Polkadot News Today: SWIFT's Blockchain Bet: Hedera Hits TRL 9, Paving Crypto's Financial Mainstream

Hedera's $HBAR token has surged in institutional relevance following SWIFT's integration of its blockchain technology across North America, Europe, and Asia. The global financial messaging network, which processes $150 trillion annually, has elevated Hedera to Technology Readiness Level 9 (TRL 9), the highest standard for operational readiness, after successful Proof of Concept (PoC) trials. Live trials with banks are set to begin in 2025, with full implementation expected by 2026. This partnership validates Hedera's public blockchain as a scalable solution for real-world financial transactions, potentially driving demand for $HBAR as SWIFT's adoption expands Altcoin Buzz^[1]. Analysts predict a 350% price rally for $HBAR if institutional adoption accelerates, bolstered by potential U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approval for a Hedera ETF TronWeekly^[3].

Polkadot (DOT) is advancing its DeFi ecosystem through the proposed pUSD stablecoin, fully backed by DOT tokens. The Polkadot community has approved 75.4% of the governance vote for pUSD, which aims to reduce reliance on external stablecoins like USDT and USDC. By leveraging the Honzon protocol, pUSD will function as an over-collateralized debt token, enabling users to lock DOT for liquidity without selling their holdings. The stablecoin could also replace DOT inflation for staking rewards, creating a more sustainable economic model for the network . However, the SEC has delayed approval of Polkadot and Hedera ETF applications, requesting additional public input and pushing final decisions to November 2025 .

BlockDAG (BDAG) has emerged as a disruptive force in crypto with a $420 million presale and a high-profile partnership with the BWT Alpine Formula 1® Team. Unlike traditional crypto sponsorships, BlockDAG is embedding blockchain technology into fan experiences, including simulators, Web3-powered access passes, and decentralized ticketing systems. The project's presale, priced at $0.0015 per BDAG, has raised nearly $420 million, with 27 billion tokens sold and over 312,000 holders. Mining infrastructure has expanded globally, with 20,000 hardware miners deployed and 3 million daily users on the X1 app. The Formula 1® partnership, which includes 1.5 billion cumulative annual viewers, positions BlockDAG as a mainstream Web3 brand before its exchange listing CoinCentral^[6].

The convergence of institutional adoption, regulatory scrutiny, and mainstream partnerships underscores a pivotal shift in crypto's trajectory. Hedera's SWIFT integration and Polkadot's pUSD initiative highlight blockchain's potential to redefine cross-border finance and DeFi liquidity, while BlockDAG's cultural crossover with Formula 1® demonstrates the sector's expanding reach into global entertainment. As ETF approvals loom and presales scale, these projects exemplify the interplay of technological innovation and market dynamics in 2025.