BlockDAG Raises $298 Million, Aims for 2,670% ROI with NBA Partnership

BlockDAG, ONDO, TIA, and APT are emerging as the top DeFi cryptocurrencies to watch in 2025, each offering unique value propositions within the decentralized finance ecosystem. BlockDAG stands out with its combination of advanced technology, strong community engagement, and potential for mainstream exposure. The network is reportedly close to securing a partnership with a major NBA franchise, which could significantly boost its visibility and utility. This partnership, along with existing ties to Inter Milan and UFC’s Alex Pereira, positions BlockDAG as a potential household name in the crypto space. The network's strategic presale has raised $298 million and sold over 22.2 billion BDAG tokens, with a temporary rollback price of $0.0018 available until June 13. After this date, the price will return to $0.0276, aiming for a $0.05 listing and setting up a potential 2,670% ROI. The tech is fully CertiK-audited, EVM-compatible, and backed by 1.5 million active miners through its X1 mobile app. Features like Buyer Battles keep user engagement high, rewarding top contributors with unsold token allocations.

ONDO is gaining traction by bridging the gap between traditional finance and crypto through tokenized US Treasuries. The platform has successfully processed transactions on its Ondo Chain testnet using OUSG, its on-chain representation of Treasuries, working with major players like J.P. Morgan and Chainlink. ONDO has also rolled out USDY for Latin American markets and added Solana support, enhancing its cross-chain liquidity. These real-world asset integrations are driving actual demand and not just speculative trading. ONDO is currently trading at around $0.90 with a $2.8 billion market cap and daily volumes between $130–162 million. The market seems to be recognizing the value of its partnerships and the legitimacy of its products, especially as regulatory bodies begin exploring tokenized finance more openly. With over $1.37 billion in total value locked and increasing support from institutional-grade custodians, ONDO is positioning itself as a top DeFi crypto that reflects real-world utility through on-chain finance.

TIA, the token for Celestia, focuses on modularity, allowing developers to build their own execution environments while using Celestia as a data availability layer. This approach offers more flexibility and less congestion, which are crucial in DeFi. TIA supports frameworks like Arbitrum Orbit and Polygon CDK, providing other chains with the infrastructure they need without compromising Celestia’s throughput. Despite a sharp pullback from its all-time high of over $20, TIA’s long-term role in blockchain scaling keeps it relevant. Currently priced around $2.21, TIA is down nearly 90% from its peak but appears to be forming a bottom. Volume is holding steady at $122 million, and the current market cap sits just under $1.5 billion. Analysts project that TIA could reach between $2.62 and $11 in 2026, depending on the rate of rollup adoption. With core fundamentals like support for Ethereum tooling, WebAssembly expansion, and high decentralization, TIA remains a top DeFi crypto candidate for those tracking infrastructure plays that scale better over time.

APT, the native token for Aptos, recently broke above the $5 resistance mark, trading now at approximately $5.13 with daily volumes up to $172 million. This move followed institutional attention, such as Bitwise’s staking ETF filing and rising developer activity from a revamped execution engine called RapidLane. That engine boosts throughput significantly, helping Aptos compete against other high-speed Layer-1s. While token unlocks around $53 million this month and $60 million next may cause short-term turbulence, the overall growth strategy is intact. Aptos is built on the Move language and is pushing through ecosystem-wide upgrades, including a token migration set for June 30. From new community grants to emerging DeFi apps like xBTC, the Aptos ecosystem is slowly expanding. While some forecasts suggest APT may dip to $3.80 in the short term, long-term projections aim as high as $31 by 2025. With smart contract capabilities improving and ecosystem tools getting rolled out, APT keeps its place as a top DeFi crypto to monitor closely.

These four cryptocurrencies represent a broad view of where DeFi is heading, from real-world asset tokenization and modular scaling to Layer-1 innovations and massive community traction. ONDO is delivering utility through tokenized Treasuries. TIA is building the future of flexible infrastructure. APT is pushing smart contract performance and adoption. However, it is BlockDAG that has the strongest mix of technology, traction, and timing. The current $0.0018 price window closes on June 13, and with the NBA partnership tease in play, it could quickly become one of the most visible coins in crypto. Backed by 1.5 million users, audited infrastructure, and unique features like Buyer Battles, BlockDAG looks like the top DeFi crypto most likely to dominate headlines and portfolios this year.