Cardano (ADA) DeFi TVL Hits 3-Year High as Whales Accumulate 348M Tokens

Cardano (ADA) has reclaimed major ground in the decentralized finance (DeFi) sector, with total value locked (TVL) soaring by 28.7% in Q3 2025, the highest level since early 2022.

According to Messari’s latest State of Cardano report, the network’s DeFi growth and robust treasury expansion have pushed ADA’s market capitalization up 42.5% to $29.5 billion, marking a strong rebound for the ecosystem.

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ADA's price trends to the downside on the daily chart. Source: ADAUSD on Tradingview

Core Protocols and Treasury Expansion Fuel Cardano’s Momentum

Key protocols like Liqwid and Minswap drove much of Cardano’s DeFi momentum, with Liqwid’s TVL jumping 50.8% to $101.6 million, while Minswap dominated 74.7% of DEX volume. Cardano’s treasury balance also climbed to $1.3 billion, showing renewed developer confidence and ecosystem resilience.

Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson praised the community’s growing commitment to decentralization, emphasizing that ADA’s ecosystem could expand into “seven or eight digits” in DeFi value if users continue adopting native protocols.

Whales Accumulate 348 Million ADA as Price Eyes Recovery

Despite recent market instability that dragged ADA below $0.6, whale activity has surged dramatically. On-chain data from Santiment shows that between November 7 and 10, large holders accumulated 348 million ADA, worth over $204 million, representing nearly 0.94% of the total supply.

This buying spree has coincided with a modest 21% rebound in ADA’s price from its $0.49 low earlier this month, as investors anticipate a potential breakout above $0.6. Analysts highlight a bullish “Power of Three” pattern forming, which could pave the way for a rally toward $0.73, and possibly higher in the next bullish phase.

However, despite whale accumulation, overall network activity has softened slightly, with daily active addresses declining. This divergence suggests that while retail users are cautious, institutional and high-net-worth investors are positioning for long-term gains.

Cardano Aligns with ISO 20022 and Expands Roadmap

Cardano’s inclusion among digital assets aligned with the ISO 20022 global financial messaging standard has further strengthened its institutional narrative. Charles Hoskinson reaffirmed ADA’s full support for the framework, placing it alongside assets like XRP and XLM in global payment interoperability.

In parallel, Cardano achieved full community-led governance in September 2025 and continues to roll out upgrades, such as Halo2-Plutus, which enhance privacy and scalability.

The Cardano Foundation’s updated roadmap focuses on expanding DeFi liquidity, growing stablecoin adoption, and tokenizing real-world assets, indicating a maturing ecosystem ready for the next wave of blockchain adoption.

Cover image from ChatGPT, ADAUSD chart from Tradingview