Jack Dorsey Warns: Bitcoin Will Fail Without Cardano’s DeFi Boost

Jack Dorsey warns Bitcoin must evolve beyond a store of value.

Cardano offers DeFi tools to boost Bitcoin’s everyday utility.

Real-world use, not hoarding, will determine Bitcoin’s future relevance.

Bitcoin — BTC, may dominate headlines, but Jack Dorsey believes it has more potential. At the Presidio Bitcoin event, he claimed that Bitcoin will fail unless it becomes more than just digital gold. He didn’t mince words. Holding Bitcoin and hoping it grows in value won’t cut it. Dorsey believes real adoption comes from real use. And here’s the twist—he sees Cardano stepping up where Bitcoin stumbles.

Dorsey Challenges the “Hodl-Only” Mentality

Jack Dorsey didn’t speak in riddles. He criticized the community’s heavy reliance on Bitcoin as a store of value. People are hoarding coins like treasure chests during a storm. But what good is treasure if nobody spends it? He pointed to daily life. Meals, coffee, local services—basic needs. In places like Africa and Latin America, Bitcoin isn't a luxury. It’s a lifeline. There, Bitcoin works as money, not just an investment.

Dorsey views that grassroots adoption as Bitcoin’s true heartbeat. These communities use the coin to survive. While the West obsesses over price charts, they focus on function. According to Dorsey, the store-of-value narrative puts Bitcoin on a dangerous pedestal. It freezes it in time. If the coin doesn’t evolve, it risks becoming a digital fossil—admired but unused. Bitcoiners often repeat “just hodl.” But that mindset stalls innovation. Saving only works when spending holds value. If nobody uses Bitcoin daily, it stays stuck in theory. That theory won’t save it.

Cardano Steps in to Power Bitcoin’s DeFi Dreams

While Bitcoin struggles to scale, Cardano builds bridges. Developers are working to bring decentralized finance tools to the Bitcoin ecosystem using Cardano’s tech. Think of it as an upgrade to Bitcoin’s aging engine. Cardano’s architecture enables smart contracts and faster transactions. It’s like giving a flip phone the power of a smartphone. That leap allows Bitcoin to move beyond just being held—it lets it become useful.

Dorsey also took aim at the Lightning Network. He warned against putting all hopes into one solution. According to him, innovation must branch out. Otherwise, Bitcoin risks fading into financial irrelevance. Cardano provides that much-needed branch. It extends Bitcoin’s reach without rewriting its core. It brings life to a stagnant pool. Smart contracts, lending, stablecoins—all possible when Cardano powers Bitcoin’s backend.

If Bitcoin clings only to scarcity, it misses the larger picture. A global currency needs to move, breathe, and evolve. That’s what Cardano offers—a second wind. Bitcoin has a choice: evolve or fade. Dorsey’s message rang loud like a fire alarm. Storing value alone doesn’t change the world. Spending does. Living through crypto does. That’s where Cardano shines.