In a crypto space dominated by anonymous founders and vaporware promises, Antony Turner, BlockDAG, emerges as a rare signal of credibility. His leadership track record spans Spirit Blockchain and SwissOne Capital, two institutions grounded in regulation, not hype. This institutional pedigree now shapes how BlockDAG is being built: infrastructure-first, fully operational, and already trusted by over 3 million users.

With more than $425 million raised and a hybrid architecture combining DAG and Proof-of-Work, BlockDAG (BDAG) isn’t just another speculative Layer 1. It’s the product of real systems thinking, and Turner is the architect behind its growing legitimacy, traction, and long-term delivery roadmap.

From Institutional Roots to System Design

Antony Turner’s background helps explain the structure of BlockDAG. Before founding the project, he held leadership roles at Spirit Blockchain Capital and was involved in building SwissOne Capital, one of the first equally weighted crypto index funds in Switzerland. This history in regulated crypto finance set the tone for how he approached BlockDAG, as a protocol requiring systems, not slogans.

Turner didn’t build BlockDAG around speculative utility or trend-based tokenomics. Instead, his keynote addresses show a commitment to infrastructure-first thinking. BlockDAG’s hybrid Layer 1 chain combines DAG-based architecture with Proof-of-Work, while remaining fully compatible with EVM and WASM smart contract environments. This means it can support high-volume applications and developer ecosystems without requiring a forked future. It’s designed to scale upfront.

During Keynote 4, Turner reinforced this when he said, “We’re not trying to be everything to everyone. We’re building a platform that works from day one, with tools that serve real users.” That philosophy is already playing out.

The Metrics Behind the Vision

Unlike projects that announce ideas before they build anything, BlockDAG has moved quickly from concept to deployment. As of this writing, the ecosystem supports over 3 million X1 app miners, with 20,000 physical miners sold globally. The community has grown to 325,000+ holders across 130+ countries, many of whom actively participate in the platform’s leaderboard system.

These numbers reflect the real-world activity that’s become the backbone of BlockDAG’s Proof-of-Engagement system. Users mine through the mobile app or physical hardware, earn rewards through referrals and daily taps, and increase their rank to secure early access in the upcoming token generation event. Early buyers can access BDAG at $0.0015 using the TGE code, which also grants rank-based airdrops, rewarding those who contributed most to network growth.

That rank-based priority model, introduced during Keynote 4, ties user participation to launch day outcomes. Turner has been clear that the system is designed to reward commitment, not hype. “The people who helped build the network should benefit from its first day,” he said. It’s a simple but powerful shift away from open airdrops or influencer-led coin distribution.

Decentralization Without Delay

A major theme in Turner’s addresses is his long-term view on decentralization. While some Web3 projects rush to deploy DAOs or governance models before their networks function, Turner has taken a more measured approach. BlockDAG currently operates under centralized leadership,  a fact he has acknowledged,  but that structure has enabled fast product delivery and operational clarity.

Turner addressed the issue directly in AMA #3, saying: “Decentralization has to be earned. It can’t be the first thing you do. Execution has to come first.” It’s a sentiment echoed in the project’s roadmap, which includes plans for governance mechanisms once the infrastructure reaches stability.

This practical roadmap mirrors the early growth of other successful chains like Solana and Cardano, both of which leaned on centralized execution in their first years before expanding governance layers. BlockDAG is following a similar arc, but with an added layer of user interaction and reward visibility through its app and leaderboard structure.

Roadmap Execution: From Talk to Tools

Another sign of Turner’s credibility as a founder is the timeline of actual delivery. BlockDAG isn’t relying on speculative timelines or future coin utility. It has already deployed real tools and infrastructure: the BlockDAG Explorer, Stratum miner integration, Smart Account groundwork (EIP-4337), and a highly active testnet.

Each of these components reinforces the system-building mindset Turner brings to the project. Rather than launching a coin and then building backward, BlockDAG is moving into its token generation event with live users, mined rewards, and infrastructure that already works.

This level of delivery is rare for a presale-stage project and highlights why Turner’s leadership is being recognized across the industry. He is not just a spokesperson or symbolic figurehead. He is actively involved in every layer of planning, coordination, and product iteration.

Vision Without Visibility Means Nothing

In crypto, vision often comes cheap. But vision that translates into working systems, verifiable metrics, and long-term execution is far more valuable. Antony Turner BlockDAG isn’t just a founder; project pairing,  it’s a model for how to build in Web3 with credibility and infrastructure in mind.

With more than $425 million raised, over 27 billion coins sold, and a system already supporting millions of users, Turner’s direction is proving that Web3 doesn’t have to choose between scalability and substance. BlockDAG’s public roadmap, leaderboard mechanics, and decentralization roadmap are structured,  not vague promises. And Turner’s leadership style reflects this.

In a sector that too often confuses anonymity with freedom, BlockDAG offers a counterexample: a real founder, a real system, and a protocol that believes delivery comes before decentralization. For those looking for top crypto project leaders who actually build what they claim, Antony Turner is setting the standard.

Presale: https://purchase.blockdag.network

Website: https://blockdag.network

Telegram: https://t.me/blockDAGnetworkOfficial

Discord: https://discord.gg/Q7BxghMVyu

Brookfield announced on Monday that it will acquire the remaining 26% stake in U.S.-based Oaktree Capital Management for about $3 billion, cementing full ownership of one of the world’s leading credit and distressed debt investors.

The deal marks a major step in Brookfield’s ongoing effort to expand its footprint in private credit and alternative investments — a space increasingly dominated by global heavyweights like Blackstone and Apollo Global Management.

Under the terms of the agreement, New York-based Brookfield Asset Management (BAM.TO) and its parent company, Brookfield Corporation, will fund roughly $1.6 billion and $1.4 billion of the purchase price, respectively. Once completed, Brookfield will own 100% of Oaktree, which it first acquired a majority stake in for $5 billion in 2019.

The move will make the United States Brookfield Asset Management’s largest market, with $550 billion in assets under management (AUM), employing more than half of its global workforce and generating about 50% of its total revenue. The deal, expected to close in the first quarter of 2026, positions Brookfield as one of the most diversified alternative asset managers in the world — with deep reach across credit, infrastructure, real estate, renewables, and private equity.

Founded in 1995 by Howard Marks and Bruce Karsh, Oaktree Capital has built a global reputation for expertise in distressed debt and opportunistic credit investing. The Los Angeles-based firm manages about $209 billion in assets as of June 30, 2025, making it one of the largest credit managers in the world.

Brookfield’s decision to acquire Oaktree outright is part of its strategic bet on the private credit market, which has surged in popularity as rising interest rates push companies to seek flexible financing outside traditional banks. The acquisition also strengthens Brookfield’s wealth and asset management capabilities, enabling it to offer investors more comprehensive access to public and private credit strategies.

“Oaktree will remain central to Brookfield’s credit strategy, and we see significant opportunities to grow the franchise and expand what we can offer our clients together,” said Oaktree’s co-chairman, Howard Marks, in a statement.

Marks, who is one of the most respected figures in global investing, will continue to serve on Brookfield’s board following the transaction.

Oaktree’s chief investment officer, Bruce Karsh, will also join the board of Brookfield Asset Management, while Oaktree’s co-CEOs, Robert O’Leary and Armen Panossian, will become co-CEOs of Brookfield’s entire credit business.

By consolidating Oaktree’s operations, Brookfield aims to streamline its credit investment platform, which has already been a major profit driver. Including Oaktree’s contribution, Brookfield Asset Management generated about $2.8 billion in fee-related earnings over the last twelve months, the firm said.

When Brookfield first acquired its majority stake in Oaktree in 2019, the deal was seen as a landmark combination between two giants in alternative asset management — marrying Brookfield’s strength in real assets with Oaktree’s expertise in credit and distressed opportunities. Since then, the partnership has allowed both firms to scale their product offerings globally, targeting institutional and high-net-worth investors seeking stable returns amid volatile equity markets.

Brookfield CEO Bruce Flatt has long emphasized the firm’s ambitions to rival Blackstone and Apollo in the alternatives space. With full control of Oaktree, Brookfield is now better positioned to compete directly with those firms in the fast-growing $1.7 trillion private credit market — an area that has become one of Wall Street’s most lucrative profit engines.

For Oaktree, the full buyout by Brookfield is also the culmination of a long-running partnership that has steadily integrated its teams, platforms, and client networks. The firm is expected to retain its brand identity and continue to operate independently under the Brookfield umbrella, much as it has since 2019.

It is believed that the timing of the deal aligns with a broader trend of consolidation among alternative asset managers, as firms seek scale and diversification in an increasingly competitive environment. The combination of Brookfield’s global infrastructure and Oaktree’s credit expertise gives the merged entity an advantage in capturing institutional capital flows at a time when investors are searching for higher yields and downside protection.

With this deal, Brookfield’s credit platform — already one of the largest globally — will gain even greater scope and influence. The company now expects its credit operations to become one of its biggest growth engines over the next decade, helping it attract institutional mandates and further entrench its position among the world’s top-tier asset managers.

The acquisition marks another major consolidation milestone in the financial industry, uniting two of the most respected names in asset management and reshaping the competitive dynamics of the global alternatives market.