Latin American Developers Embrace Ethereum and Polygon, Prioritizing Stability and Proven Technology

A recent report highlights a significant trend among Latin American blockchain developers: a strong preference for building on established platforms like Ethereum and Polygon over newer, less-proven protocols. This inclination stems from a desire for transparency, robust documentation, intuitive tools, and a proven track record, according to a study by Sherlock Communications.

Key Takeaways

• Latin American developers favor established blockchains like Ethereum and Polygon.

• Ethereum accounts for over 75% of regional blockchain transactions, with Polygon's activity nearly doubling.

• Developers prioritize transparency, ease of use, and regulatory alignment.

• The region shows potential for creating new ecosystems, with initiatives in tokenization and national blockchain infrastructure.

Developer Preferences and Regional Focus

The study, which surveyed 85 developers across Bolivia, Mexico, Brazil, and Peru, found that these builders value transparency, coordination, and compliance. Luiz Eduardo Abreu Hadad, a blockchain consultant at Sherlock Communications, noted that Latin American developers exhibit "strong technical maturity" and a focus on addressing real-world issues. While capable of creating new platforms, the current environment sees the region primarily as a hub for development within existing, trusted ecosystems.

On-Chain Data Supports the Trend

On-chain data analysis of 697,000 transactions tagged to Latin American wallets between June 2024 and June 2025 corroborates these findings. Ethereum dominated regional activity, accounting for over 75% of transactions. Polygon followed, showing significant growth by nearly doubling its activity to 20% by June 2025, up from 11% in the previous period.

Future Outlook and Local Innovation

Looking ahead, the next generation of Latin American developers, including students and hackathon participants, are expected to focus on decentralized applications (DApps) and the tokenization of real-world assets (RWAs). Their interests lie in DApps that could transform social media and the creator economy, as well as supply chain traceability, DePIN, and RWAs. They seek stable ecosystems, user-friendly tools, and sustainable economic incentives, aiming to solve problems related to trust, transparency, and usability.

Despite the focus on established platforms, Hadad acknowledged that local initiatives with global potential exist. Projects like Brazil's Núclea Chain and RBB demonstrate the region's capacity to develop new ecosystems and national blockchain infrastructures.

Sources

• Latin America’s Blockchain Developers Favor Ethereum and Polygon Over New P, Cointelegraph.

• Latin American Devs Favor Building on Ethereum, Polygon Over New Blockchains, Cryptonews.