Large holders of Cardano purchased $248 million worth of ADA during a price decline.

cardano

February 26, 2026

Large holders of Cardano (ADA) with balances ranging from 100,000 to 100 million tokens have been quietly amassing 819.4 million ADA, currently valued at approximately $248 million, over the past six months. This accumulation trend was highlighted by Santiment in a recent post on X, utilizing its Supply Distribution metric to monitor the percentage of ADA’s circulating supply held by various wallet groups. Those holding between 100,000 and 100 million tokens are commonly referred to as sharks and whales in the crypto world.

In the span of the last half-year, this group has increased its share of the total ADA supply from 66.84% to 68.44%, marking a 1.6 percentage point gain. Notably, this trend of accumulation has intensified in recent weeks, signaling a heightened interest from these large holders. This accumulation has taken place amidst a backdrop of declining prices, leading to speculation that these investors view the downturn as an opportune moment to enter the market.

The significance of this whale and shark activity lies in the fact that large holders have the potential to sway the direction of prices in the market, and their actions often reflect the broader sentiment among well-funded investors. The sustained buying from these wallets during a period of price decrease indicates a level of confidence that differs from the general market atmosphere. While the outcome of this accumulation remains uncertain, the data points to a growing concentration among Cardano’s major holders at a time when smaller investors seem less inclined to make purchases.

The growing concentration among large ADA holders raises questions about the future implications for the cryptocurrency. As these whales and sharks continue to amass more tokens, it remains to be seen how their actions will impact the overall market dynamics. Additionally, the contrast between the behavior of these major holders and that of smaller investors suggests a divergence in sentiment within the Cardano community.

In a related development, NVIDIA recently reported a staggering $68 billion quarter, signaling a significant boom in the AI chip industry. This growth in the AI sector could have broader implications for the crypto infrastructure, as advancements in technology and computing power continue to shape the landscape of digital assets. The interplay between developments in the tech sector and the crypto market underscores the interconnected nature of these industries and highlights the evolving relationship between traditional technology giants and the world of cryptocurrencies.