Identifying the Next Big Crypto Play Before the BTC Rally: Analyzing Early Whale Activity and Emerging Chains to Spot Pre-Bull Market Winners

The crypto market is on the cusp of a major BTC rally, but the real opportunity lies not in Bitcoin alone but in the projects whales are quietly stacking. As of October 2025, whale activity reveals a clear pattern: institutional and high-net-worth investors are shifting capital toward emerging blockchain chains and presale tokens with real-world utility, AI integration, and scalable infrastructure. These moves are not random-they're signals of where the next bull market will ignite.

Whale Activity as a Leading Indicator

Whales are the market's barometers. In the second week of October, data from Nansen and Santiment showed a 4.82% increase in WLFI holdings, 8 million PEPE tokens added to large wallets, and 20 million SAND tokens accumulated, according to a Yahoo Finance analysis. But the most telling trend is the focus on presale projects.

BlockchainFX (BFX) has become a whale magnet, raising $4.4 million in its presale with a current price of $0.017 per token. Analysts project a listing price of $0.05, offering 500% gains for early buyers. The project's BFX Visa Card and structured price tiers make it a compelling play for those seeking exposure to a hybrid blockchain-DAG model.

Meanwhile, Blazpay ($BLAZ) is capturing attention with its AI-powered DeFi platform. At $0.006 per token, a $1,000 investment could grow to $65,000 if the token hits $0.40–$0.50 on listing, according to a TechBullion article. Its conversational AI (BlazAI) and developer SDK position it as a one-stop solution for DeFi, a critical need in a fragmented market.

BlockDAG (BDAG) is another standout, having raised $324 million in presale funds. With a projected listing price of $0.05 and a current presale price of $0.003, BDAG offers 1,566% profit potential, as noted in an Analytics Insight report. Its hybrid Proof-of-Work/DAG model and EVM compatibility make it a scalable alternative to Ethereum.

Emerging Blockchain Chains with Pre-Bull Market Momentum

The next bull market won't be driven by hype alone-it'll be fueled by chains solving real problems. Solana (SOL) is already showing strength, with daily active addresses hitting an all-time high, according to a Refocoin roundup. Its ecosystem is expanding in DeFi, NFTs, and gaming, supported by protocol upgrades that improve throughput and reliability.

SUI, a newer Layer-1 blockchain, is gaining traction for its Move-based architecture, optimized for scalability and developer adoption. Its integration into gaming and NFT platforms suggests it's positioning itself as a Solana alternative.

Cardano (ADA) is quietly climbing, bolstered by its Layer-2 scaling solution, Hydra, and increased smart contract activity. With staking and governance tools fully operational, ADA is well-positioned to benefit from expanding liquidity.

Even memecoins are showing signs of legitimacy. Little Pepe ($LILPEPE), with its Layer-2 blockchain offering zero fees and fast finality, has raised significant funds in Stage 2 of its presale. Dogeverse (DOGEVERSE) and BullZilla ($BZIL) are also gaining traction, with BullZilla's transparent roadmap and $670,000 presale raise signaling strong community trust.

Strategic Allocation: Balancing High-Cap and High-Growth Assets

Whales are diversifying their portfolios, balancing high-cap assets like Bitcoin and Ethereum with high-growth altcoins. For example, Ethereum (ETH) attracted 406,000 ETH in whale deposits, while Solana (SOL) saw increased on-chain activity. Bitcoin, however, remains a core holding, with one whale selling 80,000 BTC for $9.6 billion in 2025.

The Altcoin Season Index, currently at 63, suggests a shift toward altcoins; projects like Ozak AI (OZ), which raised $3.55 million in its presale, and Aster (ASTR), with $48 million in whale purchases, are attracting institutional interest.

The Key Takeaway

The next bull market will be defined by projects that whales are already backing. BlockchainFX, Blazpay, and BlockDAG offer clear utility and scalable infrastructure, while Solana, SUI, and ADA provide institutional-grade solutions. Memecoins like Little Pepe and BullZilla, though speculative, are backed by strong community narratives.

For investors, the lesson is clear: monitor whale activity, prioritize projects with real-world use cases, and allocate capital to emerging chains with pre-bull market momentum. The BTC rally is inevitable, but the true alpha will come from the projects whales are stacking now.