Solana and Cardano: Why are prices stagnating despite major announcements?

PayPal and USDCx: Explosive Fundamentals, Lackluster Price Action

This is the kind of announcement that, in the middle of a bull run, could have doubled an asset’s price within hours. On one hand, PayPal has officially designated Solana as the default blockchain for its stablecoin, PYUSD. In concrete terms, this means the majority of this payment giant’s transactions will now flow through the Solana network, validating its speed and minimal fees in the eyes of institutional players.

On the other hand, Cardano is finally tackling its Achilles’ heel: stablecoin liquidity. With the imminent launch of USDCx (a native or bridged version of USDC), Hoskinson’s network hopes to finally attract the DeFi activity it sorely lacks. Currently, stablecoin liquidity on Cardano is anemic (less than $40 million), which significantly hampers dApps adoption.

Despite these major fundamental catalysts, the price reaction has been ice cold. Solana (SOL) is struggling around $86.80, while Cardano (ADA) is trying to hold above $0.28. Why this radio silence from buyers? The answer lies in traders’ current psychology: the market no longer wants promises, it wants visible results. Investors are waiting to see actual transaction volumes increase on the blockchain before committing.

Technical Analysis: Solana (SOL) and Cardano (ADA) at a Crossroads

Chart analysis confirms this indecision. Both assets are compressed in consolidation zones that often precede volatile moves. Nevertheless, SOL is showing a bullish divergence in 3-day CVD. The last time it displayed this signal, SOL found its bottom at $100 in April 2025 before exploding to over $240 a few months later. However, current volumes remain much lower than those recorded in 2025.

Solana (SOL): Defense of $82 is Crucial Short-Term

Solana is currently trading in a tight range. The $86.80 price level serves as the central pivot. Technical indicators show concerning neutrality:

• Key support: The $82.50 – $83.00 zone is being fiercely defended by bulls. A daily close below this level would invalidate the short-term bullish structure and could open the door to a correction toward $76.
• Major resistance: To restart the engine, SOL must decisively break through the $96 – $98 wall. This is the psychological threshold that, once breached, could attract new buying volumes. This is also a 7-hour order block.

Cardano (ADA): A Fragile Support at $0.25

For Cardano, while the USDCx announcement is positive, the chart shows persistent weakness. But taking a step back, ADA is sitting on a 3-day order block and displaying 3 bullish RSI divergences. A consolidation phase is very likely for ADA.

• Danger zone: ADA is trading around $0.288, but the real safety net sits lower, around $0.25. If this support gives way, the risk of a drop toward yearly lows ($0.22) becomes real.
• Bullish target: On the upside, the $0.30 resistance acts like a glass ceiling. Breakout attempts have been systematically rejected in recent weeks, indicating selling pressure is still present. But a break of this level would take ADA up to $0.36.

Can Solana Target $100 Despite Market Apathy?

The crypto market is at a tipping point. The lack of immediate reaction to PayPal and USDCx news should not be interpreted as rejection, but as a cautious accumulation phase. If on-chain data confirms increased PYUSD usage on Solana and liquidity injection via USDCx on Cardano in the coming weeks, this delayed ignition could transform into a violent catch-up rally.

For now, caution is warranted. Traders will monitor US market opening to see if institutions validate these price levels. If Bitcoin manages to hold steady, Solana has the technical potential to hunt for liquidity above $100, while Cardano could finally break out of its lethargy to target $0.35. The question isn’t whether the technology works, but when liquidity will decide to acknowledge it.

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