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As 2025 approaches, the cryptocurrency market is abuzz with speculation about which tokens will emerge as top performers this year. Investors are shifting their focus from mere hype to tangible progress, adoption rates, and strategic market positioning. Among the frontrunners, BlockDAG is gaining significant attention, alongside established players like Toncoin, Litecoin, and Filecoin, each offering unique advantages worth monitoring. BlockDAG is making waves with its ambitious exchange strategy, planning to list on 20 centralized exchanges on June 13. This aggressive move is not just about visibility; it signifies a readiness to expand its market reach. With over $273 million raised and a presale currently underway, BlockDAG has already sold more than 21.4 billion coins, yielding substantial returns for early investors. Its hybrid model, which combines DAG scalability with Proof-of-Work reliability, is attracting both developers and miners, positioning it as a serious contender in the crypto landscape. On the other hand, Litecoin remains a reliable choice in the crypto sphere, known for its fast transactions and low fees. Its potential in cross-border payments is gaining traction, appealing to investors seeking a blend of legacy trust and future utility. Meanwhile, Toncoin benefits from its integration with Telegram, providing seamless access to millions of users and enhancing its adoption prospects. Lastly, Filecoin is carving out its niche in decentralized storage, catering to the growing demand for secure data solutions. Each of these tokens presents distinct opportunities, but BlockDAG's early momentum and strategic roadmap may give it the edge in the competitive crypto market of 2025.

Last week, the blockchain fundraising landscape witnessed a significant surge, with 26 projects collectively raising a remarkable $267 million. The standout was World Foundation, which successfully completed a $135 million public token sale aimed at creating a proof-of-personhood protocol that facilitates universal digital identification and global financial access. Following closely was Catena Labs, which secured $18 million in seed funding to develop an AI-native financial institution. Other notable projects included Roxom, True Markets, and Hyperdrive, each attracting substantial investments to enhance their innovative offerings in the blockchain space. In addition to fundraising, the week also saw notable mergers and acquisitions (M&A) that are reshaping the blockchain ecosystem. DePIN Pulse made headlines by acquiring DePIN.Ninja and Who Loves Burrito, consolidating fragmented data within the DePIN ecosystem. This strategic move aims to streamline operations and enhance data analytics capabilities. Meanwhile, Alchemy expanded its portfolio by acquiring NFT launchpad HeyMint, which provides no-code tools for NFT creation, thereby bolstering its Smart Wallets initiative. Apex Group also announced plans to acquire Tokeny, further solidifying its commitment to digital asset infrastructure. On the venture capital front, Theta Capital Management launched Theta Blockchain Ventures IV, a $175 million fund-of-funds dedicated to supporting crypto-native VCs focused on early-stage blockchain startups. This fund aims to leverage the expertise of specialist managers to navigate the evolving landscape of digital assets. Insights from industry experts highlighted a shift in crypto VC dynamics, with a focus on long-term fundamentals rather than speculative investments. As the sector continues to mature, these developments signal a promising trajectory for blockchain innovation and investment.

On May 21, 2025, IoTeX, a prominent Layer 1 blockchain designed for decentralized physical infrastructure networks (DePIN), officially launched its Staking Program on DePINscan. This unified staking interface aims to empower users by providing a simplified and trusted gateway to support and earn from innovative DePIN ecosystems. The program initially offers native staking support for Hivello and Functionland, both of which are incubated by IoTeX, along with integrated staking for other projects like Filecoin, Fluence, Swan, and Aethir, in partnership with technical collaborator Parasail. The launch of the staking program is a significant milestone as it aligns with the maturation of DePIN from a nascent concept to a fully developed industry. Qevan Guo, CTO and Co-Founder of IoTeX, emphasized that this initiative facilitates scalable user participation in real-world infrastructure projects. DePINscan is not merely a dashboard; it represents a gateway to the future of Web3 utility, providing visibility into over 100 projects and an ecosystem value exceeding $1 billion. With the introduction of native and cross-chain staking, token holders can now easily delegate to real-world networks, track rewards, and support aligned DePIN projects. The integration of high-profile projects like Filecoin and Aethir highlights IoTeX's commitment to fostering open collaboration and chain-agnostic support. All staking operations are secured by Parasail’s robust infrastructure, ensuring reliability and scalability for future partners. Dom Carosa, co-founder of Hivello, expressed enthusiasm about the staking program, noting it as a significant opportunity for users to engage with decentralized infrastructure intuitively and rewarding. IoTeX plans to continue onboarding new projects and providing extensive support through marketing, infrastructure tools, and cross-chain integrations, inviting developers and builders to join their staking program.

Hivello, a decentralized physical infrastructure network (DePIN) aggregator, has announced the listing of its token $HVLO on DePINscan, a prominent analytics platform for DePINs on IoTeX. This strategic move is set to enhance Hivello's visibility within the DePIN and IoTeX ecosystems, allowing users to access information about Hivello and participate in staking directly on IoTeX's Layer 1 blockchain. With the DePIN market projected to grow significantly, this listing positions Hivello at the forefront of a rapidly evolving sector, catering to both crypto enthusiasts and newcomers interested in decentralized infrastructure. The partnership with IoTeX is a pivotal development for Hivello, as it not only increases the accessibility of $HVLO but also provides users with essential tools and incentives to engage with decentralized networks. Domenic Carosa, Chairman of Hivello, emphasized the importance of this collaboration, stating that it aligns with their mission to onboard Web2 users into the Web3 space. The integration with DePINscan is expected to facilitate a smoother transition for users looking to explore and participate in the DePIN ecosystem, which boasts over 13 million active devices contributing daily. As DePIN adoption accelerates globally, the collaboration between Hivello and IoTeX signifies a major step toward expanding participation in decentralized infrastructure. Qevan Guo, CTO and Co-Founder of IoTeX, highlighted that this launch represents a convergence of technical innovation and strategic partnerships, ultimately making DePIN more accessible to a broader audience. With the market anticipated to soar from $50 billion in 2024 to $3.5 trillion by 2028, Hivello is well-positioned to capitalize on this growth, fostering a new wave of participation in decentralized technologies.

As the digital asset market begins to recover from recent volatility, investors are shifting their focus from speculation to real-world utility and long-term adoption potential. One standout project gaining attention is Qubetics ($TICS), which positions itself as the world's first Web3 aggregator. By combining asset tokenization with a robust marketplace, Qubetics aims to convert physical and digital assets into tradable digital tokens, thus addressing one of blockchain's most pressing challenges. This innovative approach not only enhances accessibility to various asset classes but also empowers businesses and individuals to engage in seamless trading, making Qubetics a key player in the race to hit $1. In addition to Qubetics, other tokens like Kaspa (KAS) and Theta (THETA) are also gaining traction. Kaspa utilizes a high-throughput blockDAG model to achieve rapid transaction speeds, making it a strong contender for decentralized technology. Meanwhile, Theta focuses on creating a decentralized content delivery network for video streaming, rewarding users who contribute bandwidth. Both projects are backed by passionate developer communities and are carving their own paths towards mass adoption, showcasing unique narratives that set them apart in the competitive crypto landscape. The Qubetics presale is currently in its 35th stage, with over $17 million raised and a growing number of early adopters. The presale operates on a 7-day cycle, creating continuous price momentum ahead of the mainnet launch in Q2 2025. As the demand for Qubetics continues to rise, it is increasingly viewed as a leading candidate for the next crypto to hit $1, driven by its focus on real-world utility and strategic growth. With its innovative marketplace and cross-chain compatibility, Qubetics is not just another crypto project; it is a potential disruptor in the financial landscape, making it an attractive option for investors looking for long-term gains.

Acurast, a pioneering decentralized compute network based in Zug, Switzerland, has recently announced the integration of Solana Wallet support into its Android and iOS applications. This significant update aims to simplify the onboarding process for new contributors, allowing them to utilize wallets like Phantom to connect their smartphones and provide compute power while earning rewards. With this enhancement, Acurast is not only expanding its accessibility but also reaching a broader audience within the web3 ecosystem. Co-Founder Alessandro De Carli emphasized the importance of inclusivity and ease of access in decentralized computing, stating that the future must be fast and user-friendly. The core mission of Acurast is to redefine cloud computing by transforming everyday smartphones into secure, decentralized compute nodes. Leveraging Trusted Execution Environments (TEEs) found in modern mobile devices, Acurast offers a scalable and confidential compute infrastructure that operates independently of centralized data centers. With over 65,000 active phones contributing to the network and processing 250 million transactions across 130+ countries, Acurast has established itself as the world's most decentralized compute network, showcasing the potential of community-driven technology. The integration of Solana Wallets is particularly noteworthy due to Solana's reputation as a fast and cost-effective blockchain ecosystem with a growing user base. This development allows users to quickly connect their wallets to the Acurast Hub, onboard their devices in minutes, and securely provide compute resources. The latest versions of Acurast Core and Acurast Lite are now available on both the Play Store and App Store, making it easier than ever for users to join the movement towards a resilient and community-powered compute network, especially in light of vulnerabilities in traditional cloud infrastructure.