- Hoskinson and Nazarov discussed Chainlink’s integration into Cardano’s UTXO framework.
- Talks also covered Chainlink support for Midnight’s privacy sidechain.
- Bitcoin was included in discussions on expanding Chainlink oracle use.
Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson has confirmed direct discussions with Chainlink co-founder Sergey Nazarov about potential integration across several blockchain networks. The talks explored how Chainlink’s oracle infrastructure could be adapted to Cardano’s UTXO system while also extending to Midnight and Bitcoin. Although no timeline has been given, the exchange points to growing collaboration between the platforms.
Focus on Cardano’s UTXO Model
According to Hoskinson, Mintern revealed that the talks have been focused on integrating Chainlink into the extended UTXO environment on Cardano. In contrast to Ethereum, which uses an account-based model, Cardano employs a UTXO approach and thus compatibility is a major consideration in the discussions.
Chainlink, a protocol that allows blockchains to reliably connect with external sources of information, may also allow Cardano smart contracts to potentially receive credible off-chain inputs once integrated.
This kind of integration would enhance the decentralized application ability of Cardano. External data streams, like the pricing information, weather, or financial statistics, can be cross-checked and be delivered to the contracts on the Cardano blockchain using Chainlink oracles.
Expansion to Midnight and Bitcoin
Beyond Cardano, Hoskinson confirmed that Midnight, the network’s privacy-focused sidechain, was included in the conversations. Chainlink’s infrastructure could potentially support privacy-enhanced applications on Midnight by enabling data verification without exposing sensitive information.
Bitcoin was also mentioned as part of the dialogue. While Bitcoin’s scripting language is limited, the idea of connecting it with Chainlink’s oracle network introduces a new technical discussion. Bringing external data into Bitcoin’s UTXO framework would mark a significant extension of its current design, though no framework was detailed.
Broader Implications and Next Steps
The discussion shows an interest in enhancing communications among blockchains by using the oracle solutions of Chainlink. Although Cardano already provides its own infrastructure, the incorporation of Chainlink might enable developers to incorporate new tools to create the more advanced applications.
Chainlink has cost advantages of integrating into the Cardano UTXO and Midnight privacy solutions, but also added functionality. Hoskinson confirmed that the meeting with Nazarov was in-depth, but no concrete steps were announced.
The discussions remain exploratory, with future updates expected if the collaboration progresses. Between Cardano, Midnight, and Bitcoin, the talks show a broad scope of consideration for oracle-based integration. Whether through Cardano’s UTXO, Midnight’s privacy features, or Bitcoin’s base layer, the potential inclusion of Chainlink marks an important technical dialogue now underway.
