Blockchain Beyond Cryptocurrency: Trends in Android App Development [2024]

It’s been a decade since we first heard of blockchain technology. It all began with Bitcoin, a cryptocurrency that became famous due to its highly secure, anonymous transactions and decentralized operations. However, Bitcoin was only the start of what blockchain technology could do.

Today, blockchain has moved beyond cryptocurrency, and its principles are being implemented in various fields and sectors.

Mobile app development is one of the sectors that has greatly benefited from blockchain technology. The trend is increasingly shifting towards creating blockchain-based mobile applications for both Android and iOS platforms.

Besides, if we look at the statistics from a report by Statista, the global blockchain technology market is expected to reach over $39 billion by 2025.

This growth will undeniably have an impact on the world of app development. 

But for now, let’s look at the potential trends in Android app development using blockchain technology:

10 Biggest Trends in Blockchain-Based Android App Development 2024

Despite cryptocurrency, the usage of blockchain technology has diversified in recent times, especially in Android app development. Here are the 10 biggest trends:

#1: Trend of Payment and Transaction Android App

Developing payment and transactional apps is not new to the Android ecosystem. We have apps for almost everything today, from ordering food to paying utility bills. In 2023, the Google Play Store had 3.718 million apps in its catalog.

But how many of them can you truly say are completely secure? 

Not many, we presume. This is where blockchain brings a ray of hope. Blockchain works on the principles of decentralization and cryptography. It secures transactions by eliminating third parties, making the transactions peer-to-peer and hence more secure.

Not to mention, the payment process becomes smoother, faster, and much more transparent.

Thus, for businesses whose main focus is transactional activities, it’s high time to integrate blockchain technology into their Android app. You need to have a reliable Blockchain development company by your side to help in such innovation. 

#2: Trend of Supply Chain Android Apps

One of the key areas blockchain technology could greatly enhance is supply chain management. And guess what? Android apps can play a crucial role in this.

How? Let’s see this below:

Where is my product? Has it reached the warehouse yet? These are the countless queries we ask while waiting for our favorite product.

Supply chain management has become critical for businesses. The transparency and real-time tracking that blockchain provides can take supply chain management to a whole new level.

For instance, Walmart has already begun utilizing blockchain technology in its supply chain management to reduce the time spent identifying the origin of certain products. 

If giant companies are integrating blockchain, it clearly shows the growing trend of its usage in the supply chain ecosystem.

In fact, the global blockchain supply chain market was valued at $253 million in 2020. It’s projected to reach $3,272 million by 2026, with a CAGR of 53.2%.

Hence, there is a potential rise in Android app development integrating blockchain for supply chain operations. 

#3: Trend of Gaming Android Apps

Okay, admit it, who doesn’t love games?

From Candy Crush to PUBG, we’ve all been hooked on some mobile game at some point. According to data, over 2.7 billion people globally are estimated to be gamers. That’s like 1 in every 3 humans.

And what if these games could give you a safe, secure environment where you don’t have to worry about your data getting stolen or being tricked? Thanks to blockchain, that is possible.

Blockchain could also help in building fair gaming practices by establishing trust in multiplayer and P2P games. For instance, players can truly believe they have an equal chance of winning the game, which may not always be the case without blockchain.

Besides, one important thing you should know is that the most popular category in the Google Play Store is gaming apps, accounting for 13.80% of all available apps.

Therefore, we might see a lot of Android gaming apps in the future implementing blockchain for improved security and a fair gaming experience. 

#4: Trend of DApps or Decentralized Apps

Now, the next biggest blockchain-based Android app development trends are DApps or decentralized apps. Wait a moment; most of you must be wondering what that is.

Simply put, DApps are applications that are not owned by a single entity. They exist on a decentralized network.

That means no big corporation will look into your app activities, snoop on your data, or use them for business purposes without your knowledge.

Yes, it is an incredible feature, isn’t it? Well, that’s DApps for you. So, most of the upcoming Android app developers will take a cue from this and come up with blockchain-based decentralized apps.

#5: Trend of Smart Contract Android App

You must have heard about ‘Smart Contracts,’ haven’t you? If not, well, buckle up, folks, as these are becoming increasingly popular, particularly within the legal sector.

In 2022, Smart Contracts market value was US$ 397.8 million, projected to reach US$ 1460.3 million by 2029.

Remember, they are not the traditional paper agreements with fancy words and hard-to-read legal terminologies.

Rather, smart contracts are self-executing contracts with the terms of agreements directly written into lines of code.

Businesses are using these to ensure transparency and integrity in their transactions. Thanks to blockchain, enforcing these contracts is as easy as pie; the process is fully automated. If one party fails to meet the agreed-upon terms, the contract simply doesn’t execute.

So it’s no wonder that the development of Android apps that implement smart contracts is one of the most anticipated trends for 2024.

#6: Trend of Android Apps for Foldable Devices

Take a quick overview of the people around you. What’s the scene? Foldable smartwatches, tablets, and smartphones, right? If not now, then pretty soon, you’ll see them everywhere.

It seems as though foldable devices are slowly but steadily taking over the market. In fact, the foldable phone market is expected to reach $29 billion in 2025, according to IDC.

Besides, one thing that you should notice is that the Android OS powers most of these foldable devices.

The data show that Android remained the most popular operating system in the world in the most recent quarter of 2024, with a market share of 69.88%.

Year	iOS (%)	Android (%)
2024	61.45	38.13
2023	58.10	41.46
2022	56.74	42.94
2021	58.58	41.11

This is a huge chance for businesses to use blockchain technology to make safer and more user-friendly Android apps tailored for foldable devices.

#7: Trend of NFT Marketplace Android App

In the past few years, there has been major hype surrounding NFTs (non-fungible tokens). NFTs are a type of digital asset that is based on blockchain technology, and their popularity is high.

You’ve seen headlines about people buying NFTs of tweets, art, and even virtual real estate.

Indeed, in April 2023, Ethereum’s NFT trading volume hit $514 million, making up about 70% of the total market trading volume.

But why should this matter to the Android mobile app development trend in 2024? 

NFTs provide exciting new opportunities for Android apps. For instance, the art, gaming, and entertainment industries can benefit from creating an app that trades or showcases NFTs.

While many might still consider NFTs to be a novelty, we must recognize the growing interest in incorporating NFT technology in Android app development.

As the demand for these types of applications grows, so too will the importance of incorporating blockchain into Android application development.

#8: Trend of DiFi Android App

These two concepts that have been creating waves in the finance sector are decentralized finance (DeFi) and decentralized apps (DADs). The reason for their popularity is that blockchain technology is behind them.

The popularity of these apps stems from the freedom they provide to their users by sidestepping central authorities. Who wouldn’t love an app that offers such an incredible level of freedom and flexibility?

In 2020 alone, DeFi protocols had over $78 billion locked up, representing a fourfold increase from the previous year.

Over the past two years, there has been an increase of over 40x in the number of unique addresses using DeFi applications, as per Dune Analytics.

Besides, according to a report by Statista, the DeFi market’s revenue is expected to hit US$26,170.0 million by 2024.

With such figures in sight, DeFi-based Android app development is a hot trend that we will see more of in 2024 and beyond.

#9: Trend of Crypto Wallet Android App

Indeed, we are here to talk about blockchain beyond cryptocurrency, but that doesn’t mean we completely neglect it. 

Given that the total number of Bitcoin transactions per day as of January 29, 2024, exceeded 575200.0. So, we believe it’s safe to say that cryptocurrency wallet apps for Android OS have significant potential. 

Android applications to hold digital currencies or crypto wallets, ultimately become one of the biggest trends in 2024. Blockchain’s most fundamental aspect, decentralization, is used here to provide security for your money and information. 

Besides, hiring a cryptocurrency development company to create a wallet app will help maintain user data, support swift transactions, and protect digital assets from hacks.

Here are some of the top Android applications for holding digital currencies:

1. Coinbase: This wallet is great for beginners. It offers easy navigation and allows users to manage their cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Litecoin. With high security and intuitive design, Coinbase is one of the top apps for storing, buying, and selling cryptocurrencies.
2. Blockchain Wallet: It’s known for its security, with the feature of a PIN code and a recovery phrase if you lose your device. This app also offers a great user experience and can be a suitable choice for beginners.
3. Binance: It is a leading global cryptocurrency exchange and blockchain platform. The Binance app allows for safe and fast buying, trading, and selling of crypto assets, with a multitude of features for experienced traders.
4. BitPay: This wallet is well-suited for users looking to manage their Bitcoin as well as turn it into dollars with the BitPay Visa Card. 
5. Exodus: This wallet has an intuitive design and is well-known for its security. Users can store, buy, and sell over 100 different cryptocurrencies on this app. 

#10: Trend of Health Tech Android Apps

And finally, as they say, save the best for last. One trend that we foresee blowing up in 2024 is the integration of blockchain technology into health tech apps on Android. 

Remember the infamous COVID-19 contact-tracing app saga? I think we all could have used a dose of blockchain technology during that debacle.

Blockchain has the potential to revamp the healthcare sector by enabling secure, interoperable, and portable health data. A blockchain-based health app on your Android phone could mean you hold the key to your medical records, not a distant third party.

Your data, encrypted and securely stored, is accessed only with your permission, making your personal information far less susceptible to being leaked or mishandled.

For doctors and healthcare professionals, developing an Android app based on blockchain technology could make things easier too.

Furthermore, a recent study estimates that by 2036, the size of blockchain technology in the healthcare market will exceed USD 215 billion.

That’s a sign that Health Tech Android apps will increasingly see blockchain integration in the future. 

All said and done, blockchain isn’t merely about cryptocurrency anymore. It’s finding its footing in diverse sectors, and mobile app development is certainly a big player in that list.

So, if you’re as excited as we are about the prospects of blockchain in Android app development, start brainstorming. Maybe you’ll end up being a part of the trend.

Now, what next?

Need help implementing blockchain technology in Android app development?

Blockchain is no longer just a cryptocurrency technology; it has grown into a whole new tech trend shaping Android app development in 2024 and beyond. The payment sector, smart contracts, health tech—these are just a few areas that will witness significant improvements with blockchain. 

However, integrating blockchain technology into apps is no child’s play, and it requires expertise and deep understanding. And, well, that’s what we are here for.

So, if you want your Android apps to be smarter, faster, and more secure than ever before, blockchain could well be the golden key. Go ahead and hire an Android app development company like ours. 

We are not only experts in the app development process but also apt at working with advanced tech like blockchain, AI, IoT, etc. You can rely on our development team for your projects.

Also read: NFT Marketplace Development Cost?