BlockDAG's $435M Surge Defies Rival Attacks as Shiba Inu Claims ETF History

BlockDAG's presale has surged past $435 million, positioning the project as one of the fastest-growing blockchain initiatives ahead of its February 2026 exchange listing. With 312,000 holders and 20,000 miners sold, the project's Batch 32 offering at $0.005 per token marks the final phase before the planned $0.05 launch price, according to a Crypto.news report. The momentum has drawn comparisons to historic Layer-1 breakthroughs, with analysts dubbing it a potential "decade's top crypto opportunity." Meanwhile, the project has weathered recent controversy, with community members rallying behind founder Jason Turner after he accused rivals of launching a "coordinated attack" to destabilize confidence, as detailed in a Yahoo Finance article. Turner's rebuttal, emphasizing verifiable technical achievements and a February 10, 2026, accountability deadline, has solidified holder trust, underscoring the project's resilience in a competitive market.

In parallel, Shiba Inu (SHIB) is making waves as the first meme coin to secure a spot in a U.S. spot ETF filing. Global asset manager T. Rowe Price, overseeing $1.77 trillion in assets, submitted a Form S-1 with the SEC for an actively managed crypto ETF that includes SHIB alongside Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana, according to a CoinChapter article. This marks a pivotal step toward institutional recognition for altcoins, with the fund aiming to outperform the FTSE Crypto U.S. Listed Index by dynamically adjusting holdings, per a Coinrise report. The Shiba Inu ecosystem, now featuring Shibarium (a Layer-2 network) and tokens like LEASH and BONE, has evolved beyond its meme origins, drawing institutional interest, as noted in a Coinotag report. Analysts predict ETF inflows could boost SHIB's liquidity and price stability, though regulatory approval remains pending.

Litecoin (LTC) also saw a price rebound, nearing $100 as the first U.S. Litecoin ETF, Canary's LTCC, generated $1.65 million in its first week of trading, as reported in a Yahoo Finance report. Despite trailing behind Solana and Hedera ETFs in inflows, Litecoin's real-world utility in payment platforms like Stake.com—handling 16% of daily on-chain transactions—reinforces its value proposition. With low fees and high transaction speeds, LTC is regaining traction in microtransaction ecosystems, particularly in regions prioritizing cost-effective payment rails.

The crypto landscape is further shaped by projects like Mantle and Aave, which are revitalizing DeFi and Layer-2 adoption, as discussed in a Coinrise analysis. However, BlockDAG's combination of a near-$435 million presale, Formula 1® partnerships, and transparent Dashboard V4 analytics has created unprecedented urgency among investors. With only 4.56 billion tokens remaining and a February 2026 listing date confirmed, early participants eye a potential 10x return as the project bridges scalability, speed, and institutional credibility, as that Coinrise analysis notes.