Cardano (ADA) has started 2026 on a positive note, rising nearly 8% today, moving above the $0.36 level and ranking among the day’s top altcoin gainers. This rise comes after a rough December, when ADA fell nearly 20%, leaving many investors cautious.
So, what’s driving Cardano’s price higher today?
One of the clearest signals behind ADA’s rise comes from CryptoQuant data. Recent on-chain numbers show an increase in activity from large holders, often called whales. Both spot and futures data point to bigger orders entering the market.
When whales begin to buy again, it often signals growing confidence. According to CryptoQuant, market conditions are easing, and buy-side pressure is slowly increasing. This supports the idea that the current move is more than just a random bounce.
Beyond trading data, Cardano’s network is showing real signs of use. Transaction activity and wallet interactions have increased over recent days. This means users are actively using the blockchain, not just holding ADA.
Another positive signal comes from Cardano’s DeFi ecosystem. According to DefiLlama, Cardano’s TVL increased by 4% in the last 24 hours, reaching about $178.9 million. This means more users are putting their funds into Cardano-based DeFi platforms.
When more money flows into DeFi, it usually shows growing trust in the network, which can also increase demand for the ADA token.
For several months, ADA has been moving inside a falling wedge pattern. This happens when the price keeps going down, but selling slowly becomes weaker. As the range gets tighter, it often means a big move is getting close.
Right now, ADA is holding near the $0.35 support level. This area is helping the price stay stable, and buyers are slowly stepping in, showing that selling pressure is easing.
Crypto trader Captain Faibik shared a chart showing ADA near the end of this falling wedge. He believes a breakout could happen if the price moves above the upper trendline.
As long as ADA stays above support, the setup remains healthy. If the breakout happens, the price could move toward the $0.52–$0.55 zone, which would mean nearly a 50% rise from current levels.
Rising on-chain activity, improving market conditions, and renewed large-holder interest suggest stronger confidence in ADA’s short-term outlook.
Cardano could trade between $2.75 and $3.25 in 2026 if market sentiment improves, adoption grows, and key support levels hold.
Cardano is considered a long-term project due to its research-driven development, scalability upgrades, and focus on decentralization.
By 2030, Cardano could be valued around $9 to $10 based on long-term growth, network usage, and sustained investor confidence.
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