I still feel a bit emotional when I think about the money I poured into ICOs back in 2017. At that time, I had just switched from Ethereum and was impressed by Charles Hoskinson's academic approach and sustainable proof. I thought this was reliable, unlike others just shouting slogans, so I heavily invested tens of thousands of dollars when the price was around 0.02. During the 2021 bull market, it shot up to over $3, and I was so excited in the group that I shouted, "Finally, the day has come! Decentralization is going to change everything!" My account multiplied hundreds of times, I couldn’t sleep at night, feeling I had good foresight. But when the bear market hit and the price dropped below $0.2, I watched my wallet shrink by 90%. I woke up several nights staring at the charts, tears welling up, regretting not selling earlier and hating my stubbornness. Now, it's February 2026, and ADA is still fluctuating around $0.3-$0.4, with its market cap falling out of the top 20. My old holdings haven’t moved at all; I just hold on, watching it grind year after year.

My feelings for ADA are honestly a mix of unwavering loyalty and intense frustration. I like it because it’s genuinely building things slowly. Not rushing to launch a bunch of chaotic projects, but doing solid research. The education and identity projects in Africa, I see real people using them in news reports, and that feels like what crypto should be—helping ordinary people, not just making the rich richer. Transferring with my wallet is smooth, fees are low, and that steady feeling makes me believe it can last long-term.

But there are also many annoyances. Development is as slow as a turtle, while other chains’ ecosystems explode, ADA keeps iterating and upgrading. During these bear years, the price stagnated, and the community constantly argued about “dead projects” and “academic scams.” I’ve had countless moments of mental breakdown, thinking about cashing out to chase Solana or AI coins. Watching others make huge profits while I do nothing makes me feel pained and keeps me awake at night. But I haven’t sold. Why? Because I’ve been in this game for ten years, seen too many projects that burn bright and fade fast. ADA’s slow and steady approach will prove itself sooner or later. When more real applications emerge and regulations tighten, its position will stabilize. It’s not about getting rich quick but about holding through the lows and gaining more faith over time.

My current view is simple: ADA is severely undervalued. Don’t expect a big surge in the short term, but in the long run, it will slowly climb back. If the ecosystem really kicks off in 2027, I wouldn’t be surprised to see it bounce back a few times. I’ll keep holding my old stash and stay committed. If you also believe in sustainability, try a small position—don’t go all-in. Honestly, this coin has taught me that the most valuable thing in Web3 isn’t money, but persistence in a chosen direction. For those holding ADA, share your honest thoughts in the comments—I’m looking forward to hearing from you. Let’s endure this together.