Top Crypto Tokens Traders Hold Despite Losses: Insights from Milk Road Twitter Poll

According to Milk Road (@MilkRoadDaily) on Twitter, a recent poll asked traders which crypto projects or tokens they have lost money on but still refuse to sell. The responses highlight strong community conviction in long-term potential for tokens like XRP, Cardano (ADA), and Solana (SOL), with users citing ongoing development activity and anticipated market cycles as reasons for holding. For traders, this indicates that certain altcoins maintain robust support even during downturns, which can influence market liquidity and price resilience. Monitoring these trending tokens can provide insights into potential rebound opportunities and inform portfolio allocation strategies, especially as on-chain data shows persistent wallet activity around these assets (source: Milk Road, Twitter, May 23, 2025).
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Let’s consider a hypothetical scenario involving a token like Cardano (ADA), which has experienced significant price volatility over the years. As of October 20, 2023, ADA traded at approximately 0.25 USD, down from its all-time high of 3.10 USD on September 2, 2021, according to data from CoinMarketCap. Many traders who bought near the peak are sitting on substantial losses—some over 90% of their initial investment. Despite this, sentiment on social platforms, as echoed in discussions like the one by Milk Road, shows a subset of investors refusing to sell. This often stems from belief in Cardano’s fundamentals, such as its focus on scalability and sustainability through its Ouroboros proof-of-stake mechanism. From a trading perspective, this behavior highlights a critical psychological barrier—loss aversion. However, it also opens a window into market dynamics. On October 21, 2023, ADA’s 24-hour trading volume was around 200 million USD, a moderate figure compared to its peak volume of over 4 billion USD in September 2021, indicating reduced but persistent interest. For traders, this could signal a potential accumulation zone if sentiment shifts, especially with upcoming network upgrades or broader market catalysts. Additionally, the stock market’s performance, particularly tech-heavy indices like the NASDAQ, often correlates with crypto risk appetite. On October 20, 2023, the NASDAQ Composite Index closed at 14,800 points, up 1.2% for the week, reflecting optimism in tech stocks, which could indirectly support altcoins like ADA if institutional money flows back into risk assets.
From a trading implications standpoint, holding onto a losing position like ADA requires a strategic reassessment. Cross-market analysis reveals that stock market events, such as the Federal Reserve’s interest rate decisions, directly impact crypto liquidity. For instance, on October 18, 2023, reports from Bloomberg indicated growing expectations of a Fed pause on rate hikes, which boosted risk assets, including cryptocurrencies. Bitcoin (BTC), often a bellwether for altcoins, rose 3% to 28,500 USD by October 21, 2023, with trading volume spiking to 15 billion USD in 24 hours on major exchanges like Binance. ADA/BTC pair data showed a slight uptick of 0.5% on the same day, suggesting some correlation. For traders refusing to sell ADA, this could be a signal to set stop-losses around 0.23 USD (a key support level as of October 20, 2023) while monitoring stock market sentiment. Institutional money flow is another factor; recent filings reported by CoinDesk on October 19, 2023, showed increased allocations to crypto funds by hedge funds, with altcoins like ADA gaining marginal exposure. This could indicate a slow return of confidence, creating trading opportunities for patient investors. Conversely, if stock market volatility spikes—say, due to unexpected macroeconomic data—risk-off sentiment could push ADA below 0.20 USD, a level last tested in late 2022.
Technical indicators further contextualize this scenario. As of October 21, 2023, ADA’s Relative Strength Index (RSI) stood at 42 on the daily chart, per TradingView data, indicating neither overbought nor oversold conditions but a potential for reversal if volume increases. The 50-day moving average was at 0.27 USD, with price action testing resistance at 0.26 USD multiple times between October 15 and 20, 2023. On-chain metrics, sourced from Glassnode, showed a 10% increase in active addresses (around 250,000) over the past week as of October 21, 2023, hinting at growing network activity despite price stagnation. Trading volume for ADA/USDT on Binance was approximately 50 million USD on October 20, 2023, down from 80 million USD a month prior, reflecting cautious sentiment. Correlation with stock markets remains evident; crypto-related stocks like Coinbase (COIN) saw a 2.5% uptick to 75.50 USD on October 20, 2023, aligning with BTC and altcoin movements. This suggests that broader market risk appetite, driven by stock performance, could influence ADA’s recovery. For traders holding losing positions, monitoring institutional inflows via ETF filings or stock market trends in tech sectors could provide early signals for a reversal, especially if NASDAQ sustains above 15,000 points in the coming weeks.
In summary, refusing to sell a token like ADA despite losses is a common trader sentiment, often driven by belief in long-term value. However, actionable trading strategies must consider technical levels, volume shifts, and cross-market correlations with stocks. With institutional interest slowly returning and stock market optimism supporting risk assets as of late October 2023, there are opportunities for patient traders, but risks remain if macroeconomic conditions shift. Always use data-driven decisions over emotional attachment when navigating such positions.
FAQ:
Why do traders refuse to sell losing crypto positions?
Traders often hold onto losing positions due to emotional attachment, belief in a project’s fundamentals, or hope for a market rebound. For tokens like Cardano (ADA), strong community support and anticipated upgrades can reinforce this mindset, even when prices drop over 90% from highs, as seen from 2021 to 2023 data on CoinMarketCap.
How does the stock market impact crypto holdings?
Stock market movements, especially in tech-heavy indices like NASDAQ, often correlate with crypto risk appetite. On October 20, 2023, a 1.2% weekly gain in NASDAQ to 14,800 points coincided with minor upticks in altcoins like ADA, showing how broader market sentiment can influence decisions to hold or sell crypto assets.
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