Cardano Whales Hit 3.5-Year High as Retail Dumps ADA

Cardano wallets holding 100K-100M ADA top 25.6B coins, highest since Feb 2023, as sub-100 ADA wallets fell 0.7%.

Cardano’s larger holders have raised their ADA balances to a 3.5-year high. The move comes as retail wallets reduce exposure.

Santiment Intelligence said wallets holding 100,000 to 100 million ADA now hold more than 25.6 billion coins. That is their highest level since February 2023.

Smaller wallets are moving in the opposite direction. Wallets holding fewer than 100 ADA hold about 0.7% fewer coins than four months ago.

The split comes while ADA trades near multi-year lows after weak 2026 price action. Cardano also continues to show activity across development and governance.

Large ADA Wallets Keep Adding Supply

Santiment Intelligence reported a clear rise in Cardano’s key stakeholder holdings. These wallets now hold more than 25.6 billion ADA. The group includes wallets with 100,000 to 100 million ADA.

✍️ TL;DR: Cardano’s key stakeholder holdings reach a 3.5 year high
📊 Metrics Used: Supply Distribution
🔗 Live Chart: https://t.co/9lzM6kxdcb

🦈 Cardano’s 100K to 100M ADA wallets now hold more than 25.6B coins, their highest level since February, 2023.

📉 Retail is doing the… pic.twitter.com/7iHLl5xyHT

— Santiment Intelligence (@SantimentData) July 13, 2026

This level is the highest since February 2023, according to the firm. Whale and shark wallets are often watched for larger market behavior. Their holdings can show whether bigger participants are adding or reducing exposure.

However, higher whale balances do not guarantee an immediate ADA recovery. The data only shows a change in supply distribution. Traders may still need price confirmation before expecting a stronger move.

Retail Wallets Cut ADA Balances

Retail wallets are showing a different pattern during the same period. Santiment Intelligence said sub-100 ADA wallets hold fewer coins than four months ago. Their total holdings are down by about 0.7%.

This suggests smaller holders have reduced exposure during price weakness. ADA’s 2026 price action has remained under pressure. The asset has also traded near multi-year lows in recent sessions.

The gap between larger wallets and retail wallets has become a key market signal. Bigger wallets are absorbing more ADA while smaller wallets lose patience. Still, the market reaction depends on demand, volume, and wider crypto conditions.

Read also: Cardano V11 Hard Fork Advances as Discord Clash Fuels Governance Fears

Cardano Development and Events Continue

Santiment Intelligence also pointed to active work inside the Cardano ecosystem. These areas include Leios testnet work, Hydra scaling upgrades, and Mithril progress. It also mentioned Pyth oracles and new ecosystem funding activity.

We confirm that our teams are taking over the responsibilities for Token2049 and have agreed to deliver the Cardano booth at Token2049 as voted on by DReps and as described in the governance action metadata.

In addition to the Cardano booth, we are also organizing the side event… https://t.co/UlNcqlUcqU

— Cardano Foundation (@Cardano_CF) July 14, 2026

The Cardano Foundation confirmed it will deliver the Cardano booth at Token2049. The decision follows a governance action voted on by DReps. DReps are representatives involved in Cardano’s governance process.

The foundation is also organizing the CardanoxDraperxBitcoin side event in Singapore. The event is funded by Draper and the Cardano Foundation. More details are expected as the Token2049 schedule moves closer.