Polkadot News Today: RWA's $1.7B TVL Spark DeFi's Next Power Shift

BlockDAG's presale has surged past $371 million in Batch 29, with the token trading at $0.0276 as investors flock to its CLAIM code for early accessOndo Price Prediction, News, and Analysis (ONDO)^[4]. This momentum contrasts with the struggles of Polkadot and Chainlink, both of which are vying for relevance in a rapidly evolving decentralized finance (DeFi) and real-world asset (RWA) landscape. Meanwhile, Ondo Finance's ONDO token has emerged as a key player in the RWA sector, with its Total Value Locked (TVL) hitting a record $1.728 billion as of October 2025ONDO Holds Above $0.86, TVL Hits All-Time High — Is a Major Price Explosion Next?^[1]. The token's price action has been tightly contested around the $0.86 support level, with technical indicators like the MACD crossover and RSI at 57 suggesting strong buying momentumONDO Holds Above $0.86, TVL Hits All-Time High — Is a Major Price Explosion Next?^[1]. Analysts project a potential breakout toward $1.12 resistance, a level that could signal renewed bullish momentum if sustainedONDO Holds Above $0.86, TVL Hits All-Time High — Is a Major Price Explosion Next?^[1].

Ondo's rise is underpinned by its institutional-grade partnerships and tokenization of real-world assets. The platform's Global Markets initiative has expanded access to tokenized U.S. equities and ETFs, including assets like Apple and Nvidia, for non-U.S. investors. This expansion, coupled with $1.41 billion in TVL, positions ONDO as a bridge between traditional finance (TradFi) and DeFi. However, the token's price remains range-bound, consolidating between $0.72 and $1.17 despite a 64.7% outperformance against Bitcoin over the past monthONDO Price Analysis: Key Support Test at $0.86 as RSI Signals Oversold Territory^[2]. Critics highlight the divergence between ONDO's TVL growth and its market cap, which has stabilized near $2.9 billion, raising questions about undervaluation or market skepticismONDO Holds Above $0.86, TVL Hits All-Time High — Is a Major Price Explosion Next?^[1].

Chainlink, another RWA leader, faces stiff competition from Ondo. While Chainlink's LINK token has surged 50% in 14 days, reaching $25, its dominance in the RWA sector is being challenged by Ondo's tokenized U.S. Treasuries and Global Markets platformOndo Token Consolidates, Eyes Breakout Above $1.12 Resistance Level^[6]. A notable collaboration between Chainlink, Ondo, and J.P. Morgan demonstrated cross-chain atomic settlements of tokenized assets, but Ondo's direct yield offerings and institutional partnerships give it an edge in attracting risk-averse investorsOndo Token Consolidates, Eyes Breakout Above $1.12 Resistance Level^[6]. Chainlink's recent launch of a strategic on-chain reserve aims to reduce supply and boost LINK's scarcity, yet Ondo's smaller market cap ($3.05 billion) suggests higher growth potential in the short termOndo Token Consolidates, Eyes Breakout Above $1.12 Resistance Level^[6].

Polkadot and Chainlink are also recalibrating strategies to retain relevance. Polkadot's focus on interoperability and Chainlink's CCIP (Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol) aim to address liquidity and cross-chain settlement challenges. However, both projects face headwinds from newer entrants like BlockDAG, whose $420M+ presale and omnichain architecture are drawing attention as a potential market leaderOndo Price Prediction, News, and Analysis (ONDO)^[4]. BlockDAG's 20 exchange listings in August 2025 further solidified its position, with investors viewing it as a scalable solution for DeFi's infrastructure needsOndo Price Prediction, News, and Analysis (ONDO)^[4].

The RWA sector's growth is pivotal for DeFi's mainstream adoption. Ondo's ability to tokenize assets like stocks and ETFs, combined with Chainlink's oracles for secure data verification, highlights the sector's dual-track approach: institutional compliance and decentralized accessibility. However, regulatory clarity and SEC initiatives like "Project Crypto" remain critical for sustaining this momentumOndo Finance (ONDO) Price Prediction 2025, 2026, 2030^[3]. Ondo's 2030 price predictions range from $2.71 to $13.79, reflecting optimism about its role in bridging TradFi and DeFi, while Chainlink's 2025 targets of $61–$100 hinge on its reserve strategy and institutional partnershipsOndo Token Consolidates, Eyes Breakout Above $1.12 Resistance Level^[6].

As the DeFi and RWA markets mature, the competition between BlockDAG, Ondo, and Chainlink will intensify. BlockDAG's presale success and CLAIM code-driven adoption, Ondo's institutional-grade tokenization, and Chainlink's infrastructure innovations each represent distinct pathways to dominance. The outcome will likely depend on regulatory developments, cross-chain integration, and the ability to scale use cases that appeal to both retail and institutional investors.