BlockDAG Awakening Testnet Launch Fuels Nearly $420M Presale as ASTER Slows & BNB Tests $980 Support

The surge in Aster (ASTER) raised questions about how much of its growth comes from short-lived excitement instead of long-term progress. A similar pattern appears in the BNB price action, where strength faded soon after reaching new highs. Both reflect the challenge of keeping hype balanced with technology. The real difference shows when a network proves scalability before drawing the spotlight.

BlockDAG has now rolled out its Awakening Testnet, a leap from the earlier Primordial stage. The upgrade doubled performance from about 800 TPS to 1,400 TPS, introduced full EVM compatibility, and expanded from simple tools into a full IDE, NFT Explorer, and live dApps. These improvements highlight that BlockDAG (BDAG) is not static but constantly moving forward, securing its place among the leading cryptos worth tracking.

BlockDAG Awakening Testnet Showcases Upgrades

The Awakening Testnet marks a major move beyond the Primordial phase, showing clear upgrades across speed, usability, and development tools. BlockDAG now handles 1,400 TPS, nearly double its earlier output, proving the network can handle future growth. The shift from UTXO to an account-based design aligned it fully with EVM standards, making it simpler for builders to deploy contracts.

Features under EIP-4337 introduced account abstraction with gas sponsorships, batching, and social recovery, giving users easier access to the chain. Developers benefit even more, with a new IDE packed with debugging, plugin options, and deployment helpers.

The NFT Explorer now supports both image and video formats, while live Reflection and Lottery dApps show that real utility is already being tested. Added analytics, including a dashboard with live TPS and gas metrics, underline a focus on clarity and user trust.

On the presale side, BlockDAG has raised close to $420 million and sold 26.6 billion BDAG coins. The price is also currently locked at $0.0015. The project also confirmed sales of over 20,000 X-Series miners. With more than 312,000 holders already in place and a launch price locked at $0.05, the path ahead points to possible gains of more than 3,746%. BlockDAG now stands out as one of the strongest cryptos to track going into 2025.

ASTER’s Explosive Trading Faces Challenges

Aster (ASTER) saw one of the most aggressive moves of 2025, jumping more than 2,000% within a single week. The coin hit a peak of $2.42 before volatility pulled it back, showing both the upside and the risk tied to its rapid climb.

Daily trading activity spiked, with perpetual volumes above $30 billion and open interest climbing by over 30,000% in days. The migration from APX to ASTER improved governance and usability, while hidden orders and features aimed at institutions drew added attention. This type of growth put ASTER firmly on the list of cryptos to watch despite uncertainty over its long-term direction.

Analysts remain cautious. Concentrated holdings and upcoming unlocks could spark sudden pullbacks. At its peak, ASTER’s TVL touched $2 billion, showing strong liquidity, but much of it may be tied to short-term rewards. The core issue is whether ASTER can hold activity once incentives cool. For now, it is among the most volatile cryptos to track, and all eyes remain on how it reacts in the weeks ahead.

BNB Dips After $1,083 Peak but Maintains Strength

BNB recently slid under the $1,000 mark after hitting a fresh high of $1,083. The move down showed fading strength, with daily volume dropping nearly 17% and open interest in derivatives slipping by 4%. Analysts now focus on the $980 support, noting that a break lower could send prices toward $930.

Still, updates on the BNB Chain give a positive outlook. Planned upgrades to cut gas fees and improve processing speeds could rebuild market interest. These developments keep BNB in the spotlight as one of the leading cryptos to watch despite short-term weakness.

Future progress will depend on demand returning. If BNB clears the $1,030 barrier, projections point toward a possible climb between $1,200 and $1,500. DeFi activity on the BNB Chain continues to attract bigger players, adding weight to the bullish case. Although the current pullback has cooled momentum, the growth of its ecosystem makes BNB a crypto worth tracking, balancing strong fundamentals with near-term volatility.

Wrapping It Up

Aster (ASTER) showed how fast prices can explode, with more than 2,000% gains in a week before wild swings cut into the rally. BNB also proved how momentum can fade, falling below $1,000 after touching $1,083. Both cases show how hype often outpaces the tech behind it, leading to quick corrections that shake market confidence.

BlockDAG offers a different story. The Awakening Testnet doubled throughput to 1,400 TPS, added an IDE, NFT Explorer, and live dApps, showing that the roadmap is being built before chasing valuation. With almost $420 million raised, 26.6 billion coins sold, and 20,000 miners confirmed, BlockDAG already has strong adoption. At the presale price of $0.0015 and launch fixed at $0.05, it secures a place among the top cryptos to track heading into 2025.

Presale: https://purchase.blockdag.network

Website: https://blockdag.network

Telegram: https://t.me/blockDAGnetworkOfficial

Discord: https://discord.gg/Q7BxghMVyu