How much does blockchain development cost?

Blockchain development typically costs $20,000-$250,000 depending on complexity. Solana projects range $20,000-$150,000, while Ethereum projects cost $30,000-$200,000. Simple NFT marketplaces start at $25,000, while complex DeFi protocols can exceed $150,000.

Why is Solana development cheaper than Ethereum?

Solana development is 20-40% cheaper due to lower transaction costs for testing ($0.00025 vs $5-50), faster development cycles from quicker transaction finality, and more efficient smart contract execution. Ongoing costs are also lower with transaction fees 99.995% cheaper than Ethereum.

What are the hidden costs of blockchain development?

Hidden costs include: transaction fees at scale (Ethereum 1M txs = $5M-$50M, Solana = $250), infrastructure/RPC costs ($1,000-$2,000/month), smart contract redeployment ($5,000-$20,000 on Ethereum), security audits ($15,000-$50,000), and legal/compliance ($10,000-$50,000+).

How long does blockchain development take?

Timelines vary by project: Simple NFT marketplace (8-12 weeks), Token launch platform (10-14 weeks), DAO platform (12-18 weeks), DeFi lending protocol (16-24 weeks), Blockchain gaming platform (20-32 weeks). Solana projects typically complete faster due to better tooling and testing speed.

Transparent Pricing

How Much Does Blockchain Development Actually Cost?

Real pricing from a team that's shipped 32+ blockchain projects. No BS, no hidden costs—just honest numbers to help you budget accurately.

Important Reality Check:

If someone quotes you $5,000 for a "full DeFi protocol," run away. Quality blockchain development requires experienced developers, thorough testing, and security audits. Expect $30,000 minimum for anything production-ready.

Development Costs by Blockchain

Typical project costs across popular blockchains (MVP to production-ready)

Solana

Development Cost

$20,000 - $150,000

Timeline

8-16 weeks

Complexity

Medium (Rust/Anchor)

Transaction Cost

$0.00025 per transaction

Ongoing Maintenance

$2,000 - $8,000/month

Best For:

High-frequency apps, DeFi, NFTs, Gaming

Ethereum Mainnet

Development Cost

$30,000 - $200,000

Timeline

10-20 weeks

Complexity

Medium (Solidity)

Transaction Cost

$5 - $50 per transaction

Ongoing Maintenance

$3,000 - $15,000/month

Best For:

Institutional DeFi, High-value NFTs

Base (L2)

Development Cost

$25,000 - $180,000

Timeline

10-18 weeks

Complexity

Medium (Solidity)

Transaction Cost

$0.10 - $1 per transaction

Ongoing Maintenance

$2,500 - $10,000/month

Best For:

EVM compatibility, Coinbase integration

Polygon

Development Cost

$25,000 - $170,000

Timeline

10-18 weeks

Complexity

Medium (Solidity)

Transaction Cost

$0.01 - $0.50 per transaction

Ongoing Maintenance

$2,000 - $9,000/month

Best For:

EVM apps, Lower gas than Ethereum

Cost by Project Type

Real pricing for common blockchain applications

Simple NFT Marketplace

Minting, listing, buying/selling, wallet integration

Solana Cost

$25,000 - $50,000

Ethereum Cost

$40,000 - $80,000

Timeline

8-12 weeks

Monthly Maintenance

$2,000 - $4,000/month

DeFi Lending Protocol

Smart contracts, liquidity pools, interest rates, governance

Solana Cost

$80,000 - $150,000

Ethereum Cost

$120,000 - $250,000

Timeline

16-24 weeks

Monthly Maintenance

$6,000 - $15,000/month

Token Launch Platform

Token creation, presale, vesting, dashboard

Solana Cost

$30,000 - $70,000

Ethereum Cost

$50,000 - $100,000

Timeline

10-14 weeks

Monthly Maintenance

$3,000 - $6,000/month

Blockchain Gaming Platform

In-game assets, marketplace, leaderboards, rewards

Solana Cost

$100,000 - $250,000

Ethereum Cost

$150,000 - $350,000

Timeline

20-32 weeks

Monthly Maintenance

$8,000 - $20,000/month

DAO Platform

Governance, voting, treasury management, proposals

Solana Cost

$40,000 - $90,000

Ethereum Cost

$60,000 - $130,000

Timeline

12-18 weeks

Monthly Maintenance

$4,000 - $8,000/month

Why Solana costs less: Faster development cycles, lower transaction costs for testing, and more efficient smart contract execution mean savings at every stage.

What Affects Blockchain Development Cost?

These factors determine your final price tag

Complexity & Features

High Impact

Smart contract complexity, custom features, integrations

Example: Simple swap: $30k | Complex DEX aggregator: $150k+

Security & Auditing

High Impact

Security audits, testing, best practices implementation

Example: Smart contract audit: $15,000 - $50,000

Team Location & Experience

Medium Impact

Developer rates vary significantly by location and expertise

Example: US: $150-250/hr | Europe: $100-180/hr | Asia: $50-120/hr

Blockchain Choice

High Impact

Different chains have different development costs and complexity

Example: Solana: Rust (steeper) | Ethereum: Solidity (more devs)

Hidden Costs Nobody Tells You About

Budget for these or you'll be caught off guard

Transaction Fees at Scale

What seems cheap per transaction adds up fast

Cost Example: Ethereum: 1M txs = $5M - $50M in gas

Solana Advantage: Solana: 1M txs = $250 (99.995% savings)

Infrastructure & RPC Costs

Premium RPC nodes, monitoring, DevOps

Cost Example: Helius Pro: $1,000/month | Triton: $2,000/month

Solana Advantage: Similar across chains, but Solana needs less due to speed

Smart Contract Redeployment

Bugs found post-launch can be extremely expensive

Cost Example: Ethereum redeployment: $5,000 - $20,000 in gas

Solana Advantage: Solana upgradeable programs: $50 - $200

Legal & Compliance

Token registration, securities law, terms of service

Cost Example: Legal fees: $10,000 - $50,000+

Solana Advantage: Required regardless of chain

Detailed Service Breakdown

What you're actually paying for (typical mid-size project)

Service	Cost Range	Included?
Discovery & Planning Requirements gathering, architecture design, timeline	$5,000 - $15,000
Smart Contract Development Core blockchain logic, tokenomics, protocol design	$20,000 - $100,000+
Frontend Development Web app, wallet integration, user dashboard	$15,000 - $60,000
Backend & Infrastructure APIs, databases, indexers, monitoring	$10,000 - $40,000
Security Audit Third-party smart contract audit ⚠️ Highly recommended, separate cost	$15,000 - $50,000	Optional
Testing & QA Automated tests, manual testing, bug fixes	$8,000 - $25,000
Deployment & Launch Mainnet deployment, monitoring setup, documentation	$5,000 - $15,000
Total Project Cost (without audit)	$63,000 - $255,000

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Blockchain Development Cost Guide 2026 by Builderz

Builderz provides transparent blockchain development pricing. Solana development costs $20,000-$150,000 with $0.00025 transaction fees. Ethereum costs $30,000-$200,000 with $5-$50 transaction fees. Simple NFT marketplaces: $25,000-$50,000 on Solana. DeFi lending protocols: $80,000-$150,000. Blockchain gaming platforms: $100,000-$250,000.

Key Cost Factors

Complexity & Features: High impact on pricing
Security Auditing: $15,000-$50,000 additional
Blockchain Choice: Solana is 20-40% cheaper than Ethereum
Ongoing Maintenance: $2,000-$20,000/month depending on project

Hidden Costs

Transaction fees at scale: Ethereum 1M txs = $5M-$50M, Solana = $250
Infrastructure: RPC nodes $1,000-$2,000/month
Legal & Compliance: $10,000-$50,000+

Project Type Costs (Solana)

Simple NFT Marketplace: $25,000-$50,000, 8-12 weeks
DeFi Lending Protocol: $80,000-$150,000, 16-24 weeks
Token Launch Platform: $30,000-$70,000, 10-14 weeks
Blockchain Gaming: $100,000-$250,000, 20-32 weeks
DAO Platform: $40,000-$90,000, 12-18 weeks