- Charles Hoskinson claims Cardano’s true TVL would be $14B if staking were included.
- Traditional TVL metrics understate Cardano’s activity compared to Ethereum and Solana.
- If accepted, this could boost investor sentiment and drive new capital inflows into ADA.
Cardano has found itself back in the spotlight, not because of a flashy upgrade or sudden rally, but thanks to its founder Charles Hoskinson. He recently dropped a bold claim: if staking amounts were included in Total Value Locked (TVL), Cardano’s figure would stand at a staggering $14 billion.
Rethinking TVL and Market Sentiment
Traditionally, TVL only accounts for assets actively deployed in DeFi protocols—lending, liquidity pools, yield farms, and so on. Delegated staking, a massive part of proof-of-stake ecosystems like Cardano, usually isn’t included. Hoskinson’s argument is that this underrepresents ADA’s actual network activity and overall economic weight.
If the broader crypto market accepted staking as part of TVL, it could shift how Cardano is perceived relative to rivals like Ethereum or Solana. More importantly, it might boost investor confidence, as $14B instantly puts ADA in a far more competitive position within the DeFi race.
Potential Impact on ADA Price
This framing could have ripple effects beyond just bragging rights. A larger recognized TVL number often attracts more institutional interest, reinforces narratives of ecosystem strength, and can even serve as a catalyst for inflows. For ADA’s price, that means sentiment-driven momentum could add fuel to the current upswing.
At the same time, Hoskinson’s claim stirs up a deeper debate: should proof-of-stake networks redefine TVL standards to reflect their unique economic models? If so, Cardano may be among the biggest beneficiaries of that shift.
Looking Ahead
While the numbers sound bold, it’s less about the figure itself and more about how the market chooses to measure value. If Hoskinson’s push sparks a rethink across DeFi analytics, it could set the stage for a broader recognition of ADA’s strength. Until then, Cardano’s ecosystem keeps building—and the conversation around what counts as “locked value” may determine just how much attention ADA attracts next cycle.
