelos Kiayias, IOG’s chief scientist, leads the research program, with researchers at universities in Edinburgh, Tokyo, Oxford, and Buenos Aires. Hoskinson warned that if the vote fails, IOG would have to choose between private funding, restructuring the proposal, or shrinking its work—each option likely meaning fewer scientists.
What happens next
The vote closes on June 8. If the proposal doesn’t clear 67% approval, Cardano’s research pipeline faces an abrupt reset. Hoskinson has given no indication he’ll resubmit a revised plan before then. The unresolved question: will Japanese dReps shift their vote, or is IOG’s research model headed for a forced overhaul?
