Blockchain ecosystems for developers are moving towards distribution across Layer 1 and Layer 2 networks as developers now work on multiple chains. Electric Capital’s 2024 Developer Report, published in December 2024, found that 39,148 new crypto developers entered the sector during 2024, with 7,625 building on Solana.
The report also found that one in three crypto developers worked across multiple chains during the year. Ethereum remained the largest developer ecosystem, while Solana recorded the strongest growth in attracting new developers.
The following ranking considers developer activity alongside tooling, documentation, scalability, liquidity, ecosystem depth, and current on-chain activity. It is an editorial ranking rather than an official industry league table.
Top 10 Blockchain Developer Ecosystems
| Rank | Blockchain ecosystem | Key developer and ecosystem data |
| 1 | Ethereum | Largest developer ecosystem and ranks first by developer numbers across all continents |
| 2 | Solana | 7,625 new developers in 2024 and an 83% year-over-year increase |
| 3 | Base | Accounted for 42% of new code written within the Ethereum ecosystem |
| 4 | BNB Chain | More than $4.8 billion in DeFi TVL and about 14 million daily transactions |
| 5 | Arbitrum | Ethereum-compatible Layer 2 with about $1.2 billion in DeFi TVL |
| 6 | Polygon | More than 1,000 developers in the ecosystem according to Electric Capital |
| 7 | Sui | More than 1,000 developers and uses the Move programming language |
| 8 | Avalanche | EVM-compatible Layer 1 with about $430 million in DeFi TVL |
| 9 | Aptos | More than 1,000 developers and uses the Move programming language |
| 10 | NEAR | More than 1,000 developers and an established developer community |
Ethereum Remains the Largest Developer Ecosystem
Ethereum ranks first among blockchain developer ecosystems based on Electric Capital’s 2024 data. The network ranked first for developer numbers across all continents.
Its developer documentation covers smart contracts, scaling, nodes, consensus, and applications. The ecosystem is also not limited to Ethereum mainnet and has Layer 2 solutions like Base and Arbitrum.
Solana ranks second place. Electric Capital reported an 83% increase in Solana developers year over year, with 7,625 developers joining the network.
Solana also provides development templates, software development kits, and testing documentation for decentralized applications. Its Agave 4.2 version is scheduled for release in August 2026.
Base and BNB Chain Maintain Strong Network Activity
Base ranks third among the blockchain developer ecosystems covered in the ranking. Electric Capital reported that Base accounted for 42% of new code written within the Ethereum ecosystem.
Current DeFiLlama data shows that Base processes millions of transactions per day and holds billions of dollars in DeFi total value locked.
BNB Chain is ranked fourth and is a well-known EVM ecosystem. From the data provided by DeFiLlama, it is evident that Avalanche has more than $4.8 billion in DeFi TVL and approximately 14 million daily transactions.
Arbitrum and Polygon Extend Ethereum Infrastructure
Arbitrum is ranked fifth and offers Ethereum-compatible Layer 2 infrastructure to developers. DeFiLlama estimates its current DeFi TVL at about $1.2 billion.
Polygon ranks sixth. Electric Capital reported that more than 1,000 developers were active across the Polygon ecosystem. Its developer infrastructure and global reach have kept it among the larger ecosystems tracked by the report.
The positions of Base, Arbitrum and Polygon also show the expanding role of Layer 2 networks within the wider Ethereum developer ecosystem.
Sui and Aptos Expand Move-Based Development
Sui ranks seventh and uses the Move programming language alongside an object-oriented design for digital assets. Its documentation includes resources covering Move packages, SDKs, testing, on-chain finance, and application development.
Electric Capital included Sui among the ecosystems that added more than 1,000 developers.
Aptos ranks ninth and also uses Move for smart contract development. Electric Capital reported that Aptos attracted more than 1,000 developers, although its current DeFi TVL remains below that of the largest ecosystems.
Avalanche is eighth-ranked and offers a Layer 1 solution that is EVM-compatible with customizable blockchain infrastructure. As per DeFiLlama, its DeFi TVL is currently estimated to be about $430 million.
The tenth-ranked network is NEAR. NEAR was listed by Electric Capital as one of the ecosystems that managed to attract over 1,000 developers, along with its existing developer community and protocol infrastructure.
Developer Growth Is Not Ecosystem Growth
Electric Capital stated that the total number of crypto developers fell 7% during 2024. In addition, the number of developers who have at least two years of experience reached its highest level and created 70% of the code.
Data also reveals discrepancies between developer activity and existing on-chain metrics. The BNB Chain and Base had more DeFi TVL compared to the Avalanche and Aptos, while developer counts varied from network to network.
Important facts
- The Ethereum network is the largest blockchain developer ecosystem measured by developer counts.
- Solana attracted 7,625 crypto developers in the year 2024, marking an 83% growth year-over-year
- One in three crypto developers worked across multiple chains in 2024.
FAQs
Which blockchain has the largest developer ecosystem?
Ethereum remains the largest blockchain developer ecosystem according to Electric Capital’s 2024 Developer Report.
Which blockchain attracted the most new developers?
Solana attracted 7,625 new developers and recorded an 83% year-over-year increase.
How many new crypto developers entered the sector ?
According to Electric Capital, there were 39,148 crypto developers who joined the industry
