The price of Cardano (ADA) has experienced a significant decline, dropping by approximately 50% from its November 2024 peak. Despite the current lack of recovery signs in its price action, some analysts, including Nick from the YouTube channel Check Crypto Unfiltered, foresee the potential for a substantial upward movement, possibly leading to new all-time highs.
Nick has outlined three primary factors that could drive the Cardano price to reach unprecedented levels.
Cardano's Fundamentals Are Stronger Than Ever
Currently trading around $0.63, the Cardano token's underlying foundation is considered by Nick to be more robust than during its previous peak above $3. The Cardano ecosystem has seen considerable expansion, incorporating new innovations such as scaling upgrades designed to facilitate faster transactions, even surpassing traditional systems like Visa.
Charles Hoskinson, the founder of Cardano and an early contributor to Ethereum's development, has leveraged years of experience from that project to meticulously construct Cardano's architecture. This deliberate and steady approach has positioned ADA as one of the most stable assets within the cryptocurrency space. While its development pace might appear slower compared to some more volatile projects, Cardano's strategy is geared towards long-term growth. Nick emphasizes that fundamental strength, rather than mere hype, is the more critical indicator, and Cardano's fundamentals are considerably stronger now than during the previous bull run.
Institutional Interest and ETF Momentum Could Lift ADA Price
The second significant reason highlighted by Nick pertains to broader market trends. The anticipated launch of spot Ethereum ETFs is expected to generate considerable momentum across various altcoins, with Cardano potentially being a major beneficiary. Following the approval and trading of these ETFs, institutional capital may increasingly diversify beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum into other promising assets.
Nick suggests that projects like Cardano, Solana, Avalanche, and Chainlink are well-positioned to thrive in this evolving landscape. The rationale is straightforward: strong projects with active ecosystems are more attractive to liquidity when investors seek diversification. He further posits that "the lower we go now, the higher the market could rise later," implying that current price levels might represent a strategic entry point for the next major rally. Nick also suggested that this could evolve into the most significant crypto bull run in history, with ADA potentially standing out due to its combination of growth, innovation, and community strength.
Cardano Ecosystem Growth and Partnerships Are Driving New Optimism
Beyond price discussions, Cardano continues its steady development. Upcoming innovations such as a Bitcoin bridge and the Midnight privacy sidechain are under development, aiming to enhance Cardano's utility and connectivity within the broader Web3 space.
Nick also alluded to potential partnerships, mentioning discussions with major blockchains like Ripple (XRP). While these are not yet confirmed, such discussions underscore Cardano's growing influence in the Web3 ecosystem. Decentralized Finance (DeFi) on Cardano is also experiencing increased activity, with the Cardano Foundation actively promoting stablecoin adoption to stimulate DeFi engagement. These developments are contributing tangible value and are expected to drive future demand for ADA.
Cardano’s Performance Shows It Still Competes
Over the past year, Cardano has demonstrated a performance that surpasses many prominent projects. According to TradingView data, ADA has appreciated by over 74% in this period, slightly outperforming Bitcoin's 56% gain.
While some other cryptocurrencies, such as XRP, have experienced more rapid price increases, ADA's consistent rise reflects strong investor confidence. Nick believes that this steady growth, coupled with its robust fundamentals, positions ADA as one of the most resilient altcoins in the market. Unlike many tokens that experience swift and dramatic fluctuations, Cardano maintains its development trajectory through both periods of high interest and quieter market conditions. Volatility is an inherent characteristic of the cryptocurrency market, and Cardano is no exception. However, the combination of strong fundamentals, an expanding ecosystem, and the potential momentum from ETF approvals makes ADA a project worthy of close observation.

