Catenaa, Tuesday, September 16, 2025- Cardano is on the brink of what traders say could be a major breakout, with technical charts signaling a push toward $3.50.
The optimism is fueled by its landmark Voltaire Upgrade, which transfers governance to the community, combined with rising DeFi activity and heavy accumulation from institutional investors and whales.
The Voltaire era, enabled through the Chang hard fork, will phase out the network’s founding “genesis keys” and establish decentralized governance.
Analysts note a similar jump followed the 2021 Alonzo upgrade, when ADA doubled within weeks. Cardano’s Total Value Locked has also climbed sharply, with decentralized applications such as Minswap and Indigo Protocol drawing user funds.
That surge recalls late 2024, when a 271% jump in TVL preceded a 300% price rally.
On-chain data shows whales bought 180 million ADA in August, worth more than $160 million, while institutional flows have added another $73 million this year.
Derivatives market indicators, including rising Open Interest and positive Funding Rates, suggest traders are betting on higher prices.
ADA traded near $0.93 on Monday, a critical Fibonacci resistance point that could pave the way to $1.16 if buyers prevail.Still, risks remain. Critics say Cardano’s slow pace and past centralization issues undermine momentum, while Ethereum and Solana continue to dominate.
Broader economic conditions and US regulatory scrutiny also weigh heavily. Analysts agree the Voltaire rollout will determine whether Cardano breaks its “ghost chain” label or stalls against entrenched competition.
