Cardano [ADA] is showing signs of weakness beyond price declines. While the token has dropped 9% over the past week, a more troubling indicator is the stagnation of daily active addresses, which remain stuck below 10,000. This trend raises concerns about fading trader confidence and ADA’s long-term relevance in the competitive Layer 1 ecosystem.
Cardano’s User Activity Shows No Recovery
Since March 6, Cardano’s daily active addresses have flatlined around 10K, failing to bounce back even during short-term price upticks. This stagnation contrasts sharply with other Layer 1 networks that have shown signs of user engagement recovery.
The lack of organic growth highlights a critical issue: Cardano’s network is struggling to attract both new and returning users. Without increased network activity, ADA faces an uphill battle in proving its real-world utility and adoption.
Derivatives Market Signals Weak Trader Sentiment
Cardano’s derivatives market is echoing bearish sentiment as Open Interest in ADA Futures has fallen by nearly 30% since March 3. The figure has dropped from $1.2 billion to under $900 million, reflecting traders’ growing reluctance to take leveraged positions on ADA.
Even more concerning is the consistently negative Funding Rate across major exchanges like Binance and Bybit, with several dips below -0.10%. This indicates that short positions are dominant, as traders are willing to pay a premium to maintain their bearish bets.
Together, these factors suggest that the market is playing defense rather than expecting a recovery, putting ADA’s short-term price outlook under pressure.
A Broader Market Shift Leaves ADA Behind
Cardano’s struggles are not happening in isolation. As capital rotates into sectors like Base, memecoins, and AI tokens, ADA’s sideways movement appears systemic rather than temporary.
The network has experienced similar patterns before: brief spikes in Total Value Locked (TVL) and user engagement, only to see them fade post-hype. With no immediate catalyst beyond partner chains and slow DeFi integrations, Cardano risks becoming a legacy chain struggling to keep up with faster-moving competitors.
Is ADA Losing Its Place in the Market?
Once a retail favorite, Cardano is now facing growing doubts about its long-term relevance. ADA’s path forward remains uncertain with on-chain activity stalled, derivatives markets leaning bearish, and traders shifting to other crypto assets.
Without a surge in network demand, developer engagement, or a major fundamental catalyst, Cardano could find itself further sidelined in a market increasingly driven by speed and innovation.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Cryptocurrency investments are volatile and risky. Always conduct your own research before making any investment decisions.
Note: This article has been refined and enhanced by ChatGPT.
