Top 4 Altcoins Making Big Moves After a Quiet Start in Early 2025

BlockDAG's massive presale, Render's tech partnerships, NEAR's latest version launch, and Kaspa's speed upgrade

Altcoins have finally started showing strong movement after a quiet start in early 2025. Many projects are releasing new upgrades, while others see major success through ongoing presales. This wave of activity is shifting attention from just Bitcoin to mid-cap altcoins and upcoming Layer 1 chains.

Whether it’s high-speed tech, AI rendering, or protocol-level changes, the market is now filled with more than just hype; there’s real progress. This list covers the top altcoins of 2025 that are making the biggest moves. Each one here has clear updates, growing demand, or ongoing rollouts.

BlockDAG’s massive presale, Render’s tech partnerships, NEAR’s latest version launch, and Kaspa’s speed upgrade all show how these coins are shaping the market.

If you’re tracking for future growth or want to keep an eye on coins with strong price action, these four are worth adding to your list.

1. BlockDAG: $246M Raised And Counting

BlockDAG has now surpassed $246 million in presale funding, making it one of the biggest stories in crypto right now. It has sold over 20.2 billion BDAG coins and aims for a listing target of $0.05.

Its price is now at $0.029, which marks a 2800% increase since Batch 1. The presale is currently in Batch 29, and BDAG is being offered at a price of $0.0020, which will be locked until June 13.

This low rate and strong demand are drawing huge attention from the crypto space. The project is also doing well with miner sales, having collected over $7 million and sold 17,000+ miners so far.

BlockDAG (BDAG) isn’t just about the hype; it’s backed by its EVM compatibility, CertiK-audited smart contracts, and the popular X1 Miner App, which has already been downloaded over 1 million times. The setup is made for users, developers, and miners.

BlockDAG combines fast DAG technology with the strength of proof-of-work. This lets it process thousands of transactions each second. Its Tap-to-Earn rewards, large mining community, and beta testnet launch all add to its appeal.

With exchange listings also coming up, BlockDAG’s roadmap looks strong. Among the top altcoins of 2025, BlockDAG’s rise is backed by real progress, not just hype.

2. Kaspa: Crescendo Upgrade Triggers Price Climb

Kaspa’s latest “Crescendo” upgrade went live on May 5, boosting block output from 1 to 10 per second. This change helps the network handle more transactions quickly, which solves a common issue seen in older proof-of-work systems. It also aims to improve throughput for smart contracts and dApps.

The upgrade marks a major step in Kaspa’s development. It began in early 2021 with the goal of creating a highly scalable blockchain. This project is a product of the Interchain Technologies team, known for their work on Bitcoin.

After a year of testing, the upgrade went live on May 5 at around 11:00 AM Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). Afterward, miners started producing blocks at a rate of 10 per second.

Following the upgrade, Kaspa’s price rose to $0.120038 by 09:35 AM in New York, showing a 24-hour increase of 8.79% and a 30-day rise of 57.84%. Experts predict it could go up another 32.36%, aiming for $0.155 by mid-May.

Traders are showing strong interest, with the Fear & Greed Index reaching 70, indicating high confidence in the market. The upgrade isn’t just visual; it improves the chain's core functions, making it a better option for DeFi and other use cases.

Additionally, larger wallets are showing buying activity, likely anticipating new exchange news. This activity is setting up Kaspa for more gains in the coming weeks.

With its fair valuation and ongoing tech progress, Kaspa stands out among the top altcoins of 2025. Its fast and secure network is ready for more adoption as activity grows.

3. NEAR Protocol: ETF Buzz And Major Update

NEAR Protocol rolled out its version 77 upgrade on May 8, bringing support for global contracts and Optimistic Blocks. These features help the network handle more activity and make building easier for developers. It also added EdDSA signatures to support cross-chain actions, which sets up NEAR for better performance with other networks.

On top of that, Bitwise