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The OG crypto project - DappRadar finally announced its shutdown in November which marks its fall from grace after its initially rise.
Author: Sahil Thakur
Published On: Wed, 19 Nov 2025 03:44:52 GMT
November 2025 marked a significant turning point for the fall of DappRadar. The once-prominent crypto analytics platform, known for helping millions track decentralized applications (dApps), came to an end. Lithuanian entrepreneurs Skirmantas Januškas and Dragos Dunica launched DappRadar in early 2018. It began as a modest side project, inspired by the rise of early blockchain games like CryptoKitties.
The co-founders – Januškas, a software developer, and Dunica, a former EA Games operations manager, dentified a major gap in the market. At the time, no simple tool existed to monitor and compare dApp activity across different blockchains. To address this, they created DappRadar. Their goal was to build the “World’s Dapp Store,” a centralized platform where users could explore decentralized applications and understand their usage.
CEO Skirmantas Januškas summed up the mission clearly. He wanted to “give everyone the opportunity to grow and manage their wealth via dapps.” The team believed better data could empower regular users in the growing decentralized economy.
The idea took shape during a weekend hackathon and quickly resonated with the emerging crypto community. DappRadar officially launched in February 2018. Initially, it only supported Ethereum dApps. At first, the platform functioned like an app store, but instead of download metrics, it ranked dApps based on on-chain data such as active users and transaction volumes.
By the end of its first year, DappRadar expanded beyond Ethereum. It started tracking dApps on EOS and TRON. This early move toward a multi-chain model set it apart, even before “multi-chain” became a mainstream term. As a result, it gained popularity among crypto users looking for a single source of reliable dApp data.
The team likened their product to a “FTSE Index for dApps.” They aimed to centralize crucial information without offering investment advice. Importantly, they also tackled a major issue in the ecosystem—fake transactions. Some dApps inflated their stats with spam activity. DappRadar worked to filter this out and focused on offering accurate, actionable insights into real dApp usage.
Despite the downturn during the 2019–2020 crypto winter, DappRadar continued to grow. In September 2019, it raised $2.23 million in seed funding. The round was led by South African tech giant Naspers, with support from Blockchain Ventures and Angel Invest Berlin.
Januškas remained optimistic throughout the bear market. He told interviewers that solving real user problems would eventually make centralized apps obsolete. Time would prove him right. As crypto markets recovered in 2020 and 2021, DappRadar was already positioned for the upswing.
By early 2021, the platform was tracking over 5,000 dApps. It supported more than 20 blockchains, including Ethereum, BSC, Polygon, and Flow. Around 500,000 users visited the platform each month to follow the fast-paced world of DeFi and NFTs.
In May 2021, during a period of explosive market growth, DappRadar announced a $5 million Series A funding round. Prosus Ventures, the international arm of Naspers, led the round. Other investors included Blockchain.com Ventures and NordicNinja VC. Over the years, DappRadar also secured backing from Lightspeed Venture Partners and Angel Invest Berlin. Altogether, it raised about $7.3 million in venture funding. The funds were set aside to improve platform features and encourage widespread adoption of dApps.
Fueled by new funding and the NFT craze of 2021, DappRadar entered its prime. The team grew to over 50 members, spread across Europe and Asia. Website traffic surged dramatically. At its peak, DappRadar saw over 1 million monthly active users.
What began as a weekend experiment had transformed into one of the most visited Web3 platforms. At its height, DappRadar tracked more than 14,000 dApps across over 50 blockchains. That number eventually grew to 16,000+ dApps across 75 chains. For any new decentralized project, getting listed on DappRadar became a crucial milestone.
One analysis described DappRadar as “the homepage” for countless crypto teams, analysts, and retail users. They used the platform to monitor on-chain activity, total value locked (TVL), and NFT trades. During the peak of DeFi and the NFT boom, even mainstream media relied on DappRadar’s insights. Outlets like Forbes and the BBC often cited its data, especially for tracking NFT sales or DeFi adoption. This further solidified its reputation as a trusted source in the Web3 world.
From the start, DappRadar aimed to be more than just a ranking website. It evolved into a full-scale discovery and analytics platform for the decentralized world. By the mid-2020s, users could explore a wide range of categories. These included DeFi protocols, NFT marketplaces, blockchain games, decentralized exchanges, gambling dApps, and emerging trends like SocialFi and AI-powered apps.
For each dApp, DappRadar offered near real-time data. Users could view metrics such as daily active users (measured through unique active wallets), transaction volume, and total value locked (TVL) in DeFi projects. One standout feature was its in-depth analytics for NFTs and GameFi. Users could check floor prices, trading volumes, and rankings for collections and games. They could also discover which blockchain games were trending in a given week.
This functionality made DappRadar useful to more than just traders. Game studios, NFT collectors, journalists, and blockchain researchers also relied on the platform. It became a key tool to understand market trends. According to the company, “DappRadar has become the starting point for dApp discovery.” It also acted as a distribution channel for developers who wanted exposure.
Developers listed their projects to gain visibility. At the same time, users benefited from reliable data. Fake or inflated activity was filtered out. This gave users a trusted basis to evaluate new dApps.
Importantly, DappRadar did not stop at showing metrics. It also introduced interactive tools that helped engage a growing global audience. In 2021, it launched a Portfolio Tracker. This allowed users to connect their wallets and monitor token and NFT holdings across various chains in one dashboard.
Later, it introduced a Token Swap feature. Users could trade assets directly on the site. These additions turned DappRadar into more than a data source. It became a gateway for participating in Web3.
Skirmantas Januškas often described the platform’s mission as enabling users to “react immediately to the insights we provide.” That philosophy guided the launch of DappRadar PRO. This premium membership unlocked advanced data, custom alerts, and detailed filters. But instead of paying in traditional currency, users had to stake DappRadar’s native token, RADAR, to access PRO.
The token-based membership model rewarded loyalty. Stakers received a 15% annual yield, which incentivized long-term holding. In theory, this approach tied the community’s success to the platform. Over time, the team envisioned a decentralized autonomous organization (DAO) governed by RADAR holders.
By the numbers, DappRadar’s user base was large and diverse. At its peak, over 500,000 people used the platform monthly. They came from all over the world. NFT collectors in Asia, DeFi enthusiasts in Europe, gamers in South America, and VCs in the U.S. all found value in DappRadar’s insights.
Its analytics featured in academic research and mainstream media. The platform’s quarterly “Dapp Industry Reports” became must-read content for anyone following Web3. The RADAR token added to this ecosystem. Holders could vote on governance proposals and influence the platform’s future. Though in practice, most decisions still came from the core team.
By the end of 2023, about 10% of RADAR’s 10 billion token supply had been released. The remaining tokens were scheduled to vest over time. During the bull run, the token gained popularity. It reached an all-time high near $0.05. The team hoped the combination of PRO memberships and token utility would build a sustainable economic model.
Ironically, DappRadar’s early success contributed to its later challenges. In 2018 and 2019, it had few competitors. It was, as one retrospective put it, “almost the only and best way to quickly understand new projects.” A few rival sites did exist, like Dapp.com and DappReview. However, they lacked DappRadar’s scope and reputation.
Over time, that changed. DappReview was acquired by Binance in 2019 and faded away. Dapp.com stagnated and stopped updating consistently. Meanwhile, newer platforms began to emerge. These targeted specific segments of the crypto world and chipped away at DappRadar’s dominance.
For example, DeFiLlama focused solely on DeFi. It provided real-time dashboards and became the leading source for TVL and yield farm data. One analyst remarked, “Most of the DeFi data pie was snatched by DeFiLlama.” So, users interested only in DeFi often chose DeFiLlama over DappRadar.
Likewise, token price tracking was not DappRadar’s strength. Users continued to rely on CoinMarketCap and CoinGecko, two major platforms in that area.
By 2022, more competitors entered the space. Nansen and Dune Analytics became especially popular. Nansen targeted professional users. It offered high-end tools like wallet profiling and charged premium fees. Dune, on the other hand, allowed anyone to build custom dashboards using SQL. Many of these dashboards matched or even exceeded DappRadar’s data in depth.
Analysts who studied DappRadar’s decline pointed to this shift. One noted that “before the rise of professional data websites… DappRadar was the gateway.” But as these specialized tools gained users, DappRadar’s unique edge faded.
In the NFT space, DappRadar once had a lead. It reported the rise of NFT trading volumes early and partnered with the Blockchain Game Alliance. Still, new platforms like CryptoSlam and native marketplace stats from OpenSea gave users alternative sources. In blockchain gaming, some studios built their own dashboards. Others moved to platforms like QuestN or Guild dashboards for better user engagement data.
Meanwhile, Web3 usage itself was changing. In 2021, dApp launches and user activity exploded. But by 2022, the crypto market began a long downturn. NFT volumes plummeted. DeFi growth stalled. Play-to-earn games lost users as token rewards dried up.
This decline hit DappRadar directly. Its strongest categories—NFTs and blockchain games—saw major drops in usage. According to Marsbit/Bitget News, this caused a steep fall in DappRadar’s revenue. Fewer projects sought visibility. On-chain activity fell. Advertising revenue also shrank as startups slashed budgets during the crypto winter.
Still, DappRadar tried to adjust. It expanded its coverage to over 90 blockchains by 2025. These included newer chains like Solana, Avalanche, and several Layer-2 solutions. The platform also launched new sections for areas like real-world assets (RWA) and social dApps.
However, some critics questioned this approach. They argued the site focused too much on long-tail projects. Many of these dApps had very low user numbers. While this preserved DappRadar’s image as a comprehensive data source, it hurt monetization.
One commentator observed, “DappRadar covers all Web3 long-tail sectors… but it seems to only focus on the tail.” By listing every niche project, the platform appealed to die-hard users. But it missed out on faster-growing, more mainstream trends like meme coins. As a result, user loyalty did not translate into strong revenue.
By 2024, DappRadar began to feel serious financial pressure. Running a large-scale analytics platform required significant investment. The company operated on a mostly free-to-use model, relying on a few revenue streams. These included advertising, sponsored content, and token-based PRO subscriptions.
During bull markets, income came steadily. New token projects and blockchain games bought banner ads. Sponsored articles and homepage placements were in demand. DappRadar’s rankings and reports were valuable spots for projects looking to attract attention from investors.
However, during bear markets, that revenue vanished quickly. One industry report noted, “Advertising revenue continued to shrink and user activity slowed.” This decline exposed a major issue. DappRadar’s limited B2B income couldn’t cover the growing costs of managing infrastructure across dozens of blockchains.
Maintaining the platform wasn’t cheap. The team had to run full nodes, operate indexers, handle countless API calls, and store massive historical data. These costs rose with every new chain added. As user traffic dropped, the imbalance between expenses and income became worse. According to Marsbit News, “The massive data infrastructure built during the high-traffic bull market became a money-burning burden during the prolonged bear market.” Combined with limited income, this pushed DappRadar into unsustainable territory. Simply put, the platform had grown beyond what its revenue model could support in tough times.
In an attempt to fix this, DappRadar introduced new monetization efforts. In May 2025, it quietly launched a Premium Developer Subscription. This gave dApp teams a paid package, costing around $249 per month. It promised better visibility and access to analytics tools. The concept was to offer a SaaS-style model layered over the existing free listings.
But the timing was poor. Many small projects couldn’t afford it, while larger teams didn’t see enough value. The offering arrived too late to reverse the trend.
Meanwhile, the RADAR token created further problems. After a brief surge during its late 2021 launch, the token steadily declined. By early 2024, it had dropped more than 97% from its peak. This fall made the token-staking PRO subscription model unattractive. With the token’s value so low, staking rewards no longer mattered. As a result, users lost interest.
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Then, in November 2025, when DappRadar announced its shutdown, RADAR fell another 30 to 40 percent in a single day. For most holders, the token had become virtually worthless. The token, originally meant to drive growth, became a major weakness when market conditions turned.
Some analysts argue that DappRadar’s firm commitment to its crypto-native approach contributed to its downfall. In a detailed post-mortem, Eric from Foresight News commented, “The biggest reason for DappRadar’s failure can only be attributed to being overly crypto-native and neglecting the importance of commercialization.”
This meant the team prioritized community-building and exhaustive project coverage. They focused on detailed quarterly reports and supported even obscure projects. However, they did not spend enough effort on building reliable revenue streams. For instance, the platform insisted on a token-gated PRO membership. It did not offer a simple fiat subscription, which might have attracted more traditional users and institutions.
The RADAR token, beyond unlocking features and offering governance rights, had little utility. As a result, it limited the ability to build a strong premium product. Other platforms took a different route. Nansen charged high-end users directly for advanced features. DeFiLlama, while free, solicited donations and grants to keep running.
DappRadar tried to strike a balance. It remained free for users but added token-based loyalty systems. However, when market hype faded, this model failed to deliver sustainable income. As one observer put it, DappRadar offered value to every part of Web3. Its content was often cited by outlets like Bloomberg and Forbes. Yet, it lacked commercial value that could keep it afloat long-term.
By the middle of 2025, trouble was clear. Overall activity in the dApp space had slowed down. DappRadar’s own Q3 2025 report showed daily active wallets had dropped more than 20% compared to the previous year.
The company likely tried to reduce expenses and find solutions. It may have looked for more funding or explored acquisition opportunities. But no buyer or investor stepped in. As one insider summed it up, “2025 has been a tough year for Web3.” Many crypto projects were shutting down due to lost funding or declining users. In the blockchain gaming space alone, several once-hyped platforms shut down earlier that year. Despite its legacy, DappRadar eventually joined that list.
The end came quickly. On November 17, 2025, DappRadar’s co-founders made the official announcement on their X (Twitter) account. They confirmed the platform would begin winding down operations after seven years.
“After exploring every option, we had to make the difficult decision to wind things down,” the team stated. They cited a “financially unsustainable” environment as the main reason. The shutdown would take place in phases. First, new data tracking would stop. Eventually, the site itself would go offline to give users time to prepare.
In their statement, Skirmantas Januškas and Dragos Dunica reflected on their journey since 2018. They thanked the community and recalled how DappRadar had collaborated with hundreds of blockchain projects. Over the years, they had helped millions of users explore and understand the Web3 space.
The announcement struck a bittersweet tone. The team was proud of what they had built. But they also accepted the reality that the platform could not survive in its current state.
Following the shutdown announcement, the price of DappRadar’s native token, RADAR, collapsed. On the same day, the token dropped roughly 36%. By the next evening, it was trading around $0.00068. This sharp decline reflected growing uncertainty about RADAR’s future.
In the immediate aftermath, the DappRadar team gave only limited information about what would happen next. They assured users that updates about the RADAR token and the DappRadar DAO would be shared through official channels. These entities, they noted, were technically separate from the core platform. The DAO’s treasury wallet remained publicly viewable on-chain. The team also told the community that governance discussions would continue in DAO forums.
Despite this, many token holders were worried. Without the platform, the token risked becoming useless. Unless the community found a new purpose for RADAR, it might lose all value. At the time of shutdown, no clear roadmap existed, leaving holders in a cloud of uncertainty.
The crypto community reacted swiftly and with emotion. The shutdown announcement on X (formerly Twitter) reached over 1.6 million views in less than a day. This showed how widely known DappRadar had become over the years.
Thousands responded. Some mourned the loss. Others reminisced about the platform’s usefulness. A few pointed fingers at the broader market downturn. Andrew Campbell, a well-known Web3 gaming advocate, tweeted, “Sad news. Bad news for crypto.” Another user commented, “It wasn’t always perfectly accurate, but it was genuinely useful for tracking where the gaming projects were.”
Many echoed that sentiment. DappRadar’s closure felt like the end of an era in decentralized tech. Project teams, developers, and industry leaders quote-tweeted the news with their thanks. Even the CEO of CoinMarketCap—normally a competitor—asked, “Is there any way to keep you around?” This highlighted DappRadar’s deep role in the Web3 data space.
At the same time, some community members used the moment to reflect. The co-founders, in their farewell post, encouraged that spirit. They reminded everyone that making blockchain data accessible remained a vital mission. “Someone will fill the gap and carry the torch forward,” they wrote. The work, they said, should not end just because DappRadar could not continue.
DappRadar’s seven-year journey captured the dramatic cycles of the crypto world. At its peak, the platform was more than just a tool. It served as a live chronicle of Web3’s evolution. From the first viral blockchain games to the NFT boom, from the rise of DeFi to the shift toward multichain networks, DappRadar’s analytics helped tell each chapter in real time.
Its shutdown in a long bear market illustrated how hard it is for even well-known infrastructure projects to stay afloat. Running real-time blockchain analytics at scale proved expensive. By keeping most features free, DappRadar limited its revenue potential. As one media outlet noted, the collapse showed the rising pressure on analytics companies. Infrastructure costs kept growing, while user growth slowed.
In hindsight, DappRadar leaves behind several important lessons. The platform proved that neutrality and openness in data could win trust. Millions relied on it because most features were free. However, this trust came at a cost. DappRadar needed bull markets to stay viable.
The company also experimented with community ownership. It leaned heavily on the RADAR token and the DAO model. These ideas were innovative but did not solve the platform’s revenue issues. In some ways, they may have made monetization harder. While competitors like Nansen focused on high-end paying clients, and platforms like DeFiLlama stayed lean through donations and grants, DappRadar found itself stuck in the middle.
The result was a product that served everyone in Web3 but earned too little to survive. As one observer summarized, “It produced high-quality material for Bloomberg and Forbes but lacked any commercial value.”
By mid-2025, the cracks had widened. DappRadar’s Q3 report showed that daily active wallets were down over 20% from the previous year. The team likely cut costs and explored possible lifelines. But no new funding came, and no acquirer stepped in.
The shutdown, announced in November, was carried out in stages. First, data updates stopped. Then, the site was taken offline. The co-founders reflected on their journey since 2018. They thanked the community and the many partners they had worked with. Their final message carried both pride and regret.
DappRadar’s story mirrors that of many early internet pioneers. It helped shape a new industry but couldn’t endure the full cycle. One quote from a community tribute captured the sentiment: “We didn’t do anything wrong, but somehow, we lost.” In reality, DappRadar made many right decisions. It championed transparency and brought dApp analytics to the masses.
Its fall was not due to failure alone. It also reflected the harsh economics of building in a volatile, fast-moving space. DappRadar’s legacy is one of bold innovation. It served the first generation of dApp users, created new standards for on-chain data, and inspired trust.
Now, that mission continues with others. The need for clear, accessible blockchain data remains. As the co-founders wrote in their farewell, it is time for the next generation to carry the torch forward.
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