Cardano ADA Whale Accumulation Surges 200M Tokens Post-Dips Institutional Confidence Grows

Cardano (ADA) has experienced a notable surge in whale accumulation during Q3 2025, with large investors purchasing an estimated 200 million tokens, valued at around $157 million, following recent price dips [1]. This activity builds on a similar 420 million ADA accumulation reported in April 2025, indicating sustained institutional and large-scale investor confidence in the proof-of-stake blockchain [1]. Whale holdings now account for 10.3% of ADA’s total supply, signaling a strengthening belief in the token’s undervaluation and long-term potential [1].

This accumulation is occurring against a backdrop of broader market consolidation and is being supported by rising institutional custody. Approximately $900 million in ADA is now held on platforms such as Coinbase Custody and BitGo [1]. Analysts attribute this trend in part to the pending Grayscale ADA spot ETF filing, which has an 83% forecasted approval chance [1]. If approved, the ETF could unlock billions in new liquidity and increase ADA’s accessibility to a broader investor base [1].

Technically, ADA has shown promising signs in Q3 2025. The token has broken through key resistance levels, forming an inverse head-and-shoulders pattern and a golden cross in its moving averages [1]. On-chain metrics, including On-Balance Volume (OBV), continue to trend upward, reinforcing that buying pressure is concentrated among large holders [1]. ADA is currently consolidating within a symmetrical triangle between $0.85 and $0.98, and a clean breakout above $0.98 could lead to a potential rally toward $1.00–$1.10, with mid-term price targets as high as $1.50 or even $3.00 [1].

Derivatives activity also reflects growing optimism. The funding rate in ADA futures is currently positive at 0.0072%, indicating that long positions are dominating the market [1]. The MVRV Z-score has increased by 40% year-to-date, signaling overbought conditions and strong value retention among large holders. Meanwhile, the profit-to-loss ratio stands at 4.808, suggesting that most ADA holders are in a profitable position [1]. These metrics collectively highlight a strong alignment of on-chain and derivatives indicators supporting a potential upward move.

Fundamentally, Cardano continues to develop with key upgrades such as the Midnight privacy enhancement and the Hydra scaling solution [1]. These advancements, along with growing institutional partnerships and regulatory clarity—particularly under the Clarity Act, which classifies ADA as a U.S. commodity—have improved the platform’s legitimacy and appeal [1]. Although the total value locked (TVL) in Cardano currently stands at $366 million, which is lower than Ethereum or Solana, the platform’s research-driven development and real-world applications position it as a strong contender in the layer-1 blockchain space [1].

ADA’s current price consolidation offers a strategic entry point for investors with a medium to long-term outlook [1]. The approval of the Grayscale ADA ETF could act as a catalyst, potentially pushing the price toward $1.50 or higher [1]. However, investors are advised to remain cautious of governance-related risks and to consider using stop-loss orders to mitigate downside exposure [1].

The ongoing accumulation by whales, combined with favorable technical and derivatives indicators, suggests that ADA may be undervalued ahead of a potential multi-fold rally [1]. While reaching $10 remains speculative, the increasing institutional interest and Cardano’s maturation as a scalable blockchain create a compelling case for investors seeking high-conviction exposure in the altcoin market [1].

Source:

[1] AInvest. (2025, August 12). Cardano (ADA): Whale Accumulation, Technical Bullishness, Derivatives Sentiment Signal Strategic Entry Point. https://www.ainvest.com/news/cardano-ada-whale-accumulation-technical-bullishness-derivatives-sentiment-signal-strategic-entry-point-2508/