SEI is undergoing a retracement following the sharp recovery recorded in August, but rising open interest and the release of a Sei–Mastercard report on institutional blockchain adoption keep attention fixed on the next breakout point.

SEI is the native token of Sei, a layer-1 blockchain optimized for high-speed trading applications. Its price often reacts to both broader crypto market conditions and developments around the network's adoption efforts.

At press time, SEI was trading at $0.04577, down 5.28% over the previous 24 hours. Despite the intraday decline, the token gained 12.5% in August, partially recovering from losses of 30.3% in June and 12.5% in July.

SEI Price Rebound Faces Major Resistance

Analysis of the TradingView daily chart shows SEI rebounding from the $0.038–$0.040 zone and rising above the middle line of the Bollinger Bands at $0.04319. During the rebound, the coin pushed toward $0.050, but sellers drove it back below the upper Bollinger Band at $0.05009.

The $0.04078 zone is marked as near-term support, while $0.05285 marks major resistance. A break above $0.05285 on the daily candle would be a positive sign for the recovery move. Conversely, a failure to hold above $0.04078 would weaken the current recovery setup and could bring the $0.04319 level back into focus.

What Does the SEI Price Chart Suggest?

The Bollinger Bands indicate that price continues to trade above the middle band, maintaining a constructive short-term setup despite the day's decline. Trading volume increased during the latest rally period, suggesting greater participation around the price move.

According to the latest CoinGlass data, SEI open interest stands at around $48.5 million, up from approximately $40 million earlier in August. Open interest measures the total value of unsettled derivative contracts, so growth in this metric reflects expanding positioning in SEI futures markets. The combination of rising open interest and the recent price rally points to greater derivative trading activity, though it does not indicate whether traders are predominantly bullish or bearish.

Why Is the Sei–Mastercard Report Important?

A recent X post by Sei detailed a collaboration with Mastercard on a report based on interviews with more than 40 experts analyzing how blockchain adoption is being evaluated within financial institutions. Mastercard has been active in digital-asset research and payments infrastructure, and collaborations of this type are part of a wider trend of traditional finance firms studying blockchain deployment. The report centers on infrastructure, governance, and scalability as institutions move toward production.

Sei highlighted the message: "The tech is ready. The next step is trust." The statement links the report to the broader challenge of moving institutional blockchain use from technological development toward practical adoption.

The development matters because it shifts attention away from blockchain technology alone and toward its actual need for institutional adoption. For SEI, this becomes a notable narrative point if the network's institutional adoption strategy gains momentum.

The tech is ready. The next step is trust. Based on interviews with 40+ experts, the foundations of institutional blockchain outlines the full journey institutions travel in coming onchain. — Sei (@SeiNetwork) August 28, 2026

The tech is ready. The next step is trust. Based on interviews with 40+ experts, the foundations of institutional blockchain outlines the full journey institutions travel in coming onchain.

Can SEI Price Reach $0.05285?

The first objective is for buyers to retake the $0.05009 price point and then push the price above $0.05285. Failure to do so could see SEI pull back to $0.04319, with $0.04078 remaining the key support level to watch.

A sustained break above $0.05285 would provide stronger confirmation of the recovery, while a failure to hold $0.04078 would weaken the bullish setup.

This article contains market analysis and price commentary. These are not guarantees. Crypto markets are volatile. Always do your own research. Not financial advice.