Despite persistent criticism regarding low on-chain activity and a perceived decline in its prominence, a closer examination of Cardano’s social metrics—drawn from recent data analysis—reveals a more complex narrative. This article explores Cardano’s current position, the challenges it faces, and the opportunities that could shape its future in an ever-evolving blockchain ecosystem. Debunking the Narrative of Cardano’s Decline The notion that Cardano has lost its relevance has gained traction in some crypto circles, often fueled by comparisons to more active networks like Solana or Ethereum. However, the low on-chain activity often cited as a weakness is a challenge that spans the entire blockchain industry. The core difficulty lies in attracting authentic human users—a hurdle that even the most established platforms struggle to clear. Some networks artificially inflate their metrics with bots or scripted interactions, clouding the true level of engagement. In this environment, Cardano’s relatively modest figures might reflect a commitment to transparency, distinguishing it in a market where genuine participation is increasingly prized. The real test isn't flashy metrics. It’s building lasting utility and sustainable growth. And in that area, Cardano is still in the game. To be clear, on-chain activity is still one of the most important indicators of a network’s success. However, with on-chain usage currently declining across much of the industry, it’s also valuable to consider alternative signals—like social engagement and sentiment—to get a fuller picture of ecosystem health and momentum. Let’s take a look at Cardano’s social metrics, based on data from LunarCrush. Cardano is seeing growth in three key areas: Engagement (orange): This includes views, likes, comments, reposts, and upvotes across multiple social platforms. Mentions (purple): The number of posts referencing Cardano or related topics. Creators (blue): The number of unique users generating content that gets engagement. This image showcases Cardano’s social engagement metrics, highlighting a steady increase in creators from 1,000 in 2021 to 5,000 today, alongside 2 million engagements and 10,000 mentions. Growth over time: 2021: 200K engagements, 100 mentions, 1K creators 2023: 1M engagements, 3K mentions, 2K creators Now: 2M engagements, 10K mentions, 5K creators The upward trend underscores a growing community, even amidst competitive pressures. Further in the text, there will be a broader context for these results. However, we can already say that Cardano is still a living and thriving ecosystem. Analyzing Social Metrics: Growth and Setbacks This upward trajectory signals expanding visibility and community involvement, a testament to the network’s enduring appeal. Yet, the story is tempered by challenges. Social dominance—Cardano’s share of the broader crypto conversation—has fallen sharply from a peak of 35% in 2021-2022 to just 2.5% today. Sentiment, which measures the ratio of positive to negative posts, has also declined from 93% in 2021 to 83% now. While still above neutral, this softening suggests a waning of the enthusiastic support that once defined the Cardano community. The data on the graph shows the following: Sentiment (yellow) tracks the ratio of positive to negative posts. A score of 100% means all posts are positive; 0% means all are negative. Social dominance (orange) reflects Cardano’s share of overall crypto conversation on social media. This historical chart of Cardano’s social dominance illustrates the dramatic drop from 35% in 2021-2022 to 2.5% in 2025, reflecting the intensified competition from leading cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Solana, and Ethereum, which currently hold shares exceeding 10% each. Benchmarking Against Competitors: A Competitive Landscape To contextualize Cardano’s standing, a comparison with its peers is essential. The network ranks 6th in social dominance, trailing Bitcoin (with approximately 67,000 creators), Solana, and Ethereum (both with around 40,000 creators), yet it remains within the top 10. However, newer entrants like Sui, boasting a sentiment score of 90% and 3,400 creators, and memecoins such as Pepe and Dogecoin (with creator counts rivaling or surpassing Cardano’s 5,000), are gaining ground rapidly. This disparity highlights a significant gap that Cardano must address to stay competitive. Sentiment in the crypto space is notoriously volatile, with shifts of 10% within weeks not uncommon. Yet, Cardano’s sentiment has remained stagnant below 5% for over 18 months, lacking the upward spikes seen in other networks. This stagnation may stem from the absence of a fresh, fundamentals-driven narrative to captivate new users. Comparatively, Cardano’s sentiment outpaces Bitcoin by 4% and trails Solana and Ethereum by just 1%, but it falls short of leaders like Sui. This indicates a loyal but potentially stagnating base that requires a compelling vision to rekindle enthusiasm. This comparative chart shows data on the top 10 projects. Note the relatively strong position of meme coins and emerging L1s. The Interplay of Price, Sentiment, and Economic Impact The connection between social metrics and price is a pivotal factor for Cardano’s trajectory. A higher ADA price not only enhances market confidence but also yields practical benefits. An increased price reduces selling pressure by preserving ADA in the Treasury and lowering development costs in terms of ADA quantity. This image shows the correlation between price (green) and social dominance (orange). Positive sentiment around Cardano is closely tied to the market value of ADA. If Cardano were to drop out of the top 10 by market cap, it would likely lead to a decline in social dominance and engagement, potentially triggering a negative feedback loop. That said, this scenario is overly pessimistic. Cardano still has a strong developer base and a promising roadmap, including innovations like Ouroboros Leios, Midgard, Starstream, multiple Layer 2 solutions, and zero-knowledge (ZK) technologies etc. These advancements have the potential to significantly boost both sentiment and user engagement, but timing matters. The sooner these technologies are delivered, the stronger the impact. More importantly, Cardano must ensure that its technological progress translates into real user growth. That’s a challenge, because history shows that superior technology doesn’t always guarantee the largest network effect. Until these innovations are live and backed by real-world adoption, sustaining high levels of social engagement is essential to keep momentum and reinforce the narrative with tangible fundamentals. Charting the Future: Building a Sustainable Ecosystem Brand visibility and social engagement are equally critical as sound technology behind Cardano. To remain competitive, the network may need 5-10 times more active creators, a goal that demands a collective effort from its community. Every post, comment, like, and repost contributes to sentiment and visibility, driving positive momentum. Cardano is far from dead as some on social media suggest, but it stands at a pivotal moment. Its upward social metrics reflect a resilient community, yet the decline in dominance and sentiment signals the need for a strategic shift. In a dynamic crypto landscape, the network’s ability to adapt and inspire will determine whether it reclaims its former prominence or fades into the background. Every stakeholder—developer, investor, and enthusiast—plays a role in this journey. By amplifying Cardano’s story through active participation, the community can bridge the gap with competitors and unlock the network’s vast potential.
