Cardano Faces Significant Selling Pressure from Major Holders

Cardano CRYPTO000ADA

As 2025 draws to a close, Cardano finds itself in a challenging position, caught between significant technological advancements and a starkly negative price trend. The sustained selling activity of large-scale investors has placed considerable downward pressure on the asset's valuation, casting a shadow over market sentiment.

The cryptocurrency's price action tells a clear story. On Friday, ADA touched a new 52-week low at $0.34. With a daily decline of nearly 3.8% and a position roughly 22% below its 50-day moving average, the technical downtrend remains firmly in place. This weakness is primarily attributed to substantial outflows from the portfolios of major investors, commonly referred to as "whales."

On-chain data reveals that addresses holding between 100,000 and 100 million ADA have divested approximately 90 million coins in recent weeks. This distribution phase is identified as the key driver behind the current corrective move, demonstrating how actions by large holders can directly influence market dynamics.

Development Momentum Continues Unabated

Despite the bearish price action, development within the Cardano ecosystem continues at a steady pace. A central focus is the integration of the Midnight protocol. This sidechain utilizes zero-knowledge (ZK) technology to enable confidential smart contracts and enhanced data privacy features. This rollout is accompanied by the introduction of the NIGHT token, which is specifically designed for compliance-focused enterprise applications.

Furthermore, the project is aggressively pursuing greater interoperability. New developments are underway to establish direct connectivity with the Solana blockchain through bridging technologies. This strategic move aims to reduce liquidity fragmentation and facilitate seamless asset transfers between the two networks.

Institutional Interest Provides a Counter-Narrative

Amid the prevailing negative sentiment, signals of growing institutional interest offer a contrasting perspective. Reports of a prospective ETF application by asset manager T. Rowe Price, which is said to include Cardano, have captured market attention. Regulatory approval of such a product could, in the medium term, simplify access for traditional investment capital.

The coming weeks will be critical in determining whether the support level at $0.34 holds firm or if persistent selling pressure pushes the price toward the $0.30 mark. While founder Charles Hoskinson has announced plans to reduce his social media activity starting January 2026 in favor of more formal communication channels, the immediate focus for market participants is squarely on price stabilization at this pivotal technical level.