Key Takeaways
- Hoskinson is the founder of IOHK, creator of Cardano, and a key figure in Ethereum and the Bitcoin Foundation’s education committee.
- Hoskinson studied number theory but left his PhD program. He worked in cryptography through his industry experience rather than formal education.
- He joined cryptocurrency in 2013, founding Invictus Innovations and BitShares. He later helped start Ethereum but left commercial disagreements.
Who Is Charles Hoskinson?
Charles Hoskinson is a technology entrepreneur, mathematician, and philanthropist from Colorado, born in 1987. He is the founder and CEO of IOHK (Input Output), a company that builds blockchain technology and launched Cardano in 2017. Before starting Cardano, Hoskinson helped create Ethereum.
He was the first chairman of the Bitcoin Foundation’s education committee and started the Cryptocurrency Research Group in 2013. Today, he works on teaching people about cryptocurrency, supporting decentralization, and making cryptographic tools easier for everyone to use.
Educational Background
Hoskinson studied analytic number theory at the Metropolitan State University of Denver and the University of Colorado Boulder before entering cryptography through his work in the industry.
Hoskinson has said he started a PhD program but dropped out. The University of Colorado Boulder confirmed he was a part-time undergraduate math student but did not complete his degree.
Hoskinson’s Crypto Career
Hoskinson entered the cryptocurrency industry in 2013 by founding Invictus Innovations Inc. with developer Dan Larimer to launch BitShares. BitShares is a crypto platform run as a decentralized autonomous corporation, a term that Hoskinson created.
Later, in 2013, Hoskinson started the Bitcoin Education Project, an online school where he met Vitalik Buterin. In late 2013, he joined the Ethereum team as a founder with Buterin but left in June 2014. Hoskinson was removed from the team after a disagreement about whether Ethereum should be a commercial project (Hoskinson’s view) or a nonprofit (Buterin’s view).
From Ethereum To Cardano
After leaving Ethereum, Hoskinson took a six-month break to consider returning to mathematics. Later, his former Ethereum colleague, Jeremy Wood, contacted him to create a new IOHK project. IOHK is an engineering company that develops cryptocurrencies and blockchains for businesses, governments, and educational institutions. Its main project is Cardano, a public blockchain and smart contract platform that hosts the ADA cryptocurrency.
Contributions To Blockchain Research
In 2017, Hoskinson and IOHK funded research labs dedicated to blockchain technology at the University of Edinburgh and the Tokyo Institute of Technology. Later, they launched blockchain research projects at the University of Wyoming and Carnegie Mellon University.
In 2020, Hoskinson spoke at the World Economic Forum in Davos, where he said blockchain could bring social change and compared Bitcoin to the first steam engine.
Philanthropy
On September 21, 2021, Charles Hoskinson donated $20 million to Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) to create the Hoskinson Center for Formal Mathematics. The center is part of CMU’s Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences and is led by Professor Jeremy Avigad. Its focus is on using computers to check and verify the accuracy of mathematical proofs. The center plans to build digital libraries of mathematical tools, which will be publicly shared to help advance research in computer science, physics, and economics.
Hoskinson’s Vision for Decentralization
Hoskinson strongly supports decentralization, believing it can change traditional financial systems, governments, and businesses. He often talks about how decentralization can give people more power and improve financial access, especially in developing countries. Cardano is designed to be a decentralized platform for those who don’t have access to regular banking. This idea is part of his bigger goal to help the unbanked with blockchain solutions and promote financial freedom.
Hoskinson’s Impact On The Blockchain Community
Besides his work with Cardano, Hoskinson is well-known for his work in cryptocurrency and blockchain. He regularly shares his thoughts on social media about how blockchain can change industries, not just finance. His YouTube channel is where he shares helpful content on cryptocurrency and blockchain, making him an essential educator.
Partnerships and Collaborations
Hoskinson has built essential partnerships with universities, governments, and companies to help grow blockchain technology. His work with IOHK has led to collaborations with top universities and research groups, making Cardano a leader in blockchain. Through these partnerships, Hoskinson wants to create real-world uses for blockchain and bring it into new industries.
Final Thoughts
Charles Hoskinson is a key leader in blockchain technology. He helped create Ethereum and founded IOHK, which developed Cardano. Hoskinson supports decentralization, aiming to give people more financial power, especially those without access to traditional banking. He also donates to education and blockchain research, partnering with universities to advance the field. His work continues to shape the future of blockchain and its impact on society.
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