Cardano price has struggled through most of 2026, and the bearish structure still remains visible on the chart today. ADA price continues to trade inside a descending channel pattern that has controlled the market for months. Another detail now deserves attention, though. Large Cardano holders have quietly increased their ADA holdings to levels not seen since 2017, and that changes the discussion around where ADA price could head next.
Santiment recently revealed that wallets holding at least 1 million ADA now collectively control 25.11 billion ADA. That figure represents 67.49% of the total Cardano supply. The data marks the highest concentration level since July 2020 and the largest collective holdings since December 2017.
Santiment explained that major ADA holders have continued accumulating during the broader Cardano price decline. Their chart shows a steady rise in whale holdings even as ADA price moved lower throughout 2025 and early 2026.
🐳 Wallets with at least 1 million Cardano now collectively hold 25.11B $ADA, their highest amount since December, 2017. They are back up to 67.49% of the supply held, their highest level since July, 2020.
— Santiment Intelligence (@SantimentData) May 27, 2026
👍 When key stakeholders accumulate, this is generally a sign of… pic.twitter.com/S2MlIH3pB5
That detail matters because whale accumulation has historically appeared close to major reversals in crypto markets. Large holders usually possess stronger market positioning and longer investment horizons than smaller traders. Their behavior often reveals whether confidence still exists beneath weak price action.
Santiment noted that these large wallets now hold 25.11 billion ADA. Their share of the supply climbed back above 67%. The attached chart also reveals that accumulation accelerated steadily after late 2024 even though Cardano price never fully recovered.
A closer look at the chart shows another interesting pattern. Previous periods where whale holdings increased aggressively often came before strong ADA price expansions. Similar accumulation phases appeared before Cardano’s major rallies during earlier market cycles.
That does not automatically guarantee a bullish reversal now. Crypto markets remain sensitive to Bitcoin movement, macroeconomic conditions, and overall liquidity conditions. Still, whale accumulation during extended weakness usually deserves attention because it reveals conviction from investors holding massive exposure to ADA.
What you'll learn 👉
ADA Price Continues Trading Inside A Descending Channel Pattern
ADA price currently trades around $0.23 after months of persistent downside pressure. Cardano price has remained bearish since the beginning of 2026, and the descending channel pattern still controls the broader structure.
A look at the ADA chart shows price now trading close to the bottom area of that channel again. Previous tests near this lower boundary produced temporary rebounds. That creates an important setup for Cardano price over the next several days.
This zone could attract buyers looking for another technical bounce opportunity. Historical behavior inside the channel shows ADA price often reacts upward after touching the lower support area.
Current conditions create two possible scenarios.
The first scenario involves ADA price bouncing from the bottom of the channel again. That move could open the door for a 15% to 20% recovery rally in the short term. Such a move would likely push Cardano price back toward the middle or upper section of the descending structure.
The second scenario matters more for the broader trend. ADA price would need to break decisively above the descending channel before the market could fully consider a bullish reversal. Until that happens, the broader bearish structure technically remains intact despite whale accumulation.
Whale Accumulation Could Become A Leading Signal For The Next ADA Price Move
Another factor deserves attention here. Large holder accumulation often works as a leading indicator because whales tend to accumulate before sentiment changes across the wider market.
Santiment’s data now suggests that major ADA holders continue positioning aggressively despite weak price action. That behavior creates an interesting contrast with the current bearish chart structure.
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Cardano price now stands near an important technical area at the same time whale wallets continue increasing exposure. The next few weeks could reveal whether this accumulation phase eventually translates into stronger ADA price recovery or whether the descending channel continues controlling the trend.
Crypto markets have seen similar setups before. Weak price action sometimes hides quiet accumulation phases that only become obvious after the trend changes later. Cardano now appears to be entering one of those critical periods where technical weakness and aggressive whale accumulation collide.
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