How to Build a Blockchain Application? - Development Guide!

Uncover the process related to blockchain application development for both Android and iOS. And, learn about other relevant points such as types of blockchain development, cost, advantages, trends, etc.

Blockchain as a technology is becoming omnipresent across industries and is becoming an integral part of their infrastructure. And for good reason, the technology offers security and immutability to protect data records. Considering these aspects and the decentralized nature of the tech, stakeholders across the globe are keen on understanding blockchain application development.

It’s an emerging field that offers a hassle-free chance to develop solutions that stand out today and even in the future. Understanding this requirement, we have created a detailed editorial that talks about the development procedure in depth, enabling you to hire an outsourcing company or leverage your in-house team and start the task. 

Importance of Blockchain Application Development

“How to develop blockchain applications?” is a prominent question amongst stakeholders who are constantly looking for new innovations. Although the idea of blockchain came into existence in 1991 through a paper, the true widespread began with Satoshi Nakamoto’s Bitcoin in 2009. Since then, many companies, enterprises, and consortium members have dabbled with blockchain technology for its prowess.

Blockchain in business can reap benefits like better transparency, security, and efficiency in storing and sharing records amongst the relevant parties. It is for this reason that the blockchain market has grown immensely over the past few years. In fact, it is expected to reach $49.18 billion in 2025, with a CAGR growth of 70%. Over the years, we expect it to grow exponentially each consecutive year, making the adoption of blockchain an inherent part of the IT realm, wherever required.

How to Develop Blockchain Applications?

To create a blockchain app, you can either build an in-house team or outsource your work to a relevant expert. But, it is still very important for you to be familiar with the entire process, at least from a surface-level perspective. For this reason, we have provided the steps for blockchain mobile app development for both Android and iOS.

Blockchain Android App Development

These are the steps to create your own blockchain app on Android:

1. Define Scope & Requirements

This is the initial stage, and gathering all the essential requirements is critical to ensure the efficiency of the next stages. For this, you can start by first defining the purpose of the project, identifying the target audience, and outlining core features. This will provide all the details to kick-start your project’s development roadmap.

2. Choose a Blockchain Platform

Choosing a suitable platform is essential for development that aligns with your vision. So, start by considering factors and their need for the application. 

Some examples of such factors are scalability, security, community support, etc. Once done, check out popular choices in platforms available, like Ethereum, Hyperledger Fabric, Corda, etc. After you have a list of platforms to choose from, start comparing the strengths and weaknesses of each platform’s capabilities and select one.

3. Design the Architecture

Now, start with determining the flow of the data, and how it will be stored, accessed, and shared within the organization. Choose an appropriate data structure like Merkle Trees, along with other blockchain-specific data structures. 

After that, it is time to create a user-friendly and intuitive interface for your blockchain Android app development.

4. Develop Smart Contracts (if applicable)

A lot of blockchain use cases require smart contracts such as tracking goods, secure data sharing, digital identity security, etc. And, if your project has similar requirements, integrate this step in the process too. Start by defining the logic of the contract, use a suitable programming language (Solidity, C++, Python, etc.), and test them out to fix any vulnerabilities.

5. Design & Develop the Android App

In this step, start by leveraging the Android SDK and other tools used to develop a robust mobile application. Establish a secure connection between your app and the blockchain platform you chose. Begin implementing core functionalities of the application, such as user authentication, transaction handling, and data display.

6. Test and Debug

At this stage, you need to start testing your app on different Android devices under various network conditions. Identify all the bugs and issues and fix them. Gather feedback from the early adopters and implement changes based on their input.

7. Deploy and Maintain

Publish your application on the Google Play Store. Establish analytics and track app usage to identify any performance issues. Also, get regular updates and bug fixes to ensure a smooth user experience.

8. Security Considerations

Implementing robust security measures should be your number one priority, as it helps in protecting user data while preventing unauthorized access. Address the security vulnerabilities, constantly update your security strategy, and keep yourself updated with the latest security threats and best practices.

Blockchain iOS App Development

Here are the steps for blockchain mobile app development for iOS:

1. Gather Requirements

Gather your requirements for your blockchain iOS app development, such as what the problem is and what needs to be done. Once done, start by identifying your primary users and expectations from the service. 

Identify strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities of existing blockchain iOS apps that offer similar services. Once found, prioritize these features and other future considerations to gain and sustain a competitive advantage.

2. Choose a Blockchain Platform

Now, keeping your requirements in check, identify the best from the list of blockchain platforms that offer you scalability, security, transaction fees, and community support. Some popular options to choose from are Ethereum, Hyperledger Fabric, Corda, etc. 

3. Design the User Interface (UI) & User Experience (UX)

Outline the structure of the application and its user flow. Make sure that your application has an intuitive flow so that users who are unfamiliar with blockchain are even able to use it. After that, implement strong authentication and authorization mechanisms.

4. Develop the iOS Application

Begin by selecting the appropriate programming language for iOS development to ensure that your application is secure, performs well, and is easy to use. And enable interaction between block and APIs +SDKs to make use of external data, services, and functionalities. Develop functionalities based on your requirements and implement an authentication mechanism.

5. Test Thoroughly

Start testing the application through unit tests, integration tests, and user acceptance testing. Address the issues that arrive and resolve them till an optimized app speed and responsiveness are achieved.

6. Publish It on the App Store

Follow the guidelines of Apple’s App Store and make sure it meets all the requirements. Wait for Apple’s review, and if any issues surface, then resolve them. Promote your app on relevant channels to reach your target audience.

7. Monitor and Maintain

Start monitoring key metrics like user engagement, transaction volume, and app crashes. These will help you bring in further performance updates. Gather feedback from the users and analyze them to identify areas of improvement. And regularly release updates for bugs, new features, and performance.

8. Stay Informed

Keep yourself updated on the advancements in the field of blockchain in terms of new technologies, best practices, and regulatory changes. Evaluate your application and refine its offerings based on user feedback and market trends.

Blockchain App Development Cost - Breakdown Addressing Multiple Factors

The blockchain app development cost depends on a number of factors. Here’s an estimation.

Blockchain Development Cost Based on Company Size

Cost Based on the Complexity of the Blockchain App

Cost Breakdown Based on Blockchain Development Stages

Cost of Blockchain Technology Stack

Costing Models Used for Blockchain App Development

Cost of Blockchain Platforms and Other Associated Costs

The cost of blockchain platforms primarily depends on the platform, you are choosing. For instance, Ethereum’s cost is influenced by gas fees (a term for fees in Ethereum) and optimization of it. The same goes for other tools like Hyperledger Fabric, Ripple, EOS, etc. However, in general, the total cost can lie between $10,000 to $450,000+, depending upon the complexity of the application.

Types of Blockchain Development for Apps

Blockchain has varied applications that enable stakeholders to develop different types of blockchain apps. These are:

1. Smart Contract Development

Smart contracts are self-executing contracts. The terms of a smart contract are directly written into the line of code, and this code ideally resides on a blockchain. Therefore, it carries that decentralized and immutable nature. 

Smart contract development deals with the development of a smart contract. There are multiple reasons why people go for it. However, some of the benefits are:

• Elimination of manual processes.
• Immutability and transparency in minimizing the risk of fraud and errors.
• Builds decentralization and transparency between parties.
• Eliminates intermediaries, thereby reducing transaction costs.
• Offers innovative applications like decentralized finance (DeFi), supply chain management, and identity verification.

2. Decentralized Application (dApp) Development

This is the type of blockchain development that we will be talking about in length, in this editorial. However, to simply give you an idea about it, this type of development deals with the development of decentralized applications or dApps. Key characteristics of this type of application are:

• Its fundamental decentralized nature typically operates on a distributed network that eliminates any single point of control or failure.
• dApps are usually open-source, as their code is generally publicly available for anyone to view, audit, and modify.
• Once a data point is recorded, it can not be altered or deleted, sustaining the integrity and reliability of the information.
• All the transactions and data on the blockchain are publicly visible.
• These apps utilize cryptographic techniques that improve security and protect against fraud or tampering.
• Considering their decentralized nature, they are resistant to any censorship from governments.

3. Enterprise Blockchain Development

Enterprise blockchain development primarily focuses on implementing blockchain technology within the business structure. The aim is to create an infrastructure that is efficient, secure, and transparent, just like blockchain. Unlike public blockchains such as Bitcoin or Ethereum, this one primarily utilizes private blockchains for restricted access. Key properties are:

• Access is controlled to ensure data privacy and security.
• Provides the capability to handle high transaction volumes and meet performance requirements.
• It can be integrated with existing enterprise systems and blockchain networks.
• It can be tailored as per specific business requirements.

4. Blockchain Protocol Development

Blockchain protocols govern the operation within a blockchain. These are the fundamental rules and algorithms that are applied to blockchain networks. These protocols determine how the transactions within the network are validated, recorded, and executed. Core aspects of blockchain protocol development are:

• Consensus mechanisms like PoW (Proof-of-Work), PoS (Proof-of-Stake), DPoS (Delegated Proof-of-Stake), and PBFT (Practical Byzantine Fault Tolerance).
• Underlying data structures that help store and organize information, such as Merkle Trees and Directed Acyclic Graphs (DAGs).
• Cryptography techniques like Hashing, Digital Signatures, and Encryption.
• Comprises of network topology that decides the structure and communication patterns among the nodes.

5. Blockchain Integration

Another prominent type of blockchain development. It aims to integrate blockchain with the existing systems and applications within an organization or across different entities. The integration aids with benefits like increased security, transparency, and efficiency. Some of the core aspects of blockchain integration are:

• Connection with existing enterprise systems like ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning), CRM (Customer Relationship Management), and supply chain management.
• Seamless exchange of data between blockchain networks and other databases.
• Utilization of APIs to enable communication and data transfer.
• Integration of smart contracts on existing business logic and workflows.
• Blockchain-based identity solutions for authentication and authorization.
• Integration with IoT devices for secure data sharing and management.

Applications for Blockchain App - Exploring the Impact in Different Industries

As mentioned earlier, blockchain is part of almost every industry today. In fact, terms like blockchain in fintech, blockchain in manufacturing, blockchain in media and entertainment, etc., are commonly heard. These are some of the most common blockchain applications.

1. Finance

• Cryptocurrencies: Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other cryptocurrencies available in the crypto market utilize blockchain for security and decentralized transactions.
• Decentralized Finance (DeFi): This type of blockchain application provides financial services like lending, borrowing, and trading without intermediaries.
• Cross-border Payments: In finance, blockchain facilitates faster and more cost-effective international money transfers.
• Supply Chain Finance: Enable transparency and efficiency in tracking goods and automating payments in supply chain financing.

2. Supply Chain Management

• Inventory Management: Improves accuracy and reduces waste through real-time visibility of stocks in the inventory.
• Food Safety: It can identify potential contamination sources by tracking the origin and journey of food products.

3. Healthcare

• Secure Data Sharing: In healthcare, it can enable secure and efficient sharing of patient data with other healthcare providers.
• Supply Chain Management: Blockchain can ensure authenticity and integrity by tracking the movement of pharmaceuticals.
• Clinical Trials: It can streamline clinical trial processes by storing and sharing patient data securely.

4. Identity Management

• Decentralized Identity: Blockchain has the capacity to empower individuals. It can do it by letting them control their digital identities, reducing the risk of identity theft and fraud.
• Secure Credentials: It can verify and issue digital credentials for academic degrees, professional licenses, etc.

5. Internet of Things (IoT)

• Data Security: It can enhance data security for IoT devices, making it immutable and tamper-proof.
• Device Authentication: Blockchain can authenticate IoT devices and verify their authenticity.
• Smart Contracts: It can be used to automate any interaction that occurs between IoT devices and enable new business models.

6. Voting Systems

• Secure and Transparent Elections: It can enhance the security and transparency of the voting systems by accurately recording the votes and their counting.

7. Intellectual Property Rights

• Copyright Protection: Blockchain can be used to protect intellectual property rights. It can secure and make the record of ownership tamper-proof.

The applications mentioned above are simply a scratch on the surface. The application of blockchain goes way beyond what has been mentioned above. And, with time, we can expect more applications to emerge as the blockchain ecosystem evolves.

Advantages of Blockchain Apps

There are clear reasons why stakeholders are adopting a blockchain application. Below, we have stated some of those reasons:

• Better Security: Offers a cryptographic and decentralized nature that makes the records on the blockchain extremely difficult to tamper with or hack.
• Increased Transparency: On a public blockchain, all the transactions are recorded publicly, increasing accountability and trust.
• Enhanced Efficiency: Eliminates intermediaries and automates processes to speed up transactions and reduce costs.
• Reduced Fraud: The secure and transparent nature of the blockchain makes it difficult to commit frauds like double-spending, counterfeiting, etc.
• New Business Models: Enable the development of new and innovative business models to create a new revenue stream.
• Improved Decision Making: With real-time and transparent data, it becomes easy to make use of it for informed business decisions.
• Enhanced Customer Experience: Provides improved transparency and control to customers, enhancing their overall experience.
• Increased Trust and Collaboration: Fosters a feeling of trust and collaboration among stakeholders through shared and immutable records of transactions.
• Democratization of Finance: More access to financial services for individuals and businesses that were previously excluded from the traditional systems.

Disadvantages of Blockchain Apps - Why Rethink Implementation?

Just like blockchain has tonnes of advantages, it also has several disadvantages. To reveal, here are some that you should know about.

• Can struggle in handling high volumes of transactions, leading to slower processing times and increased costs.
• It is difficult to develop and deploy blockchain applications and requires specialized skills.
• The regulations and compliances around it are still in development and create uncertainty for businesses.
• Consensus mechanisms like Proof-of-Work (PoW) consume a lot of energy for some blockchains like Bitcoin.
• Connecting different blockchains together can be challenging at times.
• Experience of interacting with applications can be complex and unintuitive for general users.

Trending Blockchain Apps - Get Inspired!

It won’t be wrong to say that the sheer number of blockchain apps is beyond comprehension for a single person to judge. However, there are a few blockchain apps that have been trending, and out of those, we have picked the best five to tell you the names so that you can investigate the reason behind their success.

• Blockchain.com: A widely used cryptocurrency transactions platform that offers wallet services, exchange functionalities, and data exploration for blockchain.
• Binance: Another leading global cryptocurrency exchange known for its extensive trading options, high liquidity, and innovative features.
• MetaMask: A popular crypto wallet and browser extension that allows its users to interact with dApps.
• CoinDCX: An Indian cryptocurrency exchange that offers a range of trading options, investment products, and educational resources.
• Steem: It is a social media platform that rewards users with cryptocurrency for creating and curating content.

Future Trends of Blockchain App Development - What’s Next!

The blockchain has a lot of potential, and with the IT landscape evolving, it is bound to have a bright future. Throwing light on the possibilities, here are some future trends associated with blockchain app development.

1. Cybersecurity

The immutability and transparency of blockchain are the key reasons stakeholders are willing to adopt the technology. By adopting blockchain, the data security is enhanced preventing any sort of tampering while allowing users to simultaneously verify. If we consider the CAGR between 2024 and 2029 for blockchain market growth, it reaches an estimate of 65.5% as per Markets & Markets. This growth can be indirectly attributed to the rising concerns revolving around cybersecurity and its possible adoption to enhance security.

2. Government Applications

Governments of nations like India, Estonia, Singapore, Georgia, Australia, etc., have already adopted blockchain technology for various purposes. And, there are state governments as well as national governments that will be implementing blockchain. For instance:

• The U.S. General Services Administration is looking into using blockchain for federal government operations.
• The government of Telangana (India) is planning to develop a blockchain framework and the blockchain district in Hyderabad. 
• Japan is actively exploring the application of blockchain for various industries.
• EU is trying to establish a “Market in Crypto-Assets (MiCA)” to form a regulatory framework around blockchain.
• The U.S. is showing positive interest in adopting blockchain despite its complexities for services like digital security and stablecoins.

3. Finance and Banking

It's no surprise to anyone that blockchain has seen an upward trend in blockchain through digital currencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, etc. The usage has increased because of the efficient payment mechanism that allows secure processing, lending, and trading. 

In fact, JPMorgan handles a daily transaction of $1 billion through blockchain-based stablecoins like JPM Coin. Considering the nature of blockchain, this trend is going to increase further. In fact, a stat even states that the blockchain market in finance and banking is expected to reach $10.85 billion by the end of 2025. Contrarily, this figure was close to $6.98 billion last year.

4. Medical Industry

Blockchain in healthcare is expected to increase with a CAGR of 35.08% between 2025 and 2034. The number paints the entire picture that blockchain is being heavily used in healthcare.

In fact, there are numerous examples like Akiri, Bramble, Chronicled, Avaneer Health, etc., that make use of blockchain in different forms. However, there are tonnes of use cases in healthcare that can showcase significant growth in terms of the inclusion of blockchain. For instance, decentralized clinical trials, telehealth and remote patient monitoring, precision medicine, supply chain management, healthcare interoperability, etc.

5. Enterprise Solutions

The term enterprise refers to every large company in different industries. However, the solutions required in some spaces can be generalized, and such is the application of blockchain in enterprise systems. Enterprises in domains like supply chain management, financial services, healthcare, identity management, etc can use it. In fact, here are some stats that point towards the positive increase in interest by enterprises.

• A survey conducted among Fortune 500 executives states that around 56% of companies say that they are working on blockchain products, including projects like consumer-facing payment applications.
• The supply chain blockchain market is expected to grow with a CAGR of 49.87% between 2025 and 2030.
• The AI blockchain market is seeing a CAGR growth of 23.2% between 2024 and 2025. 

Other Relevant Trends:

• The asset tokenization blockchain market is expected to grow with a CAGR of 22.1% between 2024 and 2025.
• The NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens) market size is expected to grow to $61.01 billion by the end of 2025, with a CAGR of 41.6%.
• The decentralized finance (DeFi) market will be reaching $42.76 billion by the end of 2025 with a CAGR of 42.2%.
• Blockchain 4.0 with modular updates in multiple areas will become widespread in the market. However, there is no defined date for the launch.
• The blockchain IoT (Internet of Things) market will be growing with a CAGR of 58.21% between 2025 and 2034.

Best Practices for Blockchain App Development

Now, if you have finalized your interest in blockchain app development, it is time to learn about some best practices too, for the domain. So, here they are:

• Choosing the Right Platform: From the get-go, make sure that you select a platform that aligns with your needs and requirements.
• Clear Use Case: The reason or use case behind implementing blockchain should be clear as a day. Define specific and valuable use cases for your blockchain application.
• Security: Considering the nature of cyber theft today, implement robust security measures that protect your application as well as the data.
• Thorough Testing: Rigorously test your application at each stage to identify and address issues beforehand.
• Ensure Scalability: Design your application so that it can handle the growing number of users.
• Consider Interoperability: Plan potential interoperability of the application with other blockchain networks and systems.
• Comply with Regulations: Adhere to all the relevant regulations that are in play and affect your area of operations.
• Focus on User Experience: Create user-friendly interfaces that are easy to use for everyone.
• Document Everything: Document everything related to your project and maintain clear documentation.
• Stay Updated: Keep yourself updated with all the latest innovations and advancements that are happening in the blockchain domain and prepare best practices around it.

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Final Words

Blockchain as a domain showcases a lot of promises. Its application is not only giving users the benefit of decentralization but also better security. Considering this, the interest of stakeholders in developing applications that serve users through blockchain is justified. For the same reason, our efforts to create this editorial for “blockchain application development” are justified. We hope we may have been able to provide relevant information to all your queries, and saying this, we hope you succeed by using our blockchain app development guide.