Altcoin News

Cardano (ADA) Whale Holdings At Record Low, What Does It Mean?

Published by

Cardano (ADA) saw holdings among large traders hit an all-time low during its latest rally. The token surged from 2022 lows on increasing interest in proof-of-stake (PoS) blockchains, as well as an influx of institutional traders.

The token rose 33% from annual lows, going as high as $1.22. It was last trading around $1.18,  recently overtaking Terra (LUNA) to become the seventh-largest crypto token by market capitalization, at $40.6 billion.

ADA whale holders hit record low

Recent data from blockchain research firm Santiment showed that ADA supply appeared to be moving out of addresses worth over $100,000- which the firm considers to be whale-tier. Whales currently held about 83.1% of overall supply, which is a record low.

On the other hand, low to mid-tier holders appeared to be accumulating ADA at an accelerated pace. Buying by wallets with between $100 to $100,000 worth of the token surged in the past two weeks, and represented a record-high 16.8% of total supply.

Low-tier addresses, ie wallets with less than $100 of ADA, also appeared to be around record levels. But the tier represented only 0.12% of total supply.

The trend can be observed since the beginning of the year, and represents a healthy amount of diversification among holders. It implies that ADA will be less prone to outsized, volatile swings, and also reduces the potential for price manipulation by any one party.

Institutional demand a major factor in ADA rally

But even while ADA whales are reducing holdings, large-scale trading is a key factor behind ADA’s latest rally. Data had earlier shown 99% of ADA’ s volumes were through transactions above $100,000- a sign that big trading houses were likely exposed to the token.

This increased interest can be attributed to a recent fund launched by digital wealth manager Grayscale, of which ADA makes up nearly 25%. Increased institutional interest could see the token poised for a price explosion like Bitcoin (BTC), given that buying by trading houses was a major factor for BTC’s 2021 rally.

Increased interest in PoS tokens, ahead of Ethereum’s (ETH) shift to the model, has also benefited ADA.

Share
Ambar Warrick

With more than five years of experience covering global financial markets, Ambar intends to leverage this knowledge towards the rapidly expanding world of crypto and DeFi. His interest lies chiefly in finding how geopolitical developments can impact crypto markets, and what that could mean for your bitcoin holdings. When he isn't trawling through the web for the latest breaking news, you can find him playing videogames or watching Seinfeld reruns. You can reach him at ambar@coingape.com

Published by

Recent Posts

  • Crypto News

CLARITY Act: Sen. Gillibrand Cites Ethics Provision as Necessary for Crypto Bill’s Passage

Democratic Senator Kristen Gillibrand has highlighted the ethics provision as a key provision that the…

May 6, 2026
  • Crypto News

Breaking: Morgan Stanley To Launch Bitcoin, Crypto Trading After BTC ETF Success

After making a success with its spot Bitcoin ETF, Morgan Stanley is continuing to expand…

May 6, 2026
  • Crypto News

BREAKING: Wall Street Giant UBS Group Discloses XRP Holdings Ahead of Crypto Trading Launch

UBS Group AG, the world’s largest wealth manager with $7 trillion in AUM, is deepening…

May 6, 2026
  • Crypto News

0As Volatility Fades, How Are Investors Participating in Crypto Markets?

Global macro pressure is back in focus in 2026. Elevated interest rates from the Federal…

May 6, 2026
  • Regulation News

CLARITY Act Faces Another Hurdle As Banks Push Back On Stablecoin Yield Compromise

The CLARITY Act in the U.S. is stirring controversy once again. Banks are arguing over…

May 6, 2026
  • Crypto News

Here’s Why Dogwifhat (WIF) Is Skyrocketing Over 25% Today

Solana-based meme coin dogwifhat (WIF) price has surged more than 25% in the past few…

May 6, 2026