Cardano Whales Accumulate $200M in ADA as Traders Eye $10 Breakout

Key Takeaways

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  Whales accumulated 348 million ADA (approximately $204 million) in four days after the price dipped below $0.50.
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  Cardano’s DeFi Total Value Locked (TVL) rose by 17.6% to $341.6 million in the third quarter of 2025, supported by ecosystem expansion.
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  Technical indicators such as the MACD and RSI suggest a possible short-term rebound.
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  Market sentiment has strengthened due to speculation among traders about a potential $10 breakout.
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  Cardano’s staking and reward mechanism continues to maintain controlled ADA issuance.

Recent findings from the analytics platform Santiment indicate that large investors, commonly referred to as whales and sharks, have been actively accumulating ADA after the token briefly fell below the $0.50 price level.

Within a span of just four days, these major holders acquired 348 million ADA, valued at approximately $204 million. This accumulation represents about 0.94% of the total circulating supply and coincides with a broader recovery phase for the cryptocurrency market following several months of correction.

On-Chain Growth Strengthens Cardano’s Fundamentals

Cardano's ecosystem has demonstrated remarkable resilience throughout the third quarter of 2025. Its decentralized finance (DeFi) total value locked (TVL) experienced a growth of 17.6% quarter-over-quarter, reaching $341.6 million. This increase was primarily supported by the expansion of projects like Liqwid and a growing diversity of decentralized protocols within the network. Furthermore, activity in the non-fungible token (NFT) and stablecoin sectors has also strengthened, indicating broader adoption across the Cardano network.

Concurrently, ADA's staking structure remains stable. Approximately 0.3% of the reserve ADA is distributed every five days to stake pool operators (SPOs). The rewards are influenced by factors such as performance and the amount of stake pledged, which helps maintain consistent participation and control over the supply as the total ADA supply approaches its 45 billion cap.

Technical Indicators Hint at a Recovery

Cardano's daily chart displays signs of stabilization around the $0.60 mark. The Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) indicator has turned positive, and the Relative Strength Index (RSI) is positioned near 46. These indicators suggest a potential rebound from oversold conditions. Combined with the observed whale activity, these technical signals point towards a shift toward renewed market optimism.

Traders Speculate on a $10 Target

The positive sentiment has extended to social media platforms. A post from the account Mintern, which is associated with the Minswap decentralized exchange, gained significant attention after proposing that "Cardano ($ADA) is gearing up for a breakout to $10." This post included a chart projecting a sharp upward trend if ADA confirms its breakout pattern. While this outlook is speculative, such community-driven enthusiasm frequently correlates with periods of increased volatility and trading activity for ADA.

Outlook: Momentum Building Across the Ecosystem

Despite the recent downturn in the broader market, Cardano's fundamental strengths and investor confidence appear to be strengthening. Factors such as significant whale accumulation, increasing DeFi engagement, and improved on-chain activity suggest that ADA may be entering a new accumulation phase. This phase could potentially set the stage for its next major price movement, particularly if Bitcoin maintains stability above key support levels.