Cardano (ADA) has recorded its first golden cross of 2026, a technical milestone signaling potential bullish momentum. The pattern formed as the asset's 9-day moving average crossed above its 26-day moving average at a price point of $0.3380. Following the crossover, ADA's price climbed to $0.3429, with its 24-hour trading volume surging by over 31% to reach $614.85 million, reinforcing increased market activity.
Despite the positive technical signal, analysts note significant hurdles. Cardano's Relative Strength Index (RSI) is hovering around 33.85, indicating oversold conditions that could complicate upward movement. The asset faces a key resistance zone between $0.3621 and $0.3824, which has historically acted as a barrier. A sustained break above this range is seen as necessary to confirm a broader trend reversal.
The news arrives amid a backdrop of extreme price predictions for ADA in 2026, sourced from AI models like ChatGPT. The bearish scenario warns that if the broader crypto market remains selective, ADA could plunge to between $0.10 and $0.15, a level last seen in previous bear markets, potentially triggering capitulation among long-term holders.
Conversely, a more probable base case suggests rangebound consolidation between $0.30 and $0.80. A speculative bull case, driven by real traction in Cardano's ecosystem and growth in decentralized app activity, posits that ADA could surge past $1.00 and aim for $2.00 to $3.00. The predictions reference ADA's volatile 2025, where it rocketed to a multi-year peak of $1.30 following the 2024 U.S. election but finished the year with a 60% drop.
