Big investors are quietly coming back to DeFi. New on-chain data shows whale buying across several major tokens has surged in recent weeks.
Some holdings are up by more than 60%. This kind of activity often signals growing trust in a market that had been quiet for months.
At a time when traders are focused on Bitcoin ETFs and global rate cuts, whales seem to be building early positions in projects that earn real on-chain income.
Whales Add Millions Across DeFi Tokens
Blockchain tracking data from Nansen shows a clear rise in whale positions for Aster (ASTER), Pendle (PENDLE), and Uniswap (UNI).
These three projects have seen strong growth in both token accumulation and trading activity. Aster has seen one of the biggest whale accumulations.
Over the past 30 days, whales increased their holdings by nearly 38%. This makes it one of the strongest surges among DeFi projects.
Aster connects multiple blockchains, letting users move tokens and data between them, a feature that makes it stand out as demand for cross-chain tools rises.
Pendle follows closely. The data shows whale wallets now hold 64.84% more Pendle than last month. Pendle is known for turning yield (interest from staked tokens) into tradeable assets.
Whales appear to be positioning ahead of their planned Q4 expansion, which will open more yield pools for traders who want steady returns even when markets move sideways.
Then there’s Uniswap, the largest decentralized exchange, or DEX, where people trade crypto directly from their wallets without using a company or middleman.
Whales have added 2.69% more UNI in 30 days, bringing top holder balances to around 3.49 million UNI.
The buying surged as Uniswap Labs proposed activating fee sharing and burning 100 million UNI. This move aims to lower supply and possibly raises value over time.
Together, whale holdings across these three projects are up, showing strong conviction that DeFi is entering its next growth phase.
DeFi Trading and TVL Still Look Strong
The prices across crypto move slowly, but on-chain numbers for DeFi show strength. And the reason why it can be tagged as the new crypto alpha.
According to data from DeFiLlama, DEX trading volume over the last 30 days stands at $487.6 billion, with about $15 billion traded daily. That’s one of the highest activity levels since mid-2024.
It also shows traders are still active inside DeFi networks. Meanwhile, total value locked (TVL), the amount of money held in DeFi smart contracts, is around $132 billion.
Although slightly lower than the $150 billion peak earlier this year, it remains higher than 2023 levels.
This stability in trading and deposits supports the idea that whales aren’t just speculating. They’re betting on systems that already move billions of dollars in real transactions each day.
Why DeFi Is Back in Focus
Whales tend to move ahead of the retail space. Their return to DeFi suggests a growing belief that blockchain-based financial systems could benefit when global rates fall.
Lower interest rates in traditional markets make DeFi’s higher yields more appealing again.
Instead of focusing on short-term coins or meme tokens, whales are now adding positions in income-generating projects.
Aster’s cross-chain network, Pendle’s yield markets, and Uniswap’s trading fees all give clear, repeatable returns.
While Bitcoin and Ethereum continue to dominate headlines, DeFi’s base metrics: whale activity, DEX volume, and TVL, tell a quieter story of recovery.