Large investors in Cardano acquire $61 million worth of ADA tokens amidst a decrease in price.
February 16, 2026
During a recent price slump, whales holding between 10 million and 100 million Cardano (ADA) tokens seized the opportunity to accumulate more than 220 million ADA, valued at over $61 million. This strategic move aimed to stabilize the altcoin near $0.278, as these large holders actively added to their positions when the price was hovering near recent lows.
The surge in accumulation by whales coincided with an uptick in Cardano’s Mean Coin Age metric, which measures the length of time coins remain inactive. The metric reached a three-month high, indicating that long-term holders are opting to retain their positions instead of selling. This dual development – increased accumulation by whales and inactivity among older holders – may result in a reduction of circulating supply and establish a price floor in the near term. ADA is currently striving to maintain the $0.271 mark, which aligns with the 23.6% Fibonacci retracement level. A successful bounce from this support level could pave the way towards $0.303 and potentially $0.354.
Despite these bullish signals, there are plausible downside scenarios. If ADA fails to breach the $0.303 resistance, there is a risk of sellers pushing the price below $0.271, with the next significant support level at $0.245.
Historically, whale accumulation during market downturns has preceded periods of market stabilization in the altcoin space. The recent $61 million worth of ADA acquisitions by large players suggests that they perceive value at current price levels, rather than anticipating further price declines. The uptrend in Mean Coin Age further reinforces this sentiment, as long-term holders holding onto their coins typically signal expectations of future price appreciation. The combination of dormant older coins and active buying from significant wallets can create a supply-demand dynamic that has the potential to shift momentum, provided that external market conditions remain favorable.
However, it’s essential to acknowledge the prevailing risks. The volatile nature of the overall crypto market means that even robust on-chain signals can be overshadowed by macroeconomic forces driving selling pressure. Therefore, ADA’s recovery hinges on its ability to reclaim crucial resistance levels above $0.30.
In other news, Russia has initiated steps to regulate its $130 billion cryptocurrency market as daily trading volumes in the sector have reached $648 million, signaling a growing interest in crypto assets worldwide.
