Is Cardano's dream of 10 USD realistic?

Cardano (ADA) is once again gearing up for a new bullish phase. On forums and social media, rumors are spreading that ADA could break through to 10 USD in this cycle. At first glance, it sounds crazy – a dreamy prediction that could lead to disappointing outcomes? Perhaps not. Because upon further analysis of the numbers, the technological upgrades, along with the surrounding political factors, this scenario seems no longer a pipe dream, but a reasonable arrangement.

From 3 USD in the previous cycle to an expectation of 10 USD – Why is this time different?

In the bullish cycle of 2021, ADA once reached a milestone of 3.1 USD – an impressive figure considering the context at that time, when Cardano had not yet activated smart contracts, there was no vibrant DeFi market, no NFT ecosystem, and it was not yet bolstered by institutional capital. The strong momentum at that time mainly stemmed from market confidence and hype. However, despite the evident limitations, ADA remained firmly in the top 3 cryptocurrencies by market capitalization.

Nowadays, the landscape has completely changed. Cardano has entered a more mature phase with significant technological advancements: the Plutus smart contracts are operational, becoming the foundation for a series of real-world applications; Hydra opens up the possibility of faster transaction processing and lower costs; Mithril improves synchronization speed, enhancing user experience; Midnight offers superior security and privacy layers, while launching an airdrop that is exciting the community. Not stopping there, the ecosystem has also begun integrating projects related to artificial intelligence and tokenization of real assets (RWA), adding more depth to the network's value.

If ADA ever reached 3 USD in a context where speculation was the only driving force, then with real utility now proven and institutional capital waiting in the wings, the prospect of tripling to reach 10 USD is no longer far-fetched. Especially in a cryptocurrency market known for its "irrational" yet surprising boom.

Nationally Recognized – Cardano in the list of "outstanding" blockchains

One of the important but often underrated factors comes from politics and the legal framework. In the Stablecoin Transparency Act, passed during the Trump administration, only three blockchains are clearly listed as "mature blockchains" (mature blockchain): Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Cardano. No Solana, no Avalanche, no XRP. The inclusion of ADA in this limited list is akin to being granted a "seal of approval" from the US legislature. This national recognition has helped Cardano become a name easily accepted in the eyes of financial institutions, ETF funds, as well as the most cautious policymakers.

From here, the path opens up for Cardano to be incredibly vast: the possibility of getting ADA ETF approval in the near future; the opportunity to attract capital flows from pension funds, hedge funds, and individual investors who often avoid risky assets; and above all, reinforcing the belief that ADA is a long-term, sustainable platform, not just a "temporary craze" of the cryptocurrency market.

Cardano ETF – A boost that could change the game

The emergence of Bitcoin ETF and then Ethereum spot ETF has changed the entire landscape of the cryptocurrency market. In just the first few weeks, billions of USD in institutional capital have poured in, contributing to pushing the market capitalization of the two leading cryptocurrencies to new record levels. Now, many analysts believe that Cardano is emerging as the next potential candidate, thanks to its transparent legal framework and recognition at the legislative level in the United States.

If an ETF based on Cardano is approved, the effects will far exceed the scope of a "small bump." It could be a game-changing catalyst for the entire ADA ecosystem. A new wave of liquidity could push the price back to the 3 USD mark – which was previously established in the last cycle – and from there open the path toward the 10 USD target.

Unlike short-term speculators, capital from pension funds, hedge funds, and cautious institutional investors often stays away from the crypto market, but with ETFs, they can participate more easily and safely. This makes the scenario not just a distant prospect, but completely feasible in the upcoming bullish cycle.

Since their launch in early 2024, spot Bitcoin ETFs have become the focal point of the traditional financial market, attracting capital flows of up to 52.3 billion USD. Specifically, in 2025, by the end of July, this figure had reached around 19 billion USD – a testament to Bitcoin's enduring appeal. Notably, BlackRock's ETF recorded up to 1.3 billion USD in just two days, demonstrating enormous demand from institutions.

Bitcoin ETF Capital Flow | Source: sosovalueNot to be outdone, Ethereum spot ETF has also quickly exploded. In the early stage, they attracted $2.2 billion, and by July 2025, the capital inflow into the ETH ETF reached $5.41 billion in just one month – surpassing the total of all previous months combined. Notably, during the week of July 18-28, the capital inflow into the ETH ETF reached $2.31 billion, corresponding to 25% of the total capital since its launch. Another impressive milestone was on August 11, 2025, when ETH ETF funds received up to $1.019 billion in just one day. As of now, the total accumulated capital has reached $28.15 billion, with BlackRock nearly holding a dominant position.

ETH ETF Cash Flow | Source: sosovalueBased on this picture, it can be seen that a Cardano spot ETF, if approved, has a solid foundation to become a destination for massive capital flows. Cardano is currently recognized by U.S. law as a "mature blockchain" – an important legal factor that helps attract large funds.

In addition, the technology ecosystem of ADA is also ready with important improvements such as Hydra (scaling solution), Plutus (smart contract language), Midnight (privacy-focused blockchain). The loyal community remains steadfast through the bear market, while interest from pension funds, hedge funds, and crypto ETFs is increasingly rising, all creating a solid foundation for ADA to break through.

If the Cardano ETF gains similar traction to the ETH ETF, a capital inflow of several billion USD in the first month is entirely feasible. In a more optimistic scenario, accumulated capital ranging from several billion to tens of billions of USD in the following years is no longer a dream, but could become the catalyst to propel ADA quickly towards new value milestones – including the target of 10 USD.

Technology and Midnight Airdrop – Internal Catalysts

During the entire bear market, while many projects stagnated or were even forgotten, Cardano has quietly but steadily developed. The ecosystem is continuously upgraded: Hydra expands processing capabilities with high speed and low cost; Mithril improves synchronization speed, providing a smoother user experience; Plutus – the smart contract language – is constantly being optimized, attracting more developers; and notably, Midnight – a sidechain focused on data security and privacy – is becoming an important piece in the global context of increasing concern over information safety.

The current highlight is the Midnight airdrop, an event that is making the Cardano community more active than ever. History shows that spectacular airdrops like those of Arbitrum or Optimism have created a strong bullish effect on the main tokens, and Cardano can completely replicate this scenario.

With the combination of the recovering DeFi trend and the explosion of RWA, Cardano is gradually asserting itself as a comprehensive and mature ecosystem, far exceeding the image of "a blockchain still unfinished on paper" that many had previously doubted.

Community Strength – The Secret Weapon of Cardano

In the crypto market, price fluctuations are not only determined by technology or legal frameworks, but also greatly depend on human factors – specifically, the strength of the community. In this regard, Cardano has one of the most loyal and resilient communities in the entire blockchain industry.

During the bullish cycle of 2021, the parabolic rise of ADA was largely driven not by institutional capital, but by retail investors and enthusiastic supporters. As the market entered a prolonged and harsh bear phase, this community did not abandon ship but continued to build, develop, and steadfastly hold.

It is this perseverance and unwavering faith that has become a solid foundation, enabling ADA to have the potential for a strong explosion once the market enters a new bullish cycle. This is not only a short-term supportive factor but also a long-term driving force that helps Cardano maintain its special position in the global cryptocurrency ecosystem.

Altcoin Season – Does History Repeat Itself?

In each cycle of the cryptocurrency market, a familiar rhythm always repeats: Bitcoin often kicks things off with a strong rally, then gradually moves sideways. Following that, liquidity shifts to Ethereum, and finally the entire market enters the Altcoin season, where small and mid-cap names unexpectedly become the focus.

Currently, those familiar signals are gradually appearing again. Meme coins are continuously heating up, attracting the attention of retail investors. Ethereum has broken out, indicating that the capital rotation phase is beginning. At the same time, many mid-cap and small-cap altcoins are also recording a noticeable recovery.

In that context, Cardano seems to be at the right "turning point" for a major cycle. Although it has not truly exploded in this cycle, ADA possesses a strong technological foundation, a resilient community, and recognition from regulatory authorities – a perfect formula to become the brightest "star" in the upcoming Altcoin season.

So can ADA reach 10 USD? Perhaps the better question is: why not?

• The 3 USD mark has been reached in the past, demonstrating potential.
• Cardano ETF, if launched, will open the door for a huge influx of institutional capital.
• ADA has been officially recognized in U.S. law, a rare advantage for altcoins.
• Breakthrough technological upgrades like Hydra, Mithril, Plutus, Midnight are strengthening a robust infrastructure.
• And notably, the loyal community of Cardano has remained steadfast throughout many years of the bear market.

Everything is coming together for ADA to make a strong breakout. If the Altcoin season reaches its peak, Cardano can certainly accelerate much faster than expected. The rocket is ready on the launch pad – the only question: are you ready to fly with ADA?

Lilly