The Pi Network's upcoming announcement on June 28 has reignited bullish momentum, but another project is capturing long-term investor attention: BlockDAG. As concerns mount over Pi's massive $171 million token unlock in July, whales are quietly pivoting to projects with stronger fundamentals and long-term delivery, putting BlockDAG in the spotlight.
BlockDAG's hybrid architecture (DAG + Proof-of-Work) is designed to solve the very scalability issues plaguing most Layer 1 chains. With its presale now surpassing $324 million and over 23.3 billion BDAG tokens sold, early backers are betting on it becoming a billion-dollar asset by 2026.
BlockDAG: The Layer 1 Alternative Gaining Traction Ahead of Mainnet
While Pi investors await generative AI integration, BlockDAG is already executing a six-phase mainnet roadmap set to begin a few months before its exchange debut in Q4 2025. The sequence includes a production-ready mainnet, full staking integration, 40% token airdrops, and community node launches, all happening before trading even starts.
Meanwhile, over 2 million users have downloaded BlockDAG's X1 Miner App, making it one of the most popular mobile crypto apps globally. The network has also sold more than 18,000 ASIC mining units, signaling strong hardware-based commitment to its PoW component.
What really sets BlockDAG apart is its 100 million token airdrop campaign. Designed to reward ecosystem engagement, the airdrop includes tasks across four key categories: testnet deployment, presale participation, social engagement, and referrals. This isn't just a giveaway, it's a hands-on onboarding mechanism that's helping BlockDAG scale community readiness at launch.
And while Pi's AI rumors grab short-term headlines, BlockDAG is taking a multi-sector approach. With a no-code dApp builder, a developer academy, and plans to host over 1,000 dApps by 2026, it's not a single-use token, it's a full-stack ecosystem. Strategic U.S-based sponsorships and the recently confirmed Inter Milan collaboration further hint at aggressive mainstream visibility efforts.
Pi's AI Push Faces Sell Pressure Risk
To its credit, Pi has seen a 12% overnight surge on news of potential GenAI integration. Some analysts have speculated this could catalyze a parabolic breakout, especially if the rumored AI feature set is confirmed on June 28. The project's Relative Strength Index (RSI) has recovered to neutral territory at 49.4, and the recent bounce from $0.48 to $0.59 is forming a textbook double-bottom pattern.
However, the looming token unlock remains a major concern. With 282 million tokens hitting the market in July, four times the June release, Pi will need extraordinary demand to offset potential sell-offs. Unless the June 28 announcement is a game-changer, the upward momentum could stall.
While Pi battles internal tokenomics headwinds, BlockDAG is focused on a clean runway. The presale is still open, with a special limited-time price of $0.0030 for 12 hours only before rising to $0.0080, and the official listing price confirmed at $0.05. For investors looking for high-conviction, low-entry opportunities, this represents an estimated 1,566% to 2,566% ROI window depending on entry.
More importantly, BlockDAG has already attracted over 200,000 holders and is executing a structured, multi-pronged strategy that mirrors what early Binance and Avalanche did to create long-term network value. Instead of hype, it's leaning on infrastructure: miners, mobile apps, testnets, DeFi tools, and developer education.
Takeaway
While the Pi news of June 28 may generate a short-term price jitter, the $170 million token unlocking in July threatens any prolonged momentum. Independent smart money, instead, is now going after infrastructure-first projects with real traction. BlockDAG ecosystem rollout, on the other hand, speaks of 100 million tokens to be airdropped, a live testnet, over 2 million mobile miners, and a fully structured mainnet timeline. These are not hype-driven initiatives; they're well-coordinated, long-term execution efforts.
While the speculative frenzy around Pi picks up, BlockDAG is busy onboarding users, stress-testing its network, and getting decentralized growth ready. If Pi flounders in volatility that follows their announcement, BlockDAG may just hold its ground and become the higher-conviction, more lucrative investment over the next few months.