Core Developer Ecosystem 2024: A Year of Innovation and Growth

As we step into 2025, it's essential to reflect on the significant milestones Core’s developer community achieved throughout 2024. This past year was marked by exceptional growth, technical advancements, and expanded developer participation, reinforcing Core’s position as a leader in programmable finance secured by Bitcoin’s robust architecture.
Core’s unique blend of Bitcoin’s security and developer-friendly smart contract programmability has drawn a diverse community of builders committed to unlocking new use cases for Bitcoin beyond its traditional financial role. With its strong infrastructure and commitment to developer support, Core blockchain has maintained continuous momentum, attracting both new talent and experienced developers to contribute to its ecosystem.

Key Insights

• Core experienced remarkable developer adoption, with 2,000+ developers onboarded in 2024, fueling its growing global developer community.
• Over 31,500 smart contracts were deployed on the Core mainnet, showcasing unparalleled ecosystem momentum.
• The Core mainnet now powers 250+ live projects, reflecting a rapidly expanding and vibrant ecosystem positioned as the hub for innovation for the BTCfi landscape.
• With an 827% year-over-year increase in development contributions, the Core ecosystem saw a surge in code activity resulting from 3,747+ GitHub commits, highlighting its community's technical engagement.
• Core’s developer community strengthened through 50+ dev-foused community events worldwide, spearheaded by Core contributors and Core’s army of 30+ Tech Ambassadors. These gatherings brought together thousands of attendees, fostering networking, collaboration, and innovation within the Core.
• Over 10,000 developers enrolled in Core Dev Courses, mastering the skills required to build innovative dApps on Core.

Thanks to its vibrant developer community, 2024 has been an extraordinary year for Core. Developers have played a pivotal role in driving ecosystem growth by building some of the most innovative solutions on Core. At the same time, a wave of new developers has joined the movement, exploring the potential of Bitcoin-secured, EVM-compatible dApps and unlocking new possibilities.

Let’s dive into the key highlights, achievements, and what the future holds. Buckle up—2024 was just the beginning of an incredible journey!

Remarkable Growth and Adoption

• In 2024, the Core Network successfully handled an impressive 329.3 million transactions, showcasing its scalability and efficiency in supporting a high volume of activity.
• An all-time high of 1,736,695 daily transactions, 453,649 daily new addresses, and an average of 336,460 daily transactions demonstrates the network's robust capacity and growing adoption.

• The Core network achieved an all-time high of 822,653 daily active users, marking a significant milestone in its growth and engagement.
• The Core Network has reached impressive benchmarks, with over 177 million CORE and 8,200 BTC staked. Additionally, approximately 75% of the hashrate from Bitcoin miners has been delegated to the Core Network, highlighting its strong integration and trust within the community.

Built by the Community, For the Community

• Soaring over 800% increase in GitHub Activities The Core GitHub repositories saw a surge in activity, showcasing the technical expertise of the developer community. Contributions ranged from bug fixes to innovative enhancements that advanced Core’s ecosystem.
• 110+ pull requests raised
• 3,747 commits (827% year-over-year increase)
• 100+ active contributing developers (185% growth)
• Over 31,500 smart contracts (27.22% increase) were deployed on the Core mainnet, showcasing unparalleled ecosystem momentum.
• The Core mainnet now powers 250+ live projects, reflecting a rapidly expanding and vibrant ecosystem positioned as the hub for innovation for the BTCfi landscape.

More Stronger and Innovative Ecosystem

In 2024, the Core mainnet experienced remarkable growth, with over 180 projects going live, including 13 portfolio companies and one flagship project co-incubated with UTXO Management. Additionally, five innovative projects, originating from hackathons and hacker house events, successfully transitioned from testnet to mainnet, further showcasing the vibrant and dynamic evolution of the Core ecosystem.

Best of 2024: Flagship Innovative Projects

Core, now ranked #1, is leading the charge in redefining Bitcoin’s role in the broader blockchain ecosystem by transforming Bitcoin from a store of value into a versatile, yield-generating asset with expanded utility by providing developers with a robust platform to build dApps and enabling BTC to engage in innovative DeFi applications. This shift underscores Core’s pivotal role in fostering unprecedented growth and innovation within the Bitcoin ecosystem.

While many innovative projects launched on Core in 2024, some of the flagship and most innovative projects that contributed significantly to the growth of the Core ecosystem are listed below.

1. Colend: is the flagship decentralized lending and borrowing platform integrating Bitcoin on Core, enabling users to leverage their BTC holdings securely and trustless for loans and yield generation.
2. Bitflux: co-incubated by UTXO Management and Core Ventures, is the first-ever BTC liquidity platform on Core. BitFlux aims to redefine Bitcoin’s role in DeFi by transforming BTC into a productive, yield-generating asset while providing secure, low-slippage swaps and impermanent loss-free liquidity options. BitFlux is here to unlock new opportunities for Bitcoin holders while expanding the Core’s reach and innovation in DeFi.
3. Glyph Exchange: is a flagship DEX on Core. It bridges Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) liquidity and the Bitcoin ecosystem, enabling users to trade assets like BRC-20 and ERC-20 tokens and inscription assets through a comprehensive suite of DeFi features.
4. Akka Finance: is an advanced AI-powered liquidity aggregator that optimizes decentralized trading with near-zero slippage, competitive rates, and seamless execution. Uniting fragmented liquidity from major DEXs and employing smart routing algorithms ensure efficient cross-chain swaps and secure transactions. With its intuitive interface and honeypot detection, Akka Finance empowers users and developers to access DeFi services with ease and confidence.
5. SolvProtocol: One of the leading Bitcoin staking platforms enabling Bitcoin holders to stake their assets and access cross-chain liquidity and yield opportunities. Through its universal Bitcoin reserve token, SolvBTC, backed 1:1 by Bitcoin, users can seamlessly participate in various DeFi ecosystems without sacrificing liquidity. The platform's Staking Abstraction Layer (SAL) simplifies the staking process, allowing for diverse yield-generating strategies, including restaking yields, validator rewards, trading strategies, and DeFi yields. Solv Protocol emphasizes security and transparency, offering verifiable proof of reserves and undergoing extensive audits by leading firms.
6. Satoshi Preps: Satoshi Perps is a decentralized perpetual exchange that transforms Bitcoin trading. Built on the Bitcoin-empowered Core blockchain, it offers a secure, transparent, and user-friendly platform for high-leverage trading, with Bitcoin as the foundation of every transaction.
7. B14G: from BTCfi hackathon participant to going live mainnet, b14g is a testament to innovation and commitment. b14g is a Bitcoin restaking protocol. The primary mechanism of b14g is Merge Restaking, which allows users to combine their staked BTC with Core’s native token (CORE) for restaking.

Core’s ecosystem is a testament to the evolving role of Bitcoin in DeFi, fostering innovation and enabling broader utility for the world’s most valuable cryptocurrency.

Technical Achievements

Non-Custodial BTC Staking
Introduced in April 2024, Non-Custodial BTC Staking by Core represents a groundbreaking innovation in the BTCfi space, empowering users to securely stake their Bitcoin without relinquishing custody of their assets. By using Bitcoin-native features and no new added trust assumptions, this unique feature ensures users retain complete control over their assets, enhancing security and trust while benefiting from staking rewards. In 2024, an all-time high of 8,200 BTC was staked with validators on Core through the non-custodial BTC staking.

Fusion Upgrade and Dual Staking
The Fusion Upgrade marks a transformative milestone for the Core Network, solidifying its position as a leader in the BTCfi innovation. Packed with improvements for better scalability, performance, and user experience, Fusion Upgrade introduced the “Dual Staking” feature on Core. Through Dual Staking, users can earn higher yields over their BTC stakings by simultaneously staking both CORE and BTC.
Developer-Focused Events and Education

1. 2000+ Developers Onboarded through 50+ Developer Focused Community Events
   Developers participated in 50+ events held globally, providing hands-on learning experiences, technical insights, and opportunities for peer collaboration. However, the year's highlight was the BTCfi Summer Hackathon, the first global event dedicated to pushing the boundaries of the BTCfi landscape and sparking innovation across the Core ecosystem. Key Highlights from the BTCfi Summer Hackathon:

• A prize pool of worth $250,000USD
• 8 different tracks to build on
• 74 project submissions
• 291 participants from around the world
• 5 projects successfully transitioned to the Core Mainnet
  This global event was more than a competition—it became a catalyst for groundbreaking projects and bold ideas that expanded Core’s capabilities and demonstrated the potential of application pushing the boundaries of Bitcoin’s utility beyond the Bitcoin network.

2. Learning through Practice — Introducing the Core Developer Playground
A standout addition in 2024, the Core Developer Playground offered developers a hands-on, interactive environment to experiment and build on Core. Whether a beginner or an experienced builder, the Core Dev Playground makes it easier to explore Core’s smart contract capabilities, experiment with dApp prototypes, and test innovative concepts in real time. By transforming education into an experiential journey, the Playground bridged the gap between theory and practical application, enabling more developers to engage deeply with Core’s ecosystem.

3. 10,000 Builders, 5 Core Dev Courses
In 2024, over 10,000 builders advanced their blockchain development expertise through the Core Dev Courses. These courses were specifically designed to empower developers to create innovative, Bitcoin-secured, and EVM-compatible dApps on Core, fostering a new wave of technical excellence and ecosystem growth.

4. Hands-On Tutorials for All Skill Levels Driving Developer Empowerment
   The official Core GitHub tutorial repository emerged as a key resource in 2024, featuring 10+ detailed step-by-step tutorials catering to developers at all experience levels. Whether you're new to blockchain or a seasoned professional, these hands-on guides provide a practical, immersive way to learn and build on Core. By combining structured guidance with real-world coding examples, developers can learn by doing, reinforcing a culture of continuous learning and collaboration.

Looking Ahead to 2025: Opportunities for the Future

The Core Developer Ecosystem has made significant strides in a short span, achieving remarkable growth and technical innovation while fostering a vibrant community of builders. However, 2024 was just the beginning—Core is well-positioned for even more significant expansion in 2025.

Looking ahead, the goal is to further scale the Core developer ecosystem through new incentive programs, global hackathons, buildathons, bootcamps, and hacker houses, as well as expanded educational initiatives to empower builders. More tools and resources will be introduced to further help developers build, learn, and scale.

If you’re a builder looking to make an impact, 2025 promises more opportunities than ever before. Whether you’re just starting out or scaling a project, Core invites you to be part of this next wave of innovation. Let’s build for Bitcoin together by choosing to build on Core!