In a recent interview with Altcoin Daily, Charles Hoskinson, founder of Cardano and one of Ethereum’s original co-founders, shared a bold prediction: Ethereum might not survive the next 10 to 15 years. The comment has sparked intense discussion in the crypto world, especially given Ethereum’s position as the second-largest cryptocurrency by market cap.
Hoskinson expressed concern over Ethereum’s growing reliance on Layer 2 (L2) networks for scalability. According to him, these networks, instead of solving Ethereum’s core limitations, are pulling value away from the main chain. He likened Ethereum’s situation to that of tech giants like Myspace and Blackberry—innovators that ultimately collapsed under competition and mismanagement.
“Ethereum is becoming a victim of its own success,” Hoskinson warned, suggesting that the platform’s ever-increasing complexity could be its downfall.
His remarks didn’t go unnoticed. Critics fired back quickly, accusing him of being hypocritical.
“The guy who copied Ethereum and made it worse is now predicting its death?” one user wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
But others supported his view, highlighting Ethereum’s delays, complicated architecture, and high gas fees as signs that the project is slowing down. Even those who disagreed admitted that his concerns weren’t entirely unfounded.
Despite the backlash, Ethereum developers are actively pushing ahead. Scroll, one of the leading L2 solutions for Ethereum, just released its biggest upgrade yet - Euclid. This update promises to cut gas fees by up to 90% and improve performance, a major step forward since Scroll’s launch.
The move shows Ethereum isn’t backing down - even as blockchain rivals like Solana continue to grow their communities and tech ecosystems.
Ethereum’s market performance reflects ongoing uncertainty. ETH remains down nearly 360% from its all-time high of $4,878. With faster and more scalable platforms gaining attention, investors are increasingly considering alternatives.
Hoskinson’s comparison to tech flops might sound dramatic, but it raises valid concerns. Ethereum is at a crossroads. As it commits to upgrades and navigates complex changes, it must prove that it can remain the leader in decentralized finance and smart contracts.
Whether it continues to dominate or fades into history - like Myspace - will depend on how well it adapts in the coming years.
Ethereum’s performance in 2025 has been disappointing, with many in the crypto space discussing the reasons behind its struggles. Analysts suggest that Ethereum's economic model is weakening due to Layer 2 (L2) networks like Arbitrum and Optimism taking value away from Ethereum itself. High gas fees and regulatory uncertainty are also seen as factors contributing to its poor performance. Moreover, institutional interest in Ethereum remains lower than that in Bitcoin, which affects its market value.
However, Ethereum’s upcoming Pectra and Fusaka upgrades, set for later this year, are expected to address these issues. These updates will help reduce network congestion, making transactions faster and more efficient.
Even the most bullish of Cardano supporters acknowledge that Cardano will only potentially surpass Ethereum within 18 to 20 years.
As the altcoin season begins, the short-term gains make Ethereum a lucrative buying option. However, the long-term promises of this programmable blockchain make it a viable long-term crypto investment.