Crypto Developers Stable in 2024, Asia Leads Growth
### Key Takeaways
– The number of active developers in the crypto industry remained largely stable in 2024, despite a slight 7% decline compared to the previous year.
– Solana attracted the most new developers, surpassing Ethereum in recruiting fresh talent.
– However, Ethereum remains the leading blockchain with the largest developer base globally.
– The geographic distribution of developers is becoming increasingly global, with Asia hosting the majority of blockchain developers.
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Solana Leads in Attracting New Developers
In 2024, the Solana blockchain experienced a remarkable increase in new developers. According to a report by Electric Capital, the number of developers in the Solana ecosystem grew by 83% compared to the previous year. Overall, Solana attracted 7,625 new developers, surpassing Ethereum, which saw approximately 6,244 new developers join its ecosystem.
The primary reasons for Solana’s success are its low transaction fees and high network speed. These features make Solana particularly appealing to developers working on innovative projects and applications.
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Ethereum Remains the Dominant Force
Despite Solana’s impressive growth, Ethereum remains the blockchain with the largest developer base. The report shows that Ethereum continues to attract the most developers globally, even though the number of monthly active developers decreased by 17% to 6,244.
A significant portion of Ethereum development focuses on so-called Layer-2 solutions like Base, Optimism, and Arbitrum. These networks are built on Ethereum and provide scaling solutions that facilitate usage and development. More than half of Ethereum developers (56%) are working on such Layer-2 projects.
Another highlight in the Ethereum ecosystem is Eigenlayer, a restaking protocol. Eigenlayer was the fastest-growing developer ecosystem in 2024, with a 167% increase in monthly active developers.
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Global Trends in the Developer Landscape
The geographic distribution of developers shows increasing diversification. Asia has overtaken North America as the leading continent for blockchain developers. India stands out in particular, producing more new developers in 2024 than any other country.
However, the United States remains the country with the largest share of developers (19%), while India follows closely with 17%. In India, educational programs and hackathons play a significant role in fostering new talent.
Maria Shen, General Partner at Electric Capital, emphasizes that this geographic diversification is a positive sign for the industry. She views it as a step toward a truly global and borderless crypto ecosystem.
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Our Assessment
The stability of developer numbers despite a challenging market environment demonstrates that the crypto industry continues to maintain a strong base of experienced talent. Solana’s success in attracting new developers highlights the importance of low fees and fast transactions, while Ethereum solidifies its position as the leading platform through a broad ecosystem and strong network effects.
The increasing global distribution of developers is another positive trend that strengthens the industry’s long-term sustainability and capacity for innovation. For you as a crypto enthusiast or investor, this means that both Solana and Ethereum continue to offer robust ecosystems with significant potential for growth and innovation in the years to come.