Developer traction is one of the clearest signals for long-term project strength, and in 2025, crypto projects offering meaningful incentives are leading the charge. With markets recovering and infrastructure maturing, builders now have more opportunities than ever to gain both funding and early token exposure.
From grant pools to SDK rollouts and cross-chain frameworks, certain tokens have gone beyond hype to offer structured rewards and community visibility. This list looks at four top crypto projects that are attracting developer activity in measurable ways. For anyone searching for the top crypto to buy right now, especially builders, these tokens stand out for their growth, grants, and presale upside.
1. BlockDAG (BDAG)
BlockDAG leads the pack with a hands-on, builder-first approach that is deeply integrated with its upcoming exchange debut. Through its global 6-phase developer campaign, “The Amazing Chain Race,” BlockDAG is giving real incentives to those who contribute smart contracts, apps, bridges, infrastructure tools, and governance features before launch.
With a $50,000 USDT grant pool and 5,000 USDT in Wave 1 bounties, the protocol offers clear deliverables and community recognition. Teams that make it through the review process are featured in the official ecosystem dashboard, which tracks project milestones publicly and gives weekly updates on progress.
In parallel, BlockDAG’s presale is delivering strong performance. Currently in Batch 32 at $0.005, BDAG is locked for a 56% price increase to $0.0078, which adds extra upside for early contributors. The project has already raised over $435 million, making it one of the largest crypto presales in history.
Out of its 50 billion BDAG coin supply, only ~4.2 billion coins are left for sale. The buildathon and upcoming coin launch are timed strategically, while the Keynote 4 on November 26 will reveal major roadmap and listing updates. For developers looking for crypto presale tools that come with visibility and reward potential, BlockDAG is more than a speculative project. It’s a launch-ready ecosystem with a clear path to post-listing adoption.
2. Aster
Aster has built momentum over the past two years by focusing on Layer-2 scalability and cross-chain infrastructure. The token climbed from $0.062 in January 2024 to $0.137 by October 2025, a +121% gain that reflects both technical adoption and community expansion. Much of Aster’s growth has come from the integration of ZK-rollup frameworks and strong partnerships around token standards, allowing it to serve as a bridge layer across multiple networks.
On the developer side, Aster provides modular smart contract tooling and testnet access for new projects, with frequent grant competitions aligned to GitHub-based sprints. This has encouraged traction from both retail builders and startup DAOs. Its strength lies in interoperability: developers who want to launch cross-chain dApps have found Aster’s infrastructure aligned with current multi-chain trends. While its ecosystem fund is smaller than others, its integration depth makes it a viable crypto for builders who are focused on cross-platform deployments.
3. Pi Network
Pi Network continues to tap into its massive mobile user base while gradually expanding its developer offerings. Between January 2024 and October 2025, the token’s market value rose from $21.11 to $27.65, marking a +30.9% increase during a year that included significant feature rollouts. The biggest catalyst was the launch of the Pi Wallet SDK, which opened the door for external builders to develop Pi-native tools, games, and integrations.
The SDK release was a major moment; over 12,000 developers signed up in Q3 2025 alone, signalling real demand from the app-layer community. While Pi’s previous model was dominated by mobile mining narratives, the new push toward developer utility reflects a structural shift.
Now, Pi is positioning itself as a smart contract-compatible platform with grassroots engagement, and it’s giving builders early access before full mainnet utility is unlocked. For coders and app developers focused on mobile-based ecosystems, Pi Network is no longer just a community token. It’s becoming a live builder environment with a growing SDK stack.
4. Polygon (POL)
Polygon (POL) has remained one of the most consistent growth stories in crypto infrastructure. From $0.88 in early 2024 to $1.72 in late 2025, the protocol has seen a +95.4% appreciation, supported by its strategic move into zkEVM scaling. This shift has helped Polygon attract a new wave of developers, especially those using Solidity and Cairo, to build high-throughput applications without sacrificing security or composability.
Polygon’s developer ecosystem grew by 40% year-over-year, thanks largely to its $90 million ecosystem fund which provides grants, bounties, and technical support to teams building within the Polygon framework. Its strong Layer-2 positioning, along with enterprise and DeFi integrations, makes it a leading option for developers seeking scalability without moving to a completely new chain. POL crypto’s active funding routes and extensive documentation make it one of the best crypto projects with grants currently live.
Final Verdict
For developers scanning the market for the top crypto to buy right now with meaningful upside and utility, BlockDAG stands out for its combined focus on builder incentives and structured token growth. Its $50K grant pool, real-time milestone tracking, and the Keynote 4, releasing on November 26, make it a serious option for coders who want recognition, funding, and a front-row seat at launch. Aster offers technical relevance for cross-chain applications, Pi Network is scaling through its wallet SDK momentum, and Polygon continues to dominate the zkEVM scaling space with major developer grants.
All four are crypto for builders, but only BlockDAG ties builder rewards directly to pre-launch market opportunity. That rare mix of infrastructure development and presale momentum is what makes BDAG one of the smartest plays in 2025 for both devs and early-stage buyers.