Crypto Currency
$313M+ Raised! Is BlockDAG Ready to Outpace Solana in the Next DeFi Wave?
Solana became one of crypto’s headline names by offering speed above all else. Known by some as an “Ethereum killer,” its promise of over 65,000 transactions per second and minimal gas fees drew attention fast. But speed came with tradeoffs. Repeated outages, heavy validator control, and concerns about its growing size raised doubts about whether fast alone was good enough. Now, BlockDAG (BDAG) is stepping into that space. It isn’t just copying Solana’s strong points. It’s also responding to the flaws.
With more than $313 million already raised in its presale, a $600 million target in sight, and over 2 million users mining on its X1 app, BlockDAG is further along than many expect. For those watching what might shape the next DeFi phase, this Layer 1 is working to strike a better balance between speed, stability, and ease of use.
Looking Beyond Speed in the Layer 1 Race
Solana picked up momentum in 2021 and 2022, especially across NFTs and retail dApps. But the same fast design that made it popular also created problems. It ran on a Proof-of-History model that delivered speed but hadn’t been tested at scale. That led to breakdowns. Between 2021 and 2023, Solana went offline at least seven times.
This caused real concern. Apps couldn’t count on constant uptime. Some users lost access during outages. And confidence started to fade, especially for serious DeFi use.
BlockDAG takes a different route. It uses DAG to enable fast, parallel transactions but adds Proof-of-Work for deeper decentralization and network protection. This approach pulls from Bitcoin’s durability while offering speeds that reach 15,000 transactions per second.
Where Solana went all-in on speed, BlockDAG is focusing on reliable performance. The design aims to scale without cutting corners, keeping the network secure and steady even during heavy use.
How BlockDAG Is Building Before It Launches
What sets BlockDAG apart is how it’s preparing before going live. Many chains, like Solana, focused mainly on getting their mainnet out first. BlockDAG is doing it differently. Its testnet is already active, it works with Ethereum tools, and it has a no-code dApp builder that lets people create smart contracts without needing to code.
More than 23 billion BDAG coins have been sold already, showing strong interest well before its official launch. That early traction is similar to Solana’s early growth, but BlockDAG seems to be doing it in a more structured way, starting with tools, not adding them later.
Here’s a quick comparison:
- Solana grew after going live; BlockDAG is gaining ground before launch.
- Solana’s developers had to make their own tools; BlockDAG is giving them ready-to-use options.
- Solana dealt with slowdowns during peak times; BlockDAG is planning for high speed from day one.
This approach is why some analysts are starting to see BlockDAG as more than just another Layer 1. It could be a stronger base for running DeFi, dApps, and DePIN tools without facing technical problems.
Planning for Liquidity and Early Visibility
BlockDAG is also thinking ahead when it comes to liquidity. Unlike Solana, which leaned on grants and early-stage funding, BlockDAG is getting all its support from its community. Its $600 million crypto presale goal will help it:
- Add liquidity across more than 20 exchanges (5 already confirmed)
- Finish its core systems before going public
- Provide early support to developers through grants and tools
- Launch key DeFi features like a bridge, DEX, and lending tools before its listing
On top of that, BlockDAG is already getting attention beyond the crypto world. It has a partnership with Inter Milan and is planning a new campaign in the U.S. These kinds of moves are similar to Solana’s push into sports and apps for regular users, but BlockDAG is doing it earlier in its journey.
Could BlockDAG Reach Solana’s Market Level?
Solana is currently in the top 10 crypto projects with a market cap close to $70 billion. Could BlockDAG get there too? It’s still early, but the first signs are worth noticing. Take a look at how the numbers compare:
- Presale price: $0.0018 (ends June 20)
- Listing price: $0.05 (already confirmed)
- Estimated short-term price target: $1
- Longer-term outlook: Some analysts see potential for $4+ if progress stays on track
Reaching $1 could give BlockDAG a market cap around $50 billion, depending on how many coins are circulating. That would put it near Solana’s current level. Still, it’s not just about numbers. What really matters is how the rollout is handled.
BlockDAG already has a detailed six-week launch plan in place:
- Presale ends → Mining stops and staking ends
- Mainnet begins → Nodes and ASIC mining equipment go live
- DeFi features go online → Launchpad, DEX, and oracles are activated
- Coin goes public → 40% of coins are airdropped
In simple terms, the foundation is already there to grow, not just in tech and funding, but also in public interest.
Is This a New Kind of Layer 1?
Solana made a name for itself by focusing on speed first and worrying about decentralization later. BlockDAG is choosing a different path. It’s putting decentralization, strong developer tools, and steady growth at the center, while still aiming for high speeds and useful applications.
Solana won’t be pushed aside overnight. But history shows that projects which blend security and easy access and build strong user bases early tend to stay relevant. That’s what happened with Bitcoin. That’s what happened with Ethereum.
Now, BlockDAG might be on a similar path.
For people watching this space closely, it seems the chance to get in early is still available, but probably not for long.
Website: https://blockdag.network
Presale: https://purchase.blockdag.network
Telegram: https://t.me/blockDAGnetworkOfficial
Discord: https://discord.gg/Q7BxghMVyu
Crypto Currency
Michael van de Poppe: Sui Ecosystem Showing Strongest Rebound Signals in the Market
The Sui ecosystem is emerging as one of the strongest performers in the current corrective market environment, according to market analyst Michaël van de Poppe. In a detailed market update shared on December 5, van de Poppe highlighted Sui’s technical strength, ecosystem momentum, and major catalysts that could position it for an outsized rebound once sentiment shifts.
SUI and Ecosystem Tokens Lead Market Recovery
Van de Poppe noted that SUI has already climbed 36% from its recent local low, forming a clean higher low after an early-December liquidity sweep. The move has been accompanied by improving momentum indicators and strengthening support levels—signals he says typically precede trend reversals in resilient ecosystems.
Several Sui-linked assets have significantly outperformed the broader market:
- SUIJ has surged +369%, marking one of the steepest ecosystem-wide rebounds.
- WAL is up 25% from its recent lows.
- SUI continues to show relative strength while many altcoins remain in declining structures.
According to van de Poppe, these metrics suggest Sui is absorbing market pressure more effectively than its peers and may be positioned for accelerated upside once risk appetite returns.
Major Catalysts Boost Investor Confidence
Multiple developments have fueled renewed attention on Sui:
- Walrus Protocol, Sui’s decentralized storage network, has been listed on Kraken for users in the United States and Canada—expanding institutional and retail access.
- The first-ever 2x leveraged SUI ETF was approved on Nasdaq, a major step that integrates Sui into traditional financial markets through regulated investment vehicles.
- Ecosystem activity and liquidity continue to grow, reinforcing van de Poppe’s view that Sui is transitioning from correction to accumulation ahead of a potential next leg upward.
Van de Poppe emphasized that Sui’s price behavior mirrors patterns seen in past market leaders—projects that establish higher lows early and move ahead of broader recovery phases.
Positioning for the Next Market Rotation
With Bitcoin dominance still holding strong and macro uncertainty expected to persist into 2026, analysts increasingly look toward selective ecosystem plays for asymmetric upside opportunities. Van de Poppe argues that assets already showing powerful rebounds—like Sui and its associated tokens—are likely to be early beneficiaries once sentiment improves.
“In a sea of red, the assets bouncing hardest deserve your attention,” he wrote. For now, Sui and its surrounding ecosystem appear to be leading that list.
Crypto Currency
Base–Solana Bridge Debuts With Chainlink Support, Unlocking New Cross-Chain Liquidity
The long-anticipated Base–Solana bridge has officially gone live, marking a major advancement in cross-chain interoperability. Powered by Chainlink’s Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol (CCIP), the new bridge creates a secure and reliable pathway for transferring assets between the Solana blockchain and Coinbase’s Base Layer-2 network. The launch introduces new liquidity flows, expands DeFi access, and pushes the industry closer to unified cross-chain infrastructure.
A Major Step Toward Secure Cross-Chain Transfers
The integration enables users to move SOL and Solana-based SPL assets directly into the Base ecosystem, while Base users gain the ability to migrate ETH and ERC-20 tokens back to Solana. By utilizing Chainlink CCIP, the bridge offers tamper-resistant messaging and institution-grade security — features that address vulnerabilities common in legacy bridging systems.
Base, Coinbase, and Chainlink jointly contributed to the launch. Coinbase-operated nodes now work alongside Chainlink’s decentralized CCIP network to validate cross-chain messages. Notably, Solana is the first non-Ethereum chain incorporated into this security framework, underscoring its growing role in multi-chain interoperability.
Expanding DeFi Liquidity and Developer Opportunities
For DeFi users and builders, the bridge opens new opportunities across both ecosystems. Developers on Base can now tap into Solana’s deep liquidity pools and fast-settlement assets. Conversely, Solana applications gain potential access to Ethereum-aligned liquidity and user bases through Base.
The ability to transfer SPL tokens into Base — and ERC-20 assets into Solana — could reshape liquidity distribution across major networks. This includes new migration pathways for stablecoins, yield-bearing tokens, and other financial primitives that previously remained siloed.
The open-source implementation is available for review and further development on GitHub, inviting wider community participation as cross-chain applications evolve.
Industry Looks to Chainlink CCIP as Emerging Standard
The launch strengthens Chainlink’s position in the interoperability race, especially as institutions demand higher security assurances for cross-chain transactions. Chainlink Labs’ Chief Business Officer Johann Eid emphasized that CCIP helps developers “build the most secure cross-chain applications and move the industry toward a reliable interoperability standard.”
As liquidity and user activity begin flowing across the new Base–Solana corridor, analysts expect further integrations, ecosystem partnerships, and expanded cross-chain tooling in the months ahead.
Crypto Currency
Aster Buyback Wallet Burns 77.86M Tokens as Users Track Market Activity
Aster burned 77.86 million tokens, cutting supply and drawing increased market attention.
The burn is part of Aster’s S3 buyback, now exceeding 155 million tokens removed in total.
ASTER held above $1 as traders monitored liquidity and broader crypto stability.
Aster’s market drew attention after its buyback wallet removed 77.86 million ASTER tokens valued at approximately $79.81 million. The move arrived during steady overall market activity and prompted closer tracking of the token’s short-term behavior.
Aster confirmed the supply reduction after the buyback wallet sent 77.86 million ASTER tokens to an inactive address, permanently removing them from circulation. Blockchain tracker Lookonchain highlighted the transaction, and Arkham Intelligence data showed the burn was fully executed. Users followed the update in real time as the tokens left the active supply.
The burn is part of Aster’s ongoing S3 buyback program, which has now eliminated more than 155 million tokens in total. A portion of the latest transaction also moved tokens into an airdrop-locked wallet, keeping additional supply temporarily out of market circulation.
Market attention increased after the supply cut, as the burn aligned with active trading sessions. Users monitored order books and short-term volatility to gauge how the reduced supply might affect liquidity. On-chain activity also showed a notable whale address purchasing three million ASTER within a single day after taking a recent loss, adding another layer of interest around the token.
At the time of reporting, ASTER maintained support above $1.00 and traded near $1.03. The project’s market capitalization stood around $2.37 billion as wallet balances continued to rise. Broader crypto conditions remained stable—Bitcoin traded above $92,000, Ethereum near $3,100, and XRP above $2—helping maintain market confidence as Aster’s burn announcement circulated.
Users continued monitoring ASTER pairs across exchanges, watching for liquidity shifts in the next trading sessions as supply changes and whale activity shaped short-term sentiment.
-
Crypto3 years agoCardalonia Aiming To Become The Biggest Metaverse Project On Cardano
-
Press Release5 years agoP2P2C BREAKTHROUGH CREATES A CONNECTION BETWEEN ETM TOKEN AND THE SUPER PROFITABLE MARKET
-
Blockchain5 years agoWOM Protocol partners with CoinPayments, the world’s largest cryptocurrency payments processor
-
Press Release5 years agoETHERSMART DEVELOPER’S VISION MADE FINTECH COMPANY BECOME DUBAI’S TOP DIGITAL BANK
-
Press Release5 years agoProject Quantum – Decentralised AAA Gaming
-
Blockchain5 years agoWOM Protocol Recommended by Premier Crypto Analyst as only full featured project for August
-
Press Release5 years agoETHERSMART DEVELOPER’S VISION MADE FINTECH COMPANY BECOME DUBAI’S TOP DIGITAL BANK
-
Blockchain6 years ago1.5 Times More Bitcoin is purchased by Grayscale Than Daily Mined Coins
