BlockDAG scores big with NBA tease and $293M presale; SOL whales accumulate, PEPE slips

BlockDAG’s NBA teaser fuels a $293m presale surge as Solana whale moves stir speculation and PEPE’s rally shows signs of exhaustion. Here’s what sets BlockDAG apart.

In a market full of short-term gains and meme-driven spikes, BlockDAG is taking a different route, one built on utility, accessibility, and now, mainstream visibility. As the project’s presale rockets past $293 million, a strategic teaser hinting at an upcoming NBA partnership has sent interest soaring. With over 1.5 million users on its mobile mining app and growing momentum from high-profile sports tie-ins, BlockDAG isn’t just building a blockchain, it’s building a brand.

Meanwhile, over in more established territory, Solana is catching attention from sharp-eyed traders tracking large-scale whale activity. A $7.5 million selloff has made headlines, but long-term investors appear unfazed, even optimistic. PEPE, on the other hand, is showing signs of fatigue after a strong meme-driven rally, as whales return but fail to spark the same explosive movement seen earlier this year.

Here’s a closer look at how these three projects are performing, and why BlockDAG is commanding investor attention as one of the best-positioned crypto plays right now.

Solana whales trigger waves, but confidence remains

Solana (SOL) continues to be a top-tier blockchain by transaction speed and user engagement. Still, recent movements by whales have sparked short-term concerns. A well-known whale address reportedly unloaded over $7.5 million worth of SOL, marking one of the largest sales in weeks. While that led to short-term price pressure, data shows the majority of the liquidated funds were reinvested across other DeFi platforms rather than cashed out, indicating a rotation rather than full exit.

The selloff came amid increasing activity in Solana-based DeFi ecosystems, which many believe could absorb the shock. Analysts suggest that despite intermittent turbulence, the underlying growth in Solana’s NFT volume, DePIN sector, and validator performance remains a sign of network strength. For now, whales are making moves, but not necessarily leaving.

Still, this kind of market motion leaves room for fresh entrants like BlockDAG to gain attention, particularly with its more inclusive, mobile-first strategy.

PEPE faces headwinds as whales re-enter late

PEPE coin, the meme-driven crypto that once soared on viral sentiment, is now finding itself in a tricky phase. According to recent data, whales are once again accumulating PEPE, possibly attempting to drive momentum toward new all-time highs. However, this time, trading volumes are lower, and retail engagement appears more hesitant.

Despite past rallies that delivered triple-digit gains in short timeframes, PEPE is struggling to maintain its upward trajectory. Analysts caution that while the presence of whales could lead to short-term spikes, the project lacks a long-term growth story or product backing. In contrast, meme token fatigue is beginning to set in across the sector, as investors start shifting toward projects with real-world utility or platform growth.

And that’s where BlockDAG is building serious distance from memecoins, by offering functionality that’s already live and drawing millions of users.

BlockDAG’s NBA tease ignites $293 million presale surge

While Solana sees rotational whale activity and PEPE tries to revive its meme-driven run, BlockDAG is locking in one of the strongest presale performances in 2025, now surpassing $293 million raised till batch 28. At the center of this explosive growth is the X1 mobile mining app, which has already onboarded over 1.5 million users, allowing anyone to mine BDAG tokens directly from their smartphones without hardware or energy demands.

But the biggest catalyst lately is BlockDAG’s NBA partnership teaser. While not officially confirmed, reports suggest a high-profile collaboration is in the works, including courtside branding, fan token integrations, and televised promotions. This follows earlier successful partnerships with Inter Milan and UFC star Alex Pereira, showing that BlockDAG’s playbook involves more than just blockchain infrastructure, it includes a cultural crossover strategy aimed at massive public engagement.

This blend of grassroots adoption and top-tier marketing is proving effective. In addition to daily mining activity, BlockDAG has launched unique mechanics like Buyer Battles, where the largest single buyer each day wins the unsold token allocation, sometimes worth millions. The result is not just hype, but continuous, engaged participation. The contrast between BlockDAG and other traditional cryptos is becoming increasingly clear. While Solana continues to be a favorite among experienced traders and PEPE relies on viral cycles, BlockDAG is crafting a middle ground, accessible for new users but with the infrastructure to scale like an established L1.

• Its Directed Acyclic Graph (DAG) architecture supports high-speed, parallel transaction processing, making it more efficient than traditional chains.
• The Proof-of-Engagement mechanism in the X1 app ensures real users drive value, not just speculative miners.
• And its EVM compatibility allows developers to migrate Ethereum-based projects without reinventing the wheel.

Add to that a presale performance that outpaces most launches this year, and it becomes clear that BlockDAG isn’t waiting to be listed to prove itself. It’s already doing it.

Final take

With PEPE losing steam and Solana entering a phase of strategic reallocation, BlockDAG is the one making undeniable strides forward. The presale has now topped $293 million, driven by a viral mobile mining app, high user engagement, and marketing moves that include a looming NBA partnership.

It’s not a meme. It’s not a fork. And it’s not waiting for hype. BlockDAG is building a layered, accessible blockchain product that rewards real participation, and it’s doing it while most other projects are still pitching promises.

For investors looking beyond speculative pumps and into sustainable crypto opportunities, BlockDAG stands out as one of the best crypto projects to watch right now.

To learn more about BlockDAG, visit its presale, website, Telegram, and Discord.