The Island, The Ocean, and The Pond: A Vision for the Future of Cardano Development
Charles Hoskinson’s video titled The Island, The Ocean, and The Pond, posted now three years ago, holds significant meaning within the Cardano community and the broader blockchain space. In this video, Hoskinson uses a metaphor to describe the different phases and approaches of the blockchain ecosystem, offering a vision of Cardano’s future and its role in global financial systems. Below I’ve transcribed and summarized the video for those who prefer to read than watch! (it’s also much easier to refer back to this way).
“Soon” is Coming: What Developers Can Expect
Hoskinson began by addressing the community’s anticipation, having recently teased several forthcoming announcements. Over the next 60 to 90 days, Cardano plans to unveil developments that will make the ecosystem more attractive and functional for developers.
Many developers have inquired about when they can start building decentralized applications (dApps) on Cardano. The answer, as Hoskinson revealed, is that a new development network (DevNet) will soon be available, allowing developers to build and test their dApps, DeFi applications, and more, all with the assurance that their code will run seamlessly on Cardano’s mainnet.
The Island, The Ocean, and The Pond: A Developer’s Journey
To explain Cardano’s ecosystem, Hoskinson introduced three symbolic environments: the pond (Ethereum), the ocean (mainstream programming languages), and the island (Cardano’s future vision).
The Pond: Ethereum and Early Blockchain Development
Hoskinson referred to Ethereum as “the pond”—a place where cryptocurrency developers currently reside. While Ethereum and similar networks have fostered innovation in decentralized applications and smart contracts, Hoskinson emphasized that it remains a limited space. While Ethereum boasts a small but passionate group of developers, it lacks the scale and integration seen in broader mainstream developer communities.
Ethereum’s virtual machines, including the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM), Solidity, and other tools, have provided a playground for early blockchain experimentation. However, in the broader context of global software development, it’s only a small part of what’s possible.
The Ocean: Mainstream Programming Languages and Developers
In contrast to Ethereum’s pond, Hoskinson presented “the ocean”—the world of mainstream programming languages and developers. This includes millions of developers using languages like Java, C++, Python, and JavaScript, as well as established development ecosystems like the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) and .NET.
Cardano’s long-term vision is to bridge this vast ocean of mainstream developers into the blockchain space. Hoskinson explained that by creating tools and networks that support familiar programming environments, Cardano can encourage mainstream developers to bring their applications, ideas, and innovations onto the Cardano platform.
The Island: Cardano’s Perfect Ecosystem
Finally, Hoskinson introduced “the island”—Cardano’s ideal development environment. This island represents a future where developers can build highly optimized, scalable, and secure applications on Cardano, powered by its extended UTXO model and Plutus, Cardano’s native smart contract platform.
The island will offer a seamless development experience, where applications run efficiently and are easy to build, upgrade, and deploy. Cardano’s ongoing development of multi-asset support and high throughput, coupled with the Ouroboros consensus mechanism, promises a future where the Cardano ecosystem provides a robust foundation for scalable, real-world applications.
DevNets and Developer Support: Opening the Door to the Future
Hoskinson also announced that Cardano will soon be launching a DevNet, providing developers with the ability to write applications using Yella, a Cardano-specific virtual machine built in collaboration with Runtime Verification. This DevNet will serve as a bridge between developers and the Cardano mainnet, with the first version expected to launch in December 2020 or January 2021.
Additionally, Cardano will maintain Ethereum interoperability through a dedicated DevNet for the EVM. This will allow developers who are familiar with Ethereum’s tools, such as Solidity and Truffle, to migrate their applications to Cardano seamlessly.
Funding Opportunities for Developers
In addition to the new development environments, Hoskinson shared that Project Catalyst, Cardano’s innovation fund, will allocate $500,000 in Fund 3 specifically for developers building dApps and DeFi applications. This funding will support developers in creating the next generation of applications on Cardano, with additional funds growing over time.
A Holistic Strategy for Blockchain Development
The island, ocean, and pond represent the multifaceted approach Cardano is taking to blockchain development. Cardano isn’t just focused on winning over cryptocurrency developers—it’s aiming to attract the entire global software development community.
By offering a holistic strategy that includes support for existing Ethereum developers, integration with mainstream programming languages, and the creation of a perfect development environment on Cardano, Hoskinson believes that Cardano can become a leader in the blockchain space.
As Cardano continues to expand its infrastructure and developer tools, the next 90 days promise to bring even more exciting announcements. Developers will soon be able to start building their applications on Cardano, and Hoskinson is confident that Cardano’s superior technology and ecosystem will pave the way for mass adoption in the years to come.
Key Takeaways
- The Island: This represents blockchain ecosystems that are isolated, focusing on creating their own internal worlds and protocols. They don’t actively seek to interact or connect with other blockchain ecosystems or external financial systems. Many early blockchain projects, including Bitcoin, could be seen as islands—they are self-contained and prioritize their own functionality over external collaboration.
- The Pond: The pond refers to blockchain networks that are slightly more open than islands but still limited in their scope. They connect to some other ecosystems but maintain a somewhat restricted approach, serving niche markets. For example, Ethereum at the time could be considered a pond because, although it introduced smart contracts and decentralized applications, it was primarily focused on its own ecosystem and protocols.
- The Ocean: This is the ideal future that Hoskinson envisions for Cardano—a fully interconnected and open ecosystem where different blockchain networks and traditional financial systems can work together seamlessly. The “ocean” represents a global, inclusive financial system where anyone, anywhere, can access and interact with blockchain technologies. Cardano’s goal is to become part of this ocean, facilitating interoperability between blockchains and connecting to existing financial institutions.
The video was significant because it illustrated Hoskinson’s belief in Cardano’s potential to surpass other blockchain projects by creating a more open, inclusive, and scalable system. He emphasized Cardano’s long-term vision of solving real-world problems, particularly in underserved regions, and ensuring financial inclusion through blockchain technology.
The metaphor also encouraged the community to think beyond technical capabilities and focus on the impact blockchain can have on creating a more interconnected and fair financial system.
Conclusion
With the island, the ocean, and the pond, Cardano is set to revolutionize the blockchain development landscape. Whether you’re an Ethereum developer, a mainstream software engineer, or a visionary ready to explore new possibilities, Cardano is building the tools, infrastructure, and community to support your journey. The future of Cardano development is bright, and Hoskinson’s vision promises a thriving ecosystem for developers to bring their ideas to life.
Leave a Reply