Cardano creator Charles Hoskinson is working on a new programming language intended to bring transaction instructions and cryptographic verification together. Although he has outlined its main features, the project has no confirmed name, published specifications or launch timeline.
Hoskinson disclosed the development on X on Sunday, saying he is building the language himself with assistance from Lucas Rosa, a software engineer at Input Output Global. Rosa is also a co-creator of Aiken, one of the primary languages used to develop smart contracts on Cardano.
The initiative puts Hoskinson directly involved in developing infrastructure that could influence how future applications are built on the network, rather than leaving the work entirely to his company’s engineering team.
According to Hoskinson, the language will incorporate three main capabilities: transaction intents, proof-carrying data and Groth16 proofs.
Transaction intents let users describe their desired outcome without having to define each individual step. For example, a user could request a token exchange that only completes if the resulting price meets a specified condition, allowing the application to work out the execution process.
Proof-carrying data pairs information with cryptographic evidence that confirms it complies with particular rules. Applications receiving that information can validate the proof without repeating the original calculations.
Groth16 is a cryptographic proof protocol known for generating compact proofs that are relatively quick to verify. It can establish that a requirement has been satisfied while keeping the underlying private data concealed.
Together, these tools could help developers create applications capable of coordinating transactions, enforcing complicated conditions and transferring verifiable information between services. Cardano would be able to check a small cryptographic proof instead of reproducing every computation involved.
The network already supports smart contract development through Plutus, which uses Haskell, and Aiken. Input Output Global has also developed Compact for Midnight, its privacy-oriented blockchain, enabling applications to work with confidential data.
For now, Hoskinson has provided few concrete details about the new language. Its name, technical documentation, public code and expected availability for developers have yet to be announced.
