Factbook: Blockchain in Numbers
When did people start thinking about blockchain? How many Dapps are there? What blockchain ecosystems exist now? Facts below will shed light on these questions, and even more.
Fact 1. The First Blockchain Appeared in 2008
Stuart Haber and W. Scott Stornetta were the first two people who in 1991 started researching into the question of a secured chain of blocks. However, a person (or a group of developers) giving life to this technology appeared later. In 2008, Satoshi Nakamoto launched the first blockchain that became a foundation for a new cryptocurrency, bitcoin.
Fact 2. There Are Almost 1,000 Tokenized Dapps Worldwide
Take a look at the full list of Dapps that distribute their tokens. Today, there are almost 1,000 of such applications. However, if we include those Dapps that have no tokens in the list, there are much, much more. According to Deloitte Insights, as of October 12, 2017, there were as many as 86,034 blockchain projects on GitHub.
Why are there non-tokenized Dapps? Blockchain-powered applications, as well as any other apps, can have different target audiences and business models. Some of them can be designed for internal corporate use only; others, focusing on external use, can raise money either through some foundations or ICOs. It means that there are Dapps which don’t need tokens for their successful development.
Fact 3. Only 8% of Projects Are Actively Maintained
While some Dapps are rocking, others are dying unrecognized. And chances to vanish into thin air are much higher than to explode. Deloitte Insights states that the average lifespan of a Dapp is only 1.22 years, and only 5% of them will survive this period.
A lot of Dapps are developed on a wave of hype. If the public interest is low, teams designing blockchain-driven applications just abandon their projects. That said, only 8% of Dapp developers actively maintain their projects.
Fact 4. 93 in Top-100 Dapps by Market Capitalization Are Ethereum-Backed
Released in July 2015, Ethereum became the core for plenty of disrupting Dapps and is remaining such. As of October 9, 2018, 93 in top 100 Dapps by market capitalization were crafted with the help of Ethereum.
Among other popular ecosystems, there are EOS, Omni, NEO, and Waves, and more platforms are coming. For instance, in 2018, the genEOS blockchain ecosystem appeared on the market, offering a tool set for enterprise-grade Dapp development.
Why do developers use blockchain platforms instead of crafting their own custom solutions? Ecosystems allow focusing on the high-level business requirements instead of designing a wholly new blockchain from scratch. For instance, platforms provide developers with an entire blockchain toolkit that includes smart contracts and distributed digital ledgers.
Fact 5. Blockchain Market Capitalization Is Estimated at $114.6 billion
Blockchain may be staying on the periphery for now, but it plays a significant role on the market. On October 8, 2018, its market capitalization was equal to $114.6 billion. Just to compare, it’s as much as Netflix’s one. However, at its best times, blockchain capitalization was known to surpass $325 billion (according to the same source).
Fact 6. EOS Is the Biggest ICO by Fundings Raised Ever, $4.1 billion
EOS is a blockchain platform released in January 2018. During its ICO, from June 26, 2017 till June 18, 2018, it raised the record $4.1 billion. It’s twice more than that raised by its follower, the encrypted messenger Telegram. In 2017, the average investment in one Dapp was equal to $1 million.
Summing Up: Blockchain Market Is Soaring
Although the blockchain market capitalization declined in 2018, the buzz around the technology doesn’t fade away. New Dapp developing teams are appearing on the market. Fundings raised through ICOs are breaking all the previous records.
New blockchain ecosystems are popping up, to satisfy the needs of those who would like to seize the opportunities provided by blockchain. All the facts signal that blockchain will remain a very promising technology. All we can do is to witness — or jump in and earn a portion of the market share with more dazzling Dapps.
