Polkadot (DOT) Gains 7% — Can It Break Above $1?

Polkadot (DOT) has shown signs of recovery over the past month, gaining almost 7% as improving regulatory sentiment and renewed optimism across the cryptocurrency market helped lift prices. Despite the recent improvement, DOT remains down around 50% since the beginning of 2026, reflecting the heavy selling pressure that affected the token and the broader crypto market amid geopolitical uncertainty and wider market pullbacks.

With DOT now trading around $0.88, the token remains above its 2026 low but has yet to overcome a psychologically important resistance area. The recent price action therefore raises the question of whether the recovery can develop further or whether DOT could remain range-bound or revisit lower levels.

Polkadot (DOT) technical analysis

DOTUSD - 1 Day Time Frame

DOT is currently trading around $0.88, between major support at approximately $0.73 and the psychologically significant $1.00 support/resistance level. The $0.73 area represents DOT's 2026 low, established in mid-August, making it an important level to monitor if selling pressure returns. The token has since recovered from this low, briefly approaching $1.00 before pulling back toward its current price.

The main obstacle for buyers is now $1.00. Beyond its psychological significance, DOT has not successfully registered a daily close above this level since mid-June 2026. A sustained breakout and subsequent ability to hold above $1.00 could therefore strengthen the improving technical picture and potentially allow the area to begin acting as support.

Conversely, another rejection from $1.00 could leave DOT trading within the broader $0.73–$1.00 range. A break below $0.73 would weaken the current recovery and could expose the token to further downside.

Polkadot (DOT) price target

The immediate focus is on whether DOT can challenge and sustainably break above $1.00. Establishing itself above this level could attract further buyer interest and open the way toward higher price levels. The next major upside target would then be the resistance area around $1.43, which represents a prominent previous price level visible on the daily chart. Given the distance between $1.00 and $1.43, additional resistance or periods of consolidation could still emerge before DOT reaches this area.

On the other hand, failure to overcome $1.00 could keep DOT consolidating between $0.73 support and $1.00 resistance. Renewed weakness toward $0.73 would place greater importance on whether buyers can defend the 2026 low, while a breakdown below it could signal a continuation of the broader bearish trend.

Much of DOT's next move could also depend on broader cryptocurrency market sentiment, macroeconomic conditions, regulatory developments and geopolitical factors. For now, $1.00 represents the key upside level to watch: a sustained breakout could strengthen the recovery and shift attention toward $1.43, while rejection could keep DOT within its current range.

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