Cardano ADA is nearing the $1 mark, up over 134% in the past year. Ethereum’s latest layer-2 expansions and a wave of institutional Bitcoin interest have shed light on top altcoins like ADA and Ripple XRP. With just three full months left in 2025, many analysts are already eying what coin will shine the brightest in 2026. As ADA rides a bullish streak over the last few months, analysts see ADA potentially performing the best, especially if it finally hits $1 within October 2025. Could the altcoin see XRP-like growth next year and be worth several dollars next year?
Cardano ADA’s growth next year could come from several catalysts, including developments on the native network and outside influences. The Cardano Plutus v2 update could send the network’s native crypto coin higher as soon as it launches. Cardano’s Plutus V2 is an upgraded version of the Plutus smart contract language that introduces significant improvements in efficiency, storage, and functionality compared to Plutus V1. Key features of Plutus V2 include reference scripts, inline datums, and reference inputs, which reduce transaction sizes and costs, making smart contracts more performant and cost-effective on the Cardano blockchain. A smoother experience would attract liquidity hunters and reinforce Cardano’s image as a low-fee crypto. If adoption picks up, investor enthusiasm could send prices closer to the long-awaited $5 mark.
What Else Could Spark an ADA Rally in 2026?
In additon, spot crypto ETFs play a huge role in the crypto industry’s future, with many ETF applications currently pending approval. Cardano ADA could be one of the next altcoins to receive ETF trading approval, which would bring BTC-like explosive growth to the coin and its network. The deadline for the aforementioned development is in October, which is another reason that is helping ADA spike high in anticipation.
Furthermore, the Cardano Foundation recently took to X to share a comprehensive roadmap for 2025-26, detailing insights concerning Cardano’s future development. The foundation announced an 8-figure ADA amount in liquidity to ensure robust Cardano stablecoin projects. In addition to this, the blockchain is ready to focus on RWA deployment and listings to ensure Cardano’s steady momentum and adoption. “We will provide an eight-figure ADA amount in liquidity to Cardano stablecoin projects. We’ll also back DeFi adoption and liquidity through initiatives like the Stablecoin DeFi Liquidity Budget. We are expanding our Web3 adoption team to deliver greater adoption of Cardano. Their focus will be on integrations, listings, real-world assets (RWA), and more.
Also Read: How Likely Is Cardano To Hit $6 Within This Decade?
According to Changelly’s ADA analysis, Cardano will continue to rally over the coming years. The platform anticipates the asset to hit a peak of $6.25 in 2030. Hitting $6.25 from current price levels will entail a rally of about 682.25%.