Charles Hoskinson Confirms XRP Integration and Midnight Airdrop, Expresses Frustration with Chainlink

In a recent "Ask Me Anything" session on YouTube, Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson delivered significant updates on the ongoing developments with two prominent partnerships—XRP and Chainlink. 

As the founder of Cardano (ADA), Hoskinson revealed the progress on Cardano's integration with Ripple's XRP ecosystem, including exciting news about XRP support in Cardano’s Lace Wallet and the upcoming Midnight (NIGHT) airdrop. 

However, while the XRP partnership is advancing smoothly, Hoskinson also expressed frustration with the delayed integration with Chainlink, citing technical hurdles and setbacks. 

This article delves into the details of these updates and explores what they mean for Cardano and the broader cryptocurrency ecosystem.

XRP Integration and Lace Wallet Support

Charles Hoskinson confirmed that Cardano's Lace Wallet will soon support XRP, allowing users to hold their XRP tokens alongside Cardano's ADA and other major cryptocurrencies. 

This move represents a significant step in Cardano's multi-chain ambitions, as Lace Wallet, launched in April 2023, has evolved from supporting only Cardano's native assets to offering multi-chain compatibility.

The integration of XRP into the Lace Wallet will provide XRP holders with an easy-to-use platform for managing their assets. As Hoskinson shared, the integration is in development, but he did not give a specific date for its rollout. 

This marks a key moment for the Cardano network, as XRP's large and dedicated user base will soon have the opportunity to leverage Cardano's ecosystem in a seamless manner.

Read also: Midnight Airdrop Details, A Cardano Campaign Initiated by Charles Hoskinson

XRP Midnight Airdrop

In addition to the wallet integration, Hoskinson revealed that XRP holders will also be included in the highly anticipated Midnight (NIGHT) airdrop. 

Midnight is Cardano's new privacy-focused blockchain project, and the airdrop will target users from eight blockchains, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Cardano, and XRP Ledger. 

This airdrop is expected to reach a massive audience of 37 million users, further boosting the adoption and awareness of Cardano's growing ecosystem.

The inclusion of XRP holders in the Midnight airdrop is a significant gesture, further solidifying Cardano's commitment to building bridges with other major blockchain networks. 

XRP's inclusion in this initiative could generate increased interest in Cardano, particularly from the XRP community, who may view this as a valuable incentive to explore Cardano's privacy features.

Discussions with Ripple and RLUSD Stablecoin

Hoskinson also shared that Cardano is in talks with Ripple regarding the integration of Ripple's fiat-backed stablecoin, RLUSD. 

He expressed optimism about this collaboration, emphasizing the importance of the strong working relationship he has developed with Ripple's CTO, David Schwartz. 

This partnership could pave the way for Cardano to support RLUSD on its platform, expanding its stablecoin offering and further enhancing its DeFi ecosystem.

Flare Network’s Oracle Services for Cardano

Beyond XRP, Hoskinson also noted that Flare Network, which provides decentralized oracle services, is planning to bring its services to Cardano. 

This partnership expands the scope of Cardano's collaboration with Ripple’s ecosystem, as Flare is a key player in providing oracle solutions for blockchain interoperability. 

By integrating Flare’s services, Cardano can further enhance its capabilities, making it a more attractive platform for decentralized applications (dApps) and smart contracts.

Read also: XRP Holders Confirmed to Receive Cardano Midnight Airdrop, Here Are the Details

Frustration with Chainlink Partnership Delays

While Cardano's collaboration with Ripple and Flare Network is progressing smoothly, Hoskinson expressed frustration over the delays in the Chainlink integration. 

Cardano had initially planned to integrate Chainlink’s oracle services, but the process has been repeatedly delayed due to issues with Chainlink’s outdated codebase. 

Hoskinson explained that Chainlink is migrating to a new framework, which has complicated the integration process.

The delay, according to Hoskinson, is not due to any interpersonal or financial issues between Cardano and Chainlink, but rather due to the technical challenges posed by Chainlink's legacy system. 

Despite the setbacks, Hoskinson emphasized that he is still hopeful about a future collaboration with Chainlink, noting that Chainlink remains on Cardano’s radar as a premier oracle solution.

Exploring Other Oracle Options

In light of the delays with Chainlink, Hoskinson also pointed to other oracle solutions such as Pyth Network and Flare Network as potential alternatives. 

While Cardano remains committed to collaborating with Chainlink in the long term, Hoskinson acknowledged that the need for reliable oracle services is pressing, and Cardano is exploring other options to meet its technological needs in the meantime.

Conclusion

Cardano's ongoing collaborations with Ripple, Flare, and other blockchain projects signal a promising future for the network. 

The upcoming XRP integration into the Lace Wallet, along with the inclusion of XRP holders in the Midnight airdrop, represents a major step in expanding Cardano's user base and fostering greater interoperability between blockchain ecosystems. 

While the Chainlink partnership has faced delays, Hoskinson's transparency and continued efforts to navigate technical challenges demonstrate Cardano’s resilience and determination to secure the best possible solutions for its community.

As Cardano moves forward with these strategic alliances, the network is positioning itself as a key player in the blockchain space, with an emphasis on privacy, scalability, and cross-chain compatibility.

FAQ

When will XRP be supported on the Lace Wallet?

The integration of XRP into the Lace Wallet is in development, but no specific release date has been provided yet.

What is the Midnight airdrop?

The Midnight airdrop is part of Cardano’s privacy-focused blockchain project, and it will distribute tokens to users across eight blockchains, including XRP holders.

How does the RLUSD stablecoin fit into Cardano’s ecosystem?

Cardano is in talks with Ripple to integrate RLUSD, Ripple’s fiat-backed stablecoin, into the Cardano ecosystem to enhance its DeFi offerings.

Why is the Chainlink integration delayed?

The integration with Chainlink has been delayed due to challenges with Chainlink’s outdated codebase and the migration to a new framework. Hoskinson remains hopeful about future collaboration.

What other oracle services is Cardano considering?

In addition to Chainlink, Cardano is exploring other oracle solutions like Pyth Network and Flare Network to meet its needs for decentralized data feeds.