While many crypto projects promise plans, few back them with steady results like BlockDAG (BDAG). In just ten months, it has brought in over $208 million during its presale and is now pushing toward a new target of $600 million.
This amount would rank among the largest fundraising achievements in Layer-1 history. The third keynote not only announced this milestone but also shared a solid plan for reaching the mainnet.
With the Beta Testnet running and a global developer plan underway, the project isn’t waiting—it’s building real progress.
$208M Raised and $600M in Sight: Clear Path with Funding Support
It’s rare to see a crypto project fully backed and growing fast. BlockDAG has already collected $208 million and now moves toward the $600 million mark, a goal the team believes is realistic due to strong backing so far.
“This isn’t just money—it powers growth, progress, and what’s next for blockchain tech,” explained CEO Antony Turner. “People don’t view BlockDAG as just another chain—they see it as tomorrow’s core infrastructure.”
The funds are going into protocol upgrades, smart contract checks, validator programs, and developer outreach. This shows the project is focusing on practical tech and usability, not just market excitement.
Live Beta Testnet Shows Speed and Real Engagement
Before this phase, BlockDAG’s Alpha Testnet handled 1.2 million transactions across more than 100 community nodes. Now, with the Beta Testnet live, the team is focusing on broader testing. The keynote introduced updates like faster transaction speed, a real-time node viewer, and a tool that lets people make tokens or NFTs without any coding.
“With this beta, there’s a lot more to explore,” said Turner. “The core chain is twice as fast, and the explorer has been upgraded a lot.”
To test how the network handles stress and simulate real action, 10,000 testnet coins are being sent to every user weekly for four weeks, controlled by a vesting contract. But what stands out more is that BlockDAG turned testing into a game.
Users ranking in the top 10 for mining, wallet activity, or balance will each earn $2,000 in real BDAG coins, not testnet tokens. That’s $60,000 in total rewards for helping stress-test the system and its contract features.
Grants and Hackathons Support Developer Growth
Beyond technical upgrades, BlockDAG is helping builders through a Developer Grants Program. It offers funding, expert help, and network access for those building on the system. Grants vary from small aid for solo coders to major funding for DeFi apps, tools, and broader ecosystem ideas.
“Good projects deserve strong support,” said Steven Clarke-Martin. “We’re not just looking for devs—we’re helping them create.”
To bring in more global builders, a Hackathon Series is also underway, offering up to $100K in prize money across online and on-site events. These include training sessions, one-on-one help, and demos where teams can earn funds and secure a spot in the BlockDAG system.
These plans aim to launch a full-featured dApp store alongside the mainnet. Unlike other launches that begin with minimal use cases, BlockDAG plans to start with working DeFi tools, staking, apps, and features driven by its developer community.
Mainnet Plans Confirmed for Full Rollout This Year
With all the pieces now being put together, the mainnet release is officially on the calendar for later this year. In the final part of the keynote, Turner stressed this wouldn’t be a basic rollout. Instead, it will feature mining-ready validator tools, built-in smart contract support, and full user tools ready for day-one use.
“We’re managing every part—from the chain itself to extras like our explorer, dev kits, and governance systems,” Turner noted. “This launch is meant to stand out.”
The mainnet release will also start BlockDAG’s exchange listing drive, aiming to appear on at least 10 CEX platforms, including one major platform in the first two months after going live.
Final Remarks!
Keynote 3 did more than share goals—it proved BlockDAG is already delivering. A working testnet, rewards for users, international developer outreach, and training are all live. Backed by $208 million and aiming for $600 million, the project’s momentum feels very real.
While others focus on what’s next, BlockDAG is showing what’s happening now—and that’s what people are noticing.
Presale: https://purchase.blockdag.network
Website: https://blockdag.network
Telegram: https://t.me/blockDAGnetworkOfficial
Discord: https://discord.gg/Q7BxghMVyu
