Prominent crypto analyst Ali Martinez has identified a significant technical buy signal for Cardano (ADA), while the network prepares for a major protocol upgrade. Martinez posted a weekly chart on X showing the TD Sequential indicator printing a "black 9," a setup that historically signals trend exhaustion and potential price reversals.
The signal appeared as ADA tested a critical support level near $0.23, following a downtrend from around $0.41 in early February 2026. According to Martinez's analysis, this TD Sequential "black 9" on a weekly timeframe typically anticipates one to four weeks of upward price expansion. For the signal to be validated, ADA must hold the $0.23 support level on a weekly close. If successful, the analyst outlines price targets at $0.32 (a ~28% move from current levels) and $0.37 (a ~48% move). A break below $0.23 would invalidate the setup entirely.
Currently, ADA is trading near $0.267, down 1.86% over 24 hours, and is holding within a $0.26–$0.27 support band. Technical indicators on shorter timeframes show weakness, with the MACD histogram displaying red bars and the RSI below 50. For bulls to regain control, ADA needs to reclaim the $0.28 level, which could open the path toward $0.29 and $0.30.
Simultaneously, Cardano is on the cusp of its Protocol 11 upgrade, known as the "van Rossem" hard fork. The upgrade requires two node releases, with Node 10.6.2 deployed in February 2026. The final step is the release of Node 10.7.0, which Intersect, a Cardano ecosystem body, confirmed is expected soon. Protocol 11 introduces several new Plutus built-in functions through Cardano Improvement Proposals (CIPs), including an array type (CIP-138), improved MaryEraValue handling (CIP-153), modular exponentiation (CIP-109), and multi-scalar multiplication for advanced cryptography (CIP-133). The upgrade is designed not to break existing smart contracts or affect hardware wallets.
The broader market context includes a 1.26% drop in total global crypto market cap to $2.41 trillion, attributed to rising Middle East tensions reviving inflation concerns and triggering a selloff in risk assets. In regulatory news, the U.S. SEC and CFTC issued joint guidance clarifying crypto asset categories, which analysts suggest could influence market sentiment and future ETF discussions for assets like ADA.
