Charles Hoskinson, the founder of Cardano, recently shared his perspective on the alleged preferential treatment that the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) may have given to Ethereum, as suggested by recent rumors.
Hoskinson voiced his views during an Ask Me Anything (AMA) session on X (formerly Twitter), where he pointed out that the Himman emails and other disclosures shed light on the SEC’s decision-making process and indicated that there was an uneven application of regulations. He clarified that he didn’t view this disparity as inherently corrupt but rather as a form of favoritism.
It’s worth noting that Charles Hoskinson was one of the co-founders of Ethereum, although he parted ways with the project due to his proposal to run Ethereum as a for-profit entity, which did not gain widespread support within the team. This background may lead some to question whether his remarks are influenced by a bias in favor of Ethereum, given the circumstances of his departure.
In response to Hoskinson’s comments, one X user speculated that his “old ETHGATE buddies” might have encouraged him to make these statements.
Conversely, some members of the cryptocurrency community criticized Hoskinson’s stance, asserting that there is little distinction between favoritism and corruption, particularly when it involves a government agency. Some even went as far as suggesting that Hoskinson might have been implicated in the alleged scandal and was speaking defensively.
Despite attempts to downplay the significance of the Himman emails and related revelations, they undeniably raise questions about potential improprieties within the SEC. Notably, the emails indicated that Bill Hinman had communicated with Ethereum’s co-founder, Vitalik Buterin, prior to delivering a speech in which he stated that Ethereum (ETH) was not a security. This revelation has sparked speculation that Buterin’s influence might have shaped Hinman’s public remarks.
Furthermore, there have been allegations of close ties between the SEC and Ethereum, implying a potential conflict of interest that could hinder fair and unbiased regulation. Steven Nerayoff, an active participant in Ethereum’s Initial Coin Offering (ICO), has persistently claimed that the SEC engaged in corrupt dealings with Ethereum and has purported evidence to substantiate these assertions.
Pro-XRP legal expert John Deaton has corroborated Nerayoff’s claims, citing his access to the supposed evidence through an attorney-client relationship. Deaton even offered to personally handle Bill Hinman’s cross-examination if the SEC’s case against Ripple were to proceed to trial.