"Cardano Founder Slams USAID's 'Garbage' Bitcoin Propaganda"

Charles Hoskinson, the founder of Cardano, has publicly criticized the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for allegedly funding projects that portray Bitcoin as a form of right-wing extremism. Hoskinson expressed his frustration on X (formerly Twitter), calling the situation "garbage" and accusing USAID of spreading misinformation.

WikiLeaks recently reported that USAID provided financial support for a book titled "Cyberlibertarianism: The Right-Wing Politics of Digital Technology," which links Bitcoin and cyberlibertarianism to right-wing ideologies. The author, David Golumbia, has previously written about Bitcoin, labeling it as an extremist movement. According to WikiLeaks, Golumbia received at least $80,000 in direct grants from the U.S. government. The book has been added to course reading lists at institutions such as the University of Southern California and Duke University, raising questions about whether the universities fact-checked the claims in the book before its publication.

Hoskinson, who has been vocal about what he considers biased narratives against Bitcoin and blockchain technology, argues that Bitcoin is a decentralized financial system that does not align with any particular political ideology. "So apparently, USAID is funding the production of propaganda that says Bitcoin is right-wing extremism," Hoskinson wrote. "I’m so done with this garbage." Supporters of Bitcoin have frequently rejected claims that it is linked to extremism, emphasizing its role in financial inclusion and economic freedom. Many in the cryptocurrency industry argue that such narratives attempt to discredit decentralized technologies.

The funding controversy comes at a time of uncertainty for USAID. The Trump administration has recently issued an executive order that triggered a funding freeze, affecting the agency’s global humanitarian efforts. Reports indicate that USAID staff have been placed on leave, with no clear direction on the agency’s future. Representative French Hill, chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, has commented on USAID’s spending, stating that Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is reviewing the agency’s budget and financial operations. Hill also noted that Secretary of State Mike Rubio oversees USAID and will play a role in any decisions regarding its future funding.

Despite concerns over USAID’s alleged stance on Bitcoin, the cryptocurrency market remains stable. Bitcoin price is currently above $97,000, showing resilience amid global economic uncertainties. Some analysts believe that the