Rather than doubling down on its blockchain roots, the firm is repositioning itself as a broad technology powerhouse — one that aims to compete in fields ranging from quantum research to healthcare systems.
Key Takeaways
- •Input Output rebrands and expands into AI, quantum computing, fintech, and digital identity.
- •The firm aims to strengthen Cardano while addressing broader tech challenges across global markets.
- •A new coalition seeks to bring major stablecoins and custody services to Cardano to boost liquidity.
From a Blockchain Lab to a Multi-Sector Tech Group
The announcement came with a new name: Input Output Group. Shedding the “Global” label is only symbolic on the surface; underneath, the organization is retooling for a future in which blockchain is simply one layer of a much larger portfolio.
Founder Charles Hoskinson explained that the company’s trajectory over the last several years made the rebrand inevitable. Input Output began as a protocol engineering outfit, but its research now spans digital identity, fintech infrastructure, artificial intelligence, cryptography, and privacy-preserving systems.
He framed the overhaul as a commitment to solving high-stakes technological problems across multiple continents — not just contributing to blockchain development.
Why Expand Now? The Tech Landscape Is Changing
Input Output’s pivot fits into a broader pattern in the crypto industry: firms once seen as purely blockchain-focused are increasingly stepping into adjacent innovation sectors.
The timing is no accident. A recent United Nations assessment suggests the AI economy alone could swell to $5 trillion within ten years, reshaping the way society handles identity, data, computation, and security.
Those markets align closely with technologies Input Output has been exploring internally. The firm’s Midnight project — a privacy-first blockchain designed for regulated and institutional environments — is one example of how it hopes to position itself within these emerging industries.
Cardano’s Growing Pains Form the Backdrop
The reinvention also comes during a period of stagnation for Cardano.
Competitors like Solana and Ethereum have continued expanding their ecosystems and stablecoin rails at a far faster pace. Cardano, in contrast, holds under $50 million in stablecoin supply — a tiny figure compared to Ethereum’s massive footprint.
Hoskinson pushed back against the idea that Cardano’s limitations are technical.
According to him, the bottlenecks are tied to coordination, governance, and ecosystem organization, not engineering deficiencies. Cardano, he argued, “can pretty much do anything” from a technical standpoint.
A New Coalition to Close the Gap
To strengthen the network’s position, Input Output has joined forces with Cardano’s other founding organizations to accelerate long-awaited integrations. The focus: Tier-1 stablecoins, institutional custody services, and financial infrastructure that can make the network more appealing to developers and enterprise users.
If successful, the initiative could significantly boost liquidity and modernize the on-chain tooling required for broader adoption.
Where This Leaves Input Output
The rebrand signals a company widening its ambitions, not abandoning its origins.
Cardano remains a core asset — but Input Output is positioning itself to operate on multiple technological frontiers simultaneously. In doing so, it hopes to capture opportunities in sectors where blockchain interacts with AI, identity systems, and next-generation computing.