Stellar Surges 80% in TVL, NEAR Gains 6% on Institutional Inflows, BlockDAG Presale Hits $377M

The cryptocurrency market continues to evolve with distinct performances from major players and emerging projects. Stellar (XLM) showed significant momentum in August, with Total Value Locked (TVL) hitting $152.11 million, an 80% increase compared to prior periods. This surge was supported by growing DeFi activity on platforms such as Blend and Stellar DEX. Additionally, Stellar surpassed 9.69 million total accounts, with a daily account growth rate between 5,000 and 6,000. However, the rising on-exchange XLM supply of 1.03 billion tokens has sparked concerns over potential selling pressure that could moderate price appreciation [1].

Meanwhile, the NEAR Protocol experienced a sharp price increase driven by institutional inflows. During a single trading session, NEAR climbed approximately 6%, reaching a peak of $2.73. This was fueled by $10.1 million in institutional capital entering the market, coinciding with 401(k) eligibility expansions in the U.S. Trading volumes surged past 8 million NEAR tokens, with intra-day price fluctuations between $2.634 and $2.73. Although profit-taking caused a temporary dip, the price stabilized around $2.57–$2.59, indicating a strong support level. This episode highlights how institutional participation is increasingly shaping the protocol’s price action [1].

BlockDAG, on the other hand, is gaining attention for its straightforward approach to growth and engagement. The project launched a 200 ETH giveaway valued at over $1 million, offering automatic entry to anyone who purchases BDAG tokens during the presale. The giveaway eliminates typical entry barriers, such as forms or third-party platforms, and rewards participants proportionally to their purchase volume. This initiative has been a key driver of BlockDAG’s appeal, especially among retail investors seeking straightforward opportunities [1].

BlockDAG’s presale has raised $377 million to date, with more than 25 billion coins sold across 29 batches. The token price currently stands at $0.0276, representing a 2,660% return on investment since the first batch. Unlike many speculative projects, BlockDAG offers clear metrics and incentives, positioning it as a strong contender for 2025. Its combination of a reward-based presale model and no-hype strategy has led to a growing user base and increasing institutional interest [1].

Collectively, these developments suggest a maturing market dynamic where both institutional and retail investors are seeking clarity and performance. Stellar and NEAR showcase traditional growth patterns, with Stellar focusing on account growth and TVL, and NEAR capitalizing on institutional flows. BlockDAG, however, introduces a new paradigm with its structured incentives and transparent growth model. These three projects are shaping 2025 expectations differently, with Stellar and NEAR reflecting ongoing trends and BlockDAG offering a novel, incentive-driven approach that could redefine participation in the crypto space [1].

Source: [1] XLM Price Action, NEAR Momentum, and BDAG’s 200 ETH Giveaway Boost 2025 Outlook (https://coinmarketcap.com/community/articles/68a51f285db3f20bac56019b/)