Aptos Partners With Google, NEAR Rallies 23.9%, But BlockDAG’s Keynote 3 Is All About What’s Already Working

Projects like NEAR Protocol and Aptos have captured attention with promises of scalability and technical muscle, delivering updates around sharding, consensus models, and strategic partnerships. But when it comes to real, user-facing progress before a mainnet launch, BlockDAG is setting itself apart. With a live beta testnet, 10,000 ASIC miners already shipped, and robust tools for developers, BlockDAG has turned ambition into working infrastructure.

While NEAR and Aptos focus on refining protocol-level features, BlockDAG’s practical output signals a shift from narrative to results—especially relevant in discussions around Layer 1 blockchain performance.

NEAR: Empowering Scalable and User-Friendly Blockchain Solutions

NEAR Protocol is a Layer-1 blockchain designed to provide a scalable and developer-friendly platform for decentralized applications (dApps). Specifically, utilizing a unique sharding mechanism known as “Nightshade,” NEAR enhances transaction throughput and reduces latency, addressing common scalability challenges in blockchain networks. Consequently, this architecture enables parallel processing of transactions, thereby increasing the network’s capacity and efficiency. 

As of March 30, 2025, NEAR is trading at approximately $2.65 USD. Over the past year, the token has experienced fluctuations, with notable periods of growth. For instance, in a week-long span, NEAR saw a 23.9% increase, accompanied by an 18.8% rise in Total Value Locked (TVL), indicating heightened user engagement and capital inflow into the ecosystem. However, these gains have been interspersed with corrections, reflecting the volatile nature of the cryptocurrency market.

Advancing Blockchain Performance with Innovative Technology

Aptos is a Layer-1 blockchain that resulted from the remnants of Meta’s Diem project, aiming to deliver high-performance and secure blockchain solutions. To that end, founded by former Meta employees, Aptos leverages the Move programming language and the AptosBFTv4 consensus mechanism to achieve exceptional scalability and security. As a result, these technological advancements position Aptos as a strong player in the blockchain ecosystem, particularly for applications requiring high throughput and reliability.

As of March 30, 2025, Aptos (APT) is trading at approximately $5.31 USD. The token has demonstrated growth over the past year, with a notable 10.5% increase in a single week and a 14.3% rise in TVL, reflecting growing adoption and investment in the Aptos network. Additionally, strategic partnerships, such as collaborations with Microsoft and Google Cloud, have bolstered Aptos’s credibility and potential for future growth. 

Taken together, both NEAR Protocol and Aptos have shown resilience and growth in the past year, driven by technological innovations and strategic partnerships. While market volatility remains a factor, their advancements suggest a promising trajectory in the blockchain landscape.

BlockDAG Delivered Real Products Before Mainnet

Unlike many others, while many projects ride momentum without delivering substance, BlockDAG has taken a different route—by building first and talking second. Notably, long before its mainnet launch, the project has already put working products in users’ hands. 

Over 10,000 ASIC miners have been shipped globally, giving physical proof of the network’s infrastructure and mining capabilities. At the same time, the Beta Testnet is live and already validating the GhostDAG protocol in real-world conditions. It’s not a simulation. It’s not a test behind closed doors. It’s public, verifiable, and running.

Moreover, BlockDAG didn’t stop at hardware and protocol deployment. The team has also built out tools for future developers, including a dedicated BlockDAG Academy, smart contract templates, and documentation aimed at accelerating dApp creation even before the mainnet launch.

As a result, investors are clearly responding. As of Batch 27, the presale has raised $210 million, selling over 19 billion coins. The current token price stands at $0.0248—a 2,380% return from the Batch 1 entry point. This isn’t just speculation; it’s capital flowing into a project that’s already delivered tangible milestones.

In short, by focusing on execution over hype, BlockDAG sets a high bar. Few projects can claim to have shipped hardware, deployed a live testnet, and laid the foundation for developer adoption—before their mainnet even goes live. This isn’t potential. It’s proof.

Where Delivery Defines Value in Layer 1 Projects

In an industry where roadmaps often outweigh real milestones, it’s execution that separates speculation from substance. NEAR Protocol and Aptos have made measurable progress—refining core technologies and attracting meaningful partnerships. 

Yet, BlockDAG stands out by showing what’s possible before a mainnet launch. Hardware shipped, a public testnet live, and developer tools already in circulation—these aren’t projections, they’re proof points. For anyone evaluating Layer 1 blockchain performance, the distinction is clear: while others are optimizing potential, BlockDAG is already delivering outcomes. That difference matters—not just for users and developers, but for the long-term credibility of any project in this space. 

Presale: https://purchase.blockdag.network

Website: https://blockdag.network

Telegram: https://t.me/blockDAGnetworkOfficial

Discord: https://discord.gg/Q7BxghMVyu