Ethereum News Today: BlockDAG's F1-Powered Blockchain Gamble: Can It Overtake Ethereum's Institutional Momentum?

The BlockDAG presale has entered its final phase ahead of the November 26, 2025, Genesis Day, with the token price dropping to $0.0012 using the TGE code, a 0.0003 decrease from the previous day's $0.0015. The presale has raised $419.93 million, nearing its $500 million target, and offers airdrop allocations based on purchase rank, with top 300 buyers receiving instant allocations. Critics argue the presale's pricing strategy-oscillating between $0.0016 and $0.0013-resembles a fundraising machine rather than a product rollout, while proponents highlight confirmed exchange listings on MEXC, CoinStore, XT.com, LBank, and BitMart as evidence of long-term ambition Coingabbar^[1].

The project's hybrid DAG + Proof-of-Work model has drawn comparisons to Formula One, with BlockDAG partnering with the BWT Alpine Formula 1® Team to align with high-performance engineering. This collaboration, announced in October 2025, aims to bridge blockchain and motorsport through fan engagement initiatives, including simulators and hackathons. Antony Turner, BlockDAG's CEO, emphasized the partnership's role in showcasing DAG technology's scalability and speed . The project has shipped 20,000 miners and amassed 3.2 million X1 app users, further solidifying its ecosystem AnalyticsInsight^[2].

Ethereum (ETH) has seen a price surge to $4,520, driven by ETF inflows and institutional interest. Analysts attribute this to Ethereum's role as both a utility asset and a store of value, with institutional adoption accelerating after ETF approvals in 2025. While Ethereum's price is projected to surpass $5,000 by late 2025, its volatility and competition from faster blockchains like Solana remain risks. Standard Chartered has raised its 2025 ETH target to $7,500, citing ETF accumulation and stablecoin growth .

BlockDAG's post-launch trajectory is contentious. Early buyers, who purchased at under $0.0015, could face immediate selling pressure if the token debuts at $0.05, as expected. However, long-term analysts predict a potential climb to $10–$50 within a year, contingent on ecosystem development and exchange listings. The project's total supply of 150 billion tokens, with 50 billion in circulation, underscores the speculative nature of its price dynamics Coingabbar^[1].

The presale's success has also drawn regulatory scrutiny. While the project claims legitimacy through CertiK and Halborn audits, its delayed launch date and vague exchange listings have raised red flags. Some investors are shifting to alternatives like Bitcoin Hyper and Maxi Doge, which offer clearer timelines and utility-driven models BraveNewCoin^[5].

BlockDAG's hybrid consensus model, combining DAG's scalability with PoW's security, is positioned to process 10 blocks per second. This technical foundation, paired with 25.2 billion tokens sold and 200,000 holders, has created a community-driven ecosystem. However, the presale's final phase-where the TGE code locks in the last sub-cent entry point-has intensified competition for allocation CryptoNews^[4].

As Ethereum consolidates near $4,500 and BlockDAG approaches its Genesis Day, market participants are weighing the risks and rewards of both assets. While Ethereum's institutional backing and network upgrades provide a bullish case, BlockDAG's presale momentum and strategic partnerships suggest a high-stakes race for market dominance.