Cardano Price Nears $1 as Whale Trades Surge 1000%

Cardano’s (ADA) price has surged closer to the $1 level amid a dramatic increase in whale trading activity, with large transactions surging over 1,000% in a week. The movement has coincided with Grayscale’s filing for a spot ADA ETF, which analysts believe has amplified bullish sentiment across the market [1]. This development has triggered a breakout from a months-long trading range, with ADA clearing the $0.90 resistance level on its third attempt [2]. On-chain data indicates that social engagement has also spiked, with ADA-related mentions rising by over 20,000, signaling heightened interest from retail and institutional traders [2].

The surge in whale activity—defined as transactions above $100,000—has significantly altered ADA’s liquidity profile. Large holders have increased their stakes, with trades in this bracket rising from 86 to over 1,000 within seven days. Analysts have pointed out that such accumulation could reduce available liquidity, potentially amplifying short-term volatility [1]. At the same time, ADA’s price has risen more than 30% in the past week, outpacing many other major Layer-1 tokens [2]. The ADA/BTC ratio, a metric that measures relative strength against Bitcoin, has hit a five-month high, further underlining the token’s performance [2].

Quarterly gains have also been significant, with ADA posting a 71% increase compared to the same period last quarter. While Ethereum (ETH) outperformed with a 90% gain, ADA’s performance still outpaced Solana (SOL), highlighting its growing appeal among investors [2]. Derivatives data reinforces this trend, with open interest in ADA futures rising by over 25% in the past 24 hours to approximately $1.88 billion [2]. This increase is more than five times the growth rate of the largest altcoin during the same period, suggesting a rally driven by leveraged positions rather than pure spot demand [2].

Despite the bullish indicators, the $1 level remains a significant supply zone, with on-chain liquidity maps showing heavy resting orders in that region. Open interest and leverage levels suggest that a direct move through $1 could face resistance, particularly if the market experiences a pullback [2]. However, analysts note that if spot demand continues to grow and whale activity remains strong, the third attempt to break this level could succeed [2]. At press time, ADA’s price was approaching $1, supported by the ETF filing, whale inflows, and rising social engagement [1].

Whale trading activity has also shown signs of profit-taking, with large transaction counts declining from their peak to 937 at press time. This suggests that some institutional and high-net-worth investors are locking in gains [2]. Market structure reveals two concentrated liquidity clusters below current prices, which could act as support during a potential correction. Analysts caution that in a high-leverage environment, hitting these zones could trigger rapid price moves [2].

While some market observers have speculated that ADA could reach $6 by early 2025 [3], such forecasts remain speculative and not supported by current on-chain or market data. The immediate focus remains on whether ADA can sustain its momentum and clear the $1 level without facing a significant reversal. Investors are advised to monitor whale activity, derivatives positioning, and broader macroeconomic trends as key indicators of future price direction [1].

Source:

[1] TheCoinRepublic – [https://www.thecoinrepublic.com/2025/08/15/cardano-price-nears-1-as-whale-trades-surge-over-1000/](https://www.thecoinrepublic.com/2025/08/15/cardano-price-nears-1-as-whale-trades-surge-over-1000/)

[2] CoinCentral – [https://coincentral.com/cardano-and-dogecoin-reverse-gains-in-market-rout-smart-money-pivots-into-a-new-coin-dubbed-xrp-2-0/](https://coincentral.com/cardano-and-dogecoin-reverse-gains-in-market-rout-smart-money-pivots-into-a-new-coin-dubbed-xrp-2-0/)

[3] CryptoDnes.bg – [https://cryptodnes.bg/en/news/pressrelease/page/35/](https://cryptodnes.bg/en/news/pressrelease/page/35/)