Cardano surged 25% over seven days to hit $0.1956, outpacing every other cryptocurrency in the top 100 by market cap. The move marks ADA's strongest weekly performance in months, leaving Algorand's 14% gain and Pi's 11% climb in the dust.
The rally sent ADA to its highest level since early July. Most of the altcoin market stayed flat or drifted lower during the same stretch, which means Cardano's climb came from genuine buying pressure rather than a broad sector recovery.
Here's where it gets interesting. On-chain data from Santiment shows Cardano lost 7,070 non-empty wallets over the past two months. That means retail traders are heading for the exits while the price climbs. Whales, by contrast, accumulated roughly 240 million ADA in just five days, pushing their combined holdings to around 14.5 billion coins.
The pattern tells a clear story: smaller holders sold their bags as the price recovered from lows near $0.16, and large players absorbed that supply. It's the opposite of a retail-driven rally. Santiment flagged the wallet decline as a sign of weak retail confidence, with everyday traders still sitting on the sidelines.
ADA recovered from deeper losses earlier in the month, but the current move looks different from past rallies where participation expanded across the board. This time, fewer addresses hold a balance while prices climb higher. That creates a narrower ownership structure at a higher valuation, which can feel fragile if whale buying dries up.
This article is informational and does not constitute financial advice. Cryptocurrency markets remain volatile and unpredictable.
