XRP made headlines by focusing on cross-border payments and bank partnerships, but its early phases were largely closed off to everyday users. Validators synced ledgers, and test environments ran payment simulations, but there was no way for retail users to get involved or witness chain activity.
BlockDAG is flipping that script. Its Awakening Testnet invites millions of users through mobile mining, live explorer tools, miner hardware, and a participation-first rollout strategy.
Before the coin even hits exchanges, it’s already being used, tested, and monitored. With over $405 million raised in its presale, 26.2 billion coins sold, and an ROI of 2,900%, BlockDAG is building from the ground up, with users at the centre.
XRP Built for Banks, Not Users
When Ripple Labs launched XRP, the primary goal was to serve as a bridge currency between traditional financial institutions. Its early ledger activity focused on validator synchronisation, consensus speed, and internal testing. Banks were the first participants.
Average users had little visibility and even less ability to interact with the protocol in any meaningful way. The explorer was basic. There were no tools for public testing or mining because the project didn’t aim to involve a broad user base.
This approach made sense for a protocol designed to work behind the scenes in bank-led infrastructure. But it also meant that XRP didn’t benefit from early community validation or widespread feedback loops. It scaled from the top, hoping the users would come later.
BlockDAG Starts with the Community
BlockDAG takes a completely different path. From the outset, the project has integrated users, miners, and public tools into the core rollout. Its Awakening Testnet isn’t just an internal sandbox.
It includes full miner integration through the Stratum protocol, with X10, X30, and X100 rigs syncing with the chain in real time. The X1 Mobile Miner app is already being used by over 3 million people every day, giving retail users a first-hand role in chain validation and activity.

On top of that, the updated BlockDAG Explorer allows full chain visibility, letting users watch transactions, miner stats, and performance data live. This is participation, not speculation. It’s rare to see such a wide net of community involvement before token listings even begin. BlockDAG is proving that decentralization isn’t just a promise, it’s a feature that starts from day one.
Utility Before Valuation
Many chains chase listings first, then scramble to build utility later. BlockDAG is reversing that sequence. The current presale has raised nearly $405 million, with over 26.2 billion BDAG coins sold across 30 batches.
Early buyers have already seen a 2,900% ROI, and yet, thanks to a price lock, the token is still available at just $0.0013 until October 1st, compared to the official batch price of $0.03. But what really sets it apart isn’t the price.
It’s the stack that comes with it. Account abstraction, UTXO-free design, EIP-4337 groundwork, vesting logic, and upgradable contracts are all baked into the testnet. Hardware participation isn’t something that’s promised later; it’s already shipping.
Explorer tools aren’t under development; they’re live. This is a protocol that’s being validated by real-world usage rather than pitch decks. Unlike XRP’s institutional-first path, BlockDAG is onboarding the public before it ever seeks exchange exposure.
Last take
XRP built its base by catering to banks and financial networks. Its technology was tested privately and deployed with little input from the community until much later. BlockDAG is doing the opposite. It’s scaling from users outward, inviting real participation before any centralised exchange ever gets involved.
With 3 million daily mobile miners, live hardware syncing, a public explorer, and deep ecosystem testing in its Awakening Testnet, BlockDAG isn’t waiting for listing day to prove its value. With the token available at $0.0013 until October 1st, despite a batch price of $0.03, participation isn’t just possible. It’s also a rare chance to be early where it counts.
Presale: https://purchase.blockdag.network
Website: https://blockdag.network
Telegram: https://t.me/blockDAGnetworkOfficial
Discord: https://discord.gg/Q7BxghMVyu
Disclaimer: This is a syndicated feed. The article is not edited by the FPJ editorial team.