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ZEC $1,312 Cardano long-term structure supports possible ADA move toward $3.10
Cardano's nine-year milestone and a weekly close above $0.24 form the base for analyst Lana Valentis's long-term ADA levels, with no timeframe given.
Key takeaways
- Targets stretch to $3.10. Valentis listed $0.32, $0.50, $0.80, $1.20 and $3.10 as potential upside levels for ADA.
- The gap is 1,117%. At $0.2547, ADA would need to surge by 1,117% to return to its previous all-time high of $3.10.
- October has averaged -0.65%. ADA's historical October performance produces an average return of -0.65% and a median return of -6.95%.
What happened
Cardano marked its ninth anniversary in September 2026, and market analyst Lana Valentis used the milestone as the backdrop for a long-term view of ADA. In a post on X, she cited 123.9 million total transactions, 2,890 active stake pools and 158 governance actions. She also said the token had crossed and closed above a resistance zone around $0.24 on the weekly chart, which she called a potential breakout.
Valentis listed $0.32 as the first resistance area, followed by $0.50 and $0.80. She said the $1.20 region could become the next area of interest before the longer-term $3.10 target. That level matches ADA's previous all-time high, reached in September 2021, and she did not specify a timeframe for a revisit.
CoinCentral reported that ADA held near $0.2529 on October 2, after climbing 30% over the past month. Network activity also rose. Cardano processed 43,181 transactions on October 1, a 29% jump from the 33,467 recorded on September 30, and the second straight daily record that week.
Why it matters
The distance to $3.10 is large. At $0.2547, ADA would need to surge by 1,117% to return to that previous all-time high. With 36.78 billion ADA in circulation, a price of $3.10 would correspond to a market cap of roughly $114 billion.
Network history alone may not decide the outcome. Adoption, network usage, ecosystem development, broader market conditions and demand for ADA could influence whether the token sustains a significant long-term recovery. Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson responded to community criticism over ADA's price by stating that he is not responsible for driving Cardano adoption.
October has been mixed for ADA. The token posted positive October closes in 2017, 2019 and 2023, with gains of 40.4%, 6.63% and 15.4%. It recorded negative October returns in 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2024 and 2025, with declines of 18.1%, 8.1%, 7.25%, 6.65%, 8.29% and 24.5%.
What the data shows
On the four-hour chart, ADA traded at $0.2529 on October 2, up 0.36%. The $0.26 level remains the immediate resistance for buyers to clear, and a four-hour close above it could open the door to $0.27. A move below support could expose $0.24, an area where ADA has found buyers before.
The four-hour Relative Strength Index read 55.01. The MACD line sat at 0.0012, above its signal line of 0.0004, with a positive histogram of 0.0008.
Cardano's reported daily average for 2026 sits around 25,000 transactions, and October 1's total ran about 73% above that average. Between September 24 and September 30 the network processed roughly 190,000 transactions, with activity rising 43% from 23,400 to 33,467.
At the time of the analysis, ADA was up 4% over the past day, roughly 0.9% for the week and about 3.91% month-to-date. The chart shows support in the $0.23 to $0.25 region after a fall toward $0.14 earlier in 2026.
Background
Cardano officially marked its ninth anniversary in September 2026. The $3.10 target matches ADA's all-time high, set in September 2021, and Valentis did not give a timeframe for the token to reach that level.
What is still unclear
- Valentis did not specify a timeframe for ADA to revisit the $3.10 level.
- It is not clear whether network milestones alone can support a recovery, since adoption, usage, ecosystem development, market conditions and demand may also matter.
- ADA must still clear $0.26, the immediate resistance, while a move below support could expose $0.24.
- Hoskinson's statement on adoption followed criticism within the Cardano community over ADA's market performance.
Questions readers ask
What price targets did Lana Valentis give for Cardano?
She listed potential upside levels of $0.32, $0.50, $0.80, $1.20 and $3.10. The $3.10 level matches ADA's previous all-time high from September 2021, and she did not give a timeframe.
How far is ADA from its all-time high?
At $0.2547, ADA would need to surge by 1,117% to return to its previous all-time high of $3.10. With 36.78 billion ADA in circulation, that price would correspond to a market cap of roughly $114 billion.
How much network activity did Cardano record in early October 2026?
On October 1, Cardano processed 43,181 transactions, a 29% jump from the 33,467 recorded on September 30. Cardano's reported daily average for 2026 sits around 25,000 transactions.
How has ADA performed in October historically?
ADA posted gains in 2017, 2019 and 2023 of 40.4%, 6.63% and 15.4%, and declines in 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2024 and 2025 ranging from 6.65% to 24.5%. Its average October return is -0.65% and its median is -6.95%.
