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Developers across Latin America are increasingly focusing their efforts on established blockchain ecosystems like Ethereum and Polygon rather than creating new base-layer chains, according to a recent report by consultancy firm Sherlock Communications.
The study gathered qualitative insights from 85 developers in Bolivia, Mexico, Brazil, and Peru. It found that the region’s builders prioritize transparency, coordination, and compliance, making networks with strong documentation and proven track records—like Ethereum and Polygon—particularly appealing.
Blockchain consultant Luiz Eduardo Abreu Hadad, a researcher at Sherlock Communications, emphasized that Latin American developers are showing “strong technical maturity” and a focus on solving real-world challenges. “The region has a growing, increasingly skilled developer community,” Hadad noted, adding that while the local talent can create new platforms, the current trend is toward development within existing ecosystems.
Ethereum Dominates Latin America’s Blockchain Activity
Onchain data confirms this preference. Sherlock Communications analyzed 697,000 blockchain transactions linked to wallets in Latin America between June 2024 and June 2025. Ethereum accounted for more than 75% of these transactions, clearly illustrating its dominance in the region in terms of both developer engagement and user adoption.
Polygon, while smaller, continues to grow in popularity. During the same period, the network represented 11% of total activity, and by June 2025, Polygon activity had nearly doubled to 20%, signaling increasing adoption across Latin America.
These numbers reflect the region’s preference for ecosystems that provide intuitive tools, stability, and strong community support, enabling developers to build with confidence.
Local Initiatives Show Global Potential
Although most developers currently focus on established ecosystems, Hadad highlighted several regional initiatives with potential to expand globally. Projects such as Brazil’s Núclea Chain and RBB indicate that Latin America possesses the technical capacity to create new blockchain infrastructures.
“These local initiatives demonstrate that the region isn’t just consuming technology—it’s also capable of contributing to global blockchain innovation,” Hadad said. Tokenization projects and national blockchain platforms are examples of how Latin America could eventually foster its own ecosystems while continuing to build on Ethereum and Polygon in the short term.
Next-Generation Developers Focus on DApps and Real-World Assets
Looking ahead, Hadad noted that the next generation of Latin American developers—students, hackathon entrants, and emerging talent—is focusing on decentralized applications (DApps) and real-world asset (RWA) tokenization.
Newer developers are particularly interested in applications that reshape social media, the creator economy, and supply chain traceability. Additionally, DePIN (Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks) and RWAs are gaining traction as developers explore practical solutions for trust, transparency, and usability.
“They look for stable ecosystems, intuitive tools, and sustainable economic incentives, focusing on solving real problems,” Hadad said. This suggests that future innovation in the region may blend the security of established networks with creative solutions tailored to local and global markets.
Why Ethereum and Polygon Are Attractive
The preference for Ethereum and Polygon stems from multiple factors. Developers value the reliability of Ethereum’s mainnet and the scalability of Polygon, which reduces transaction costs while retaining compatibility with Ethereum’s robust ecosystem.
Moreover, the developer experience—clear documentation, accessible tooling, and active community support—helps ensure that projects can be built efficiently and maintained over time. Latin American developers see these qualities as crucial for achieving long-term project success.
Conclusion
Latin American blockchain developers are currently favoring Ethereum and Polygon due to stability, robust tools, and community support. While the region shows potential to develop its own platforms, most builders are focusing on contributing to established ecosystems.
At the same time, the next generation of developers is exploring DApps, RWAs, and DePIN, which could redefine local and global applications. As adoption continues to grow, Latin America may emerge not only as a hub for blockchain development but also as a source of innovative solutions that integrate with larger global networks.
