Cardano Creator Calls Out Ripple CEO for His “Bad Bill Better Than No Bill” Attitude

The fight for clear cryptocurrency regulation in the United States has taken a dramatic turn. As lawmakers push forward with digital asset legislation, prominent industry leaders have begun clashing publicly over the direction and consequences of these efforts. What once looked like a shared mission for regulatory clarity now reveals sharp divisions over strategy, fairness, and long-term impact.

The latest controversy erupted after Abdullah Nassif, host of the widely followed Good Evening Crypto podcast, shared a video clip on X featuring pointed remarks from Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson.

In the clip, Hoskinson openly criticized Brad Garlinghouse for what he described as a “bad bill better than no bill” approach to the proposed Financial Innovation and Technology for the 21st Century Act, commonly known as the Clarity Act.

BREAKING: 🇺🇸 Cardano Co-Founder Calls Out Ripple CEO For His “Bad Bill Better Than No Bill” Attitude! ⚠️ (Clarity Act)

“You climbed up the ladder and you pulled the ladder up so no one else can climb up with you.” … “F*ck all of us in the industry”…

— Good Evening Crypto (@AbsGEC) March 2, 2026

Hoskinson’s Core Objection: Fair Access and Equal Opportunity

Hoskinson, the co-founder of Cardano, argued that accepting flawed legislation simply to secure regulatory movement could permanently disadvantage smaller crypto projects. He rejected the idea that the industry should tolerate a bill that defaults new tokens into securities classification, forcing startups to “beg” their way out of regulatory constraints.

He warned that such a framework would block liquidity, restrict exchange listings, and prevent early-stage fundraising. In his view, this system would favor well-capitalized firms while locking out emerging innovators. Hoskinson framed this as a betrayal of crypto’s foundational promise of open access and decentralization.

SEC vs. CFTC: A Structural Power Shift

The disagreement also highlights deeper concerns about regulatory structure. The Clarity Act seeks to divide oversight between the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission, granting the CFTC expanded authority over certain digital commodities.

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Hoskinson questioned whether shifting power from the SEC to the CFTC would truly solve the industry’s challenges. He argued that the CFTC was not originally designed to regulate the full spectrum of cryptocurrency activity. He suggested that lawmakers risk recreating SEC-style enforcement under a different agency name without fixing the underlying policy flaws.

Ripple’s Regulatory Reality

Garlinghouse leads Ripple, which endured a multi-year legal battle that ended in 2025 after both sides withdrew their appeals. Ripple has consistently advocated for clearer rules to provide certainty for institutions and global partners.

Garlinghouse appears to favor legislative progress, even if imperfect, to prevent prolonged regulatory ambiguity. Hoskinson, however, insists that flawed foundations could entrench inequality within the industry.

As Congress advances digital asset legislation, this public dispute reflects a pivotal question: Should the crypto industry accept incremental compromise, or demand structural reform that protects innovators of all sizes?