- Ethereum dominates in terms of number of developers.
- The number of developers has not yet recovered since 2022.
- Multichain developers are on the rise.
Ethereum, the largest smart contract network, continues to dominate with its massive ecosystem, a fact reflected in the number of developers who are instrumental in bringing innovation to the network.
However, the number of blockchain developers has yet to recover from its peak in 2022, reflecting the sharp decline in the cryptocurrency market.
Ethereum dominates in number of developers
Ethereum remains the dominant player among blockchain developers. According to the Electric Capital Developer Report, as of July 2024, Ethereum had 8,865 active developers, including 2,788 full-time employees. This is despite a decline of 18% over the past year and 31% over the past two years.
Base came in second, with a 52% increase in developers last year, reaching 3,991, including 889 full-time contributors. Polkadot and Polygon also stood out, with 2,414 and 2,877 developers respectively, but both saw declines. Polkadot’s numbers fell 13% last year, while Polygon’s fell 33%.
With 2,856 developers, Solana remains a key player in high-throughput applications such as DeFi and NFTs. It grew 14% last year, but has seen a 24% decline over the past two years.
Developer count to remain below peak in 2022
The total number of monthly active developers is 26,037, down 10% from last year and down 23% from two years ago. However, the 32% increase from three years ago shows resilience.
The report breaks down developers into full-time, part-time, and one-time contributors. Full-time developers, at 7,661, declined 11% last year. The largest group, at 14,260 part-time developers, declined 12%. One-time contributors, now at 4,116, declined 4%. This overall decline reflects the broader market downturn since the peak in March 2022.
Multi-chain developers increase, emphasizing operability
The report highlights an important trend: the distribution of developers across single-chain and multi-chain projects. There are 19,585 single-chain developers focused on individual blockchain platforms, but this is down 6% over the past year and down 21% over the past two years.
In contrast, there are 6,452 multi-chain developers working across multiple blockchain ecosystems. Despite a 21% decline last year, multi-chain development has grown 49% over the past three years, indicating a growing focus on interoperability and cross-chain applications.
On the other side
- The number of developers is only one indicator of blockchain’s potential. The underlying technology is also important in attracting users.
- Recently, the Ethereum Foundation and Vitalik Buterin Came down criticism Because of the perception that there is a lack of will for DeFi.
Why this matters
Developer engagement is a key indicator of the health and innovation potential of a platform, which is crucial for Ethereum to remain dominant in the future.
Learn more about scams targeting developers.
Beware of Crypto Job Scams Targeting Blockchain Developers
Learn more about the major exchanges that are working with Solana:
Binance, Bitget, Bybit Tease Solana Liquid Staking – Here’s What We Know