Ethereum Leads Base, Solana In Developer Count, But Total Figures Are Down
- Ethereum dominates in dev count.
- Developer numbers still haven’t recovered since 2022.
- Multi-chain developers are on the rise.
Ethereum , the biggest smart contract network, continues to dominate with its vast ecosystem. This fact is reflected in developer numbers, which are crucial to bringing innovation to the network.
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Still, blockchain developer numbers still haven’t recovered from the 2022 peak, mirroring a major downturn in the crypto market.
Ethereum Dominates By Developer Count
Ethereum remains the dominant player when it comes to blockchain developers. According to the Electric Capital Developer Report , as of July 2024, Ethereum has 8,865 active developers, including 2,788 full-time. This is despite an 18% drop over the past year and 31% over two years.
Source: Developer ReportBase was second, growing its developer count by 52% in the past year to 3,991, including 889 full-time contributors. Polkadot and Polygon also stand out, with 2,414 and 2,877 developers respectively, though both have seen declines. Polkadot’s count decreased by 13% over the past year, while Polygon experienced a 33% drop.
Solana, with 2,856 developers, remains significant in high-throughput applications like DeFi and NFTs. Although it saw a 14% growth over the past year, it has experienced a 24% decline over two years.
Developer Counts Remain Below 2022 Peak
The total number of monthly active developers stands at 26,037, a 10% decrease over the past year and a 23% drop over two years. However, there’s a 32% increase over three years, indicating resilience.
Source: Developer ReportThe report categorizes developers into full-time, part-time, and one-time contributors. Full-time developers, numbering 7,661, saw an 11% drop over the past year. Part-time developers, the largest group at 14,260, decreased by 12%. One-time contributors, now at 4,116, reduced by 4%. This overall decline reflects the broader market downturn post-March 2022 peak.
Multi-Chain Developers Increase, Pointing to Operability
A significant trend highlighted by the report is the distribution of developers across single-chain and multi-chain projects. Single-chain developers, who focus on individual blockchain platforms, number 19,585 but have seen a 6% decline over the past year and a 21% drop over two years.
Source: Developer ReportIn contrast, multi-chain developers—those working across multiple blockchain ecosystems—number 6,452. Despite a 21% decline over the past year, multi-chain development has grown by 49% over the last three years. This indicates a growing focus on interoperability and cross-chain applications.
On the Flipside
- Developer counts are just one metric for gauging blockchain’s potential. The underlying tech is also important for attracting users.
- Recently, the Ethereum Foundation and Vitalik Buterin came under criticism over the perceived lack of commitment to DeFi.
Why This Matters
Developer engagement is a key indicator of a platform’s health and potential for innovation. This is key for Ethereum to maintain its dominance in the future.
Read more about scams targeting developers:
Beware of Crypto Job Scams Targeting Blockchain Developers
Read more about major exchanges partnering with Solana:
Binance, Bitget, Bybit Tease Solana Liquid Staking: Here’s What We Know
Disclaimer: The content of this article solely reflects the author's opinion and does not represent the platform in any capacity. This article is not intended to serve as a reference for making investment decisions.
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