Cardano Founder Heads To Japan As White House Talks Crypto Without Him

Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson has confirmed he was not invited to the upcoming March 7 White House crypto roundtable by US President Donald Trump. While industry leaders and policymakers prepare for the four-hour event in Washington, Hoskinson is heading to Japan, where he will meet with the Cardano community and regulatory officials.

In his latest livestream titled “Japan”, Hoskinson addressed the White House summit, dismissing the notion that such meetings significantly shape long-term crypto policy. “We did not get an invitation on Monday. We did not get an invitation on Tuesday. We did not get an invitation today on Wednesday,” he said with regards to rumors on X. “So I’m going to operate under the assumption I have not been invited to go to this gathering.”

Cardano Founder Goes To Japan

Hoskinson emphasized that while White House engagement draws attention, substantive regulatory progress will be determined in Congress and administrative agencies rather than in high-profile executive branch meetings. “The President signs the laws; the legislative branch writes the laws,” he noted, pointing to ongoing efforts to pass a stablecoin bill, a market structure bill, and other crypto-related legislation. “The vast majority of the sustainable, permanent action that will be done will be at the legislative branch level.”

The Cardano founder also stressed the complexity of crypto regulation, arguing that defining digital assets and establishing legal frameworks require deeper engagement beyond a single White House meeting. He cited multiple US. agencies—including NIST, the SEC, CFTC, and Treasury—that will need to create technical and legal definitions before federal crypto policy can take shape.

Hoskinson also referenced the challenge of defining “American cryptocurrencies” in the context of proposed tax exemptions. He questioned how regulators would classify assets such as Bitcoin and Ethereum, given their global origins. “Is Ethereum an American crypto? It was founded in Switzerland, the ICO occurred in Switzerland, and the inventor is Canadian,” he noted. “What about Bitcoin? We don’t even know who the founder is.”

Beyond Washington, Hoskinson emphasized the need for international regulatory coordination, pointing out that countries such as Switzerland, the UAE, the UK, and Japan have been regulating cryptocurrencies for years. He questioned whether US policymakers would incorporate these existing frameworks into their approach. “This is a global industry, not just an American industry,” he stated. “Where are the international regulators in this process? What about the FCA in the UK, FINMA in Switzerland, the Singapore Monetary Authority, or Japan’s JFSA?”

Hoskinson’s Japan trip aligns with his broader vision of Cardano as a global blockchain network rather than one tied to any single jurisdiction. Japan has been a crucial market for Cardano since its inception in 2015, with strong community support and regulatory engagement.

“Cardano is for the world,” he said. “It’s why we were in Africa, it’s why we went to Argentina for our constitutional convention, and it’s why we’re heading to Japan now.”

Hoskinson was critical of the crypto industry’s tendency to focus on optics rather than substantive policy work. He cautioned against treating regulatory engagement as a “popularity contest” and dismissed the idea that a White House invitation would determine a project’s long-term success.

“If you believe for a moment that your cryptocurrency is going to do well because somebody went to a vanity affair, you’re a fool,” he said. “It tells you you know absolutely nothing about how the US government works.”

He also noted the political volatility of crypto regulation, referencing past government actions against major players such as Coinbase, Kraken, and Ripple. “Not too long ago, the US government was brutally attacking Coinbase, Kraken, and XRP. Now suddenly ADA is allegedly part of a national reserve? That’s whiplash,” he said.

What’s Next for Cardano?

While US policymakers debate crypto regulation, Hoskinson remains focused on Cardano’s development and adoption efforts. He outlined key priorities, including expanding Bitcoin DeFi capabilities on Cardano, implementing new governance mechanisms through Leios, advancing the Midnight privacy chain project and engaging with international regulators across Europe, the Middle East, and South America.

Hoskinson also reaffirmed his commitment to long-term crypto policy engagement, stating that Cardano’s policy team would continue working with lawmakers. However, he believes regulatory clarity will take years to achieve, requiring bipartisan cooperation and sustained industry involvement.

“Crypto legislation needs to be written in a way that will stand the test of time—just like the Securities Exchange Act of 1933, which is still relevant today,” he said.

At press time, ADA traded at $0.94.