Key Insights:
- Chainlink and Cardano in talks for potential oracle integration.
- Cardano explores XRP and Bitcoin for expanded DeFi ecosystem.
- Lace wallet to support XRP alongside Cardano’s growing assets.
Charles Hoskinson, the founder of Cardano, has revealed that discussions about a potential integration between Cardano and Chainlink are ongoing. According to Hoskinson, although no official partnership has been established, the leadership at Chainlink has shown a willingness to collaborate.
However, the business side of Chainlink has caused some delays, as it prioritizes other projects. The two factions within Chainlink—leadership and business—have created a situation where integration has yet to move forward.
Despite this, Hoskinson is optimistic that progress could soon be made as Chainlink prepares to release a self-serve integration library. This could open the door for Cardano to implement Chainlink’s services, such as decentralized oracles, into its ecosystem.
Business Side Holds Back Progress
Hoskinson explained that while the leadership of Chainlink is enthusiastic about working with Cardano, there have been delays due to internal business priorities. Chainlink’s leadership, including CEO Sergey Nazarov, maintains a strong relationship with Hoskinson. They often discuss potential collaborations but have yet to finalize any concrete plans.
Hoskinson noted that despite offering to provide the development resources needed to facilitate the integration, the business side of Chainlink has not prioritized Cardano’s relatively smaller decentralized finance (DeFi) ecosystem. While there have been ongoing discussions, the release of a self-service integration library could be the key to bridging this gap. Once available, Cardano developers may be able to integrate Chainlink without waiting for formal negotiations, expediting the process.
Meanwhile, Cardano is also exploring other oracle options to ensure that its DeFi ecosystem remains robust. Platforms like Pith and Flare are being considered as alternatives, alongside potential homegrown solutions. The goal is to provide the Cardano network with reliable oracles for its smart contracts, whether or not Chainlink ultimately becomes a part of the ecosystem.
Cardano Expands Its Ecosystem with Bitcoin
In addition to its potential integration with Chainlink, Cardano is making strides in integrating Bitcoin and XRP into its ecosystem. In April 2025, Cardano’s Lace wallet added support for Bitcoin, marking an important milestone in its push to include Bitcoin in its DeFi platform.
Although this support is still in its early stages and does not yet constitute full Bitcoin DeFi, it is a step toward a larger vision of cross-chain compatibility.
Hoskinson has hinted that the integration of Bitcoin into Cardano’s DeFi ecosystem is closer than most might expect. This move aligns with Cardano’s broader goal of building a multi-chain environment that incorporates major cryptocurrencies.
Notably, Cardano’s ongoing partnerships include BitcoinOS, which will leverage zero-knowledge (ZK) technology for trustless Bitcoin bridging. Moreover, Cardano is also working on privacy-focused protocols like Midnight and Midgard to facilitate Bitcoin staking without the need for wrapped tokens. These developments are part of Cardano’s long-term strategy to expand its DeFi capabilities.
Meanwhile, Hoskinson has also confirmed that Cardano is pursuing full integration with XRP.
It will include cross-chain interoperability projects which will include creation of XRP powered DeFi tools and liquidity pools. The initial element of this integration is the Glacier Airdrop that is planned to take place in the fourth quarter 2025. The airdrop will dispense Midnight tokens to users in other blockchains, including owners of XRP, and it should encourage cross-chain adoption.
Lace Wallet to include RLUSD Stablecoin and XRP
Integration with XRP will also involve the Lace wallet created by Cardano. New Lace is projected to include the possibility of using XRP, and all its users will be able to work with this cryptocurrency along with ADA.
This release is a follow-up to the April 2025 Lace release which introduced support of the Bitcoin currency. As Cardano keeps extending the features of its wallet, the addition of XRP to these features will provide additional options to clients when handling their assets on various blockchains.
Simultaneously, Cardano is also considering how it would integrate the Ripple RLUSD stablecoin. There is a discussion between Cardano and Ripple to introduce RLUSD to its network. In case of success, it may represent a boost to the Cardano DeFi space as it will provide additional stable assets, U.S. dollar backed. Both Ripple and Cardano find a great potential in this cooperation, and it may both expand the application of RLUSD and enhance liquidity in the Cardano system.
Disclaimer
This article is for informational purposes only and provides no financial, investment, or other advice. The author or any people mentioned in this article are not responsible for any financial loss that may occur from investing in or trading. Please do your research before making any financial decisions.
The post Charles Hoskinson Says Chainlink is Coming to Cardano appeared first on The Market Periodical.
