Ethereum, the queen platform of smart contracts, has now become the preferred playground for a growing army of developers and researchers. With a massive increase in the number of its researchers since 2019, this blockchain positions itself as a true laboratory of ideas and technologies for tomorrow. How did this dynamic come about, and what are the implications for the crypto ecosystem?

An extraordinary leap in the number of developers

The number of researchers working on Ethereum has literally exploded, rising from about 25 in the first quarter of 2019 to nearly 550 at the beginning of 2024, an astonishing increase of 2,100%. This leap demonstrates the growing attraction of the crypto network for talents in the tech and blockchain industry. Emre Caliskan, an engineer at Electric Capital, highlighted in a recent post that this spectacular growth reflects the sustained interest in Ethereum, despite a slight drop to around 450 developers in the second quarter of 2024. These numbers illustrate a fundamental trend: the Ethereum ecosystem continues to attract experts who actively participate in the evolution and improvement of the protocol, thereby consolidating its position as a technological leader.

This explosion in the number of developers has direct impacts on the pace of Ethereum’s innovation. Currently, the network remains at the top of the leaderboard for blockchains in terms of active monthly developers, with nearly 2,788 full-time developers and more than 8,865 in total, according to recent data. This concentration of talent translates into a continuous dynamic of improvements and new crypto projects, helping to solidify the ecosystem.

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Many competitive challenges

While Ethereum remains the undisputed leader in terms of active developers, this dominant position is not without challenges. The blockchain faces a 10% decrease in its annual number of developers, a sign that the competition is becoming increasingly fierce. Platforms like Base, developed by the crypto exchange Coinbase, show marked growth, with a 14% increase in their developers over the same period. Furthermore, in terms of smart contract deployments, Ethereum ranks only sixth, far behind Base, which leads with more than 862,000 monthly deployers.

Financially, the performance of its native cryptocurrency, Ether, reflects the same contradictions. Despite an impressive growth of 1,200% in five years, rising from $168 in 2019 to over $2,500 in 2024, ETH remains below a crucial technical threshold of $2,700, hindering its ambitions for new highs. Analysts, cautious, anticipate a potential break above $3,000, but uncertainties remain.

The explosion in the number of developers within the Ethereum ecosystem is a positive signal for the platform’s future, but it is not enough to guarantee unchallenged dominance. The network must continually adapt to stay competitive against its rivals. Innovation, community development, and a forward-looking strategy will be essential for Ethereum to continue playing a leading role in the world of blockchains.

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