In the cryptocurrency landscape, the movements of so-called whales—large investors with the ability to influence the market—are often a key indicator of upcoming trends.
In a price correction context that has seen many altcoins lose over 30% from local highs, attention is focused on three assets in particular: Solana (SOL), Sei Network (SEI), and Hedera (HBAR). These networks are attracting quiet accumulation by whales, while institutional demand strengthens and fundamentals show signs of improvement.
Summary
Solana: Renewed Trust Among Developers and Institutions
Growing Interest in an ETF and DeFi Recovery
Solana is reaffirmed as one of the most watched Layer 1 platforms by institutional investors and long-term developers. In recent months, the discussion about a potential U.S. spot ETF on Solana has gained increasing traction in financial circles, fueling expectations of future mainstream adoption.
A significant data point concerns developer participation, which has reached its highest level since the end of 2022. This trend reflects renewed confidence in the network, supported by greater stability and consistently low transaction fees. These elements strengthen Solana’s position in a market where competition among Layer 1 platforms is increasingly intense.
Accumulation During Correction and Return of Liquidity
During the recent pullback that saw SOL lose over 30% from its highs, on-chain data highlighted a steady accumulation by large wallets. The accumulation was not reactive, but rather methodical, indicating a long-term strategy. Simultaneously, capital flows into Solana-based DeFi protocols show an increase in liquidity, suggesting a return of confidence after the technical difficulties previously faced by the network.
Sei Network: The Rise Thanks to USDC Integration
The Game-Changing Upgrade
Sei Network has captured market attention with the launch of native USDC integration, one of the leading stablecoins. This innovation enables faster and more cost-effective stablecoin settlements across the network, addressing the needs of high-frequency trading and efficient liquidity movement. The upgrade aligns perfectly with the network’s original vision, focused on speed and performance.
Exponential Growth of TVL and Institutional Interest
The effect of this innovation was immediately evident: the Total Value Locked (TVL) on Sei Network increased by 188% on a quarterly basis, indicating a rise in developer interest and greater capital deployment. Institutional participation also contributed to this expansion, with new DeFi protocols continuing to be launched as liquidity deepens.
Stablecoins have now become the central infrastructure for real-time financial settlements, and Sei Network benefits from this trend thanks to an architecture specialized in speed and execution. The accumulation by whales during the general market weakness suggests a long-term positioning strategy, rather than mere speculation.
Hedera: The Appeal of Corporate Partnerships and Global Standards
Focus on Corporate Adoption and Real-World Integration
Hedera stands out from other Layer 1 networks for its focus on enterprise adoption and integration with real-world applications. Recently, new partnerships in the fields of artificial intelligence and asset tokenization have added further utility to the Hedera ecosystem.
Another strength is the compatibility with ISO 20022 standards, an aspect that makes Hedera particularly appealing to institutions exploring blockchain-based settlement systems. This compliance represents a competitive advantage for the future global financial infrastructure.
Silent Accumulation and ETF Narrative
Even on Hedera, during the recent pullback, large holders took advantage of the lower prices to accumulate assets. The speculative interest in HBAR is also linked to the broader discussions on ETFs in the cryptocurrency sector. However, enterprise-oriented networks like Hedera tend to exhibit slower price discovery compared to retail-focused platforms, reflecting a different market dynamic.
Whale Strategies: Accumulate in Weakness, Don’t Chase Strength
Whales often move against the tide, accumulating assets during periods of weakness rather than chasing the bull runs. In the case of Solana, the increase in developer activity and new inflows into DeFi indicate a phase of building and consolidation. Sei Network benefits from the native integration of stablecoins and rapid liquidity growth, while Hedera attracts capital focused on real-world use cases and strategic partnerships.
These signals suggest that, while the broader market oscillates between fear and uncertainty, the whales are laying the groundwork for the next growth phase, focusing on networks with solid fundamentals and long-term adoption prospects.
