According to a Messari report, the Polkadot (DOT) blockchain protocol made significant progress in the first quarter (Q1) of the year in terms of market capitalization, revenue, and Cross-Consensus Message Format (XCM) activity, as well as a record increase in daily active addresses.

DOT’s Market Cap Surges 16% QoQ

During Q4 2023, Polkadot’s market capitalization experienced a notable 111% quarter-on-quarter (QoQ) increase, reaching $8.4 billion. Building on this momentum, Q1 2024 witnessed a further 16% QoQ rise, elevating the circulating market cap to $12.7 billion. 

Despite these gains, DOT’s market capitalization remains 80% below its all-time high of $55.5 billion, set on November 8, 2021. 

In Q4 2023, Polkadot’s revenue also skyrocketed by 2,880% QoQ, amounting to $2.8 million. Per the report, this surge was primarily attributed to an exponential increase in extrinsics, driven by the Polkadot Inscriptions. 

However, revenue metrics for Q1 2024 declined significantly on a QoQ basis, with revenue in USD dropping by 91% to $241,000 and revenue in DOT decreasing by 92% to 28,800. It is worth noting that Polkadot’s revenue tends to be relatively lower compared to its competitors due to the network’s structural design.

Polkadot’s XCM activity continued to show growth in Q1 2024. Daily XCM transfers surged by 89% QoQ to reach 2,700, while non-asset transfer use cases, known as “XCM other,” witnessed a 214% QoQ increase, averaging 185 daily transfers. 

The total number of daily XCM messages grew 94% QoQ to 2,800, demonstrating the network’s dynamic ecosystem. In addition, the number of active XCM channels grew 13% QoQ to a total of 230.

Polkadot’s Parachain Network Soars To New Heights

Q1 2024 marked a significant kick-off to the year for Polkadot’s parachains, with active addresses reaching an all-time high of 514,000, representing a substantial 48% QoQ growth. 

Moonbeam emerged as the leading parachain with 217,000 monthly active addresses, a solid 110% QoQ increase. Nodle followed closely with 54,000 monthly active addresses, doubling from the previous quarter. 

Astar on the other hand, experienced a modest 8% QoQ growth to reach 26,000 active addresses, while Bifrost Finance grew slightly by 2% QoQ to 10,000 addresses. However, Acala experienced a decline, with monthly active addresses falling to 13,000, down 16% QoQ.

Notably, the Manta Network stood out among parachains in Q1 2024, with a significant surge in daily active addresses, reaching 15,000. According to Messari, this increase was fueled by the successful launch of the MANTA token TGE and subsequent listing on Binance, propelling Manta’s Total Value Locked (TVL) to over $440 million. 

Polkadot Price Sees Upside Potential Ahead

In terms of price action, Polkadot’s native token DOT has regained bullish momentum following a sharp drop to the $5.8 price mark after reaching a yearly high of $11 on March 14. 

Currently, DOT has regained the $7.25 level, up 7% over the past week. However, DOT’s trading volume decreased slightly by 4.7% compared to the previous trading session, amounting to $320 million over the past 24 hours, according to CoinGecko data.

If the bullish momentum persists, Polkadot faces its first resistance at the $7.4 zone, which serves as the last threshold before a potential retest of the $8 resistance wall. 

On the other hand, the $6.4 support floor has proven to be successful after being tested for two consecutive days this week, highlighting its significance as a key level to watch for the token’s upward movement prospects.

Featured image from Shuttestock, chart from TradingView.com

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Polkadot, a blockchain platform designed for interoperability between different blockchains, is experiencing a surge in new users, but a disconnect between user growth and network activity is raising questions about its long-term viability.

Based on the latest figures, DOT tallied an all-time high in active wallets and unique accounts in March, surpassing 600,000 and 5.59 million, respectively. This suggests a growing interest in the platform, potentially driven by the thriving developer ecosystem on Polkadot’s parachains, specialized blockchains that connect to the main Polkadot chain. Moonbeam, a prominent parachain, played a particularly significant role, contributing the highest number of active addresses with nearly 250,000.

Source: Data

Polkadot Transactions Dip Despite Active User Growth

However, despite the influx of new users, the number of transactions on the Polkadot network hasn’t kept pace. While there was a modest increase in transactions compared to February, the current volume remains significantly lower than the peak recorded in December.

This inconsistency raises concerns about how actively users are engaging with the network. The possibility exists that users are holding or staking their DOT tokens instead of utilizing them for transactions on the platform.

Total crypto market cap is currently at $2.5 trillion. Chart: TradingView

Polkadot Price Seeks Stability After Recent Decline

The price of Polkadot’s native token, DOT, seems to be finding support around $9. This could indicate a period of consolidation after a decline from its previous highs above $11. While a price increase is typically seen as a positive sign, it’s important to consider it alongside actual network usage.

Source: Data

Is Polkadot Building Without Using?

The current situation with Polkadot presents a paradox. The platform is attracting new users, but they aren’t necessarily translating into active network participants. This could be due to several factors. Perhaps users are waiting for a specific application or service to be built on Polkadot before actively engaging. It’s also possible that technical limitations are hindering user activity.

Further analysis is needed to understand the reasons behind the lagging transactions. Examining the types of transactions occurring on the network could provide valuable insights. For instance, an increase in governance-related transactions might suggest a more engaged user base, even if overall transaction volume remains low.

Polkadot’s Future Hinges On Active Network Use

While the growth in active wallets and accounts is a positive sign for Polkadot, it’s crucial to convert this interest into actual network usage. The success of Moonbeam demonstrates the potential for a vibrant developer ecosystem on Polkadot. However, broader adoption across various use cases is necessary for the platform to reach its full potential.

Featured image from Pexels, chart from TradingView

Disclaimer: The article is provided for educational purposes only. It does not represent the opinions of NewsBTC on whether to buy, sell or hold any investments and naturally investing carries risks. You are advised to conduct your own research before making any investment decisions. Use information provided on this website entirely at your own risk.