Keynote 3: AAVE at $188, CRO Nears $3B Cap, BlockDAG Launches Testnet with 2x Speed and $208M Raised
Building trust in crypto isn’t just about whitepapers and roadmaps—it’s about what users can actually interact with. Aave proved this early by delivering real DeFi lending utility, while Cronos scaled its presence through seamless integration with the Crypto.com ecosystem. Both found traction by showing up with working products.
BlockDAG, however, is taking that transparency further. By launching its Beta Testnet ahead of the mainnet, it's inviting the public to test, critique, and engage with the core tech before it officially goes live. In a space driven by proof, not promises, BlockDAG’s testnet-first approach is giving investors something solid to assess.
Aave: Revolutionizing Decentralized Lending
Launched in 2020, Aave introduced one of the first decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms to offer permissionless lending and borrowing of cryptocurrencies. Users can deposit assets into liquidity pools and earn interest, while borrowers can access loans without traditional intermediaries.
Over time, Aave has added support for flash loans, collateral swaps, and multi-chain deployment, reinforcing its status as a DeFi staple. By comparison, by mid-2024, Aave's Total Value Locked (TVL) exceeded $11 billion, reflecting strong user confidence and sustained growth. In addition, the AAVE token—used for governance and staking—peaked near $400 in early 2025, driven partly by institutional endorsements such as World Liberty Financial.
Currently, as of March 26, 2025, AAVE trades at approximately $188.72 with a market capitalization of around $2.85 billion. As a result, early participants in the protocol have realized substantial returns, validating Aave’s long-term value and consistent delivery in the DeFi ecosystem.
Cronos: Bridging Crypto.com and DeFi
Introduced in November 2021 by Crypto.com, Cronos (CRO) was designed to create a bridge between centralized finance and decentralized ecosystems. Built for speed and low fees, Cronos allows seamless integration with Crypto.com services while supporting a growing range of decentralized applications (dApps).
As a result, the network quickly rose into the top 10 blockchains by Total Value Locked (TVL), backed by over 1 million users and more than 500 dApps by early 2025. As of March 26, 2025, CRO is trading at approximately $0.105981 with a market capitalization close to $2.82 billion. Looking ahead, forecasts for 2025 suggest potential price movement between $0.070 and $0.2644, reflecting cautious optimism from analysts.
Therefore, early investors have seen mixed returns—some locking in profits during market peaks, while others have been impacted by broader price volatility. Still, Cronos remains a central piece of Crypto.com’s broader strategy to unify DeFi access with everyday financial tools.
BlockDAG’s Testnet Strategy
BlockDAG’s decision to launch its Beta Testnet ahead of the mainnet isn’t just about showcasing progress—it’s about building credibility. In particular, in an industry often criticized for overpromising and underdelivering, releasing a functional, public testnet provides visible proof that BlockDAG’s architecture is not just theoretical. Notably, with a 2x speed increase over its alpha version, a no-code token and NFT wizard, and live dApps being tested by the community, the Beta Testnet demonstrates that core components are already working in sync.
Consequently, this transparency has resonated. Investors are watching a blockchain unfold in real-time, and that visibility is translating into serious capital. BlockDAG has raised $208 million in its ongoing presale, now in batch 27 at a price of $0.0248. With over 18.9 billion coins sold and an ROI of 2,380% since batch 1, confidence isn’t speculative—it’s measurable.
Equally important, what also stands out is the way the team is incentivizing real user engagement. Weekly testnet BDAG token vesting encourages participation while also helping to stress-test the system under real conditions. It’s a hands-on model that builds trust not only through code, but through experience.
Rather than delaying user interaction until mainnet, BlockDAG has opted for visibility and feedback now. Ultimately, it’s this approach—building in the open, letting users explore what’s under the hood—that is setting a new standard for what blockchain projects should look like before they go live.
Proof Over Promises
Aave built its reputation on utility. Cronos scaled through ecosystem reach. Both earned their place by delivering usable infrastructure. BlockDAG is now positioning itself with a similar principle—access before hype. Its public testnet isn’t just a technical milestone; it’s a deliberate move to put transparency ahead of speculation.
While others may wait until mainnet to show what works, BlockDAG is already opening up its system for testing, feedback, and refinement. That choice signals a commitment to accountability—and in a space where follow-through matters more than forecasts, it’s a move that could define how future protocols gain trust.
Website: https://blockdag.network
Presale: https://purchase.blockdag.network
Telegram: https://t.me/blockDAGnetworkOfficial
Discord: https://discord.gg/Q7BxghMVyu