BlockDAG’s Keynote 3 Tops Q1 Gains Over Polkadot & Chainlink

4 mins mins

LINK Gains 10.5% While DOT Slides 11% — But BlockDAG’s $211M Surge After Keynote 3 Catches All the Attention

Progress shows up in different ways—some move with trends, others build steadily. In the first quarter of 2025, Polkadot and Chainlink had contrasting paths. Polkadot dropped over 11% in both value and overall market size. In contrast, Chainlink grew 10.5%, backed by useful integrations. These shifts reflect wider market behavior: Chainlink benefited from practical usage, while Polkadot showed signs of slow momentum.

But BlockDAG (BDAG) followed a different path. In Keynote 3, it went beyond sharing updates—it showed real progress with working technology, growing user activity, and solid results. While many projects chased market trends, BlockDAG kept building quietly, and the impact is now becoming clear.

Polkadot Faces Setbacks in Early 2025

In Q1 2025, Polkadot (DOT) has seen a downward trend. Currently priced at $4.01 with a $6.3 billion market cap, it’s down from $4.54 and $7.1 billion at the year’s start. That’s about an 11.7% fall in price and 11.3% drop in market value. Despite offering useful interoperability and its parachain setup, Polkadot hasn’t gained much traction lately.

BlockDAG's Keynote 3 Tops Q1 Gains Over Polkadot & Chainlink 2

One reason could be the cautious approach seen across the market. Though its technical development continues, the absence of headline-grabbing updates or new partnerships might be limiting growth. These drops point to broader concerns and increased competition in the layer-1 space. To turn things around, Polkadot may need to emphasize real-world use and ecosystem expansion in the coming quarters.

Chainlink Records 10.5% Growth With Steady Utility in Q1

Chainlink (LINK) started 2025 on a positive note, showing progress in both price and total value. As of April 4, LINK trades at $12.78 with a market cap near $8.4 billion. Back in January, it was at $11.56 with a $7.6 billion valuation. That’s a 10.6% price rise and a 10.5% increase in overall worth within three months.

This uptick is mostly due to Chainlink’s ongoing use in DeFi systems and multi-chain efforts, mainly through its Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol (CCIP). With rising demand for dependable data feeds and secure oracles in smart contracts, Chainlink’s role remains essential. Its consistent output and major partnerships are building confidence. While other projects fluctuate, Chainlink’s steady progress is being rewarded by the market.

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Keynote 3: 5 Key Highlights Where BlockDAG Showed Real Progress

BlockDAG’s Keynote 3 went beyond announcements—it showed real progress and revealed tools ready for action. Unlike projects that fade after early attention, BlockDAG is making visible headway. Here are five standout updates from the keynote:

Testnet Running Smoothly: The active testnet has been gaining attention for its speed, stability, and developer engagement. This step confirms that the tech is not just a concept—it operates in real-time and has community backing.

Smart Contracts Now Live: Smart contract tools are now enabled, allowing creators to build apps directly on BlockDAG. This brings use cases like DeFi, gaming, and services without needing other chains.

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No-Code NFT and Coin Builder: A new tool now lets users design NFTs or launch digital coins without needing coding skills. The interface is simple, making the process as easy as using a design software.

Hardware Already Shipping: The X-Series mining machines are being sent out to users. Following through on these deliveries adds trust and shows BlockDAG is serious about tech that functions in the real world.

User Activity On the Rise: There’s been a visible increase in wallet setups, platform usage, and social activity. The numbers suggest people aren’t just watching—they’re actively involved.

The numbers back this up: $211.5 million collected in the presale, current price at $0.0248 in batch 27, over 19.1 billion coins distributed, and an impressive 2,380% growth since the first batch. BlockDAG may not make noise, but it’s clearly making progress.

Summing Up!

One message stood out in Q1 2025—results matter more than predictions. Polkadot’s fall shows that having good tools isn’t enough without steady output. Chainlink’s rise shows how consistent delivery and useful tools can pay off. Still, BlockDAG brought something different—it moved from talking about plans to putting them into action.

Keynote 3 was not about ideas—it was about working platforms, active users, and goals already reached. As the crypto space grows up, there’s more attention on those who can keep delivering. At the moment, BlockDAG appears to be one of the few doing exactly that—quietly, but firmly.