Cardano Founder Says He’s Not Selling Despite $3B Paper Loss

During a public livestream from Tokyo on February 5, Charles Hoskinson addressed the sharp downturn sweeping through crypto markets, disclosing that his personal holdings have declined by more than $3 billion in unrealized value.

The comments came as prices across major digital assets remained under pressure amid one of the most volatile weeks of 2026.

Rather than striking a defensive tone, Hoskinson framed the losses as an expected feature of market cycles, signaling no change in his long-term positioning.

Putting the Scale of Losses on the Table

Hoskinson quantified his unrealized losses directly during the livestream, stating that his portfolio has fallen by more than $3 billion in paper value. He emphasized the disclosure was not meant to dramatize his situation, but to underscore that founders and long-term participants are absorbing the same drawdown impacting the broader market.

“I’ve lost more money than anyone listening to this, over $3 billion now,” he told viewers, positioning his experience as representative of the current environment rather than exceptional.

Why Selling Isn’t on the Table

Addressing speculation about whether he would liquidate assets to preserve remaining value, Hoskinson rejected the premise outright. He questioned the idea that financial outcomes were the primary motivation behind his involvement in crypto, arguing that his commitment extends beyond market cycles.

His remarks reflected a clear “hold” stance, dismissing the notion that short-term price declines should dictate long-term participation or strategic conviction.

Cardano Price Action Mirrors Broader Risk-Off Mood

Hoskinson’s comments coincided with continued weakness in Cardano (ADA), which fell roughly 4.11% during the session. The move tracked closely with broader market behavior, as risk-off sentiment weighed on both large-cap and alternative tokens.

The price action appeared driven less by Cardano-specific developments and more by systemic deleveraging across the crypto ecosystem.

A Volatile Backdrop Defines the Week

The livestream took place amid a series of destabilizing events across the market. Bitcoin briefly fell toward $60,000, triggering billions of dollars in liquidations and accelerating downside momentum.

At the same time, reports of institutional de-risking surfaced, including large BTC transfers by MARA Holdings, while mining companies such as IREN and CleanSpark reported steep revenue misses and saw their shares sell off sharply. Together, these developments reinforced the sense of a liquidity-driven correction rather than isolated stress.

A Familiar Perspective From Early Builders

Hoskinson’s defiant tone aligns with a broader pattern among early crypto founders, many of whom view sharp drawdowns as cyclical rather than existential. From this perspective, price volatility reflects market structure and leverage dynamics, not a failure of the underlying technology.

That outlook contrasts with shorter-term investor behavior, which has remained sensitive to liquidation risk, institutional flows, and macro-driven volatility.

What His Message Signals

The significance of Hoskinson’s remarks lies less in the size of the reported loss and more in the posture it communicates. By openly acknowledging the drawdown while rejecting the idea of exit, he reinforced a long-horizon mindset that prioritizes network development over market timing.

As crypto markets continue to absorb volatility, his stance highlights the divide between cyclical price action and foundational conviction, an increasingly relevant distinction as the industry navigates another stress test.

The post Cardano Founder Says He’s Not Selling Despite $3B Paper Loss appeared first on ETHNews.