Ethereum onboarded 16,181 new developers in the first nine months of 2025, surpassing any other blockchain. The Ethereum Foundation confirmed this figure recently. However, this milestone is overshadowed by Solana’s explosive growth narrative, according to data from Electric Capital. The Ethereum developer growth is robust.
The absolute numbers clearly favor Ethereum. The network maintains a total of 31,869 active developers. This figure nearly doubles the 17,708 active developers on Solana. Despite this, Solana exhibits formidable momentum. The network added 11,534 new talents. This represents an impressive 83% year-over-year growth in its developer base. Bitcoin, meanwhile, ranks third. It registered 7,494 new developers and 11,036 total active contributors.
The current situation reveals a clear “perception gap” in the market. Ethereum undeniably leads in ecosystem volume and maturity. In fact, it maintains its status as the number one ecosystem on every continent. Asia now surpasses North America in global developer share. Furthermore, India stood out in 2024 as the country that onboarded the most new crypto talent. Meanwhile, Solana dominates attention and growth momentum. This duality is crucial for future adoption.
Can Ethereum Retain Its Talent Amid Lower Salaries?
This dynamic directly influences ecosystem innovation. Interestingly, the Ethereum ecosystem shows signs of diversification. Base, for example, contributed 42% of the new code written. Nonetheless, talent retention is a growing challenge for Ethereum. A report from Dragonfly Capital notes that crypto salaries declined in 2024-2025. Specifically, Ethereum core developers earn 50-60% less than market rates, with a median of $140,000. This salary pressure could benefit competitors like Solana.
The industry is observing a clear trend toward multi-chain development. Data from 2024 shows that one in three developers now works on multiple chains. This figure is a significant leap from less than 10% recorded in 2015. Ethereum must now balance its numerical dominance. It needs to address retention challenges and salary competition. Meanwhile, Solana must prove that its accelerated growth can translate into a mature and sustainable long-term ecosystem.
