With the crypto market regaining strength in Q3 2025, Layer 1 networks are drawing increased focus as strategic decisions shape future positioning. Ethereum’s surge past $3,000 has reinforced its market dominance. Stellar has delivered a major breakout, gaining 92% in one week and reigniting attention on its payment-focused platform. At the same time, BlockDAG (BDAG) is drawing rising capital and expanding its user base, having raised over $339 million and steadily progressing toward its $600 million goal.
Each of these platforms reflects a unique approach to building blockchain infrastructure. Ethereum remains the primary hub for smart contract development. Stellar targets global financial transactions and institutional payments. BlockDAG, on the other hand, presents a hybrid Layer 1 that integrates mining, scalability, and decentralization with a focus on real utility and accessibility.
Ethereum: Proven Value, But Scaling Remains a Hurdle
Ethereum’s breakout beyond $3,000 marks a return of confidence following a period of sideways trading, and it underscores Ethereum’s continued importance in the smart contract ecosystem. Having completed its transition to proof-of-stake, supporting over $90 billion in total value locked, and boasting high developer engagement, Ethereum stands as the most established Layer 1.
Yet its leadership position comes with limitations. Ethereum still depends on Layer 2 solutions to manage scaling, and the network often struggles with delays and high fees during peak periods, which slows broader adoption.
Even though ETH passed $3,000, many question the remaining upside. Doubling from here would require adding more than $350 billion in market capitalization—a feat that could happen, but not quickly.
Stellar: Rapid Price Move, Focused Payment Utility
Stellar has prioritized efficiency and ease of use in global payments. This design has enabled it to serve specific roles in cross-border remittance and enterprise financial settlement. The recent 92% rise in Stellar’s XLM token followed a technical breakout and renewed bullish momentum. Indicators like RSI and MACD remain strong, pointing to continued interest from buyers.
Still, there are questions about its long-term scalability and appeal to developers. Unlike more flexible networks, Stellar lacks EVM compatibility, which limits its ability to support a broad range of decentralized applications.
BlockDAG: Building Scalable Infrastructure Before Mainnet
BlockDAG is gaining ground as a new entrant offering a hybrid model that merges the Proof-of-Work stability of Bitcoin with the scalable DAG structure used for parallel processing. Its architecture supports up to 15,000 transactions per second, providing high throughput while maintaining decentralization and security.
The platform is fully EVM-compatible, allowing for seamless smart contract migration from Ethereum. It also offers a low-code builder, making development accessible to users with limited technical skills. BlockDAG’s mobile-first mining app, X1, already counts over two million users worldwide, showing strong user traction.
Presale results also highlight its early success, with 23.9 billion coins sold and more than 200,000 holders onboarded. Over 18,000 mining rigs have been sold, and the upcoming GLOBAL LAUNCH release is expected to further expand its presence. Strategic partnerships with the Seattle Seawolves and Seattle Orcas reflect BlockDAG’s effort to integrate with real-world industries and increase public awareness.
Ethereum and Stellar have defined roles in smart contracts and financial transactions. BlockDAG, by contrast, sits at the intersection of speed, mining participation, and Web3 application development. Its rapid progress across infrastructure, compatibility, and branding gives it a unique position among emerging Layer 1 networks.
Key Insights
From a strategy perspective, Ethereum offers long-term credibility but could deliver moderate gains due to its already large valuation. Stellar has potential in the short term, but its limited flexibility might affect future scalability. BlockDAG stands out with a low entry point of $0.0016 and a rapidly growing ecosystem, suggesting stronger return potential.
With the presale nearing its final phase and the $600 million milestone in sight, the time for early involvement is shrinking. While Ethereum and Stellar continue on their respective paths, BlockDAG appears to be aligning itself for the next phase of Layer 1 development. The months ahead will reveal how each of these platforms adapts and scales into the next wave of decentralized innovation.
Presale: https://purchase.blockdag.network
Website: https://blockdag.network
Telegram: https://t.me/blockDAGnetworkOfficial
Discord: https://discord.gg/Q7BxghMVyu
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