Large holders accumulated over 210 million ADA across the past three weeks, according to on-chain data. This accumulation occurred while Cardano [ADA] traded below $0.40, not during a breakout phase.
This behavior reflects positioning, not reaction. Whales usually step in when downside pressure weakens.
However, price has not yet expanded upward. That divergence matters. Exchange balances declined modestly during this period, reducing liquid supply. As a result, marginal demand now carries more weight.
This pattern often appears near structural inflection zones. Still, accumulation alone does not move price. It simply sets the foundation for expansion if confirmation follows.
Cardano coils near the descending channel floor
Cardano continued to trade inside a multi-month descending channel at press time, holding near the lower boundary around $0.38–$0.39.
Price repeatedly defended this area without setting lower lows. Therefore, sellers appeared less aggressive.
However, buyers have not forced a breakout. Candles compressed near channel support, signaling reduced volatility. Such compression rarely persists for long.
Markets usually resolve through expansion. The next key upside level was near $0.47 and $0.60 at the time of writing, aligned with prior structure.
Until price exits the channel, direction remains unresolved. Still, location favors asymmetry rather than continuation lower.
Source: TradingView
The Directional Movement Index showed the +DI at 22.66, exceeding –DI at 21.17, giving buyers a marginal edge.
However, ADX remained low near 17.44, signaling weak trend strength. Therefore, buyers controlled direction but not momentum.
This setup often appears during basing phases—sellers no longer dominate, yet buyers lack force. As a result, price drifts instead of trends. If ADX expands above 25, trend strength could follow quickly.
Until then, this metric supports stabilization rather than confirmation. Importantly, downside momentum continues to fade.
Binance top traders lean decisively long
Binance top trader account analytics showed a pronounced directional skew, with 72.52% of accounts positioned long against 27.48% holding short exposure.
This imbalance highlighted confidence among experienced participants rather than retail speculation. However, this metric reflects accounts, not leverage size, which matters for interpretation.
Therefore, it captures sentiment more than outright risk concentration. Top traders often position early, anticipating structural shifts rather than reacting to price breakouts.
Still, such a skew increases sensitivity to volatility. If the price fails to progress, traders may reduce exposure quickly. Conversely, continuation could reinforce confidence. For now, this data signals conviction, not excess.
Importantly, this long bias aligns with accumulation rather than contradicting price structure.
Source: CoinGlass
Cardano funding pressure eases as shorts retreat
The OI-Weighted Funding Rate has recovered to +0.0018%, reversing from a prolonged stay in negative territory. This shift signals that short-side pressure has eased materially.
Thus, traders no longer pay a premium to maintain bearish exposure.
However, funding remained modest, which eventually reduced the risk of overheating. Therefore, leverage conditions appeared balanced rather than aggressive.
Longs do not dominate funding costs, yet shorts lose incentive. This environment often supports stabilization instead of sharp reversals. When funding recovers gradually, markets tend to transition out of defensive phases.
Still, funding alone cannot drive price expansion. It works best when spot demand and structure provide confirmation. For now, derivatives pressure supports neutrality rather than stress.
Source: CoinGlass
To sum up, Cardano shows early stabilization as whales accumulate 210 million tokens, the price holds near $0.38, and derivatives pressure cools.
However, the descending channel still caps momentum. Buyers show marginal control, yet trend strength remains weak. Therefore, ADA needs a decisive break above channel resistance to confirm upside continuation.
Until then, conditions favor patience, not aggression, as structure determines whether accumulation converts into a sustained advance cycle.
Final Thoughts
- Structural compression often precedes decisive moves once participation expands and directional conviction finally emerges.
- Whale conviction sets the stage, but only price follow-through confirms whether accumulation translates into sustained upside.
Source: https://ambcrypto.com/cardano-under-pressure-as-whales-buy-210-mln-breakout-or-fake-out-whats-ahead/