Large holders of Cardano have accumulated approximately 819 million ADA over the past six months, even as the cryptocurrency’s price declined 71 percent from $0.90 to $0.26 since October 2025, according to blockchain analytics data.

The figures, attributed to data from Santiment, indicate that whale wallets added an estimated $213.9 million worth of ADA during the downturn. The update was confirmed by CoinDesk through its official X account, and Hokanews has cited the confirmation in its coverage.

The accumulation trend highlights a divergence between price performance and large-holder positioning, raising questions about long-term strategy within the Cardano ecosystem.

Source: XPost

Whale Activity During a Prolonged Decline

Cardano experienced a significant correction, falling from $0.90 in October 2025 to approximately $0.26, representing a 71 percent decline.

Such a steep drawdown typically signals weakened retail sentiment and broader market pressure.

However, the accumulation of 819 million ADA by whale addresses suggests that certain high-net-worth participants used the decline as an opportunity to increase exposure.

Whales, often defined as wallets holding large token balances, can exert significant influence on liquidity and market direction.

Understanding the Accumulation Trend

On-chain analytics platforms monitor wallet balances and transaction flows to identify accumulation or distribution phases.

An increase in holdings among large wallets during a price decline may reflect:

Long-term conviction in the project
Portfolio rebalancing strategies
Strategic entry at discounted valuations
Institutional positioning

The accumulation of $213.9 million worth of ADA indicates substantial capital commitment despite unfavorable price momentum.

Divergence Between Price and Positioning

Price declines often lead to capitulation among smaller investors.

In contrast, whale accumulation during downturns can signal confidence in underlying fundamentals.

This divergence between retail selling pressure and whale buying patterns has appeared in previous cryptocurrency cycles.

Analysts caution that whale accumulation does not guarantee immediate price recovery but may signal longer-term positioning.

Market Context Since October 2025

Cardano’s decline from $0.90 to $0.26 unfolded amid broader volatility across the cryptocurrency market.

Macroeconomic factors, regulatory developments and liquidity shifts have influenced digital asset performance in recent months.

Within this environment, altcoins often experience amplified volatility relative to larger-cap assets.

The 71 percent correction reflects both market-wide pressures and asset-specific dynamics.

Institutional and High-Net-Worth Behavior

Large wallet accumulation may include institutional investors or early adopters expanding holdings.

Institutional participants often operate with longer time horizons and structured allocation frameworks.

Rather than reacting to short-term price fluctuations, they may evaluate network development progress, ecosystem growth and adoption metrics.

Cardano continues to focus on scalability upgrades and ecosystem expansion initiatives, which could influence long-term outlook.

Technical and Fundamental Considerations

From a technical perspective, prolonged accumulation at lower price levels can create support zones.

If supply concentrates among long-term holders, selling pressure may diminish over time.

Fundamentally, Cardano’s development roadmap, decentralized application growth and staking participation rates remain key indicators for investor assessment.

Whale behavior may reflect optimism regarding future ecosystem milestones.

Risks Remain

Despite accumulation trends, risks persist.

Prolonged bear phases can test investor conviction.

If broader market conditions deteriorate, even whale support may not prevent further downside.

Liquidity concentration among large holders can also introduce volatility if positions are later reduced.

Balanced risk management remains essential in highly speculative markets.

Retail Sentiment Versus Whale Strategy

Retail participants often respond emotionally to sharp price declines.

Whales, by contrast, may adopt contrarian approaches during periods of pessimism.

Historical crypto cycles have shown that significant accumulation during downturns sometimes precedes recovery phases.

However, timing remains uncertain.

Investors analyzing whale data must consider broader macroeconomic and sector-specific variables.

Transparency Through On-Chain Analytics

Blockchain transparency enables monitoring of large wallet movements.

Santiment’s data highlights how on-chain analytics can reveal underlying behavioral patterns beyond price charts.

The confirmation of whale accumulation by CoinDesk and citation by Hokanews brought attention to this divergence in market positioning.

Such data-driven insights increasingly shape investor narratives.

Looking Ahead

Cardano’s trajectory will depend on multiple factors, including ecosystem adoption, developer activity and overall market sentiment.

The addition of 819 million ADA by whales signals significant long-term interest despite a 71 percent decline.

Whether this accumulation marks the foundation of a broader recovery or a temporary repositioning remains to be seen.

As confirmed by CoinDesk on X and cited by Hokanews, the data underscores a critical theme in cryptocurrency markets: price performance and investor positioning do not always move in tandem.

In volatile digital asset environments, whale accumulation during downturns can become a defining signal for future cycles.