Charles Hoskinson, founder of Cardano and CEO of Input Output Global (IOG), revealed in a newly published interview that his company passed on a potential deal with the government of El Salvador due to serious legal and geopolitical concerns—specifically involving a proposed airdrop that would have included members of the MS-13 criminal gang.
“Bukele, for example, wanted to do an airdrop to everybody in El Salvador,” Hoskinson said, referring to President Nayib Bukele. “And we’re like, okay, but MS-13 is on an OFAC list. And so if we give Bitcoin to all these people, we’re facilitating a transfer of value to a terrorist organization. That’s no bueno.”
In another post, Keiser alleged that El Salvador had “standing orders not to let him operate” in the country. These accusations have never been formally substantiated, and Hoskinson has generally not responded to them publicly until now.
At press time, Cardano traded at $0.573.