What happened?
Ethereum added about 16,181 new developers from January to September 2025 and still tops the list with roughly 31,869 active contributors, while Solana added 11,534 new developers and grabbed the spotlight with rapid 83% year‑over‑year growth. The numbers show a split between absolute scale (Ethereum) and growth momentum/hype (Solana). Overall crypto developer counts fell 7% in 2024, but experienced contributors grew and now write the majority of code.
Who does this affect?
Developers face real pressure: Ethereum core devs report median pay well below market and many are getting higher offers from rival networks, creating retention challenges. Protocol teams and projects are competing for a smaller pool of experienced engineers, while companies are increasingly hiring globally as Asia and India add large shares of new talent. Investors, token holders, and product teams all feel the impact as talent moves between chains and influences which ecosystems get new apps and upgrades.
Why does this matter?
Developer trends help determine which blockchains will drive the next wave of apps and can influence investor sentiment and token prices as active development attracts capital. Pay compression and shifting talent pools mean better‑funded or faster‑growing ecosystems could out-innovate incumbents, creating clear winners and losers in the market. Regional hiring shifts and a rise in experienced contributors point to longer‑term resilience for ecosystems that retain talent, so market actors should watch developer growth and compensation as leading indicators.