Cardano Price Chart Tells a Story of Persistent Selling—ADA Down 61% YTD

The Cardano network is facing a harsh reality as 2025 draws to a close, with ADA’s price action and on-chain metrics painting a picture of sustained investor exodus. Current data shows the token trading around $0.39, marking a devastating 61.12% decline from its annual highs—a performance that has sparked renewed scrutiny of project leadership and ecosystem fundamentals.

The Chart Says It All: Technical Breakdown Signals Trouble

When you examine the technical landscape, the bearish bias becomes undeniable. ADA has been unable to establish a stable foundation, with bulls repeatedly failing to defend key resistance levels. The $0.36 mark remains a persistent hurdle that sellers have consistently pushed back down from. More concerning is the critical support zone at $0.3380–$0.34; any breakdown here could accelerate selling pressure toward $0.30–$0.32, where historical buying interest appears thin.

On the upside, traders are watching resistance around $0.3750–$0.38, with heavier supply blocking momentum toward $0.40–$0.41. The technical picture reflects a market struggling to find conviction, with weak rallies punctuating an otherwise downtrend throughout the year.

On-Chain Data Reveals the Real Story: Capital Flight Accelerating

Beyond the price chart, blockchain metrics expose a deeper problem—confidence erosion across the Cardano ecosystem. Total value locked (TVL) across DeFi protocols has collapsed from a summer peak of $544 million down to $215.5 million, a 60% decline that signals plummeting user engagement and skepticism about the network’s growth trajectory.

The stablecoin market on Cardano tells a similar tale. Holdings dropped from $40.48 million in November to $37.68 million, indicating reduced liquidity and trading activity. Perhaps most telling is the derivatives market: ADA Futures open interest has cratered from $1.72 billion in October to just $651 million—a 62% collapse that shows institutional traders have largely abandoned leveraged positions.

This combination of metrics points to one conclusion: investors are actively de-risking Cardano positions across multiple vectors.

Charles Hoskinson Pushes Back, but Market Remains Unconvinced

On Christmas Day, Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson attempted to lift spirits with a holiday message, describing 2025 as a “long, hard year” while urging the community to maintain faith in 2026. However, the timing proved unfortunate given ADA’s -61% annual performance and December’s 15% drop.

The post quickly drew criticism, with one X user directly challenging Hoskinson over his trading activity. The accusation: that Hoskinson sold ADA near its $3.00 peak but refuses to re-enter at current depressed levels around $0.30–$0.36, raising questions about founder commitment to the project.

Hoskinson’s response was swift and categorical—he denied ever selling at $3.00 and characterized the claims as bot-amplified misinformation. While he rejected the narrative outright, the broader market sentiment remains fragile. After all, talk is cheap when on-chain metrics are screaming louder than any public statement.

The Bigger Picture: A Year-Long Pattern of Exit

December’s 15% decline is just the latest chapter in Cardano’s painful 2025. The year-to-date 61% plunge reflects a sustained pattern of capital rotation away from the blockchain. Whether driven by disappointment with development pace, competition from faster Layer 1s, or broader market cycles, the data is unmistakable: money is flowing out, not in.

For investors still holding ADA, the technical chart and on-chain metrics suggest patience will be tested further before any meaningful recovery emerges.