Should You Buy Cardano in 2025?

Why trust HelloSafe?

At HelloSafe, our expert has been closely monitoring the evolution of the Cardano cryptocurrency for over three years. Every month, hundreds of thousands of users in Ireland trust us to analyse market trends and identify the best investment opportunities. Our analyses are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute investment advice. In line with our ethical charter, HelloSafe has never purchased Cardano nor received compensation from any entities associated with its ecosystem.

Cardano at a glance

How much does 1 Cardano cost?

The price of Cardano is up this week. As of today, ADA is trading at €0.62, showing a rise of +4.50% over the last 24 hours and a modest +0.1% gain over the past week. Cardano’s total market capitalisation stands at €21.6 billion, with a 3-month average daily trading volume of around €538 million. Currently ranked #10 in global crypto market cap, there are 35.34 billion ADA in circulation, representing about 1.07% market dominance. Given the current trends in the Irish crypto market, Cardano remains a dynamic asset – investors should always keep in mind its inherent volatility and long-term opportunities.

Our comprehensive review of the cryptocurrency Cardano

Have the foundational trends of Cardano over the past three years, combined with on-chain metrics, advanced technical signals, market structure and a thorough competitive landscape, reshaped its investment profile for 2025? Our proprietary analytics engines have synthesized the latest real-time market data and cross-validated it against macro and sectoral indicators. So, why could Cardano become a strategic entry point once again into the rapidly evolving Layer 1 blockchain ecosystem in 2025?

Recent performance & market context

Price evolution

After experiencing high volatility in the wake of the 2021 crypto bull run, Cardano (ADA) has navigated a prolonged consolidation phase. As of June 2025, ADA trades at $0.6688, showing a robust +44.8% performance over the past twelve months, substantially outperforming wider altcoin indices. Over the last six months, ADA’s price growth (+5.3%) reflects stable accumulation amid broader market risk-on sentiment, with an average daily trading volume of $587 million—underscoring deep market liquidity and consistent investor engagement.

Positive recent events

• Integration with Unreal Engine has positioned Cardano at the forefront of blockchain gaming, creating new use cases for ADA and its smart contracts.
• Strategic alignment with Franklin Templeton bolsters institutional credibility—key in attracting regulated capital.
• Completion of the Voltaire Era marks a milestone in decentralized governance, directly engaging token holders in protocol evolution.
• Integration with Brave Wallet exposes ADA to a potential 86 million new users, amplifying wallet adoption and transaction throughput.

Macro/sectoral context

The broader regulatory environment continues to mature, with recent moves by the US SEC conceding on several lawsuits, including matters impacting ADA. Global risk appetite remains constructive due to easing monetary policy, and digital asset adoption rates in Europe and Africa continue their secular uptrend, boding well for smart contract platforms leading the “blockchain utility race”. Cardano stands to benefit strongly from sectoral flows targeting Layer 1 protocols with scalable, energy-efficient consensus and tangible institutional engagement.

Technical analysis

Key crypto indicators

• RSI at 41.88 positions ADA in a neutral-bearish territory, but no longer severely oversold—suggesting a possible stabilization if volume persists.
• MACD signals a recent bearish crossover, indicative of weakening near-term momentum, yet the proximity to long-term support may prompt mean reversion strategies.
• Moving averages: ADA currently trades below all major moving averages (20, 50, 100, 200 days), flagging a consolidating market structure and a potential springboard for a lagged uptrend should sentiment shift.

Support & reversal signals

• Solid support at $0.6630 and $0.6500 has repeatedly absorbed downside pressure, forming a structurally resilient base below current levels—areas where whales and long-term holders are showing renewed accumulation.
• Resistance at $0.6850 and $0.7090 will be watchpoints for confirming a short-term trend reversal should ADA break above these values with volume confirmation.

Favourable momentum in sight

• With volume maintaining above $500M daily and volatility compressing, a volatility breakout is statistically probable within the next quarters. Combined with strong support and technical base building, this environment often precedes surprise upward moves reminiscent of prior ADA cycles.

Fundamental analysis

Adoption & ecosystem growth

• Ecosystem expansion: The Cardano DeFi ecosystem is now experiencing strong, sustainable TVL growth, driven by the modularity and safety of Plutus V2 smart contracts. DApps and NFT activity, especially in Africa and Europe, continue to rise, supported by proactive regulatory dialogues.
• Major partnerships: Collaborations with Fortune 500 institutions (Franklin Templeton) and tech integrations (Brave, Unreal Engine, Ripple RLUSD) mark Cardano as an attractive compliance-first Layer 1 for both developers and institutions.
• Technological edge: The peer-reviewed, research-driven approach, exemplified by the Ouroboros consensus protocol, gives Cardano pronounced defensibility versus competing platforms.

Valuation & capital flows

• Market Cap: At $23.63 billion, ADA remains in the global top 10 by market cap—substantial, yet still less than ~10% of Ethereum's valuation, suggesting strong re-rating potential if network growth persists.
• Fully Diluted Valuation: A disciplined, transparent token unlock schedule means that overhang risk is tightly managed (~78.5% of supply in circulation).
• TVL and on-chain activity: Increasing TVL and on-chain transaction counts corroborate Cardano’s rising real-world utility, while the mainnet staking yield (~4-5%) is an attractive carry for sophisticated crypto portfolios.

Volume & liquidity

• With persistent $500M+ in daily volume and tight exchange spreads, ADA demonstrates high liquidity, limiting slippage in larger trades—a prerequisite for institutional flows.
• ADA’s prominent position (#10) ensures enduring top-of-mind awareness both among investors and in key crypto indices.

Structural strengths

• Vast, active community and developer ecosystem, strong Github activity, and consistently transparent roadmaps strengthen Cardano’s positioning against Layer 1 competitors (Solana, Ethereum).
• Unique governance (CIP-1694 DReps, community treasury) aligns incentives for long-term network health.
• Ongoing energy-efficient operation appeals to ESG-aware funds and policy makers, potentially unlocking additional institutional inflows.

Catalysts & positive outlook

• ETF potential: The Grayscale spot ETF proposal for Cardano (pending SEC decision, Oct 2025) could serve as a watershed moment, dramatically increasing regulated capital influx.
• Major protocol upgrades: The pending Ouroboros Leios update (2026), aiming for up to 1M TPS, will exponentially boost the network capacity, a key differentiator in the next DeFi & gaming upcycle.
• Midnight protocol sidechain launch: Enhances privacy use-cases on Cardano, diversifying its value proposition within Web3.
• Hydra Layer 2 integration: Continued improvements in scalability and transaction costs.
• Regulation: Positive regulatory momentum in the EU and UK, plus the SEC’s recent retreats, collectively reduce headline risk for would-be buyers.

Investment strategies (according to horizon)

Short-term (weeks to months)

• Accumulation during technical pullbacks close to $0.65-$0.66 could position investors optimally for a volatility breakout scenario should ETF news or macro risk sentiment improve.
• Swing trades could target resistance breaks of $0.6850 and $0.73 with strictly managed stops, capitalizing on momentum reversals.

Medium-term (months to 1 year)

• With Voltaire governance fully operational and high-profile integrations (Brave, Franklin Templeton) expanding ADA’s reach, medium-horizon holders may see compounded benefits from ecosystem upgrades and capital inflows post-ETF event.
• Entry ahead of the Ouroboros Leios upgrade and sidechain releases offers compelling asymmetric upside against current support levels.

Long-term (>1 year)

• Holding through the next major protocol cycles (Leios, Hydra, Midnight sidechain) aligns investor exposure with Cardano’s fundamental roadmap, potentially capturing upside from network effects and institutional adoption.
• Staking remains an attractive source of annualized return (4-5%), while compounding ecosystem growth could drive network value significantly higher by 2027-2030.

Cardano price forecast (2025–2029)

Is this the right time to buy Cardano?

Cardano’s fundamentals have rarely looked this robust. The protocol combines deep liquidity, strong institutional partnerships and a vibrant development community, all backed by a peer-reviewed innovation pipeline and real-world adoption in growth markets. A compelling line-up of technical upgrades, regulatory progress and potentially pivotal events such as a spot ETF approval collectively justifies renewed interest from sophisticated investors.

ADA’s undervaluation relative to its Layer 1 peers, its disciplined tokenomics, and a track record of network resilience suggest that the next phase could well be marked by a powerful re-rating. Cardano appears to offer a uniquely attractive entry point for investors seeking a high-upside, structurally sound blockchain asset with clear technical catalysts on the horizon.

In sum, Cardano demonstrates multiple converging factors—constructive technicals at key support, a rapidly expanding ecosystem, and credible upcoming catalysts—that make it a candidate worth close attention for selective long-term allocation. The current combination of robust fundamentals, protocol innovation, and increasing market confidence means that Cardano could be poised to enter a new bullish phase, with all the advantages and opportunities this entails for dynamic crypto portfolios.

How to buy Cardano?

It’s simple and secure to buy Cardano (ADA) online via a regulated platform in Ireland. Today, two popular methods exist: buying Cardano “spot” (you own the coins in your wallet), or speculating on its price through cryptocurrency CFDs (Contracts for Difference), which do not require actual coin ownership. Each approach has benefits and unique risks. To help you choose the right service, you’ll find a detailed comparison of leading platforms further down this page.

Spot Purchase

A spot purchase of Cardano means you buy actual ADA coins and store them in your cryptographic wallet—giving you full ownership and access at any time. Most platforms charge a small, fixed commission per transaction, typically in euro.

Example

Let’s say ADA is trading at $0.67 (about €0.62). With an investment of €1,000 (minus a €5 transaction fee), you could acquire approximately 1,605 ADA coins.
✔️ Gain scenario: If ADA’s price rises by 10%, your holding is now worth €1,100. Result: a gross gain of €100 (+10%) on your investment.

Trading via CFD

Trading Cardano via CFDs means you don’t actually own ADA—your position tracks only its price movement. This allows you to go long or short, often with leverage, but involves higher risk. Fees typically include a spread (difference between buy/sell price) plus an overnight financing charge if you hold your position for more than a day.

Example

You open a CFD position on ADA with €1,000 and 5x leverage, giving you €5,000 of exposure to the market.
✔️ Gain scenario: If ADA’s price gains 8%, your position returns 8% × 5 = 40%. That’s a €400 profit on your €1,000 (excluding fees).

Final Advice

Before investing, compare the fees and conditions of each platform carefully—transaction and overnight charges can impact returns, especially with leverage. Ultimately, your choice should reflect your investment goals and experience. To guide you, refer to the comparator of trusted Cardano platforms further below.

Our 7 tips for buying Cardano

The latest news about Cardano

Cardano has been fully integrated into the Brave Wallet, granting ADA exposure to 86 million global users. This integration makes ADA easily accessible as a native asset inside Brave’s privacy-focused browser wallet, which has significant user adoption in Ireland. The move strategically positions Cardano among the most visible blockchain assets for retail investors, making buying, storing, and using ADA simpler within a mainstream browser environment. The Irish crypto community, benefitting from Brave’s popularity as an alternative browser, can leverage direct ADA transactions and decentralized Web3 access without needing third-party wallets, likely driving greater local adoption.

Brave’s ADA integration coincides with a period of technical advancements and positive price momentum for Cardano. Within the past week, ADA posted a 4.5% intraday gain and retained a +0.1% week-on-week advance, outperforming other layer-1 assets despite technical signals still positioned in bearish territory. Notably, Cardano staking yields remain attractive (4-5% annual), which aligns well with Ireland’s growing interest in DeFi yields and alternative savings vehicles among tech-savvy investors. Trading activity in ADA has remained robust, with a 24-hour volume of $587 million and consistent liquidity on regulated EU exchanges accessible to Irish residents.

Cardano’s recent partnership initiatives signal robust institutional interest, with direct implications for the Irish market. In particular, the Franklin Templeton collaboration is a clear signal of established financial actors exploring Cardano-based products. Ireland’s financial services sector, often at the forefront of EU crypto innovation, stands to benefit as global players look to launch compliant products and explore on-chain asset management. Developments such as Grayscale’s pending ETF filing for Cardano (decision expected by October 2025) could further catalyze regulated investment flows in Ireland, especially given the country’s proactive stance on digital asset ETFs and its established fintech sector.

The Cardano network has activated the Voltaire era, implementing a decentralized governance model recognized as industry-leading. With the activation of CIP-1694, Cardano is now among the most decentralized, secure, and transparent blockchains operating at scale. This governance upgrade introduces a "treasury" system and delegated representatives (DReps), empowering ADA holders—including those in Ireland—to influence network evolution and funding proposals. The Voltaire model is being closely monitored by EU regulators and policymakers, given its relevance for compliance and user-involvement standards, potentially setting a benchmark for other projects seeking regulatory clarity in Europe.

International expansion through European partnerships continues, with Cardano actively exploring integrations relevant to Ireland’s fintech ecosystem. Current efforts focus on connecting Cardano with major stablecoin infrastructure (RLUSD with Ripple) and integrating Bitcoin liquidity via the Cardinal protocol for decentralized finance. These integrations are highly relevant for Irish DeFi developers and institutional asset managers looking to leverage multi-asset, cross-chain capabilities within a regulated and energy-efficient environment. Given Ireland’s role as a European fintech hub, these developments position Cardano as a viable platform for compliant DeFi, Web3, and tokenized asset projects targeting both domestic and pan-European markets.

FAQ

P. Laurore

Finance expert

Co-founder of HelloSafe and holder of a Master's degree in finance, Pauline has recognised expertise in personal finance, which she uses to help users better understand and optimise their financial choices. At HelloSafe, Pauline plays a key role in designing clear, educational content on savings, investments and personal finance. Passionate about financial education, Pauline strives, with every piece of content she oversees, to provide reliable, transparent and unbiased information for independent and informed financial management. To this end, she has tested over 100 trading platforms to help internet users make the right choices.