BlockDAG Raises $323 Million in Presale, Redefining Crypto Funding

BlockDAG has raised $323 million in its presale, with a goal of reaching $600 million, making it the most heavily funded Layer 1 launch without venture capital backing. This achievement marks a significant shift in the crypto funding landscape, as traditional models relied heavily on venture firms and private allocations. BlockDAG's success is driven by everyday users, miners, and developers, who are fueling the network's growth.

Unlike Solana and Avalanche, which were backed by prominent venture capital firms and had tightly managed token releases, BlockDAG is rewriting the rules of crypto funding. Solana's early rounds were supported by firms like Multicoin Capital and Foundation Capital, while Avalanche received backing from Andreessen Horowitz and Polychain. These models created entry barriers, with capital raised quickly but progress slowed due to VC milestones and staggered infrastructure rollouts. Retail access came late, and by the time these projects reached escape velocity, early backers had already cashed in on most of the gains.

BlockDAG, on the other hand, has no venture capital involvement, no insider discounts, and no pre-mined allocations. Over $323 million has been raised so far, with 23.3 billion BDAG coins sold to over 200,000 holders. This presale is one of the widest and fastest in Layer 1 crypto history. The capital raised is not sitting still; it is being used to launch and scale the network immediately. Exchange listings are already confirmed with platforms like MEXC, BitMart, XT.com, LBank, and Coinstore, with fifteen more listings on the way before trading begins.

The testnet is live and functional, allowing users to deploy no-code dApps, test smart contracts, and push the network to full load conditions. ASIC miners are sold out across all models, with 18,150 units shipping this July and August, establishing the proof-of-work layer well before launch. The six-week rollout plan ahead of listing is detailed, with DeFi infrastructure, including the DEX, bridge, lending, oracles, and launchpad, to be deployed before the coin trades. By the time Q4 2025 arrives, BlockDAG will go live with more infrastructure, liquidity, and reach than Solana or Avalanche had in their first year, all funded by the people using the chain.

Retail-led funding creates a different kind of Layer 1. When venture capital controls the cap table, tokens get locked, hype builds, and exits are timed around liquidity. However, when retail provides the funding, the priorities change. There are no gatekeepers, and buyers want access, not vesting cliffs. The capital is already fueling live deployments across the network, from staking tools to DeFi interfaces. Miners are gearing up right now to power the system at launch, and the community is the backbone, with millions using the X1 mobile miner and developer tools in public beta. BlockDAG’s early participants are already staking, testing, and preparing to build, shaping the entire chain.

BlockDAG’s rise is remarkable not just for the money raised but for the timing. Most Layer 1s do not see $600 million until months after trading begins. BlockDAG is more than halfway there before a single BDAG hits an exchange. Solana and Avalanche proved that big money and vision can build something massive, but BlockDAG is proving it can be done faster, wider, and without handing the keys to venture capital. The model is changing: raise big, build everything, and let the crowd own it. With the price currently at $0.0030 and set to rise to $0.0080 in 12 hours, the window for early entry is closing quickly. If BlockDAG reaches its $600 million goal, it won’t just be the largest retail-funded Layer 1 in crypto history; it will be the first where users truly own the story from the very beginning.