The blockchain landscape has undergone rapid transformation since the emergence of cryptocurrencies and smart contracts, and 2019 marked a pivotal year for its deeper integration into real-world industries. Among all blockchain platforms, Ethereum continues to lead in developer adoption and decentralized application (DApp) innovation.
According to the 2019 China Developer Survey Report, 44% of Chinese blockchain developers build on Ethereum—nearly half the market. Meanwhile, Ethereum’s mainnet supports over 239,000 daily active users, with average transaction fees hovering around 13.01 GWei. These figures reaffirm Ethereum’s dominant position in the global blockchain ecosystem.
But as demand grows, so do the challenges: Can Ethereum scale effectively? What progress has been made on Ethereum 2.0? And how are developers adapting to new tools and protocols?
To answer these pressing questions, the 2019 Ethereum Technology and Applications Summit convened in Beijing, bringing together core contributors, leading developers, and visionary builders from across the Ethereum ecosystem.
Why Ethereum Still Matters in 2019
Despite rising competition from alternative blockchains, Ethereum remains the go-to platform for decentralized innovation. Its robust developer community, mature tooling, and strong support for smart contracts make it the foundation for most DeFi projects, NFTs, and Layer-2 scaling solutions.
With scalability concerns driving protocol evolution, Ethereum is undergoing one of its most significant upgrades: Ethereum 2.0.
👉 Discover how Ethereum 2.0 is reshaping the future of decentralized development
This multi-phase upgrade aims to transition the network from proof-of-work (PoW) to proof-of-stake (PoS), introduce sharding for improved throughput, and enhance security and energy efficiency.
But what does this mean for developers building today?
Ethereum 2.0: Core Upgrades and Developer Implications
Understanding the Beacon Chain
At the heart of Ethereum 2.0 lies the Beacon Chain, a new consensus layer responsible for managing validators, orchestrating staking, and coordinating shard chains. Although initially running parallel to the mainnet, the Beacon Chain laid the groundwork for full integration and eventual merging of execution and consensus layers.
Developers need to understand how staking works, how validator rewards are calculated, and how to interact with the new PoS mechanism—especially when designing DeFi protocols or wallet integrations.
Sharding and Scalability
One of Ethereum’s biggest limitations has been throughput. The current network handles roughly 15 transactions per second (TPS), far below what’s needed for mass adoption.
Sharding aims to solve this by splitting the database into smaller, more manageable pieces—shards—that can process transactions and smart contracts in parallel. When fully implemented, sharding could increase network capacity by orders of magnitude.
For developers, this means optimizing DApps to work efficiently across shards, understanding cross-shard communication patterns, and leveraging off-chain solutions like Layer-2 rollups.
Layer-2 Solutions: Plasma, Rollups, and State Channels
While waiting for Ethereum 2.0’s full rollout, developers are already adopting Layer-2 scaling solutions:
- Plasma: Enables child chains anchored to the main chain for faster, cheaper transactions.
- Optimistic Rollups & ZK-Rollups: Bundle multiple transactions off-chain and submit proofs to Ethereum for finality.
- State Channels: Allow participants to transact privately and instantly before settling on-chain.
These technologies reduce gas costs and latency while maintaining Ethereum’s security guarantees—making them essential knowledge for modern DApp development.
Key Topics Covered at the Summit
The summit brought together top minds in the Ethereum space to explore both foundational concepts and cutting-edge advancements. Attendees gained insights into:
- Ethereum 2.0 roadmap and timeline
- Casper FFG and PoS consensus mechanics
- Zero-knowledge proofs and privacy-preserving technologies
- Smart contract best practices and security audits
- DeFi architecture and composability
- Blockchain gaming design patterns
- Decentralized data storage solutions (e.g., IPFS integration)
- Development tooling: Truffle, Hardhat, Remix, and more
These sessions were designed not just for experienced engineers but also for students, entrepreneurs, and newcomers eager to enter the space.
Who Should Attend an Ethereum Developer Conference?
Whether you're a seasoned developer or just starting out, events like this offer unparalleled access to:
- Core protocol developers who shape Ethereum’s future
- Project leads from top DeFi, NFT, and infrastructure teams
- Security experts who’ve audited high-value protocols
- Community organizers fostering local growth
If you fall into any of these categories:
- Ethereum project lead or team member
- Independent smart contract developer
- Active blockchain community participant
- Aspiring blockchain entrepreneur
- Self-taught coder exploring decentralized systems
- Student or professional seeking hands-on technical knowledge
Then attending a major Ethereum conference is not just beneficial—it's essential.
👉 Learn how top developers are leveraging Ethereum for next-gen applications
FAQs: Your Top Ethereum Questions Answered
Q: Is Ethereum still relevant with so many competing blockchains?
A: Absolutely. While other chains offer higher speeds or lower fees, none match Ethereum’s combination of security, decentralization, and developer activity. Most innovative DeFi and NFT projects still launch on or bridge to Ethereum.
Q: Do I need to learn Solidity to build on Ethereum?
A: Yes, Solidity is the most widely used language for writing smart contracts on Ethereum. However, alternatives like Vyper are gaining traction due to their focus on simplicity and security.
Q: What’s the difference between Ethereum 1.0 and 2.0?
A: Ethereum 1.0 uses proof-of-work (like Bitcoin). Ethereum 2.0 transitions to proof-of-stake, introduces sharding for scalability, and improves overall efficiency without sacrificing decentralization.
Q: Can I run an Ethereum node as a developer?
A: Yes—and it’s highly recommended. Running a node gives you direct access to blockchain data, enhances privacy, and supports network health. Tools like Geth and Prysm make setup straightforward.
Q: How do I stay updated on Ethereum development?
A: Follow official channels like ethereum.org, join developer forums (e.g., EthResearch), attend meetups, and participate in hackathons. Conferences like this summit are ideal for deep dives.
Q: Are there job opportunities for Ethereum developers?
A: Demand far exceeds supply. Companies building DeFi platforms, wallets, exchanges, and Web3 tools actively seek skilled developers with experience in Solidity, Web3.js, and security practices.
The Future of Ethereum Development
As enterprise adoption grows and regulatory frameworks evolve, Ethereum is positioned to become the backbone of a new internet—one built on transparency, ownership, and user control.
For developers, this means endless opportunities to innovate in areas like:
- Decentralized finance (DeFi) – lending, borrowing, trading without intermediaries
- Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) – digital art, collectibles, identity verification
- DAOs (Decentralized Autonomous Organizations) – community-driven governance models
- Web3 applications – user-owned social networks, storage, and identity
The tools are here. The community is active. The infrastructure is maturing.
Now is the time to dive in.
👉 Start building on Ethereum with resources trusted by top developers
Final Thoughts
The 2019 Ethereum Technology and Applications Summit was more than just a conference—it was a gathering of pioneers shaping the next generation of the internet. From deep technical sessions on Casper and sharding to practical workshops on DApp development, attendees left equipped with knowledge that extends far beyond a single event.
Even years later, the themes discussed—scalability, security, decentralization—are still central to Ethereum’s evolution.
For anyone serious about blockchain development, understanding Ethereum isn’t optional—it’s fundamental.
By staying engaged with the latest upgrades, tools, and community discussions, developers can position themselves at the forefront of a technological revolution that’s only just beginning.