Cardano: Retail Investors Capitulate in Droves...Top 1% Whales Are 'Accumulating'

▲ Cardano (ADA)

As Cardano (ADA) faces downward pressure amid increased market volatility, the movements of its top holders are drawing investors' attention. Cryptocurrency analyst Cheeky Crypto analyzed that while retail investors are showing a reaction close to capitulation to short-term price drops, the top 1% holders are aggressively absorbing the circulating supply.

Bitcoinist reported on May 25 (local time) that Cheeky Crypto focused on the sentiment and activities of major holders rather than Cardano's price movements. Cheeky Crypto stated that while ordinary retail investors are treating Cardano as if it's a finished asset, ultra-high-net-worth whale investors are quietly preempting the market. He explained that top holders are changing their strategies amidst weakening price momentum and increased market uncertainty.

Cheeky Crypto believes that the top 1% holders are not merely using price drops as an opportunity to buy at a low price. He pointed out that they are aware of structural changes in institutional infrastructure that the public is missing, and that internal structures that have prevented large-scale corporate capital inflow are also changing. In particular, improvements in oracle latency were presented as a key factor in elevating the Cardano ledger to institution-centric infrastructure.

Coupled with the accumulation movements of large holders, the total value locked (TVL) on the Cardano network also showed an increase. According to data shared by market expert and Cardano DRep Dave, Cardano's TVL increased by over 1.14% in 24 hours. Cardano's TVL has continued its upward trend from 382.16 million ADA on September 18, 2025, and currently exceeds 542.71 million ADA. The increase is approximately 42%.

Decentralized exchange (DEX) trading volume also recorded a significant increase. The DEX trading volume on the Cardano network increased by approximately 39.58% over the past week, and after the increase, the trading volume exceeded $10.26 million. Bitcoinist reported that the increase in network TVL and DEX trading volume is an indicator of expanded activity in the Cardano ecosystem.

The number of network transactions also reached a new milestone. Blockchain explorer Cexplorer announced that the number of transactions processed on the Cardano mainnet reached an all-time high. According to the released data, the number of Cardano mainnet transactions exceeded 121 million. Bitcoinist explained that the increase in transactions reflects growing interest in the Cardano network and confidence in its long-term network capabilities.

Amidst price weakness in the Cardano market, various indicators are simultaneously highlighted: accumulation by the top 1% holders, increased TVL, expanded DEX trading volume, and a record high in mainnet transactions. With network utilization and the behavior of large investors coming to the forefront rather than short-term price movements, market evaluation surrounding Cardano has entered a phase that is difficult to explain solely by price charts.

*Disclaimer: This article is for investment reference only, and we are not responsible for any investment losses based on it. The content should be interpreted for informational purposes only.*