Can Cardano's ADA Go Up Past $1? Analyzing Its Recent Volume Surge

Cardano (ADA) has attracted renewed attention in 2025 as its price shows signs of a meaningful rebound. In late April, ADA was trading around $0.6948, reflecting roughly a 15% gain over the past week. This uptick has coincided with a notable surge in on-chain activity and large-holder (whale) accumulation. 

In this report, we analyze ADA’s current price action and volume trends, review expert price forecasts for 2025, and explore the key factors driving Cardano’s outlook. Overall, ADA appears to be in a bullish phase if recent support holds, but investors will be watching whether it can approach the $1 milestone by year-end.

Cardano Price Today

As of late April 2025, ADA is consolidating in the high $0.69s. Its recent performance includes a sharp 9% rally in one session and a total rise of about 15% over the last week . Technically, ADA has been trading in a defined range. According to a recent analysis, ADA’s key support lies near $0.668, with resistance around $0.709. A sustained break above $0.709 would target approximately $0.77, while a drop below $0.668 could retest around $0.59. 

Currently, ADA is hovering between these levels. Indicators are tilting mildly bullish: ADA has moved above the 61.8% Fibonacci retracement ($0.67) and is approaching its 200-day moving average ($0.71). Market sentiment also appears to be improving. For example, recent data show traders are slightly more long than short on ADA, with the long/short ratio reaching its highest level in over a month. This mix of rising momentum and cautious consolidation suggests ADA’s current trajectory is upward, but breaking key levels will be a critical test.

Price Predictions for 2025

Forecasts for ADA’s price through 2025 vary widely. Some analyses are conservative: one technical review expects ADA to trade roughly between $0.67 and $0.82 for 2025. Under this scenario, ADA would remain below $1 by the end of the year. Similarly, algorithmic models like CoinCodex see ADA reaching only about $0.81 by mid-May 2025. 

In contrast, other predictions are far more bullish. Some chart-based projections identify breakout patterns that could propel ADA above $1 – one annotated chart notes potential targets near $1.24 and $1.46 following a strong breakout. In an extreme bull-case, a CoinMarketCap study speculated on a 7–10× ADA rally in 2025 (around $10), though this assumes a highly favorable crypto market. 

More moderate analysts highlight the next milestone as the $0.80 region. In summary, the consensus forecasts for 2025 cluster around the mid-$0.60 to low-$0.80 range, with only the most aggressive models projecting a push above $1.

Also Read: Analyst Thinks Cardano is Better than Ethereum!

Key Drivers

Cardano’s future price in 2025 will depend on several fundamental and technical factors:

• Network Upgrades: Ongoing protocol improvements (Alonzo smart-contracts, Vasil optimizations, and the upcoming Hydra scaling layer) continue to enhance Cardano’s scalability and performance. These upgrades make the platform more competitive and could attract further DeFi and Web3 development.
  
   
• Ecosystem Growth: Cardano’s adoption is expanding through partnerships and projects. For example, collaborations with African governments and enterprises (e.g. in education and finance) are demonstrating real-world use cases for ADA. The decentralized finance sector on Cardano has seen rapid growth – its total value locked (TVL) recently jumped from about $230 million to over $705 million – signaling increasing demand for ADA in the network.
  
   
• Market Sentiment: As with most altcoins, ADA often moves in tandem with Bitcoin and overall crypto markets. When Bitcoin and crypto sentiment turn bullish, ADA usually benefits; conversely, broad market downturns can pressure ADA price. Recent data show ADA’s social and market momentum edging higher, consistent with the current rally.
  
   
• Whale Activity: Large ADA holders are playing a notable role. On-chain analytics indicate that whales (addresses holding millions of ADA) have been accumulating in recent weeks. IntoTheBlock data specifically highlight a sharp increase in whale addresses (10–100M ADA) in late 2024. Such accumulation by big investors often presages longer-term rallies.
  
   
• Supply & Staking: Cardano’s supply is capped, and staking continues to attract many holders. All staking rewards are issued from a fixed total supply (with no new ADA since 2022), which can create upward price pressure if demand rises. Additionally, any changes in staking rates or release of locked supply could influence ADA’s price.
  
   

Trading Volume

Daily trading volume for ADA has surged in recent weeks as price rebounded. The chart above plots ADA price (top) and aggregated daily volume (bottom). In late April, volume bars climbed well above earlier levels in April, indicating renewed trading interest. This spike in volume coincided with ADA’s late-month price rally, reinforcing the strength of the move. Analysts have noted that ADA’s breakout rallies have been supported by higher volume, suggesting genuine bullish demand. 

At the same time, on-chain signals point to increased whale buying. Santiment reports that holders of 100k–100M ADA (large stakeholders) have purchased hundreds of millions of ADA during recent dips. The count of whale-sized addresses (holding 1M–10M ADA) has also ticked up slightly. In short, both trading volume and whale accumulation have picked up noticeably. This combination – high volume and active whales – typically underpins a stronger uptrend, implying that ADA’s current rally is broadly supported by market participation.

ADA Projection

Looking ahead through 2025, Cardano’s trajectory will depend on whether it can build on current momentum. Technically, a decisive break above resistance around $0.71–$0.74 would likely open the door to the next target near $0.80. Indeed, one forecast suggests ADA could reach as high as $0.976 by mid-2025 under optimistic conditions. 

Surpassing the $1 level remains a stretch goal, but if broader market sentiment stays positive, it is conceivable toward year-end. However, analysts caution that ADA must hold its recent support (around $0.67) and keep trading volume elevated to validate further gains. In practical terms, this means that if ADA sustains buying interest and macro conditions remain favorable, it could gradually climb into the $0.80–$1.00 range by late 2025. 

Also Read: Cardano (ADA): A Complete Explanation of What Cardano Is, Its Uses, and Its Potential

Conversely, any market-wide pullback or loss of momentum could leave ADA consolidating in the current range or retesting lower support. Overall, the most likely outcome is a steady uptrend for ADA through 2025, with the psychological $1 mark in view as a long-term goal – provided key support levels are maintained and bullish catalysts continue.

Conclusion

Cardano’s ADA is showing renewed strength as of April 2025. A surge in trading volume and whale accumulation has accompanied its recent price gains, reinforcing the bullish case. While $1 remains an ambitious target, most expert forecasts keep ADA’s 2025 average in the ~$0.70–$0.90 range, gradually inching higher if current trends hold. 

Key drivers include Cardano’s ongoing technology upgrades, expanding DeFi and dApp ecosystem, and positive market sentiment. Traders should watch critical levels (support near $0.67 and resistance near $0.71–$0.74) for clues on the next move. 

In summary, Cardano appears positioned for further gains in 2025, but its path will depend on sustaining high volume, continued whale interest, and favorable market conditions. Remaining disciplined around these factors will be essential for ADA to approach the $1 mark by year-end.

FAQ

Will Cardano (ADA) reach $1 in 2025?
Most analysts are cautious about ADA hitting $1 by the end of 2025. While bullish scenarios envision ADA testing or briefly exceeding $1 if crypto markets rally strongly, conservative forecasts generally keep ADA below $1 this year. In practice, ADA may trend upward toward $0.80–$1.00 if volume and demand stay high, but reaching $1 will likely require sustained positive catalysts and broad market support.

What is driving ADA’s recent price rally?
ADA’s rally has been fueled by a combination of factors. On-chain data shows large holders (whales) buying ADA in recent dips, which often signals strong future demand. This buying interest was accompanied by a spike in trading volume, suggesting more investors have jumped in. Technical breakouts (such as from a recent consolidation pattern) and positive market sentiment have also played a role. Essentially, ADA’s ecosystem fundamentals (network upgrades, growing DeFi use) coupled with favorable market trends have driven the recent price increase.

Why is ADA’s trading volume surging?
Trading volume often rises when an asset’s price is breaking out or gaining attention. In ADA’s case, renewed bullish momentum and news of large-buy orders have attracted traders. Analytics platforms have observed volume bars climbing to much higher levels in late April (see figure above). This surge reflects increased buying and selling activity as investors respond to ADA’s price rebound. In short, stronger demand – partly from whales and partly from broader market interest – has pushed ADA’s trading volume substantially higher than it was earlier in the month.

How do whales affect ADA’s price?
“Whales” are investors holding very large amounts of ADA. When whales accumulate (buy more ADA), it typically reduces supply on exchanges and signals confidence, which can lift prices. Recent data indicate whale wallets have added hundreds of millions of ADA since mid-April, and the number of wallets in the 1–10 million ADA range has ticked up. This accumulation suggests major investors expect higher prices. Conversely, if whales start selling large amounts, it could pressure the price. Monitoring whale activity thus provides insight into the strength of ADA’s trend.

What factors should traders watch for ADA in the near term?
Key technical levels and indicators will be important. Traders should watch ADA’s support zone ($0.67) and resistance zone ($0.71–$0.74). Holding above support is critical to avoid deeper pullbacks, while a clear break above resistance on high volume would confirm further upside. On-chain signals (like whale buying and net exchange flows) and broader market cues (Bitcoin’s trend, general risk appetite) are also crucial. If ADA maintains its current momentum and avoids falling below support, a gradual move toward $0.80 and beyond becomes more likely.