Looks like the previous post gave some people flashbacks.
But the question remains:
Is DOT truly dead, or just quietly waiting?

Back in 2021, like many investors, I believed Polkadot (DOT) was the next Ethereum. When the price hit $44, it felt like just the beginning. We dreamed of $100+, listened to Gavin Wood’s speeches, followed parachain auctions, Kusama, and the big Web3 promise.

But today — May 2025 — DOT trades around $4.65, and I can’t help but ask: what happened?
2021: The Peak of Hype and Euphoria
Polkadot had it all:
A unique parachain model, offering scalability and customization.Smart contract support through Moonbeam.Kusama, the experimental network for early adopters.A legendary founder — Ethereum’s own Gavin Wood.And most importantly — belief. Everyone believed this was the future.
2022–2024: Bear Market, Silence, and Stronger Rivals
Then reality hit:
The crypto winter brought everyone down, but DOT sank harder than many.Parachains? Too complex for the average user. Auctions, lockups, staking — too much friction.Rivals like Solana, Avalanche, and Ethereum L2s captured attention with smoother UX and viral momentum.Polkadot lost the spotlight. NFTs, memes, and games happened everywhere but DOT.
2025: Upgrades Without Hype
Polkadot didn’t stop:
They rolled out Polkadot 2.0 (Agile Coretime, Elastic Scaling, JAM SDK).The ecosystem kept building — Moonbeam, Astar, Acala are still active.The treasury reported its first net positive quarter in Q1 2025.
But the market didn’t cheer. It felt like catching up, not leading. The magic of 2021 wasn’t there.
So Now What? Will DOT Ever Hit $100?
Let’s be honest — it doesn’t look likely.
For DOT to hit $100, it would need to lead a new blockchain revolution, not just be a good chain.
Current 2025 forecasts range between $7–15, and in a strong 2026 bull market, maybe back to $20+.
But $100? That dream feels distant unless something truly game-changing happens.
Final Thoughts: Don’t Regret, Reflect
Polkadot isn’t a failure. It’s still a solid, innovative chain.
It just didn’t become what we hoped it would — at least not yet.
And maybe, just maybe, its best chapter is still ahead.

What other projects from 2021 do you remember fondly?
Which ones make you feel nostalgic — and which ones do you still believe in today?

#dot #Polkadot
$DOT