Polkadot (DOT) has seen a modest 15.31% increase year-to-date (YTD), lagging behind some top-ranking tokens. However, analysts see reasons to be optimistic about its future.

Analyst View: Ecosystem Growth and Polkadot 2.0 to Drive Price

Analyst Michaël van de Poppe believes sustained growth in the Polkadot ecosystem could propel DOT to a breakout. He also highlights the upcoming Polkadot 2.0 upgrade, designed to address scalability, interoperability, and security concerns, as a potential source of price increase.

Polkadot Ecosystem Shows Strength

Despite the lackluster YTD performance, Polkadot’s ecosystem exhibits positive signs. Here’s a breakdown:

• Total Value Locked (TVL) Up: A key metric of a protocol’s health, Polkadot’s TVL has seen a significant jump across all 11 chains on the network. This indicates strong user trust and locked assets.
• Funding Rate Suggests Positive Momentum: Though lower than earlier, the positive funding rate suggests DOT is trading at a premium, with spot traders actively buying. This could lead to a short-term price increase.

DOT/USD Technical Analysis: Potential for Upside?

• Bullish Patterns: AltFINS’ technical analysis reveals a breakout from a falling wedge pattern, typically a bullish indicator.
• Pullback Entry Points: A potential pullback near the $8 support level could present an attractive buying opportunity for swing traders, offering a potential 25% upside to $10. The recommended stop loss is $7.20.