The crypto market is buzzing again, but not every project is riding the wave. Toncoin (TON) and ASTER are both facing serious challenges as traders re-evaluate which networks can sustain growth in the face of heavy competition and token unlock pressures.

Toncoin, despite its strong ties to Telegram, has slipped below key support levels, while ASTER’s price crash has triggered caution among retail holders. These setbacks are prompting investors to ask: where is the next big move coming from?

The answer, many analysts argue, might just be BlockDAG (BDAG). This project has raised almost $435M in presale, built a global user base of 3.5M mobile miners, and sold 27B+ coins before its official launch.

Why Everyone’s Talking About BlockDAG’s $435M Presale

The numbers behind BlockDAG’s rise are impressive, but the story goes deeper than fundraising. The project’s momentum is fueled by what analysts are calling its “Utility-Scarcity Flywheel.”

Here’s how it works. The BDAG coin serves as the mandatory utility and gas token for every transaction on its high-speed Layer-1 network. That means every dApp, every smart contract, every on-chain interaction must use BDAG. As adoption grows, the demand for BDAG rises continuously, while supply remains capped.

This dynamic creates a scarcity cycle that’s hard to ignore. It’s not driven by speculation or hype; it’s built into the network’s DNA. As more decentralized apps migrate to BlockDAG, demand for BDAG will increase automatically, creating an ongoing supply squeeze that strengthens long-term value.

The results are already visible. Over 312,000 holders have joined the ecosystem, purchasing BDAG in the Batch 32 presale at $0.005 ,ahead of the planned $0.05 listing on February 10, 2026.

BlockDAG’s infrastructure is also backed by real-world validation. More than 20,200 X Series hardware miners have been shipped globally, and its X1 mobile app has surpassed 3.5 million users. This level of participation before launch is nearly unheard of in presale history, which explains why so many analysts have started referring to BDAG as the top bullish crypto to watch in 2025.

Toncoin Faces Pressure as Token Unlock Nears

For Toncoin (TON), the market sentiment has shifted rapidly. The token recently fell below the $2.50 support zone, now trading near $2.12–$2.20, signaling short-term weakness. The immediate cause? A massive 80 million token unlock scheduled for late October 2025, representing about 3.2% of the circulating supply.

Historically, large unlocks tend to trigger increased selling, especially when market liquidity is thin. On-chain data shows a rise in whale outflows as traders brace for potential volatility. This has created a near-term bearish environment for TON.

Yet, long-term fundamentals remain solid. Institutional investors are still backing the network heavily. Coinbase Ventures recently reaffirmed its holdings, and Verb Technology (TON Strategy Co.), a Nasdaq-listed firm, confirmed a $558 million private placement dedicated to accumulating TON as a strategic asset.

With TON integrated into Telegram’s billion-user ecosystem, analysts believe it still holds enormous potential for mainstream adoption, just not without turbulence in the short term.

ASTER’s Breakdown Below $1 Sparks Concern

The situation for ASTER has been even more dramatic. The token has dropped over 57% from its September high of $2.41, now trading between $0.95 and $1.02. Technical charts paint a challenging picture, with the MACD confirming a bearish crossover and RSI levels suggesting oversold conditions without recovery yet in sight.

Much of this decline stems from internal and competitive pressures. A delayed airdrop and concerns over a potential supply overhang have made investors cautious. On top of that, new rivals are entering the decentralized exchange space, adding fresh competition.

To counter the slide, ASTER launched its Rocket Launch Program on October 23, designed to boost liquidity for emerging projects. It also rolled out the Vibe Trading Arena, an AI-powered developer competition that aims to attract builders and community engagement. While these moves show promise, the market remains skeptical until ASTER can reclaim its critical $1.10 resistance level and prove it can rebuild momentum.

Why BlockDAG Is Dominating the Conversation

The current market paints a picture of contrast. Toncoin faces pressure from unlock events despite strong institutional backing. ASTER struggles to hold key levels as competition intensifies. Yet amid this uncertainty, BlockDAG is quietly building a complete ecosystem backed by transparency, scalability, and real-world usage.

With almost $435 million raised, 27 billion coins sold, and 3.5 million engaged users, BlockDAG isn’t just promising results; it’s delivering them before launch. For investors searching for the next defining success story in crypto, the choice seems clear.

In a market driven by hype, BlockDAG is standing on fundamentals, technology, and verifiable progress. As the February 10, 2026 listing approaches, the question isn’t whether it will rise, it’s how high it will go once it does.

Presale: https://purchase.blockdag.network

Website: https://blockdag.network

Telegram: https://t.me/blockDAGnetworkOfficial

Discord: https://discord.gg/Q7BxghMVyu

Uber has chosen San Francisco as the launch site for its long-anticipated robotaxi service, developed in partnership with electric vehicle maker Lucid Motors and autonomous driving company Nuro.

The announcement marks the first major milestone in a deal that aims to roll out 20,000 self-driving vehicles across the United States over the next six years — a move seen as one of Uber’s most ambitious steps back into autonomous mobility since winding down its own self-driving division in 2020.

The companies confirmed that on-road testing has already begun following the delivery of the first Lucid Gravity SUV prototypes, each retrofitted with Nuro’s latest self-driving hardware and software stack. These vehicles will form the foundation of Uber’s next-generation robotaxi fleet.

However, before commercial operations begin, the companies will need to secure the necessary driverless operational permits from the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and ride-hailing authorization from the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) — two key regulatory hurdles that stand between testing and passenger deployment.

In a joint statement, Uber, Lucid, and Nuro said they have been in “regular communication with policymakers and regulators at every level” to ensure compliance and transparency throughout the testing process.

Uber’s Chief Product Officer, Sachin Kansal, described the city’s choice as both symbolic and strategic.

“The Bay Area has long been the birthplace of transformative technology, and it’s only fitting that Uber’s next-generation robotaxi program with Lucid and Nuro will begin here – launching to the public next year,” Kansal said.

Prototype Fleet and Testing Phase

Lucid confirmed that it has delivered several engineering prototypes of its all-electric Gravity SUV to Nuro, which has since equipped them with a complete suite of autonomous technologies — including lidar, radar, cameras, and redundant safety systems designed for driverless operation. The companies plan to expand this phase rapidly, targeting “over 100 robotaxis” in their engineering fleet over the coming months.

According to the companies, Nuro will lead all validation and testing activities, which include advanced simulations, closed-course trials, and controlled on-road testing with human safety drivers still behind the wheel. The goal is to refine the vehicles’ navigation, obstacle detection, and passenger handling systems before removing human oversight.

California remains one of the most competitive markets for autonomous mobility, but it also has the most stringent regulatory framework. Uber and its partners must obtain two separate permits before launching commercially — a driverless testing permit from the DMV and a drivered or driverless deployment permit from the CPUC to carry paying passengers.

The choice of San Francisco brings Uber into direct competition with Waymo, the Alphabet-owned company that has become a dominant force in the local robotaxi market. Waymo removed its waitlist in 2024, opening its service to the general public and quickly capturing a significant share of the city’s autonomous ride-hailing demand.

An analysis of credit card transaction data from December 2024 found that Waymo’s market share in San Francisco had reached parity with Lyft’s, though only within its approved operating zones. That data underscores the rising consumer adoption of driverless services — and the challenge Uber faces in reclaiming a portion of the market it once sought to dominate.

The new collaboration effectively signals Uber’s re-entry into the autonomous vehicle race, years after selling off its self-driving research unit, Advanced Technologies Group (ATG), to Aurora Innovation in 2020. By partnering with Lucid and Nuro — companies with established strengths in electric vehicle manufacturing and robotic delivery — Uber is betting on a hardware-software partnership model rather than in-house development.

The fleet will be owned either by Uber directly or by third-party fleet management partners, with Nuro providing the self-driving systems and Lucid supplying the electric SUVs.

Uber’s decision to return to self-driving is believed to align with its long-term goal of reducing driver-related operating costs while expanding mobility access in dense urban areas. Pending regulatory approval, the San Francisco rollout could serve as a blueprint for deployment in other major U.S. cities, potentially beginning with Los Angeles, Miami, and Dallas, which have been under consideration for future expansion.

Cooperation and Competition with Waymo

While Uber prepares to go head-to-head with Waymo in San Francisco, the two companies are simultaneously collaborating in other cities. In Austin, Atlanta, and Phoenix, Waymo’s driverless vehicles are already available through the Uber app, allowing users to hail a Waymo robotaxi just as they would a traditional ride.

But that partnership, born out of a reconciliation between two former rivals, could face new tensions as Uber launches its own autonomous service.