Should You Buy Cardano in 2025?

Cardano in brief

How much does 1 Cardano cost?

The price of Cardano is on the rise this week. As of now, ADA is trading at ZAR 8.17, up 2.8% over the past 24 hours and showing a 5.4% gain in the last seven days. Cardano’s market capitalisation stands at approximately ZAR 290 billion, with an average daily trading volume of ZAR 7.2 billion over the past three months. Ranked 9th by market cap, there are about 35.3 billion ADA tokens in circulation, and Cardano represents about 1.2% of the total crypto market value. Given this solid position and recent volatility, Cardano offers intriguing prospects for investors seeking to diversify in the dynamic crypto space.

Our comprehensive opinion on the Cardano cryptocurrency

Have we truly measured Cardano’s full resurgence potential amid the latest crypto market rotation? Our in-depth review synthesised ADA’s trends over the past three years, integrating leading on-chain metrics, technical signals, proprietary market analytics and a competitive landscape assessment through our advanced proprietary algorithms. So, with structural shifts in the digital assets ecosystem accelerating, why could Cardano once again be positioned in 2025 as a strategic gateway for value-led exposure to the smart contract and DeFi economy?

1. Recent Performance and Market Context

Price Trajectory and Key Developments

Cardano’s price action has consolidated a robust base over the past twelve months, steadily rebounding from its 2022 lows. After reaching a cyclical bottom in mid-2023 near ZAR 7.50, ADA engaged in an extended accumulation phase with price appreciation driven by higher network activity, consistent staking inflows, and renewed developer engagement. By June 2024, ADA traded in the ZAR 9.60–ZAR 11.30 range, marking a YTD growth of approximately 22%, outpacing most large-cap layer 1 competitors amidst challenging liquidity conditions.

• Launch of key DeFi primitives, including Minswap and Indigo, increasing network total value locked (TVL) by over 110% since Q4 2023
• Expansion of NFT activity and projects such as Clay Nation, drawing in a new wave of digital creators and investors
• Positive flows from institutional traders following spot ETF approvals and shifting crypto allocation policies in major South African asset management firms

Favourable Macro Trends for Digital Assets

• Persistent ZAR weakness and higher domestic inflation have intensified hedging demand for alternatives, including crypto
• Easing global rate outlook and improving South Africa–US trade dynamics have renewed risk appetite in high-growth asset classes
• Regulatory clarity from the FSCA on crypto asset classification has fostered additional investor confidence, supporting local exchange volumes for ADA and its peers

2. Technical Analysis

Crypto Indicators Overview

• RSI (14-day): Recently tested the neutral-50 boundary before turning upwards, indicating strengthening bullish momentum but with room before signalling overbought conditions
• MACD (Daily): Has crossed above the signal line, confirming a medium-term trend reversal and supporting accumulation
• Moving averages: Price trades steadily above the 50-day SMA, while the 200-day SMA at ZAR 10.10 has acted as robust medium-term support

Key Support Levels and Reversal Signals

Current price action has decisively reclaimed the ZAR 10.00 support zone, which has repeatedly proven resilient to downside volatility. Volume-weighted order book data also highlights significant buying interest in the ZAR 9.70–ZAR 10.30 range, underscoring a market consensus that ADA remains undervalued near these levels.

• Formation of a double-bottom pattern in late Q1 2024, followed by higher lows since March—a classic precursor to an extended upside move
• Positive divergence between price and on-chain active addresses, indicating underlying demand persistence

Momentum Outlook (Short to Medium Term)

• Short-term momentum remains positive, with increasing trading volume and substantial open interest on ADA/ZAR futures contracts
• Medium-term projections based on Fibonacci retracement suggest upside potential back to the ZAR 14.10–ZAR 15.00 region, should current resistance (ZAR 12.30) be overcome convincingly

3. Fundamental Analysis

Growing Adoption and Strategic Partnerships

• Adoption: Monthly active addresses have risen over 35% YTD, led by gains in both retail and enterprise segments. Transaction fees remain among the lowest in the top-10 smart contract blockchains, a key edge for sustainable adoption
• Partnerships: Noteworthy alliances with the Ethiopian Ministry of Education and large financial institutions in Africa and the Middle East reinforce Cardano's ambition as the "blockchain of emerging markets"

Attractive Relative Valuation

• Market Cap: Standing at approximately ZAR 390 billion (as of June 2024), Cardano’s valuation metrics appear conservative relative to its DeFi TVL and developer activity versus rivals Solana and Avalanche
• FDV: Fully Diluted Valuation remains below ZAR 500 billion, offering a lower entry multiple for long-term value-seekers
• TVL: Surpassing ZAR 9.5 billion, Cardano’s DeFi TVL now ranks it as the 6th largest ecosystem, reflecting accelerating capital inflows and deepening protocol liquidity

Structural Strengths

• Innovation: Unique dual-layer architecture (UTXO accounting model plus Plutus for smart contracts) enables high scalability and security without sacrificing decentralisation
• Community: ADA’s global community remains among the most engaged, with sustained high levels of GitHub commits, developer onboarding and user retention
• Differentiation: Cardano’s reputation for peer-reviewed, research-led development sets it apart in the “layer 1 wars,” especially for institutions demanding robust, auditable infrastructure

Volume and Market Liquidity

• High Trading Volumes: 24h exchange volume frequently exceeds ZAR 4.5 billion, reflecting robust market interest and ease of execution for both retail and institutional players
• Liquidity Depth: Top exchange order books show minimal slippage for mid-to-large ADA trades, crucial for efficient portfolio allocation
• Dominance: ADA consistently remains in the top 10 global cryptoassets by market cap, affirming its position as a market leader with broad investor acceptance

4. Bullish Catalysts and Forward-Looking Drivers

• Protocol Upgrades: The upcoming Chang Hard Fork (anticipated Q3 2025) is set to deliver native governance and enhanced scalability—key unlocks for DeFi/NFT application developers
• Major Integrations: Fresh ADA listings on leading South African and pan-African exchanges, as well as integration in next-gen wallet apps, are poised to expand retail access
• DeFi/NFT Growth: Continuous TVL and NFT volume milestones provide clear tailwinds, emboldened by increasing Layer 2 solutions and interoperability protocols set for launch in 2025
• Favourable Regulations: South Africa’s progressive stance is expected to foster greater institutional adoption, including potential for regulated, retail-facing crypto savings products
• Enterprise Use-Cases: Real-world asset tokenisation pilots in public sector records and cross-border payments, especially within the SADC region, reinforce ADA's positioning for mainstream business adoption

5. Investment Strategies According to Horizon

Short-Term Positioning (1–3 months)

• Exploiting technical pullbacks towards the ZAR 10.10–ZAR 10.60 support band could present tactically attractive entries
• Upcoming Chang upgrade developments and DeFi protocol launches create potential event-driven upside

Medium-Term (6–18 months)

• Progressive scaling of positions ahead of key protocol releases and major network integrations aligns with anticipated transaction throughput increases and TVL growth
• Layer 2 launches and interoperability milestones may act as outsized catalysts

Long-Term (2–5 years)

• Structural adoption trends, expanding African enterprise partnerships, and Cardano’s research-based roadmap underpin the case for a committed, phased accumulation strategy
• Risk-adjusted return metrics continue to favour ADA’s inclusion in a diversified digital asset portfolio, particularly as market cycles favour fundamental quality

6. Cardano Price Projections (2025–2029)

7. Is Now the Time to Buy Cardano?

Cardano’s unique blend of technical robustness, burgeoning ecosystem activity, and proven resilience in adverse market cycles sets it apart as a digital asset with clear asymmetric upside potential. Momentum is underpinned by strong on-chain demand, major forthcoming upgrades, and a maturing regulatory framework within South Africa that continues to fuel institutional and retail engagement.

All leading indicators—liquidity, adoption growth, attractive relative valuation, and imminent protocol advances—converge to suggest that Cardano could well be entering a new multi-year growth phase.

In this context, Cardano appears to represent an excellent opportunity for forward-thinking investors seeking exposure to the next wave of blockchain and DeFi innovation. The prevailing combination of technical strength and structural catalysts justifies a renewed strategic interest in ADA, both for short-term positioning and medium-to-long-term portfolio allocation.

Informations importantes

Cardano remains a high-volatility cryptocurrency offering dynamic investment opportunities, which nonetheless require disciplined risk management. The recent acceleration in price demonstrates Cardano’s ability to generate swift, powerful upward moves; yet, shifting macroeconomic conditions call for selective, well-timed exposure. Key technical levels to monitor remain ZAR 10.10 as immediate support and ZAR 12.30 as resistance. The forthcoming Chang protocol upgrade, expected in Q3 2025, could be a decisive catalyst shaping Cardano’s next evolution—an inflection point savvy investors will want to watch closely.

How to buy Cardano?

It’s simple and secure to buy Cardano (ADA) online in South Africa using a regulated cryptocurrency platform. There are two main ways to invest: you can buy ADA directly at the spot price and hold the actual coins, or you can trade via crypto CFDs (contracts for difference), speculating on its price movement without owning the coins. Each method has its own characteristics and costs, which we’ll explain below. To help you choose the best platform for your needs, a detailed comparison table is available further down the page.

Buying Cardano at Spot

Buying Cardano at spot means you’re purchasing real ADA coins, which you then hold in a digital wallet (either on the platform or one you control). This approach makes you the true owner of your Cardano. Fees typically consist of a fixed commission or a small percentage per transaction, often between 0.5% and 1%, paid in South African Rand (ZAR).

Example

Let’s say ADA is trading at R10 per unit. With an investment of R20,000 and transaction fees of about R100 (0.5%), you’d receive approximately 1,990 ADA after fees.
✔️ Gain scenario:
If ADA’s price rises by 10% (to R11 per coin), your ADA holdings would now be worth R21,890.
Result: R1,890 gross gain, or +9.45% return on your investment (after transaction fee).

Trading Cardano via CFD

Trading Cardano via CFDs means you do not own the actual ADA coins. Instead, you open a position on the platform to profit from changes in ADA’s price—up or down. Fees usually include a spread (the difference between buy and sell prices) and, if you keep your position overnight, a small financing fee.

Example

If you open an ADA CFD position with R20,000 and 5x leverage, your market exposure is R100,000.
✔️ Gain scenario:
If ADA’s price climbs by 8%, your CFD position profits by 8% × 5 = 40%.
Result: R8,000 gross gain on your R20,000 initial margin (excluding fees and interest).

Final Advice

Before investing, it’s essential to compare the fees and conditions of different platforms, as they can have a significant impact on your returns. The choice between spot buying and CFD trading should fit your goals and experience level: spot is straightforward and ideal for long-term holders, while CFDs offer leverage and flexibility, but involve greater risk. You’ll find our detailed platform comparison further below to guide your decision.

Our 7 tips for buying Cardano

The latest news about Cardano

Cardano's ADA sees sustained demand on South African exchanges as local trading volumes remain robust. In the past week, trading activity for ADA on major South African platforms such as VALR and Luno has shown a healthy uptick, with market data from CryptoCompare and exchange-reported figures highlighting ADA's resilience amidst a broader crypto market consolidation. Increased transaction volumes are supported by local fintech adoption and suggest strong domestic interest in Cardano as a store of value and trading asset, as South African traders continue to diversify beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum.

South African university-led blockchain consortium announces research partnership to explore Cardano's smart contract capabilities. The University of Cape Town has joined a cross-continental research initiative in collaboration with IOHK, the company behind Cardano, aiming to assess the applicability of Cardano’s Plutus smart contracts for decentralized identity solutions in the African higher education system. Announced this week in academic communications, this partnership is positioned to accelerate local innovation and may drive institutional interest in ADA-powered applications among South African public and private sectors.

Regulatory clarity advances as South Africa’s FSCA confirms compliant crypto asset providers can now officially list ADA. South Africa’s Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA), in a June 2024 circular, reiterated that registered crypto service providers are approved to support Cardano trading, following the country's progressive licensing regime introduced earlier this year. This regulatory green light reinforces investor confidence and ensures that local ADA holders now benefit from increased consumer protection and transparent trading standards.

Cardano ecosystem's Africa-focused social impact fund allocates new grant to a South African fintech startup. Emergo Africa, Cardano’s investment vehicle for African blockchain development, publicly announced a grant to Cape Town-based LumelaPay, dedicated to leveraging Cardano for cross-border digital payments. This strategic funding not only strengthens Cardano’s footprint in the South African innovation landscape but also highlights the project’s ongoing commitment to real-world adoption and financial inclusion across Southern Africa.

Local institutional sentiment on Cardano remains positive, with ZA asset managers referencing ADA in multi-asset portfolios. Analyst briefings from two Johannesburg-based wealth management firms this week cited Cardano as part of their crypto diversification strategies for clients with moderate risk exposure. Their research notes point to Cardano's robust technology roadmap, regulatory advances, and growing local ecosystem as fundamental drivers supporting ADA’s inclusion in South African portfolio allocations, underlining continued professional confidence in the asset.

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.