Cardano Whales Dump 270M ADA in 7 Days – Market Panic or Clever Trap?
Crypto whales just made waves – dumping a staggering 270 million Cardano tokens in one week. Was it a bearish signal or just sharks feeding on weak hands?
The big question: Are ''smart money'' players exiting ADA, or are they engineering a classic shakeout before the next rally?
Meanwhile, retail traders scramble to interpret the move – because nothing says ''healthy market'' like following the whims of anonymous billionaires playing with digital monopoly money.
Whale Activity And Macro Risks Weigh On Price
Cardano remains one of the most underperforming large-cap altcoins in 2025, currently trading 85% below its yearly highs and 107% off its peak from last year. Despite a few short-lived rallies, ADA has struggled to maintain momentum and attract sustained demand. The broader altcoin market has shown signs of weakness, with capital continuing to concentrate around Bitcoin and Ethereum, leaving ADA vulnerable at key support levels.
Analysts are calling for a decisive move as ADA consolidates at a critical price zone that could define the coming weeks of action. If bulls fail to step in, cardano could see further downside toward historical support levels. The situation is further complicated by global tensions and rising macroeconomic uncertainty. Geopolitical instability—most notably the Israel-Iran conflict—has triggered risk-off sentiment across global markets, driving volatility in crypto.
Adding to the bearish pressure, top analyst Ali Martinez shared on-chain data showing that whales have sold over 270 million ADA in the past week alone. This large-scale distribution from deep-pocketed holders highlights a loss of confidence or, at minimum, a defensive repositioning amid the current uncertainty.
For ADA to regain bullish momentum, it must defend current levels and break through resistance with strong volume support. A sustained recovery in broader altcoin sentiment could provide the tailwind ADA needs. However, with external macro risks looming and whale activity suggesting caution, investors should remain vigilant. Unless Cardano can show strength at these key levels, the road to recovery may be longer and more volatile than expected.
Cardano Struggles At Support Amid Broader Market Weakness
The daily chart for Cardano shows a concerning technical picture as the token trades at approximately $0.6368, nearing its critical support range. After briefly attempting to break above $0.75 in late May, ADA has since reversed course, printing a series of lower highs and failing to reclaim its key moving averages. Currently, it trades below the 50-day, 100-day, and 200-day simple moving averages, indicating a bearish structure across multiple timeframes.
The $0.63–$0.64 level now stands as a crucial zone. A breakdown below this level could open the door to further downside, potentially revisiting March lows NEAR $0.58 or even the psychological $0.50 level if broader market sentiment continues to deteriorate. The declining volume and failure to hold above key averages signal waning bullish momentum.
Adding to the weakness, recent whale activity has raised red flags. On-chain data from Santiment revealed that whales have sold over 270 million ADA in the past week, fueling speculation about a lack of confidence among large holders.
To regain strength, ADA must hold current support and break back above the 100-day SMA around $0.70. Until then, Cardano remains vulnerable to further declines as investors grow more risk-averse amid macro uncertainty.
Featured image from Dall-E, chart from TradingView