- KernelDAO’s price jumped to a high of $0.23 on news of an Upbit listing.
- The KERNEL token reached an all-time high above $0.46 in April and could target that level next.
- Broad gains across the cryptocurrency market would act as a catalyst for further upside for the token.
KERNEL, the native token of the restaking protocol KernelDAO, surged more than 25%, reaching intraday highs of $0.23 on Tuesday.
While bulls work to sustain these gains, the jump placed the token among the day’s top performers across the cryptocurrency market.
Given the overall crypto sentiment, could the Upbit listing help KERNEL extend its rally as interest in restaking protocols grows?
Upbit Listing Drives KERNEL to $0.23
As noted, the most likely catalyst for today’s vertical price move was trader reaction to the Upbit announcement.
On October 28, 2025, South Korea’s leading cryptocurrency exchange confirmed the token listing on its KRW market, adding support for trading on the Ethereum network.
The listing triggered immediate buy-side pressure, and KernelDAO’s daily volume surged as bulls pushed KERNEL from an intraday low of $0.16 to a peak of $0.23 at the time of writing.
Daily volume topped $316 million, marking an astounding 1,540% increase over the previous 24 hours.
With gains of more than 20%, KERNEL was among a handful of major altcoins that recorded double-digit moves for the day.
KernelDAO’s price ranked among the biggest gainers alongside tokens such as Hedera’s HBAR, Pump.fun’s PUMP, and Bittensor’s TAO.
Why the Interest in KernelDAO?
KernelDAO is a leading restaking protocol powering an ecosystem with over $1.7 billion in total value.
The project, backed by YZi Labs, operates on major blockchains including Ethereum and BNB Chain.
It features core products such as Kernel, Kelp, Gain, and Kred, a recently launched product focused on real-world assets.
The Upbit listing is the latest example of growing support for the KERNEL token, and the South Korean exchange is known for its active trading community.
Exchange listings not only increase a token’s visibility but also bring fresh liquidity pools.
KernelDAO provides restaking infrastructure and a suite of staking-related services.
It enables restaking on BNB Chain, supports BNB Liquid Restaking Tokens (LRTs), and offers Bitcoin (BTC) restaking possibilities.
Additionally, the project runs an Ethereum-based restaking protocol operating directly on the Ethereum network.
The system includes a treasury-style smart contract designed to manage staked assets such as ETH, rsETH, and liquid staking tokens (LSTs).
The platform’s native token, KERNEL, serves multiple roles including governance, restaking incentives, and reducing insurance costs within the ecosystem.
Bulls Target $0.50 for KernelDAO
KERNEL reached a record $0.46 in April 2025, and although it fell to a low of $0.09 in June, it has since rebounded more than 115%.
Current prices around $0.19 mean bulls remain roughly 57% below the all-time high.
KERNEL chart via CoinMarketCap
As the broader crypto market recovers from recent lows—supported by factors such as renewed institutional interest, clearer regulation in key regions, and macro shifts favoring risk assets—KernelDAO stands to benefit.
Data from DeFiLlama shows the protocol’s total value locked (TVL) has risen to more than $1.7 billion.
Consequently, gains across the restaking sector could further fuel growth for the KernelDAO ecosystem.
Upside targets include a return to the all-time high and a breakout above $0.50.
On the downside, buyers will need to defend support around $0.18 and $0.16 to maintain the bullish outlook.