Today, new blockchain projects are adopting frameworks like Hardhat, Foundry, or Viem to ship faster and more securely.

As Web3 development expands into rollups, oracles, and automation, the need for specialised libraries and structured frameworks has never been more critical.

In 2025, success isn't just about writing smart contracts; it's about choosing the right stack to build, scale, and coordinate across chains.

This guide explores the most relevant Web3 libraries and frameworks in 2025, what’s new, what’s dominant, and how to choose the best tools for your next build.

Let’s get started.

The State of Web3 Development in 2025

Web3 developers in 2025 aren’t just writing contracts; they’re building programmable systems that span execution layers, automation workflows, and cross-chain data streams.

Tooling isn’t optional anymore; it’s the infrastructure that lets these systems scale securely and operate predictably across fragmented environments.

Here’s how the development landscape has changed, and why your stack needs to keep up:

Modularity is the new baseline

Rollups and appchains are no longer experimental. Frameworks like the OP Stack, Arbitrum Orbit, and Cosmos SDK have made modular architecture a default choice, allowing teams to mix and match execution layers, data availability, and settlement.

Smart contracts are now microservices in a larger on-chain system. Tooling must support rollup-aware deployments, custom chain logic, and multi-environment dev loops.

Cross-chain coordination is no longer optional

Developers now assume multichain from day one, whether building on the Optimism Superchain, integrating zkSync Era, or bridging Cosmos assets.

Messaging protocols, state relays, and chain-agnostic SDKs have made cross-rollup execution a feature, not a workaround. Libraries must now abstract multiple chains while preserving type safety and latency guarantees.

AI is entering the dev loop

Tools like GitHub Copilot, fuzzing copilots, and Qodo are no longer novelty add-ons; they’re reshaping how developers test, review, and even refactor smart contracts.

In 2025, AI copilots generate fuzz tests, highlight gas inefficiencies, and auto-simulate contract calls. Frameworks are evolving to embed these copilots directly into CLI workflows.

On-chain development is at an all-time high

The rise of DAOs, RWAs, DePIN networks, and permissionless coordination layers has led to more than 23,615 monthly active developers on chain.

These builders need abstractions that accelerate UX without compromising security, from typed libraries like Viem to secure automation SDKs like RedStone.

Web3 development today is not about reinventing the wheel, but about selecting the right components to build systems that are secure, modular, and verifiable from the outset.

Web3 Libraries: The Building Blocks Behind Scalable dApps

The libraries you choose shape how your application communicates with the blockchain, manages edge cases and scales across chains.

In 2025, it’s not just about what a library can do; it’s about how well it fits your system’s design philosophy and future direction.

Below are the most relevant libraries in use today, along with when to use them, trade-offs to expect, and where they sit in the evolving Web3 development stack.

Ethers.js

The backbone of EVM development.

Ethers.js continues to dominate with its reliability, concise API, and deep ecosystem compatibility.

Originally built for Ethereum, it now powers infrastructure across major L2s like Base and Arbitrum Orbit, with integrations seen in protocols like Compound and Safe.

What’s new in 2025:

• Expanded support for rollup-centric chains (Base, Arbitrum Orbit, Linea)
• Better handling of batched transactions and L2-specific gas models
• Strengthened TypeScript typings with improved contract generation tooling

When to use it:

• Projects that prioritise backwards compatibility
• Teams with existing Foundry/Hardhat pipelines
• Full-stack apps with minimal frontend abstraction

When to avoid:

• If you're prioritising strict type safety and modular imports
• If you need a smaller bundle size for frontend-heavy apps

While well-supported, Ethers.js isn’t modular by default and can lag behind newer tooling in ergonomics and speed. Still, it’s stable, predictable, and production-proven.

Viem

The TypeScript-native library, built for modern Web3 apps.

Viem anchors the frontend stacks of projects like Zora, ENS V3, and Rebase, where performance, types, and composability matter most.

With first-class TypeScript support, modular design, and fast encoding/decoding, it’s becoming the go-to for frontend-heavy teams building composable dApps across L2s.

Why it’s winning in 2025:

• Fully typed contract interaction
• Modular API structure, tree-shakable
• Seamless integration with Wagmi, RainbowKit, and Scaffold-ETH 2

It is adopted by teams building on the Optimism Superchain, Base, and Polygon zkEVM. Viem is powering interfaces for DAO tools, NFT platforms, and yield apps that demand reliability and speed.

When to use it:

• You’re using React or Next.js with Wagmi
• Your contracts are complex, and type safety matters
• You’re building across multiple EVM chains

When to avoid:

• If migrating a large Ethers.js codebase without resources for refactoring
• If working in a non-TypeScript environment

While newer and still building ecosystem depth, it offers cleaner abstractions for teams prioritising long-term maintainability.

Web3.js

Web3.js was once the default for Ethereum interaction. In 2025, it's mostly used in legacy systems used only for Educational Purposes or Static Demos, basic tutorials, or cases where minimal updates are expected.

Why it still exists:

• Simple API that’s easy for beginners
• Good fit for static sites and low-risk scripts
• Maintained, but no major ecosystem investment

When to use it:

• Introductory apps, education-focused tools
• One-off on-chain scripts or read-only dashboards

When to avoid:

• Any production-grade dApp
• When speed, typing, or security is critical

Web3.js lacks modern dev features, typing, and plugin support. For new builds, migration to Viem or Ethers.js is strongly recommended.

Web3.py

The Python gateway to Ethereum.

Web3.py has carved out a crucial niche: enabling researchers, data engineers, and backend developers to interact with smart contracts using Python. It plays a vital role in governance, analytics, automation, and monitoring.

Why it matters in 2025:

• Supports L2s and sidechains through custom providers
• Python-native integration with pandas, NumPy, Jupyter
• Often used in DAO ops, Dune-style dashboards, and bots

It's widely adopted by governance tooling teams and protocol analysts at Aave, Optimism, and Uniswap for tasks like treasury automation and proposal tracking.

When to use it:

• Writing backend bots, analytics pipelines, or simulations
• When you want to integrate with ML or data infra
• Building internal dashboards for treasury or proposal tracking

When to avoid:

• If building full-stack frontends
• If your team lacks Python familiarity

Limited support for frontend workflows or gas profiling. But irreplaceable for research and automation layers in data-heavy systems.

Wagmi + RainbowKit

The frontend developer's power stack.

Wagmi provides a robust React hook system for interacting with Ethereum smart contracts. RainbowKit adds clean wallet integration with minimal setup.

They’re used in interfaces like Optimism’s RetroPGF app, Zora’s NFT portal, and many Superchain grant dashboards.

2025 upgrades:

• Native Superchain support (Optimism, Base, Mode)
• Enhanced wallet abstraction with support for MPC and embedded wallets
• Stronger contract safety via Viem typing

Adopted for minting apps, NFT marketplaces, DAO frontends, and mobile dApps requiring seamless wallet UX.

When to use it:

• You’re building with React and need wallet + contract hooks
• You want rapid frontend iteration with battle-tested tools
• You care about wallet UX and fallback states

When to avoid:

• If you’re not using React or Viem
• If you need ultra-custom wallet logic beyond the RainbowKit scope

Highly opinionated setup. Great for convention-over-configuration use, but may require overrides for edge-case flows.

Starknet.js and Cairo SDKs

Built for ZK-powered applications.

Starknet.js is the JavaScript library for interacting with Starknet, while Cairo SDKs enable smart contract development and integration in Rust, Python, and Cairo itself.

2025 improvements:

• Full support for Cairo 1.0
• Better account abstraction and transaction simulation
• Expanded language bindings (e.g., Python SDK for server-side usage)

Zero-knowledge games, DePIN infra projects, and apps needing privacy-preserving computation or scalability beyond EVM.

When to use it:

• You’re building on Starknet or another Cairo-compatible rollup
• You want high throughput or ZK privacy built in
• You’re experimenting with on-chain logic too complex for EVM gas models

When to avoid:

• If your team lacks Cairo knowledge or Starknet infra setup
• If you need production-ready L2s with large liquidity today

Projects like zkLend and Dojo’s ecosystem apps have made this tooling mainstream, but Cairo familiarity remains a key barrier for most EVM-native teams.

Each tool above serves a specific layer in the development stack, whether it’s frontend abstraction, backend automation, or chain-specific interaction.

And as projects mature, the focus shifts from isolated libraries to integrated systems that support faster builds, deeper testing, and production-grade deployment.

That’s where frameworks come in.

Top Web3 Frameworks and Tooling Stacks

Libraries help you talk to blockchains. Frameworks help you build entire systems around them.

In 2025, Web3 frameworks will be less about boilerplate and more about developer speed, testing guarantees, and full integration across chains, wallets, and deployment environments.

Teams today are choosing stacks based not just on code ergonomics, but on how well they handle edge cases, support automation, and reduce DevOps overhead.

Here’s what’s leading the pack and where each stack fits best.

Hardhat

The default development environment for the EVM.

Hardhat remains the most widely used smart contract development framework.

Its plugin-rich architecture, solid documentation, and widespread community adoption make it the go-to for teams building and maintaining smart contracts at scale.

But in 2025, its role is shifting.

Hardhat is no longer just a starting point, it’s a proven choice for teams that value plugin modularity, legacy compatibility, and developer familiarity across the EVM.

Why teams still choose Hardhat in 2025:

• Deep plugin ecosystem (Typechain, deployment scripts, gas reporters)
• Fast local testing with mainnet forking and Solidity stack traces
• Strong integration with L2s like Arbitrum, Base, and Optimism
• Still the default in older protocols (Compound, PoolTogether) and DAO tooling infra

When to use it:

• Projects with complex contract structures and custom deployment flows
• Teams maintaining older codebases with Ethers.js or Solidity tooling
• When plugin-based extensibility matters (e.g., gas reporters, contract sizers)

When to avoid:

• If you prefer a minimal Rust-style toolchain (see Foundry)
• For large-scale fuzzing or formal verification

Hardhat thrives in plugin-driven environments and multi-dev teams who want predictable, debuggable workflows.

It's still widely supported across the Superchain and Orbit chains, but for cutting-edge testing, Foundry may be a better fit.

Foundry

Performance-first tooling for advanced EVM teams.

Foundry has emerged as the preferred toolkit for advanced EVM teams.

Built in Rust and designed for performance, it delivers fast test execution, native fuzzing, and powerful cheat codes, thus making it ideal for protocols pushing the limits of smart contract design.

In 2025, Foundry isn’t just for auditors or performance fanatics. It’s become the standard for teams that prioritise test coverage, CI integration, and low-level control over their smart contract systems.

Why top teams are adopting Foundry:

• Blazing-fast local testing and dry runs
• Built-in fuzz testing, cheat codes, gas snapshots
• First-class Solidity/Vyper support with powerful CLI tooling
• Integrated with audit suites like Slither and Echidna
• Used by protocols like Aave, Balancer, and Yearn for pre-audit and fuzzing flows

When to use it:

• Your contracts need test coverage, fuzzing, and security constraints
• You want fast test execution and dev-friendly cheat codes
• Your team is CI/DevOps mature

When to avoid:

• If you’re onboarding junior devs or front-end-focused engineers
• If your team prefers TypeScript-based test scripting

Foundry isn’t built for beginners, but for battle-tested smart contract pipelines, nothing comes close. It offers confidence at scale, especially for teams where failure isn't an option.

Widely used in Optimism Superchain modules, Zora’s custom contracts, and DeFi-native rollups launching on Arbitrum Orbit.

Scaffold-ETH 2

Full-stack boilerplate that evolves with the ecosystem.

Scaffold-ETH 2 has become the go-to stack for rapid prototyping in the EVM world. Built around Viem, Vite, Wagmi, and RainbowKit, it lets teams go from smart contract to usable frontend in hours, not days.

In 2025, this isn’t just a hackathon tool. It’s a serious entry point for solo builders, product teams validating ideas, and early-stage startups that need to ship fast, test UX, and iterate quickly.

What makes it work:

• Viem + Wagmi v1 support for full TypeScript-based frontend flows
• Pre-wired wallet connectors via RainbowKit
• Built-in testing/deployment hooks (Foundry + Hardhat compatible)
• L2 templates: Optimism, Base, Mode ready out-of-the-box

When to use it:

• You want a quick launchpad for a new dApp
• You’re testing UX, not writing core infra
• Your stack is Viem + React-based

When to avoid:

• For production-grade protocol development
• If you need gas optimisation or fine-grained test coverage

Scaffold-ETH 2 trades depth for speed, and that’s the point. It’s not built to scale your mainnet protocol, it’s built to test if the idea is worth scaling in the first place.

Common use cases are token-gated apps, minting flows, DAO frontends, and community dashboards.

Thirdweb

Low-code framework for Web3 app deployment.

Thirdweb has carved out a clear niche in 2025: abstracting the complexity of blockchain development so non-technical teams, startups, and consumer brands can launch quickly without touching low-level code.

It’s not just a no-code UI, it’s a developer toolkit with SDKs, prebuilt contracts, wallet integrations, and a full deployment pipeline.

Especially for teams building NFTs, DAOs, or token-based reward systems, it reduces time-to-market dramatically.

What makes it work:

• Pre-audited smart contract templates (ERC20s, NFTs, splits, etc.)
• Drag-and-drop dashboard with custom deployment workflows
• SDKs for React, Unity, and Python
• Integrations for zkSync, Polygon CDK, and other L2s
• Role-based access control and on-chain permissions

When to use it:

• You want rapid deployment without managing infrastructure
• Your app doesn’t require deep customisation
• You’re targeting retail onboarding or Web2-native UX

When to avoid:

• If you need full contract-level control or gas optimisation
• If your app handles high-value or composable DeFi logic

Thirdweb trades off flexibility for ease of use. It lowers barriers for Web3 adoption but may not support edge-case logic or scaling needs.

RedStone SDK and Oracle Toolkits

Tooling for verifiable on-chain data delivery.

In 2025, oracles are no longer one-size-fits-all.

As DeFi, RWA protocols, and DePIN systems demand faster updates, custom feeds, and proof-backed data pipelines, RedStone SDK has emerged as the toolkit for developers who need more than static price feeds.

Rather than offering fixed endpoints like traditional oracles, RedStone gives you flexible delivery methods, cryptographic proofs, and full-stack integration hooks to match your protocol's execution model.

Why it matters in 2025:

• Supports push, pull, and on-demand data models
• Verifiable via IPFS + EVM signature checks, reducing trust assumptions
• Lightweight integration with smart contracts, dApps, and data providers
• Used in live protocols across DeFi, RWA tokenisation, and gaming infra

When to use it:

• You’re building custom price feeds or permissionless data ingestion
• You need off-chain to on-chain verification hooks
• Your protocol logic relies on dynamic or delayed updates

When to avoid:

• If using Chainlink’s prebuilt feeds with no modification
• If your use case is purely internal or doesn’t require external data

RedStone doesn’t just feed your contracts, it gives you control over what, when, and how data reaches the chain.

Choosing the Right Web3 Stack in 2025

The Web3 tooling ecosystem in 2025 is richer than ever, but also more fragmented. Developers are no longer choosing between Ethers.js and Web3.js.

They're deciding between modular frameworks, cross-chain execution layers, ZK tooling, WASM runtimes, and typed contract libraries. It’s a lot.

That’s why the question isn’t just which tool is best, but it’s about which stack fits what you're building, where you're building it, and how fast you need to move.

Here’s how teams are making those decisions today.

Today, teams aren’t just choosing tools; they’re assembling stacks that align with their use case, architecture, product maturity, and execution speed.

But picking the right combination starts with clarity: about the chain you're building on, the stage you're in, and the outcomes you need to optimise for. From there, the trade-offs become easier to navigate.

Let’s break that down.

Start with Infrastructure Fit

Every Web3 stack starts with an architectural choice. Based on what chain you are building on, like EVM chains like Optimism or Arbitrum, ZK-rollups like Starknet or Cosmos appchains.

Each of these environments has its own development patterns, supported languages, and tooling preferences.

Choosing the right stack starts by aligning with the execution layer you’re targeting:

Why it matters: Starting with the wrong tooling can create unnecessary overhead. Compatibility issues, missing dev features, or lack of ecosystem support can bottleneck progress from day one.

Build for Speed, Then Refine

In the early stages of a product, speed matters more than precision. You’re validating ideas, not perfecting architecture.

Stacks like Scaffold-ETH 2 or Thirdweb help teams move from concept to testnet in hours. It is ideal for hackathons, MVPs, and rapid feedback loops.

Common early-stage stack: Viem and Wagmi for the frontend, Hardhat or Scaffold-ETH for contracts, and RainbowKit for wallet integration.

Best suited for: NFT drops, token-gated experiences, loyalty programs, and lightweight community apps.

But once you find traction, it’s time to optimise for auditability, composability, and upgradeability, which means a deeper tooling transition.

Prioritise Security and Testability at Scale

When you're building a DeFi protocol, treasury infrastructure, or anything composable with other apps, your stack needs to account for edge cases, gas costs, and attack surfaces.

That’s where performance-first tools like Foundry shine by offering built-in fuzzing, cheat codes, and gas profiling.

Advanced protocol stack: Foundry for contracts, Web3.py for automation and bots, Ethers.js for backend interactions, and RedStone SDK for oracle integration.

Best suited for: Lending markets, derivatives platforms, automated treasury systems, and stablecoin protocols.

Pro tip: CI/CD matters. If your testing suite isn’t fast or reproducible, you’ll pay for it during audits.

Align with the Ecosystem You’re Building In

Tooling doesn’t exist in a vacuum. Ecosystems like Optimism, Polygon CDK, or Starknet often standardise on specific tools and choosing those helps unlock grants, dev support, and faster onboarding.

Choosing tools that align with your ecosystem's standards doesn’t just simplify development; it connects you to native dev tooling, documentation, and incentives.

Here’s how leading ecosystems stack up in 2025:

If your goal is to plug into ecosystem incentives or coordinate with other dApps on the same chain, stack alignment makes life easier.

Map the Stack to the Use Case

The use case dictates the abstraction level. A DAO building governance bots doesn’t need the same stack as a protocol designing a new AMM.

Here's how tooling depth maps to common Web3 use cases in 2025:

Avoid Over-Engineering Too Early

Web3 tooling evolves fast. It’s tempting to chase the newest framework or bleeding-edge language.

But in most cases, stability and documentation matter more than novelty, especially if you’re building with a team, hiring developers, or preparing for audits.

Focus on tools with strong communities, up-to-date docs, and long-term roadmap clarity. A tool that’s 90% perfect and 100% maintained beats one that’s 100% cool and 0% supported.

In 2025, the right stack helps you move faster without cutting corners. Start lean, align with your infrastructure, and scale into security as your app matures.

As the ecosystem matures, so do the expectations from tooling. It's no longer just about building faster; it's about building smarter, more verifiable systems that can adapt as the ecosystem shifts.

Here’s what’s shaping the next wave of Web3 development in 2025 and beyond.

Trends to Watch in Web3 Dev Stacks

Web3 dev stacks in 2025 aren’t just maturing, they’re getting opinionated.

The most significant shifts aren’t just about faster deployment or cleaner syntax; they’re about transforming development into a modular, verifiable, and AI-assisted process that scales across chains.

Here are five major trends redefining how blockchain applications are built.

From Libraries to Full-Stack Dev Environments

Tooling is evolving from isolated libraries into stack-level abstractions. Devs aren’t just writing contracts, they’re assembling systems.

Full-stack environments now offer pre-integrated wallets, deployments, and UI kits, allowing builders to go from idea to mainnet without context switching.

Examples:

• Scaffold-ETH 2 with integrated Viem, Vite, and wallet hooks
• Thirdweb packaging contract deployment, access control, and frontend SDKs
• Dojo (Starknet) combines Cairo contracts, simulation engines, and indexing layers

You’re no longer stitching tools together. You’re adopting a composable environment purpose-built for your use case, whether that’s a DeFi protocol, ZK-based game, or DAO governance system.

Typed, Simulated, and Testable by Default

Test-first thinking is now the default. Tools like Foundry and Hardhat simulate mainnet state locally, giving developers confidence before pushing to production.

Combined with typed ABIs and CI hooks, the result is infra that’s safe by design, not afterthought.

What's driving this:

• Type-safe ABIs (Viem, TypeChain, Foundry’s bindings)
• Built-in forked testnets and call simulations (Hardhat, Foundry)
• CI-integrated gas snapshots and test coverage tools

Smart contract development is becoming more like traditional backend development: observable, reproducible, and confidently testable before mainnet deployment.

AI-Enriched Dev Loops

AI isn’t just helping write code, it’s shaping how contracts are verified.

Tools like DevGPT are being used to write tests, simulate exploits, and enforce invariants. The results are smarter agents, faster loops, and fewer bugs in prod.

Emerging use cases in 2025:

• Prompt-based scripting for bots and governance flows
• LLM-powered test generation and state analysis
• Static analysers trained on on-chain exploit data

AI accelerates repetitive tasks and shortens the feedback loop. Developers now focus more on architectural thinking and verifiability, while AI handles syntax and edge case detection.

Cross-Chain SDKs and Unified Interfaces

Devs no longer ask “Which chain?”, they ask “Which execution model?” SDKs are now expected to normalise differences across L2s, appchains, and ZK rollups.

With a single interface to handle signers, RPCs, and state queries, cross-chain isn't complexity, it's just configuration.

Key tooling directions:

• SDKs like Viem, LayerZero, and WalletConnect v2 that abstract chain differences
• Unified signer and RPC interfaces across Base, zkSync, Starknet, and Cosmos
• Contract factories that deploy across rollups with consistent logic

The best developers aren’t choosing chains, they’re choosing deployment surfaces. Stack-agnostic tooling is how multichain apps ship without blowing up scope.

Programmable Infra and Verifiable Automation

Automation in 2020s meant scripts. In 2025, it means execution that’s provable by design.

Services like TriggerX and Chainlink Functions offer cryptographic attestations and slashing-backed uptime, shifting automation from best-effort to guaranteed.

What’s evolving:

• Automation networks like TriggerX and Chainlink Functions using BLS signatures
• Slashing-backed uptime enforcement via EigenLayer
• Monitoring layers that detect and relog failed jobs (e.g., Fluffle, Tenderly)

Reliability is now measurable. Smart contract automation is no longer best-effort; it’s programmable, verifiable, and reputationally enforced.

Closing Thoughts

The Web3 stack has matured.

What used to be a fragmented mix of libraries and scripts is now evolving into structured environments, complete with typed contracts, simulation layers, cross-chain abstractions, and verifiable automation.

In 2025, building on-chain is less about hacking things together and more about choosing the right building blocks are ones that match your architecture, your ecosystem, and your execution model.

Whether you're launching a DeFi protocol, building a DAO coordination layer, or shipping your first smart wallet app, the stack you choose will shape how you scale, debug, and sustain that system over time.

• Use fast, composable stacks when you're validating ideas.
• Switch to typed, testable, and modular systems as you mature.
• Don’t overbuild early, but don’t underinvest when it matters.

Choosing the right tools isn't just a technical decision. It’s a strategic one. At Lampros Tech, we help protocol teams build future-ready systems with the right stack, which is modular, verifiable, and built to scale. Explore our Web3 Development Services.