Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson made headlines this week with a bold forecast. He told investors that ADA could rise as much as 1,000× from its current level. Bitcoin, he argued, has less room to run. His comments came as Bitcoin traded around $118,000 and Cardano lingered around $0.78. Related Reading: Bitcoin Ain’t ‘Better’, ADA Is, Cardano Founder Says Bold Claim On Returns According to Hoskinson, Bitcoin’s market cap of about $2.35 trillion leaves it with only a potential 10× upside to hit a $1 million price. By contrast, ADA sits close to $28 billion market cap. He said that a 100× move would bring ADA close to $77.90, while 1,000× would push it toward $779 per coin. Those figures imply a Cardano market cap around $27.5 trillion. It’s a gap so large that few expect it to close without major shifts in adoption or regulation. 🔥ADA can 1000X, Bitcoin can’t — Charles Hoskinson Charles says $BTC might 10x, but $ADA can go 100x or even 1000x.🚀 He mocked: “Oh sure, let’s sell ADA for Bitcoin… so we can make less money.”🤡 pic.twitter.com/YoZR6gUEzr — Coin Bureau (@coinbureau) July 29, 2025 Rising Debate Over Treasury Moves Based on reports, Hoskinson has also proposed converting up to $100 million of the ADA treasury into Bitcoin and stablecoins. The goal is to boost liquidity for a planned Cardano stablecoin. Some community members warn the move could trigger selling pressure on ADA. Others argue it would strengthen the ecosystem’s cash reserves. The plan has drawn criticism from inside and outside the Cardano camp, with BTC supporters calling for a full switch and ADA loyalists pushing back. Cardano’s Role In Bitcoin’s Future According to Hoskinson, Cardano could serve as a yield layer for Bitcoin, adding smart‑contract capabilities to the original chain. He said Cardano “does substantially more” than Bitcoin’s base protocol. If wallets and DeFi apps use ADA as collateral or for staking, he believes that could drive real‑world demand. Yet today’s dApp numbers still lag behind rivals like Ethereum, and developer activity remains well below industry leaders. Huge Numbers Highlight Gap Based on market caps, a 1,000× ADA rally would vault Cardano past the world’s biggest companies and many national economies. By comparison, Bitcoin shooting for another 10× gain would keep it in the same league it already dominates. The sheer scale needed for ADA to match those multiples has few precedents in financial history. Related Reading: Countdown To August 15: What XRP Investors Need To Know What Investors Should Watch According to market observers, the key signals will be developer growth, transaction volumes, and real‑world use cases. ADA holders will also track whether the treasury move happens and how it’s executed. Any large-scale asset swap could shake trader confidence. For now, Cardano’s community will weigh the promise of outsized gains against the risks of execution and market dynamics. Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView
