Cardano (ADA) founder wins $50,000 bet on Alonzo launching on time 🚨 This article is 3 years old...
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Cardano (ADA) founder wins $50,000 bet on Alonzo launching on time
By donating the proceeds to charity, the crypto industry shows it's not all about the relentless pursuit of gains.
2 min read
Updated: Sep. 14, 2021 at 2:45 pm UTC
Cover art/illustration via CryptoSlate. Image includes combined content which may include AI-generated content.
Input Output Global (IOG) CEO Charles Hoskinson won a $50,000 bet, with Polymarket, on Cardano launching smart contracts on time. The proceeds will go to a charity of Hoskinson’s choice.
So since @PolymarketHQ lost, they have to donate $50,000 to the charity of my choice. I thought about it and found a small one with a really good heart https://t.co/dIgeqCrEuK
— Charles Hoskinson (@IOHK_Charles) September 13, 2021
Given IOG’s patchy history with meeting rollout deadlines, some had questioned whether smart contracts would be live on deadline day. Nonetheless, Alonzo smart contracts officially launched late Sunday evening.
But how did Polymarket, and other skeptics, respond?
Cardano and the scientific method
It’s well known that Cardano’s “scientific method” focuses on accountability, repeatable processes, and iterative testing. While that’s all good and well, the downside to this is often slow progress.
This became apparent last year, as IOG was in the process of launching the Shelley phase. Delayed deadlines drew much criticism on the grounds that Cardano was all talk but no substance.
Hoskinson has on many occasions defended the scientific approach to building blockchains. He said his priority lies in getting things right the first time around.
Commenting on this recently, Hoskinson said this is the mature and responsible way to nullify system failure. Which, in the long run, benefits users in terms of preventing loss.
Comparing this to Ethereum’s heuristic approach, Hoskinson said:
“I just happen to believe the way we do things is a bit more mature and responsible because the way that we do things results in a better assurance that the systems we build won’t fail.”
A heuristic approach refers to problem-solving by any and all means, even shortcuts, to get things done. Those solutions may not be ideal, but they will do under the circumstances.
Polymarket responds
Polymarket describes itself as “an information markets platform that lets you trade on the world’s most highly-debated topics (e.g. coronavirus, politics, current events, etc).” Incidentally, it runs on the Ethereum blockchain.
On losing the bet with Hoskinson, Polymarket made good on the deal and graciously accepted they were wrong about smart contracts on Cardano not launching on time.
“Yesterday@Cardanomonumentally launched Smart Contracts & $ADA believers won >$1m on Polymarket.com
At Polymarket, we believe in giving credit where it’s due & sticking to our word. We stand corrected & donated $50k on behalf of@IOHK_Charles& the Cardano Community.”
Hoskinson selected the Magic Yarn Project, which helps children battling cancer by crafting character wigs to cover hair loss due to chemotherapy treatment.
But that’s not all. The Co-founder of Polygon, Sandeep Nailwal, also took the bet that Cardano would not make it. This time for a $20,000 wager.
Although Hoskinson has prompted Nailwal, so far, he has failed to respond.
Come on, Sandeep, it’s time to pay up.
Looks like we got another donation coming https://t.co/Km6gsL8S6i
— Charles Hoskinson (@IOHK_Charles) September 14, 2021
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Author 
Samuel Wan
Samuel Wan, a finance professional turned full-time crypto content creator, values individual autonomy and personal freedom in his pursuits.
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Cardano is a decentralized public blockchain and cryptocurrency project and is fully open source.
Charles Hoskinson, based in Colorado, stands out as a prominent figure in the blockchain and cryptocurrency sphere.