Cardano is under intensified scrutiny following a significant glitch in its mainnet, which affected block production and negatively influenced the already bearish market sentiment around its ADA token.
Network Glitch Impacts Block Production
The slowdown in block production began after Cardano experienced a technical issue on its main network, echoing a similar problem that arose in the Preview environment just a day earlier.
Intersect, a member-based organization that coordinates development throughout the ecosystem, reported that while the bug did not entirely halt block production, it caused a noticeable slowdown.
Engineers from Intersect, the Cardano Foundation, and Input Output Global quickly diagnosed the issue and collaborated to implement a solution.
Node operators running version 10.3.1 or higher were advised to upgrade to Cardano Node 10.5.2, which includes fixes for hash size inconsistencies and related network bugs.
Operators using older versions were not required to take any action, and Daedalus wallet users remained unaffected.
Despite reassurances from the Cardano teams, visible network congestion raised concerns among community members who were closely monitoring blockchain activity.
Following an issue identified in the Preview environment yesterday, Cardano is currently experiencing a technical issue now on Mainnet. Currently block production has slowed, and we’re working closely with @Cardano_CF and @InputOutputHK as we coordinate a technical response.…
— Intersect (@IntersectMBO) November 21, 2025
The timing of the bug is critical as the network prepares for increased activity surrounding the launch of the Midnight sidechain on December 8.
While some users dismissed the concerns, noting that only specific node versions faced interruptions, others expressed apprehension regarding potential scalability issues that could arise from this slowdown.
Market Response as ADA Experiences Decline
The glitch occurred during an already fragile period for cryptocurrency markets, contributing to ADA swiftly becoming one of the largest underperformers of the session.
ADA plummeted by 12.86% in just 24 hours, dropping from $0.4697 to as low as $0.3911, before experiencing a slight recovery.
This decline significantly surpassed the overall market drop of 7.76%, raising concerns about ADA’s short-term resilience.
The negative sentiment was exacerbated by the resurgence of the long-standing “ghost chain” narrative, amplified by critics highlighting Cardano’s relatively low stablecoin presence and modest decentralized exchange volumes compared to major networks.
The mainnet bug added further pressure, contributing to what analysts described as a “perfect storm” that intensified selling across trading platforms.
Technically, ADA’s break below the key support level of $0.40 activated algorithmic sell-offs and additional liquidations.
Indicators such as a decline in RSI to a heavily oversold territory and a bearish crossover on the MACD suggest a waning momentum.
The next major support level for ADA now rests around $0.33, unless it can reclaim $0.44, a level that previously served as a short-term pivot.
John is a seasoned journalist at The Bothside News, specializing in balanced reporting across news, sports, business, and lifestyle. He believes in presenting multiple perspectives to help readers form informed opinions. His work embodies the publication’s philosophy that truth emerges from examining all sides of every story.
