Cardano whales accumulate $161M: Is ADA Ready to Explode?

Cardano whales are accumulating $161M in ADA while retail sells. Could this "Smart Money" move signal an imminent rally for ADA?

Written by Charles Ledoux

Translated on January 27, 2026 at 14:32 by Simon Dumoulin

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$161 Million: Whales Go on the Offensive with ADA

It’s a classic dynamic of market cycles, but it remains just as fascinating to observe. While the price of Cardano (ADA) has experienced a notable correction in recent weeks, the network’s largest investors haven’t flinched. Quite the opposite, they’ve taken advantage of the dip to aggressively strengthen their positions.

Cardano whale ADA accumulation chart with colored lines — Source: Santiment

According to the latest on-chain analysis data, wallets considered Smart Money have accumulated approximately $161 million worth of ADA tokens over the past two months. This “Buy the dip” behavior is typical of institutional investors or whales looking to enter the market at discounted prices ahead of a potential rally.

Conversely, data shows that retail investors have mostly liquidated their positions over the past three weeks. This capitulation phenomenon of “weak hands” in the face of “strong hands” accumulation is often interpreted by analysts as a precursor signal of a market bottom.

On-Chain Divergence: A Signal of an Imminent Bull Run?

This behavioral divergence between small holders and whales is a powerful technical indicator. Historically, when market sentiment is bearish among retail investors but large wallets are accumulating, it often precedes a violent upward movement. Whales absorb selling pressure, thereby drying up available supply on exchanges.

Cardano ADA price chart over 2 weeks with order block and trendline

Currently at $0.35, ADA must imperatively reclaim its trendline at $0.399 and maintain this level as support. Otherwise, ADA’s trajectory will head toward the HFT demand zone (Order Block) around $0.24 in the coming months.

It’s crucial to monitor volumes in the coming days. An increase in buying volume, coupled with this continued accumulation, could validate the end of the consolidation phase and propel ADA toward new local highs, or even initiate an attempt to return toward its ATH in the medium term.

The question is whether this institutional support will be enough to reverse the overall trend. If Bitcoin maintains its stability, ADA could benefit from capital rotation and outperform the market thanks to this solid base of long-term investors.

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Charles Ledoux

Charles Ledoux is a Bitcoin and blockchain technology specialist. A graduate of the Crypto Academy, he has been a Bitcoin miner for over a year. He has written numerous masterclasses to educate newcomers to the industry and has authored over 2,000 articles on cryptocurrency. Now, he aims to share his passion for crypto through his articles for InvestX.

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