The LUNA token, which powers the Terra blockchain, experienced a notable 21.88% jump within a single day on December 9, 2025, climbing to $0.1421. Over the previous week, LUNA soared by 112.3%, and it has gained 117.59% in the last month. Despite these impressive short-term gains, the token is still down 62.12% compared to the previous year. This recent surge is largely linked to two major factors: the imminent sentencing of Terra’s founder, Do Kwon, and the rollout of the v2.18 network upgrade, which has received backing from Binance.
Do Kwon’s sentencing, set for December 11, is seen as a pivotal moment for the Terra community. Market participants are watching closely, as the verdict could mark the conclusion of ongoing legal uncertainties that have lingered since Terra and its stablecoin UST collapsed in 2022. Kwon has admitted guilt in connection with the $40 billion loss, and the outcome of his trial may finally close a turbulent chapter for the project. While LUNA’s price has responded positively in the short term, many investors remain cautious, emphasizing that the token’s performance after the sentencing will be crucial in shaping longer-term market sentiment.
Further boosting LUNA’s momentum, the Terra network has successfully implemented its v2.18 upgrade, with support from Binance. This update aims to improve the blockchain’s security, scalability, and overall user experience, laying a stronger groundwork for future advancements. Industry experts highlight that such technical enhancements are vital for attracting institutional players and strengthening Terra’s position in the competitive cryptocurrency landscape. The upgrade has coincided with increased on-chain activity, including a breakout above key price thresholds and a surge in trading volume.
Recent technical analysis indicates that LUNA’s bullish momentum remains strong. The token has surpassed a significant resistance level, accompanied by a notable increase in trading volume—a sign of shifting market sentiment. Both the Relative Strength Index (RSI) and the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) suggest that buying pressure is intensifying. However, experts caution that volatility may persist, especially following the outcome of Do Kwon’s sentencing. While the current outlook is optimistic, analysts expect that regulatory and legal factors will continue to influence LUNA’s price direction in the near future.