- •Ethereum is the top choice for new developers in 2025
- •Strong community and tooling support drive its growth
- •Competing chains still lag behind in developer adoption
In 2025, Ethereum has once again proven its dominance—not through price, but through people. According to the latest industry data, Ethereum has ranked as the #1 blockchain ecosystem for new developers. This status confirms the network’s lasting appeal and robust developer support, setting it apart from competing chains like Solana, Avalanche, and Polkadot.
The report shows that Ethereum consistently attracts the highest number of first-time contributors. The open-source nature of Ethereum, combined with a rich stack of developer tools like Hardhat, Foundry, and robust documentation, has helped it maintain a clear lead in ecosystem engagement.
Why Developers Choose Ethereum
Several reasons drive new developers toward the Ethereum ecosystem. First is its large and active community, which makes onboarding easier for beginners. Ethereum’s long-standing reputation and constant innovation, especially around scalability (thanks to Layer 2 solutions like Arbitrum and Optimism), give developers confidence that their projects have long-term support.
Another factor is the availability of grants and funding opportunities through platforms like Gitcoin, which continue to incentivize builders in the Ethereum space. In addition, the EVM (Ethereum Virtual Machine) standard allows developers to write code that can be deployed across various chains, further broadening Ethereum’s appeal.
JUST IN: Ethereum ranks as the #1 ecosystem for new developers in 2025, according to new data. pic.twitter.com/GZU8iIGU8S
— Watcher.Guru (@WatcherGuru) October 15, 2025
Other Chains Still Playing Catch-Up
While Ethereum leads the race, other ecosystems like Solana, Near, and Cosmos are actively investing in developer acquisition. They offer grants, fast finality, and scalable solutions—but the numbers suggest they still fall short in attracting as many new builders as Ethereum.
The 2025 data highlights that Ethereum’s early investments in infrastructure and community are still paying off. The network’s ability to maintain its top spot reflects its maturity and resilience in a competitive space.