Hey there! If you’ve been scrolling through X lately, you might’ve stumbled across a thought-provoking thread by Suhail Kakar. He’s shaking things up by arguing that crypto doesn’t need more apps—it desperately needs more developers. Let’s dive into this idea and see why it might just be the key to unlocking the future of blockchain.

The App Obsession: A Misguided Focus?

You’ve probably heard people talk about the “killer app” that will make crypto go mainstream. Think of it like the iPhone for blockchain—something so cool that everyone jumps on board. But Suhail flips this narrative on its head. He says the real issue isn’t a lack of apps; it’s a lack of people building them. Every crypto boom, like the one in 2021, sees a flood of money and hype, but too often, it leads to flashy token launches instead of solid products. The result? Not much you can actually do with blockchain that feels practical.

This resonates with a report from Electric Capital, which shows developer activity dropping across major blockchain ecosystems. Fewer core contributors—those writing the nuts and bolts like SDKs and node infrastructure—means the foundation is shaky. Without builders, all the hype fizzles out, leaving us with the same old question: what’s the point?

Why Developers Are Key

So, what’s holding crypto back? Suhail points to three big gaps: usability, composability, and support. Let’s break it down:

• Usability: Ever tried using a crypto wallet and felt lost? A SpringerLink study on blockchain wallets found that poor user experience is a huge hurdle. Developers who focus on making things simple and intuitive could change that.
• Composability: This fancy term just means building blocks that work together seamlessly. Think of it like Lego bricks—developers need to create tools that others can use to build bigger things.
• Support: Developers need more than just “gm” tweets. They need real feedback, user-focused distribution, and incubators that help turn ideas into products people love.

Without these, we’re stuck with clunky tools and copy-paste projects that only crypto nerds (like me!) can figure out.

The Developer Drought

Here’s the kicker: developers are leaving. Suhail mentions that incentives have dried up. Launching a token is quick and profitable, but building a working product? That takes time and effort. Plus, the crypto world is a rollercoaster—tools break with every update, projects pivot to the latest trend, and burnout hits hard. A Creative Tim article from 2022 highlighted how web developers burn out from unstable environments, and crypto’s chaos is even worse. No wonder they’re jumping to the more stable world of Web2!

What Crypto Really Needs

So, what’s the fix? Suhail suggests focusing on developers who:

• Write clear documentation, not just code.
• Think about the whole user journey, from signing up to sticking around.
• Build practical tools, not just endless “Lego kits” of features.
• Prioritize ease of use over decentralization bragging rights.

And it’s not just on the developers. The community needs to step up with real support—think actionable feedback and infrastructure that doesn’t make shipping a nightmare. Killer apps, like Ethereum’s early smart contracts, didn’t pop up out of thin air. They came from ecosystems that nurtured builders through trial, error, and user feedback.

The Future Is in Our Hands

Suhail wraps up with a bold prediction: the next big leap won’t come from another bull market. It’ll come from developers creating stuff people actually want to use, backed by a community that helps them succeed. Imagine a world where blockchain powers everyday apps without you even realizing it’s there—that’s the goal.

What do you think? Are you a developer inspired to jump into crypto, or just someone curious about its potential? Drop your thoughts below! And if you’re new to this space, start small—check out Ethereum’s docs and tinker with testnets. The future of crypto is waiting for builders like you!