What could affect WAVES’s future price?

Question

Accepted Answer

## TLDR
WAVES faces a mixed outlook where near-term technical upgrades and ecosystem growth could lift prices, while exchange sentiment and past security issues weigh.

1. **Network Upgrade** – The imminent mainnet upgrade on 13 September 2026 promises faster finality, potentially boosting network utility and demand for WAVES.
2. **Exchange Sentiment** – Recent delistings and leverage cuts signal reduced market access and confidence, creating a persistent headwind for liquidity.
3. **AI Ecosystem Growth** – Continued development of AI tools and L2 infrastructure via Units Network could drive long-term adoption and token utility.

## Deep Dive
### 1. Imminent Mainnet Upgrade (Bullish Impact)
**Overview:** HTX will support a WAVES network upgrade at block height 5,400,000, approximately 21:40 UTC on 13 September 2026, suspending deposits beforehand. This follows the project's historical focus on technical innovation, including a recently published whitepaper for "Finality" aiming for ~2-second transaction confirmations via its microblock architecture.

**What this means:** Successful implementation could improve the network's scalability and user experience, making it more attractive for developers and dApps. Increased on-chain activity typically raises demand for the native token, potentially providing a catalyst for price appreciation post-upgrade.

### 2. Shifting Exchange Support (Bearish Impact)
**Overview:** Market access has contracted recently. Gate delisted WAVES perpetual futures on 31 July 2026, and Toobit delisted the WAVES/USDT spot pair in June 2026. Furthermore, WEEX reduced maximum leverage for WAVES futures from 100x to 20x in August 2026, indicating reduced risk appetite among traders.

**What this means:** Fewer trading venues and lower available leverage can reduce liquidity and speculative interest, making the token more vulnerable to volatility and sell-offs. This trend reflects lingering caution from past issues, such as the stablecoin Neutrino's depeg in 2023, which influenced Binance's 2024 delisting.

### 3. AI & L2 Ecosystem Development (Bullish Impact)
**Overview:** The Waves ecosystem is pushing into AI and DeFi through its EVM-compatible L2, Units Network, which secured a $10 million funding round led by Nimbus Capital in mid-2025. Recent initiatives include an AI Launchpad, Liquidity Manager, and weekly reports showing growing on-chain activity and staking metrics.

**What this means:** If these tools gain traction, they could increase the utility and locked value within the Waves ecosystem, creating sustainable demand for WAVES tokens for gas, staking, and governance. Institutional backing adds credibility, but price impact depends on actual user adoption offsetting the token's uncapped supply.

## Conclusion
WAVES's price trajectory hinges on whether technical upgrades and AI-driven utility can overcome the negative momentum from shrinking exchange support. A holder should watch for increased network usage post-upgrade and sustained developer activity on Units Network.  
Will the September upgrade catalyze enough new adoption to reverse the trend of declining market access?

Waves (WAVES) Price Prediction

Deep Dive

1. Imminent Mainnet Upgrade (Bullish Impact)

2. Shifting Exchange Support (Bearish Impact)

3. AI & L2 Ecosystem Development (Bullish Impact)

Conclusion

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