Key Notes
- Whale exits raise concerns as major holders cash out millions from MakerDAO and Lido DAO.
- MKR price surges 45% this week, hinting at a Morning Star pattern and targeting $1,630 resistance.
- Lido DAO struggles with selling pressure, yet hints at a bullish breakout targeting $3.47.
With the crypto market bouncing back to a valuation of $3.18 trillion, the DeFi tokens are gradually gaining momentum. However, the bullish comeback for Lido DAO LDO $1.84 24h volatility: 8.0% Market cap: $1.65 B Vol. 24h: $231.93 M and Maker MKR $1 469 24h volatility: 22.3% Market cap: $1.25 B Vol. 24h: $332.31 M tokens is becoming exit opportunities for many.
Facing critical opposition and a quick exit from whales, will DeFi tokens maintain positive growth? Let’s find out.
DeFi Market Overview: Lido DAO and MakerDAO Lead the Charge
The DeFi market cap has risen to $130 billion, with a trading volume of $7.562 billion. Among the top DeFi tokens, Lido DAO (LDO) and MakerDAO (MKR) are gaining momentum significantly.
The LDO token has increased by 4.25% in the past 24 hours, while MKR surged 22% within the same timeframe. However, the bullish recovery of LDO and MKR tokens is expected to increase by 5% further in the same period.
Whale Activity: Profit-Taking amid DeFi Recovery Run
As per a tweet from Spot On Chain, a smart whale has recently cashed out of MakerDAO after the quick price surge. Over the past 24 hours, the whale 0x637, also known as inverteratus.eth, has sold all 1,230 MKR tokens.
A smart whale has cashed out as the $MKR price surges ~20%!
In the past 8 hours, whale 0x637 ("inveteratus.eth") sold all 1,230 $MKR for 1.78M $USDC at ~$1,448, securing a $418K profit (+30.6%) in less than a month.
Back in April 2024, the whale took $1.86M profit from a… https://t.co/W5i2A8pJ1y pic.twitter.com/ERbHu71Yg9
— Spot On Chain (@spotonchain) February 21, 2025
In exchange, the whale acquired 1.78 million USDC USDC $1.00 24h volatility: 0.0% Market cap: $56.20 B Vol. 24h: $7.55 B , with an average selling price of $1,448. With this smart trade, the whale booked a profit of $418,000, recording a 30.6% return.
The trade lasted for less than a month, highlighting the whale’s strategic timing. Back in April 2024, the same whale booked a $1.86 million profit from an MKR trade.
Thus, the cumulative profit stands at $2.27 million, boasting a 100% win rate and a return of 107%.
MakerDAO Price Analysis: Can Bulls Push Higher?
In the weekly chart, MKR price action reveals a bullish engulfing candle with a 45% surge this week. This completes a Morning Star pattern, reversing a four-week downtrend since the start of the correction.
With the bullish recovery, MKR price nears the 200-day EMA at $1,527. Currently, Maker trades at $1,437, signaling a potential comeback.
Supporting the bullish trend, the stochastic RSI in the weekly chart signals a positive crossover. As per the Fibonacci levels, the bullish reversal from the 23.6% Fibonacci level has exceeded the 38.20% level and is now aiming to challenge the 50% mark at $1,630.
Beyond this, a breakout of the lower-high trend in the weekly chart could propel MKR back toward its all-time high levels above $5,000.
Lido DAO Faces Whale Selling Pressure
Similar to MakerDAO, Lido DAO’s LDO token has witnessed significant whale offloading. Crypto whale Chung Wang recently sold 300,000 LDO tokens for 518k USDC in the past 24 hours.
Investors are offloading $LDO in the past 24 hours!
1/ Chun Wang ( @satofishi ) sold 300K $LDO for 518K $USDT ~10 hours ago.
Since the start of 2025, he has sold 5.8M $LDO for 10.27M $USDT at ~$1.771, now holding 2.2M ($3.81M).
2/ Wolfgang Albrecht ( @thealbrechtwolf ) deposited… https://t.co/iuBDuiDR8W pic.twitter.com/C7rgop35l5
— Spot On Chain (@spotonchain) February 21, 2025
This brings the total selling amount to 5.8 million LDO in 2025, amounting to 10.27 million USDC. The average selling price stands at $1.771.
Despite the massive selling pressure, Chung Wang still holds 2.2 million LDO tokens worth $3.81 million. Another whale, Wolfgang Albrecht, has deposited 2.6 million LDO tokens worth $4.51 million over Binance.
The whale has entered the market after a year of dominance. Back in 2023, the entity had invested in 3.33 million LDO tokens.
Since then, he has sold 3.28 million LDO tokens at an average price of $1.895. Currently, he holds only 50,000 LDO tokens worth $87,000.
Lido DAO Price Analysis: Will DeFi Bulls Regain Control?
With the short-term recovery in Lido DAO, the LDO price has settled at $1.80. After a 7-day high at $1.95 and a 19% surge last week, the DeFi token is aiming to reclaim the $2 psychological mark.
Furthermore, in the weekly chart, the LDO price trend hints at a bullish cycle within a triangle pattern. As the recovery nears the overhead trendline, the chances of a breakout rally for LDO increase significantly.
Based on the Fibonacci retracement, a bullish breakout could challenge the 78.60% Fibonacci level at $3.47, followed by the next major resistance near $6.00.
nextDisclaimer: Coinspeaker is committed to providing unbiased and transparent reporting. This article aims to deliver accurate and timely information but should not be taken as financial or investment advice. Since market conditions can change rapidly, we encourage you to verify information on your own and consult with a professional before making any decisions based on this content.
