Ethereum News Today: ADA Hints at $2 Breakout as LINK Gains Institutional Momentum and a New Meme Coin Challenges Pepe

Cardano (ADA) and Chainlink (LINK) have experienced mixed market dynamics in recent weeks, with prices showing lateral movement as investors await key developments. On the Cardano side, analyst Dan Gambardello, a long-time ADA bull, has outlined a strategic approach for selling based on a proprietary "risk score" metric. According to Gambardello, this score—ranging from 0 to 100—acts as a guide for timing exits in the market. A score of 75, he argues, historically has been a critical threshold for major turning points in ADA’s price trajectory, particularly in past bull cycles. Currently, Cardano holds a risk score of 36, which Gambardello classifies as a "moderate buy," indicating the token remains in an early phase of potential growth. He also emphasized the $1 to $3 price range as a viable target for partial profit-taking, especially for long-term holders seeking to lock in gains.

From a technical analysis standpoint, Cardano has been building momentum against a long-term descending trendline, with analysts like Jesse Peralta suggesting that a breakout above $1.10 could trigger a more aggressive upward move. The Wyckoff cycle model further supports this bullish case, with Mr. Banana identifying ADA’s price structure as transitioning into the markup phase. This phase is typically characterized by sustained buying pressure and volume-driven strength, suggesting that Cardano may soon exhibit more dynamic price action. Additionally, fundamental developments such as the potential ADA ETF, the Leios upgrade, and Hydra scaling integrations are reinforcing the broader narrative of Cardano’s long-term viability.

Chainlink, on the other hand, has seen a more modest performance in recent weeks, with LINK trading at $24.03 as of late August 2025. Despite the broader crypto market’s sideways movement, Chainlink has managed to outperform many of its DeFi counterparts, rising approximately 21% over the past month. A key driver for this resilience has been the growing institutional interest in the project, highlighted by recent news of SBI Group, a major Japanese financial conglomerate, forming a strategic partnership with Chainlink. The collaboration aims to enhance tokenized assets, stablecoin infrastructure, and cross-border payments, signaling a broader adoption of Chainlink’s oracle technology in traditional finance.

Meanwhile, the DeFi sector has been closely watching developments around the Chainlink Reserve, which recently increased its holdings of LINK by acquiring an additional 41,105 tokens. This activity underscores the project’s ongoing commitment to a robust and decentralized infrastructure, a core tenet of Chainlink’s value proposition. Furthermore, the recent filing for a U.S. spot Chainlink ETF by Bitwise has added speculative momentum to the token, as it could open new avenues for institutional investment and broader market acceptance.

Amid these developments, a new entrant in the meme coin space has attracted significant attention: Layer Brett (LBRETT). This Ethereum Layer 2-based token is being backed by crypto experts as a potential breakout candidate for the remainder of 2025. Unlike traditional meme coins, Layer Brett differentiates itself through real-world utility, including low gas fees, staking rewards, and fast transaction speeds. Analysts argue that Layer Brett’s integration with Ethereum Layer 2 technology provides a competitive edge over rivals such as Pepe (PEPE) and Shiba Inu (SHIB), both of which lack the same level of scalability and efficiency. With the token currently in a presale and offering early staking rewards of up to 1,350% APY, the project has generated significant interest among retail investors seeking exposure to high-growth opportunities.

The broader market context for both Cardano and Chainlink remains influenced by macroeconomic factors and shifting investor sentiment. While ADA and LINK have yet to break out of their consolidation phases, key technical and fundamental catalysts continue to build momentum. For ADA, the focus remains on whether the token can clear critical resistance levels and maintain bullish momentum. For LINK, the emphasis is on institutional adoption and potential regulatory developments, particularly with the pending ETF filing. As both assets approach pivotal junctures, market participants will be watching closely for signals that could determine the next phase of their respective price trajectories.

Source:

[1] Cardano Bull Reveals When He'll Start Selling His ADA Bag (https://thecryptobasic.com/2025/09/05/cardano-bull-reveals-when-hell-start-selling-his-ada-bag/)

[2] ADA Eyes $2 Breakout as Wyckoff Cycle and Trendline Pressure Align (https://bravenewcoin.com/insights/cardano-price-prediction-ada-eyes-2-breakout-as-wyckoff-cycle-and-trendline-pressure-align)

[3] Layer Brett: The Ethereum Layer 2 Meme Coin Being Backed to Flip Pepe Coin and Shiba Inu by 2026 (https://www.cryptopolitan.com/layer-brett-the-ethereum-layer-2-meme-coin-being-backed-to-flip-pepe-coin-and-shiba-inu-by-2026/)

[4] Layer Brett Price Prediction: 3 Reasons Why LBRETT Is Trending Over Top Altcoins Ripple (XRP) and Solana (SOL) (https://crypto-economy.com/layer-brett-price-prediction-3-reasons-why-lbrett-is-trending-over-top-altcoins-ripple-xrp-and-solana-sol/)

[5] Chainlink Price, LINK Price, Live Charts, and Marketcap (https://www.coinbase.com/price/chainlink)

[6] The DeFi Industry Standard (https://chain.link/use-cases/defi)