ADA price prediction 2025: Is Cardano a good investment?: Third-party price target

Read our Cardano price prediction for 2025 and beyond, with insights from third-party analysts and market experts
By Capital.com Research Team

Cardano, founded by Jeremy Wood and Ethereum co-founder Charles Hoskinson, is a decentralised blockchain platform known for its research-driven development and strong smart contract capabilities. Its native token, ADA, powers transactions, staking rewards, and governance across the Cardano ecosystem.

As regulatory frameworks evolve and network upgrades like Hydra continue to roll out, what could be next for ADA? Below, we explore the latest Cardano (ADA) price predictions for 2025 and beyond, drawing on insights from leading third-party analysts.

Cardano (ADA) price prediction 2025-2030

As of May 2025, third-party forecasts presented a mixed outlook for Cardano’s ADA, indicating moderate but varied expectations for the next five years.

Trading Economics projected ADA/USD at about $0.71488 by the end of Q2 2025, falling to roughly $0.59243 within a year, suggesting cautious sentiment towards short-term gains.

Cryptocurrency news outlet Benzinga forecasted ADA’s average price to reach $0.945 during 2025, with an expected range of $0.735 to $1.376. However, the outlook became bearish for 2026, anticipating a drop to an average of $0.594.

AMB Crypto offered a more optimistic forecast, seeing ADA averaging $0.87 in 2025 and gradually rising thereafter – projecting $0.97 in 2026, $1.18 in 2027 and $1.31 in 2028. By 2029, the publisher anticipated ADA would average about $1.38, marking steady incremental gains.

Coin Codex also expected gradual appreciation, forecasting ADA to trade at an average of $0.713 in 2025, then rise annually – reaching $1 in 2026, $1.188 in 2027, $1.236 in 2028 and ultimately $1.559 in 2029. Similarly, Coin Gape predicted modest annual increases, forecasting an average ADA price of $0.772 in 2025 within a tight range ($0.752–$0.775), gradually rising to $0.958 by 2029.

Cardano price prediction: The most bullish

Cryptocurrency exchange platform Changelly issued one of the most bullish forecasts, expecting ADA to average $0.797 in 2025 (range $0.724-$0.868). Its projections then climbed steeply, with averages of $1.19 in 2026, $1.70 in 2027, $2.44 in 2028 and $3.52 by 2029.

On 21 May 2025, Dan Victor from The Motley Fool maintained a bullish stance on ADA’s long-term prospects, citing growth drivers such as the recent Hydra and Midnight updates. Victor said that Cardano was well positioned to revisit its previous 52-week high of $1.32 over the coming year, highlighting potential upside catalysts.

Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Analyst predictions may be inaccurate, rely on historical data and should not replace independent research. Always conduct thorough due diligence before trading and never invest more than you can afford to lose.

Cardano price prediction: 2030 and beyond

Longer-term forecasts for Cardano’s ADA were varied, with analysts predicting a broad range of potential outcomes.

 

2030

Low

Average

High

Wallet Investor

N/A

$1.733

N/A

Gov Capital

$0.725

$0.806

$0.886

Benzinga

$0.130

$0.341

$0.801

AMB Crypto

$1.32

$1.65

$1.98

Coin Codex

$1.745

$1.821

$1.944

Coin Gape

$0.960

$0.981

$1

Changelly

$5.12

$5.28

$5.92

Forecasts beyond 2030 showed an even wider divergence in analyst expectations. Coin Codex projected ADA to gradually increase over the long-term, forecasting an average price of $2.63 by the end of 2040, and around $4.33 by 2050.

Coin Gape’s long-term outlook was more conservative, predicting ADA’s average price to reach $1.40 by 2040, before moderately increasing to approximately $1.81 by 2050.

In stark contrast, Changelly’s extended projections were notably bullish, estimating ADA could rise to an average of $324.25 by 2040 and advance to about $703.21 by 2050. 

Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. 

What is ADA? Cardano explained

ADA is the native cryptocurrency of the Cardano blockchain, a decentralised, third-generation blockchain network.

Founded by Ethereum co-founder Charles Hoskinson and launched to the public in September 2017, Cardano supports a wide range of features, including smart contracts, decentralised applications (dApps), and decentralised finance (DeFi) services. ADA tokens facilitate transactions across the network and can be staked by users to secure the blockchain through its proof-of-stake consensus mechanism, rewarding participants with passive income.

In May 2025, ADA ranked the 10th largest cryptocurrency by market capitalisation – worth about $24.75bn – according to CoinMarketCap. 

Cardano hard forks

2020

Shelley

Introduced staking and further decentralisation via stake pools and delegation.

Allegra

Enabled token-locking, supporting governance and Project Catalyst voting.

2021

Mary

Brought native multi-asset support, allowing users to mint and transfer custom tokens.

Alonzo

Activated smart contract functionality using the Plutus language.

2022

Babbage

Improved smart contract performance with technical upgrades for efficiency.

Vasil

Enhanced transaction throughput and dApp performance.

2023

Valentine

Improved Plutus scripts and cross-chain interoperability.

2024

Chang

Began the transition to decentralised governance with an interim constitution.

2025

Plomin

Marked the transition to fully decentralised governance on Cardano.

Learn more about Cardano (ADA)

ADA (Cardano) price history

Cardano’s ADA coin launched in September 2017 after an ICO that raised over $62 million.

ADA reached its all-time high of $3.10 on 2 September 2021. However, throughout 2022 and 2023, ADA’s price was affected by global economic uncertainty and regulatory pressures. The coin started 2022 at around $1.38, briefly spiked to $1.63 on 18 January, then dropped as low as $0.75 on 25 February amid geopolitical tensions.

Further declines followed the Terra (LUNA) collapse and the FTX exchange meltdown, with ADA ending the year near $0.25. Despite these setbacks, ADA’s price closed at $0.59 in 2023 and $0.85 in 2024 – reflecting annual growth as broader market sentiment lifted.

ADA closed at $0.73 on 29 May 2025, which is approximately 14.4% down year to date, but 60.2% up year on year.

What influences the ADA/USD CFD price?

The ADA/USD CFD price can react to factors ranging from regulatory developments and technological advancements to adoption rates and competitor performance.

Technology and network upgrades

Continuous technological improvements can significantly influence ADA/USD CFDs. Successful launches such as the Hydra layer-2 scaling solution and ongoing enhancements to smart-contract functionality have improved scalability and user trust. Positive market response to such developments typically lifts prices, whereas delays or underwhelming updates may dampen confidence.

Regulatory clarity and government actions

Regulatory developments, particularly in major markets such as the US, play a crucial role. ADA’s inclusion in the planned US crypto reserve alongside Bitcoin and Ethereum, announced in March 2025, boosted confidence and suggested mainstream acceptance. Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson emphasised the importance of regulatory clarity in a May 2025 CNBC Crypto interview, noting that stable, favourable rules could support sustained growth. Conversely, adverse decisions or restrictive measures would likely weaken sentiment.

Adoption and real-world usage

Growing use of the Cardano network for decentralised applications (dApps), DeFi platforms, and institutional collaborations could positively influence ADA/USD CFD prices by increasing demand. For example, increased transaction volumes from these use-cases typically lead to price appreciation. However, if adoption slows or fails to match expectations, this could lead to investor scepticism, potentially driving ADA’s price lower.

Market sentiment and media coverage

Public perception and media attention directly affect ADA’s market performance. Positive media coverage, endorsements from influential investors, or favourable analysis often stimulate buying interest. Conversely, negative news such as security breaches, network downtime, or criticism from reputable sources can rapidly undermine sentiment, prompting a sell-off.

Competition from other blockchains

The presence and performance of competing platforms, including Ethereum, Solana, and Avalanche, directly influence ADA’s attractiveness to investors. If rivals advance more rapidly in terms of technology or adoption, it may diminish demand for ADA. Conversely, setbacks or issues within competitor networks can enhance ADA’s relative appeal, supporting its price.

Cardano CFD trading strategies to consider

If you plan to trade ADA contracts for difference (CFDs), a clear strategy can help manage risk and optimise opportunities. No method guarantees profit, but consistent techniques and tools such as stop-loss and take-profit orders support disciplined decision-making.

Here are some popular ADA trading strategies to consider:

Day trading

As a day trader, you open and close ADA CFD positions within the same trading day, capitalising on short-term price fluctuations. Monitor news-driven events – for example, updates on Cardano’s Midnight upgrade – or technical indicators such as Bollinger Bands and VWAP.

Swing trading

Swing traders typically hold ADA positions over several days to weeks, aiming to capture medium-term price trends. Recent developments like Hydra or regulatory announcements may influence momentum. Tools such as Fibonacci retracements and support-resistance levels help define entry and exit points.

Trend trading

In trend trading, you align positions with established longer-term trends. Consider going long during an uptrend following successful upgrades or short during periods of regulatory uncertainty. Moving averages and the RSI can confirm trend strength.

Position trading

Position traders hold positions for weeks to months based on fundamental analysis. Factors such as Cardano’s integration into government reserves or its application adoption can guide decisions. Combine fundamental insights with periodic technical checks.

Discover more CFD trading strategies.

Risks and rewards to trading ADA CFDs

Trading Cardano CFDs provides exposure to ADA’s price movements without owning the underlying asset, offering potential advantages but also risks:

  • Volatility: ADA can experience substantial price swings. Upgrades like Hydra might lead to price rises, rapid upward moves, while any delays could influence a decline.

  • Regulatory landscape: positive developments (e.g., inclusion in the US crypto reserve) can boost confidence, but sudden policy shifts might weigh on the market.

  • Market sentiment: supportive analysis or media coverage may support ADA prices. Conversely, critical news or competitor progress could have the opposite effect.

  • Leverage: CFDs are traded on margin, amplifying gains and losses. Use stop-loss orders, sensible position sizing and regular monitoring to mitigate risk.

Past performance doesn’t guarantee future outcomes. Always conduct thorough research and trade within your risk tolerance.

FAQs

How high could Cardano go?

Analyst forecasts in May 2025 ranged from around $0.59 to $1.38, with more bullish scenarios projecting up to $3.52 by 2029. Beyond 2030, estimates diverged – some expected ADA to stabilise below $2, while others, such as Changelly, suggested far higher levels over the long term. Always conduct independent research before trading, as predictions and forecasts can be wrong.

Is Cardano a good investment?

Whether ADA suits your portfolio depends on your risk profile and time horizon. Cardano offers a technically advanced platform developed through peer review and has attracted institutional interest. However, its price remains volatile and sensitive to market cycles, adoption rates and policy changes. Diversification and sound risk management are essential.

Could Cardano go up or down?

Yes – ADA can move in either direction. Positive catalysts such as Hydra’s adoption, privacy upgrades like Midnight or supportive regulation may push prices higher. Network delays, weak user growth or negative news can exert downward pressure. Broader macroeconomic trends and overall crypto-sector sentiment also influence ADA’s trajectory.

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