Shift in Blockchain Developer Ecosystem: Experienced Developers Dominate as Newcomers Decline

Blockchain developers are crucial to the growth of the crypto industry, creating apps and tools that attract users and generate value. Despite the focus on decentralization, the developer market appears to be becoming more centralized, with experienced developers taking the lead. According to Electric Capital’s recent research report, the total number of active blockchain developers has dropped sharply, from over 31,000 in November 2022 to 23,160 in November 2024, a 25% decline in two years.

Fewer Active Developers

Part-time developers were hit the hardest, with their numbers dropping from 16,600 in November 2022 to 12,386 in November 2024. Newcomer developers also saw a sharp decline, from 18,547 in November 2022 to 8,986 in November 2024. In contrast, established developers (those with two or more years of experience) are growing, with their numbers increasing by 65% in two years, from 6,903 to 11,400.

“The decline in part-time and new blockchain developers can likely be attributed to factors such as market volatility and/or increasing complexity due to market maturation.”

– Andrew Morfill, CIO of Zodia Custody

Established Developers Gain Share

Electric Capital’s “2024 Developer Report” shows the growing influence of experienced developers, with established developers committing 70% of code commits and growing 27% year-over-year. While the overall developer count is falling, experienced developers are taking a bigger share of the work.

Where Developers Live

Blockchain development is a global phenomenon, with Asia now leading in developer share. North America, once the top region, has fallen to third place. The U.S. remains the top country for blockchain developers, with 18.8% of the global share. India is emerging as a leader, onboarding the most new developers in 2024 and accounting for 11.7% of the global share.

Developers Diversify Across Chains

Developers are working on more blockchain ecosystems than ever before, with one in three developers now working across multiple chains. Ethereum remains the largest ecosystem for total developer activity, while Solana is attracting more new developers, growing its developer base by 83% in 2024.

Use Cases Expand

Different blockchains attract developers based on specific use cases, such as:

  • Ethereum: Leads in total developer activity and remains a hub for decentralized finance.
  • Solana: Dominates decentralized exchange usage and is a leader in low-fee use cases like NFT/meme coins minting.
  • Stablecoins and re-staking: Growing sectors, with stablecoins now having over $195 billion in circulating supply and more than $80 billion in daily transaction volume.

What This Means for the Space

While the shift toward experienced developers shows that the industry is maturing, it also raises concerns about centralization and diversity. The decline in developer participation could hamper blockchain innovation over time. Electric Capital’s report describes developers as a “leading indicator of value creation,” emphasizing the importance of fostering a diverse and inclusive developer community.

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