Cardano (ADA) has been facing significant downward price pressure, dropping below $0.25, but behind the scenes, a dramatic shift is underway. Crypto analyst Cheeky Crypto reveals that the top 1% of ADA holders are aggressively accumulating, front-running the market while retail investors capitulate. This hidden wave of buying suggests that ultra-wealthy whales are positioning for a paradigm shift, betting on institutional infrastructure improvements and Oracle latency optimizations that the broader market has overlooked.
On-chain data confirms the accumulation trend. Total Value Locked (TVL) on Cardano has soared by 42% since September 18, 2025, from 382.16 million ADA to over 542.71 million ADA, with a 1.14% increase in just the past 24 hours. Decentralized Exchange (DEX) volume jumped 39.58% in the last week, reaching $10.26 million. Additionally, the network achieved a historic milestone as transaction counts surpassed 121 million on the mainnet, a new all-time high, according to Cexplorer.
Amid this on-chain growth, Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson has addressed rumors, reiterating his unwavering commitment. “My entire focus is 100 percent on Cardano and Midnight. It always has been. Let me prove it,” he stated. Hoskinson highlighted the active governance model and the ‘Pentad’ structure—comprising Input Output Global, EMURGO, Cardano Foundation, Midnight Foundation, and Intersect—and announced plans for a joint meeting to formalize Cardano’s future governance. He will also attend the Cardano Summit in Singapore and personally upgrade his TOKEN2049 sponsorship. The accumulation and network growth, combined with Hoskinson’s reassurances, paint a bullish picture for Cardano’s ecosystem.
