SUI Surges Amid Rising Trading Volume and Institutional Interest

• SUI has surged over 38% in January 2026, with its price reaching a two-month high near $2.
• On-chain metrics such as total value locked (TVL) and daily trading volume have improved, reaching $1.04 billion and $1.8 billion respectively. According to on-chain data, these figures reflect strong market momentum.
• Institutional interest is growing, with Bitwise and other firms filing for a spot SUI ETF and asset managers like Franklin Templeton and VanEck launching regulated products on the Sui blockchain.

SUI's price action in early 2026 reflects strong momentum, with the token trading near $2 and showing a 17–18% increase in the past 24 hours. This rally has been driven by rising on-chain metrics and increased trading activity. Sui's TVL has climbed to $1.04 billion, while derivatives open interest has hit $947.26 million, signaling fresh capital inflows.

The Sui network has also seen a surge in DeFi activity, with decentralized exchanges like Astro recording over $100 million in trading volume. Additionally, institutional adoption is gaining traction, as ETF filings and regulated products from major asset managers suggest growing confidence in Sui as an investment vehicle.

What Drives SUI's Current Momentum?

SUI's recent price gains are attributed to a combination of on-chain improvements, increased TVL, and rising investor interest. The network has maintained a high transaction throughput of 866 transactions per second following the Mysticeti v2 upgrade. This performance has attracted high-frequency use cases and boosted the platform's scalability.

Sui's growing ecosystem is also a key driver of the momentum. The platform recently announced a research paper from Mysten Labs exploring privacy-preserving transactions using advanced cryptography. This development has drawn comparisons to Ethereum and Solana and has reignited interest in Sui as a privacy-focused blockchain.

How Do Analysts View SUI's Future Price Potential?

Analysts have set varying price targets for SUI, with some predicting a 1000% upside potential over the long term. Crypto Patel has outlined price targets at $5, $10, and $20, noting strong accumulation patterns and bullish order blocks between $1.30 and $1.50. A recent breakout from a descending wedge pattern also suggests a potential move toward $2.70 and $3.00.

Other analysts believe SUI could target the $3.3 region in the coming months, provided the broader market supports altcoins. A successful hold of key support levels and a sustained bullish trend on both daily and weekly charts reinforce this view.

What Risks or Limitations Should Investors Consider?

While the current momentum is positive, some on-chain metrics lag behind the price action, indicating potential divergence. The 200-day EMA remains a key level to watch, and a break above it could signal further gains. However, on-chain data remains weak compared to the price action, raising questions about the sustainability of the bullish trend.

Additionally, reaching SUI's historical high of $5.36 will require a breakout above $2.20. If the price fails to maintain above that level, it could trigger profit-taking and retests of lower levels.

SUI's price appreciation is also linked to broader market conditions, as traders rotate capital into altcoins. SUI's performance over the past week has outpaced that of XRP, DOGE, and ADA, but this trend depends on continued institutional adoption and favorable macroeconomic conditions.