Blockchain technology paves the way for a “new deployment order” for applications built with the notion of decentralization. Blockchain has already proven its mettle as a mainstream technology and a scalable platform for handling financial transactions for cross-border payments without a central authority. It also offers a secure way to hold and control a wide variety of digital assets within a decentralized platform. Beyond the apparent advantages of transparency, security, and autonomy, decentralization fosters a better application ecosystem empowered by a Blockchain development platform. These platforms are powering newer Blockchain solutions ranging from decentralized finance, digital assets, tokenized real estate, NFTs and more.
What is a Blockchain Development Platform?
A Blockchain development platform comprises the Blockchain infrastructure and the accompanying technology stack, which contains smart contract platforms, APIs, SDKs, and other tools for building Blockchain powered applications or Web3 dApps. Such platforms also offer supporting infrastructure, such as Testnets, and developer friendly interfaces to ease the overall software development phases for Blockchain developers.
Blockchain development platforms are sometimes also referred to or used interchangeably with Blockchain platforms. However, Blockchain platforms represent public Blockchain networks such as Ethereum, Algorand, Solona, and other popular Blockchain platforms. These platforms run a decentralized blockchain network that supports a native cryptocurrency on an immutable ledger technology powered by a consensus algorithm. In contrast, Blockchain development platforms refer to specialized software development platforms that aid in the development of Blockchain-based applications and are integrated with one or more Blockchain networks. Such platforms also provide the smart contract layer, along with front-end and back-end layer and a complete stack on a cloud platform.
This post enlists the leading Blockchain development companies which are at the forefront of Blockchain developer innovation, offering their unique flavor of Blockchain development platform. The selection of these platforms is based on a few critical selection criteria covering the developer-focused features of a typical decentralized application development project. Let's first understand the categorization of the these selection criteria for Blockchain development platforms.
Selection Criteria for Blockchain Development Platforms
The primary considerations for choosing a Blockchain development platform revolve around four criteria.
1. Blockchain Infrastructure
Blockchain infrastructure consists of nodes that host the smart contract and the back-end business logic for any dApp. Broadly, there are four options for choosing a Blockchain Node:
- 1Blockchain Node offers a standalone computing environment and serves as building blocks for developers to run smart contracts and access on-chain data. It is also known as an RPC node, which exposes an RPC API to query Blockchain data, submit transactions, and execute smart contract functions independently. Nodes are available in shared and dedicated configurations for different types of Blockchain platforms. Shared nodes are best suited for prototyping to beta testing, whereas dedicated nodes are suitable for small to medium-scale deployment of dApps. There are also other types of Blockchain nodes under in the Blockchain ecosystem which are required for managing a full scale dApp deployment and may not be part of the offerings from Blockchain development platforms.
- 2Blockchain-as-a-Service (BaaS) is a managed infrastructure in which the Blockchain development platform hosts the nodes on its cloud infrastructure. BaaS platforms provide SDKs and Blockchain API for interacting with the nodes. This option is well suited for prototyping as it simplifies the development of smart contract functionality without the overheads of managing Blockchain nodes.
- 3Sandboxed Testnet is a sandbox environment where developers can test their applications without the risks of using real tokens or cryptocurrencies or affecting the main network (Mainnet). A Testnet is a separate Blockchain network that mimics the functionality of a Mainnet. A sandboxed Testnet is a virtual Testnet with all the features of public Testnets and can be deployed easily on a local environment for fast development setup and testing.
- 4Blockchain Node Cluster is a large scale Blockchain infrastructure that allows developers to deploy, manage, and scale a dApp without handling the complexities of the underlying hardware and software components. It comprises a cluster of dedicated Blockchain nodes managed, monitored, and maintained by the service provider, offering high availability, scalability, and performance optimization.
Note: For this post we have not considered private Blockchain such as Hyperledger Fabric, Hyperledger Sawtooth and other hybrid Blockchain frameworks supporting private transactions.
2. Blockchain Network
Choosing the Blockchain network is another important considerations since all interactions and transactions performed by dApps are recorded on the ledger shared by the decentralized network. The chosen network must also have widespread adoption.
Here are the options:
- 1Layer 1 Blockchain for crypto network such as Bitcoin and Ethereum, or Dodgecoin, and others that operate at Layer 1 traditional Blockchain ecosystem and are specifically meant for supporting cryptocurrencies as a financial instrument.
- 2Ethereum and EVM Compatible Blockchain Network operating as Layer 1 or Layer 2 Blockchain, based on the Ethereum Virtual Machine, such as Polygon, and Avalanche or other public networks.
- 3Special Purpose Blockchain Network with custom consensus mechanism, designed for specific use cases, such as Algorand for scalable and faster transaction speed using PPoS (Pure Proof of Stake) or Helium for a decentralized wireless network for IoT device communication which is beneficial for supply chain management.
3. Integrations
Integrations are special boons to developers, empowering them to seamlessly incorporate external services within their dApps.
Even through developers can build integrations using several frameworks and libraries, it is preferable to choose Blockchain development platforms that offer built-in support for some of the standard integrations such as:
- 1Wallet Interfaces to integrate wallets such as MetaMask for payments.
- 2Crypto Exchange Data Access to get the latest and historical exchange rates to provide a better user experience for peer-to-peer crypto transactions.
- 3NFT Transactions to facilitate minting and transactions on NFTs for trading digital assets.
- 4Webhook Support for forwarding events and alert notifications to a wide range of external applications.
4. Support Ecosystem
Finally, developer support is also a key consideration for the long-term development and maintenance feasibility of Web3 dApps. Different Blockchain development companies address it in various ways, which can be primarily classified into the following:
- 1Blockchain Development Tools for monitoring, observability, and analytics which are imperative for the efficient maintenance and reliability of a deployed Web3 application.
- 2Support Services such as custom support packages, SLAs and partnerships for promoting and growing the Web3 application.
- 3Community Engagement based on the support provided by active developer community forums and other online communities.
The Top 8 Blockchain Development Companies
Here is our list of the top Blockchain development companies. Based on the development goals and project phases, the Blockchain development platforms offered by these companies are identified for their best case suitability according to:
- 1Prototyping: Best suited for prototyping a new application and building or deploying a proof-of-concept.
- 2Development: Best suited for development and small scale deployment.
- 3Deployment: Best suited for commercial deployment with flexible configurations for scalability and reliability.
1. Tatum
Best Suited For: Prototyping / Deployment
Blockchain Node
Layer 1 Blockchain Ethereum and EVM Compatible Special Purpose
Wallet Interfaces Crypto Exchange Data Access NFT Transactions Webhook Support
Tatum was founded in 2018 as a Blockchain development platform designed to assist developers in building Web3 applications. It supports Blockchain infrastructure and offers an extensive set of SDKs and APIs. Tatum supports many Blockchain protocols and offers Blockchain data access APIs to query a host of on-chain data, including blocks, addresses, tokens, and transactions.
Key Features:
- 1Offers dedicated Blockchain infrastructure with support
- 2Offers 100+ chains to choose from
- 3Supports extensive Blockchain access API
- 4Supports expedited on-chain data backfilling
Pricing & Support:
- 1Offers freemium pricing starting with limits on APIs and lacks NFT and Mainnet access
- 2Provides priority help desk support with paid plans
- 3Offers community through Discord (5K+ members) and GitHub channels
2. QuickNode
Best Suited For: Prototyping / Deployment
Blockchain Node Cluster
Layer 1 Blockchain Ethereum and EVM Compatible Special Purpose
NFT Transactions Webhook Support
Founded in 2017, QuickNode is a comprehensive Blockchain development company offering a robust Blockchain infrastructure to develop and deploy scalable Web3 apps around NFT and DeFi. QuickNode's globally available infrastructure is capable of multi-region transaction broadcast for real-time data delivery, and is secured against MEV attacks, GAS risks, and malicious wallet addresses.
Key Features:
- 1Offers resilient and scalable Blockchain infrastructure with custom SLAs
- 2Offers FaaS based back-end development with serverless computing infrastructure to host dApp business logic
- 3Supports IPFS and data streaming
- 4Supports Rollup and cross chain capabilities
Pricing & Support:
- 1Offers freemium pricing starting with API throttling
- 2Offers enterprise support with custom SLAs
- 3Supports 15k strong Discord community
3. Tenderly
Best Suited For: Prototyping / Development / Deployment
Blockchain Node Sandboxed Testnet
Layer 1 Blockchain Ethereum and EVM Compatible
NFT Transactions Webhook Support
Tenderly, founded in 2018, is a Blockchain development platform focusing on development and tooling with enhanced developer experience for developing smart contracts. Tenderly offers excellent smart contract tooling options with simulators for developing and prototyping smart contract transactions and business logic. Additionally, Tenderly has some great options for monitoring, analytics, and real-time smart contract alerts.
Key Features:
- 1Offers excellent development and tooling options
- 2Offers enhanced monitoring and analytics
- 3Supports the ability to simulate and preview smart contract transactions
- 4Offers Virtual Testnets and Devnets
Pricing & Support:
- 1Offers freemium pricing starting with limited computation capabilities on node
- 2Offers multiple support tiers with dedicated support options
- 3Boasts a very strong Discord community with over 350k members
4. Moralis
Best Suited For: Prototyping / Development / Deployment
Blockchain Node
Layer 1 Blockchain Ethereum and EVM Compatible
Wallet Interfaces Crypto Exchange Data Access NFT Transactions Webhook Support
Moralis was founded in 2021 and provides a complete end-to-end Blockchain application development platform powering decentralized apps (dApps). This allows developers and companies to focus on the front-end along with handling the entire back-end of development. Moralis supports over 25+ chains and has extensive APIs for blockchain and crypto market data.
Check out this NFT rarity ranking app built with Moralis.
Key Features:
- 1Offers rich APIs for Blockchain and crypto market data
- 2Offers high performance nodes
- 3Supports real-time events from chains
- 4Fosters learning and development around web3 via Moralis Academy
Pricing & Support:
- 1Offers freemium pricing starting with limited computing power
- 2Offers custom support with the option to connect with the Moralis engg. team
- 3Supports a multi communities on Discord, Slack and Telegram
5. Infura
Best Suited For: Prototyping / Development
Blockchain-as-a-Service
Layer 1 Blockchain Ethereum and EVM Compatible
Wallet Interfaces Crypto Exchange Data Access
Infura is part of Consensys, a Blockchain consulting and development company that has built many tools and products, including the popular Metamask wallet. Infura offers a reliable Node access service for over 20+ chains and developer tools for smart contract development and decentralized storage.
Key Features:
- 1Supports scalable on-chain API endpoints
- 2Offers developer and IDE support for smart contract
- 3Offers consulting and smart contract security services via Concensys
- 4Offers liberal API limits with flexible API packs
Pricing & Support:
- 1Offers freemium pricing starting with one API key and throttled API calls
- 2Offers basic support via their online community forum
- 3Supports a Discord channel from Consensys with over 200k members
6. Alchemy
Best Suited For: Prototyping / Development / Deployment
Blockchain Node Blockchain-as-a-Service Sandboxed Testnet
Ethereum and EVM Compatible
Wallet Interfaces Crypto Exchange Data Access NFT Transactions Webhook Support
Alchemy, founded in 2017, is one of the earliest Blockchain development companies. Its feature-rich platform offers many deployment alternatives, APIs, and tooling options for developing and deploying Blockchain/Web3 applications on Ethereum and mostly EVM-compatible chains. It also offers advanced features such as an artificial intelligence powered peer programming feature for assisting developers and a feature-rich dashboard with an extensive suite of tools, charts, alerts, and analytics for app health, performance, and user behavior.
Key Features:
- 1Offers best-in-class user-friendly interface and tooling for developers
- 2Provides Subgraphs and data pipeline for speedy indexing and access to historical data
- 3Offers custom webhooks and WebSocket support
- 4Fosters learning and development around web3 via Alchemy University
Pricing & Support:
- 1Offers freemium pricing with limited compute unites without auto scaling
- 2Offers dedicated and enterprise support options
- 3Offers community support via 65k strong Discord community
7. GetBlock
Best Suited For: Deployment
Blockchain Node Blockchain Node Cluster
Layer 1 Blockchain Ethereum and EVM Compatible
Webhook Support
GetBlock is one of the best deployment-focussed Blockchain development platforms. It offers highly reliable and resilient Blockchain node infrastructure for deploying Web3 applications at scale. With GetBlock, developers can easily deploy dApps on 50+ networks and access Mainnets and Testnets for major RPC APIs. It is ideally suited for mission-critical Web3 components such as building a decentralized exchange.
Key Features:
- 1Offers best in class Blockchain node infrastructure for scalable deployment
- 2Guarantees 99.99% SLA for deployed dApps
- 3Offers seamless provisioning of interchain node clusters
- 4Offers basic APIs for Blockchain data access
Pricing & Support:
- 1Offers freemium pricing starting with limited requests on shared nodes
- 2Offers enterprise support to ensure highly reliable node infrastructure
8. Hardhat
Best Suited For: Prototyping
Hardhat is a community project from the Nomic Foundation specifically designed for the local development and prototyping of EVM-based Blockchain applications. It offers features for editing, compiling, debugging, and deploying smart contracts and dApps, all of which work together to create a complete development environment that works within a built-in Hardhat Network, a local Ethereum network node.
Key Features:
- 1Supports no frills prototyping for Ethereum based dApps
- 2Supports user-friendy interface for setting up on a local computer running Linux or WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux)
- 3Supports Visual Studio extension
- 4It can be extended with plugins to enhance the local development environment with tools and SDKs
Pricing and Support:
- 1Available as open source software under Github
- 2Offers community support via Discord with over 10k members
Faq
Blockchain development platforms are a specialized form of software development platform used for aiding software developers to build Blockchain powered applications on one or more Blockchain networks, such as Ethereum, Algorand, Solona and more. These platforms offers many developer centric features for writing smart contracts, testing them on Testnets or simulated Devenets, and also offer integrations with wallets and third party services for building enhanced end-user experiences around Web3 and the decentralized ecosystem.
The choice of platform for Blockchain development depends on a few factors such as Blockchain infrastructure, supported networks, and ready to use SDKs and APIs for common integrations such as wallets, crypto, and NFTs. Also, the supports of development tools, sandboxed debugging environment, monitoring and analytics also plays an important role. Alchemy, Tenderly, and Moralis are some of the complete Blockchain development platforms offering a whole host of developer friendly features to build Web3 applications right from prototyping, development to deployment.
Blockchain platforms are a specialized form of computing platforms designed to host decentralized applications and use a distributed ledger technology to maintain multiple copies of the data across multiple nodes for better security and transparency. These nodes are synced with the help of a Blockchain protocol that drives the consensus among all nodes for updating the data. Initially implemented for Bitcoin, these platforms have subsequently been enhanced to support smart contracts to host custom applications.
A Blockchain development platform offers many features, starting with a Blockchain node to host smart contracts, archive nodes and APIs to access historical data from the supported Blockchain network, and additional integrations for wallets, NFTs, custom alerts, notifications. These platforms also offer several developer friendly features, such as IDE extensions, sandboxed Testnets, simulation, debugging and analytics tools.
