Tyler Monroe, a 31-year-old software engineer based in Austin, Texas, wasn’t looking to strike it rich when he found Solana in 2020. He had just started a new job at a cybersecurity firm, was focused on paying off student loans, and spent his weekends gaming or writing code. But a deep dive into Solana’s promise of fast, low-cost transactions using Proof of History sparked his interest.
“I didn’t really understand everything,” Tyler said. “But a network that could handle thousands of transactions without massive fees stood out.”
Back then, SOL was trading at about $0.70. Tyler used $5,000 he had saved for a used car and let it sit untouched in his exchange account.
By early 2021, Solana’s price jumped to $55. Tyler’s portfolio ballooned to over $350,000. Still, he didn’t sell. “It wasn’t just luck. I believed this tech would scale,” he said.
When SOL peaked at $258 in November 2021, his holdings were worth more than $1.8 million. He cashed out part of it, bought a house, cleared his debts, and left his job, but he stayed deep in the Layer 1 space.
BlockDAG Grabs His Attention
Tyler first heard about BlockDAG in early 2024. At first glance, it sounded like another project making big claims. But as he explored comparisons with Solana and Ethereum and studied the architecture, his curiosity grew.
“This one felt different. It wasn’t only about speed. BlockDAG merged Proof of Work and DAG, which lets it process multiple blocks at once,” he explained.
That concept reminded him of Solana’s early pitch, but BlockDAG had extra layers, more decentralization, less reliance on centralized validators, and fewer risks of overload. Tyler kept track of updates and noticed the crypto presale numbers rising.
By May 2024, BlockDAG had pulled in more than $50 million. Its X1 app was already in the hands of hundreds of thousands of users. That was his cue.
Going Big on BlockDAG
That summer, as BlockDAG’s early batches rolled out, Tyler took another leap. He committed $150,000 between batches 7 and 10, when prices ranged from $0.0035 to $0.0052.
“I’d seen how this plays out, strong tech, early traction,” he said. “But this time, BlockDAG was smarter. It brought in miners and builders before even launching.”
By the end of 2024, BlockDAG had raised more than $200 million. In Batch 28, prices hit $0.0262 – up over 2,000%. His BDAG stash was now worth $6.5 million. And he wasn’t selling.
“I’m holding onto BDAG for the long haul,” he said. “It feels a lot like Solana did back in 2021. But more complete, more ready.”
His Method: Back the Tech, Not the Noise
Tyler’s results weren’t about luck. He followed a simple rule: get in early, but only if the project solves real problems. Solana gave him speed when Ethereum lagged. BlockDAG offers both speed and decentralization without needing extra layers.
“Most people chase trends. I chase the structure,” he explained. “Solana proved speed mattered. BlockDAG proves decentralization can come with speed.”
Today, Tyler is semi-retired. He advises projects on smart contract security and mentors developers. But he’s still fully focused on BlockDAG’s progress.
The numbers are clear: over $241 million raised, 20.1 billion coins sold, and Batch 28 priced at $0.0262, showing a 2,520% increase since the first batch. The launch price is set at $0.05. More than $7 million worth of miners have been sold, totaling 17,440 units.
With the testnet live and the full mainnet coming, Tyler sees plenty of room to grow. “If this hits even half of its target, BDAG could do 20x or 30x easily,” he said.
A Pattern Worth Watching
These days, Tyler isn’t spreading himself thin. He’s sticking to one major pick. Solana gave him $1.8 million because he recognized value early. Now he’s using that same instinct with BlockDAG.
What matters to him isn’t just the $241 million raised or the huge community. It’s the core. BlockDAG’s hybrid system, its 15,000 TPS goal, mobile mining tools, and easy dApp creation offer real-world solutions.
With the mainnet ahead, Tyler thinks the best is yet to come. “Solana changed my life,” he said. “BlockDAG could be next.”
And for anyone sitting on the sidelines, his journey is proof-spotting that solid tech early can make all the difference.
Presale: https://purchase.blockdag.network
Website: https://blockdag.network
Telegram: https://t.me/blockDAGnetworkOfficial
Discord: https://discord.gg/Q7BxghMVyu
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