On September 23, 2025, NEAR Protocol gained approximately 1.5% after completing a major network upgrade and hard fork, while Cosmos (ATOM) traded around $4.50, showing stability and the potential for upward movement. But while these two Layer 1 chains focus on backend improvements and modular upgrades, BlockDAG takes a different route.
It is turning its tech strength into real traction by becoming the Exclusive Layer 1 Blockchain Partner of the BWT Alpine Formula 1® Team. In a market saturated with tech talk, what crypto to invest in now may be best judged by visibility, adoption, and mainstream recognition, not just GitHub commits or whitepapers.
BlockDAG: From Throughput to Traction
BlockDAG has already built a compelling Layer 1 stack based on a Directed Acyclic Graph (DAG) structure, capable of high throughput, low latency, and full EVM compatibility. But tech alone doesn’t create movement. That’s where the BWT Alpine Formula 1® Team sponsorship matters. This is not a logo-on-car moment; it’s a strategic alignment with one of Formula 1®’s most recognisable teams, offering consistent global exposure at race events, fan-facing activations like simulators and interactive pit zones, and broader branding across media channels.
The real value is the feedback loop this creates. Every race weekend, BlockDAG is part of increased brand awareness. That leads to more developer interest, more institutional queries, and a bigger footprint in crypto and tech conversations. The sponsorship comes at a time when many Layer 1s are struggling to break beyond the developer community. BlockDAG is positioning itself to be seen by mainstream tech users and investors alike, answering the key question: what crypto to invest in when both tech and traction matter?
For those still asking what crypto to invest in based on performance metrics, BlockDAG’s presale speaks volumes. The project has raised nearly $415 million in total, selling over 26.5 billion coins. It’s currently in Batch 30 with a presale price of $0.0013, presenting a massive ROI since Batch 1. That kind of price-performance delta is rare, especially for a project that’s now backing it up with real-world exposure via the BWT Alpine Formula 1® Team.
NEAR Protocol: Technical Strength Without Spectacle
NEAR Protocol has stayed on its path of steady execution. The recent hard fork in late September confirmed its roadmap is moving forward as planned. The NEAR ecosystem is especially focused on modular architecture and AI-aligned tooling, positioning itself as a base layer that can adapt to a variety of smart contract needs. These developments are not small; they improve throughput and scalability and have garnered renewed interest in NEAR Protocol price prediction for Q4 2025.
But the downside to NEAR’s approach is that it stays confined to developer communities. There’s little visibility outside crypto Twitter or developer blogs. Even as the token sees marginal increases, like the 1.5% jump after its recent fork, it lacks the broader exposure needed to accelerate adoption at scale. For investors asking what crypto to invest in that combines technical upgrades with recognition momentum, NEAR’s model might not fully deliver.
Cosmos (ATOM): Interoperability Without Attention
Cosmos remains a significant project in terms of architectural ambition. With its IBC (Inter-Blockchain Communication) protocol, it laid the groundwork for chain-to-chain interoperability before many others. In September 2025, the Persistence chain’s phased SDK upgrade added improvements in security and cross-chain reliability, welcome news for developers focused on composability.
ATOM’s current trading level around $4.50 signals a consolidation phase, with some traders expecting breakout potential if market momentum builds. Cosmos (ATOM) price prediction discussions continue to show optimism. However, like NEAR, Cosmos hasn’t made any real push into wider brand exposure. There are no major sports sponsorships, no developer hackathons with non-crypto institutions, and limited community-facing events.
The result is a protocol that remains respected, but largely out of the spotlight. It is still very much a crypto-insider’s asset, which could limit its growth path in the absence of a broader narrative or social proof beyond tech forums.
Final Thought
For anyone deciding what crypto to invest in as 2025 enters its final quarter, the comparison is clear. NEAR and Cosmos continue to deliver strong developer-centric upgrades, and their communities will benefit from these incremental improvements. However, they remain locked in a cycle of quiet progress with limited global awareness.
BlockDAG is playing a different game. By pairing high-throughput architecture with a multi-season sports sponsorship, it’s bridging the gap between tech and attention. This is not a Layer 1 fighting for TVL bragging rights; it’s a brand expanding into the cultural mainstream. Whether through fan simulators at F1® circuits or brand placement during race broadcasts, BlockDAG is setting itself up not just to build, but to be seen. When deciding what crypto to invest in, visibility matters. So does traction. BlockDAG now has both.
- Presale: https://purchase.blockdag.network
- Website: https://blockdag.network
- Telegram: https://t.me/blockDAGnetworkOfficial
- Discord: https://discord.gg/Q7BxghMVyu
