Ethereum News Today: Whale Moves and Retail Despair Signal ADA's Possible $1 Turnaround

Cardano (ADA) has shown signs of whale accumulation amid declining retail sentiment, sparking speculation about potential price movement toward $1. According to Santiment data, the ratio of bullish to bearish commentary for ADA dropped to 1.5:1, the lowest in five months. This bearish retail crowd has historically coincided with market bottoms, as seen in mid-August when a similar sentiment shift preceded a price surge. Analysts suggest that whale activity—often seen during such periods—may be building, with traders selling out of frustration potentially marking a local low. This divergence between sentiment and price is often a reliable short-term signal in crypto markets, particularly when larger players step in to accumulate.

Recent on-chain data supports this narrative, showing a potential shift in ADA’s positioning. Whale activity has been particularly notable, with some analysts observing that large investors are building up their holdings. One source notes that over 150 million ADA has been accumulated by whales in recent weeks, stabilizing the price around $0.85 and reducing downside risk. Such accumulation patterns are typically viewed as a precursor to potential price rallies. If this trend continues, ADA could attract larger market participants, further reinforcing its upward trajectory.

In parallel, the broader crypto landscape has also seen significant whale movements. For example, Ethereum experienced a large 24-hour transfer of over 95,000 ETH, with both inflows and outflows totaling hundreds of millions of dollars. BlackRock deposited 33,884 ETH (~$148.6 million), while mining pool Bitmine withdrew 38,709 ETH (~$167.2 million). These movements highlight the shifting liquidity landscape, with mixed signals indicating uncertainty in Ethereum’s short-term direction. For Cardano, whale activity has been mixed, with some large holders selling off 50 million ADA in just 48 hours, equivalent to roughly $41 million at current prices.

The technical picture for ADA also appears to be aligning with a bullish narrative. Some analysts have noted a symmetrical triangle formation, suggesting a potential breakout could push the price past key resistance levels. If ADA breaks out of this pattern, it could move toward $1.10 and eventually reach $1.50 to $2.00 by 2025. This projection is supported by a combination of on-chain sentiment, whale accumulation, and technical indicators. While no guarantee, past cycles have shown that Cardano can gain strong momentum when these factors align.

Other tokens have also caught the attention of market observers. Ethena (ENA) has risen 2.8% in the last 24 hours to $0.7122, with a market cap of $4.72 billion and a trading volume of $769.6 million. Analysts highlight that a major token unlock of 171.88 million ENA is set for Friday, which could influence the token’s price movement. The unlock, representing 2.69% of the float, is seen as a potential catalyst for price discovery. Open interest in derivatives has increased by 5%, indicating fresh positioning ahead of the event. Technical indicators, including a break above the 50-EMA and 200-EMA, suggest a bullish momentum shift, with key resistance levels at $0.725 and beyond.

Analysts have also added OKB and ENA to the list of top weekly gainers. OKB’s recent performance has been driven by strong demand from institutional investors and renewed interest in blockchain infrastructure projects. Meanwhile, ENA’s technical and on-chain metrics suggest it is well-positioned for further gains, particularly if the unlock event is managed without a significant sell-off. This aligns with broader investor sentiment, where tokens with disciplined distribution and strong on-chain activity tend to attract more attention.

Source:

[1] Cardano's Bearish Retail Crowd Hands Whales a Buying Window (https://www.coindesk.com/markets/2025/09/06/cardano-s-bearish-retail-crowd-hands-whales-a-buying-window)

[2] Cardano Price Prediction: Could ADA Hit $2 by 2025 on Whale Accumulation? (https://www.mitrade.com/insights/news/live-news/article-3-1101553-20250906)

[3] Massive Whale Transfers Hit Cardano and Ethereum Amid Market Slowdown (https://captainaltcoin.com/massive-whale-transfers-hit-cardano-and-ethereum-amid-market-slowdown/)

[4] Ethena (ENA) up 2.8%: $119.5M Token Unlock Looms as Price Clears $0.713 Trendline (https://www.fxleaders.com/news/2025/09/03/ethena-ena-up-2-8-119-5m-token-unlock-looms-as-price-clears-0-713-trendline/)