Criticism branding Cardano as a "ghost chain" has resurfaced.

According to blockchain media outlet The Crypto Basic on Oct. 16, Charles Hoskinson confirmed there was a conversation after remarks that Adam Back, chief executive of Blockstream, advised adopting the unspent transaction output (UTXO) model before Ethereum was launched.

Back said he recommended the UTXO model, warning at the time that Ethereum's virtual machine design could trigger race conditions. With Hoskinson backing that up, attention is again focusing on the extended UTXO (eUTXO) structure adopted by Cardano.

Cardano supporters are stressing technical differentiation and future scaling plans against criticism that it lacks real-world utility. Some in the industry have described Cardano as a "ghost chain" whose presence weakened after peaking in 2018. Cardano, however, argues recent changes are shifting that perception.

A Cardano figure identified as Dori said more people in the crypto industry are re-evaluating Cardano's value. Dori cited trust in the project as the reason the community held together despite years of criticism. Supporters stayed not simply expecting airdrops or financial rewards, but because they believed in the direction Cardano pursues, Dori said.

David Gokhshtein also argued Cardano deserves a higher valuation. He pointed in particular to plans to connect with Bitcoin, saying, "If you understand what they are building you will realize it’s time to start taking ADA seriously."

Cardano's Bitcoin integration plan focuses on enabling Bitcoin-based funds and assets to be used in Cardano applications without changing Bitcoin's core software. If implemented, Bitcoin holders would also be able to use Cardano's decentralised finance (DeFi) services. Cardano already supports smart contracts and digital assets, and financial applications such as decentralised exchanges (DEX) and lending platforms are also in operation.

Gokhshtein cited expanded use of DeFi and stablecoins, the scalability project Hydra and governance upgrades as factors for ADA growth, in addition to Bitcoin integration. He added that these elements do not guarantee a rise in ADA's price. Bitcoin trends, regulation and whether Cardano applications see actual use could all have an impact, he said.

Comparisons over technical structure have also resurfaced. Bitcoin uses the UTXO model to track spendable funds, while Ethereum uses an account-based system. Cardano applies eUTXO, which supports smart contracts and programmable transactions. The differences are directly tied to how each blockchain processes transactions and runs applications.

Ultimately, market attention is on whether Cardano can change its assessment with claims of technical superiority alone. A key point to watch is whether Cardano's touted Bitcoin linkage, scalability and governance overhaul lead to more users, funds and network activity. Cardano supporters believe these changes could shake the "ghost chain" label raised by critics.

"@Cointelegraph I can confirm. I was in that call"