Developer Relations and Builder Programs: Why are they so Important?

After listening to a variety of feedback from different community members within the XRP ecosystem on the role that builder-focused initiatives have, I wanted to share some thoughts from my own journey on why developer relations and builder programs are the lifeblood of any blockchain ecosystem. In the blockchain world, technology alone isn’t enough, it’s the people building on it that truly make it thrive. Developer communities need support, education, and resources to turn great ideas into reality. That’s where Dev Rel initiatives and builder programs come in. These programs create a welcoming on-ramp for developers, offering everything from technical guidance and infrastructure to funding and mentorship. In my experience working with both the XRP Ledger (XRPL) and The Root Network (TRN) over the last 4 years, I’ve seen firsthand how empowering developers through such initiatives accelerates innovation and growth. In this post I will dive into how this plays out in the XRP ecosystem with entities like XRPL Commons / the XRPL Foundation on the XRPL, and TRN Labs / Gen3 Labs on TRN.

XRPL Commons: Fostering XRPL Developers

XRPL Commons is a nonprofit organization laser-focused on helping developers and entrepreneurs thrive within the XRP Ledger ecosystem. Their mission is to nurture a strong, vibrant XRPL community by providing training, collaboration opportunities, and a space for experimentation. A cornerstone of XRPL Commons efforts is The Aquarium Residency, a 12-week in-person program in Paris where selected builders immerse themselves in XRPL development. Through the Aquarium program, developers get hands-on experience building on the XRPL, working closely with mentors and peers to transform their ideas into reality. By the end of the residency, participants have sharpened their skills and often launched impactful XRPL-based projects. This kind of intensive builder program doesn’t just produce new apps; it cultivates long-term commitment from developers who become active contributors in the XRPL ecosystem.

Another flagship initiative by XRPL Commons is the XRPL Core Dev Bootcamp, which recently held its first cohort in July 2025. This was a two-week, in-person bootcamp in Paris aimed at intermediate-to-advanced C++ developers looking to contribute to XRPL’s core codebase. Over the two weeks, participants received hands-on training in XRPL’s low-level protocols and development practices. The goal was to foster a new cohort of core contributors equipped to reduce technical bottlenecks, accelerate innovation, and strengthen the XRPL ecosystem. Programs like this Bootcamp are essentially developer workshops on steroids, they not only teach skills but also build relationships and a sense of mission among developers. I’ve seen how excited attendees were to meet and learn from leading XRPL experts, and how this experience inspired them to get more involved in the community. XRPL Commons also hosts free training sessions, hackathons, and even publishes a community magazine, all aimed at engaging developers in a fun and collaborative way. By lowering the barrier to entry and actively inviting developers in, XRPL Commons ensures that the XRPL ecosystem continually gains fresh talent and ideas.

XRPL Foundation: Supporting Infrastructure and Builders

While XRPL Commons focuses on education and community, the XRPL Foundation plays a critical role behind the scenes in maintaining the essential infrastructure that developers rely on. The XRPL Foundation is an independent nonprofit with the mission to accelerate development and adoption of the XRP Ledger. One of its most important responsibilities has been publishing and managing the default Unique Node List (dUNL), essentially a list of trusted network validators that keep XRPL running securely. Throughout its history, the XRPL Foundation has been critical to the XRPL’s security and decentralization by providing a trusted UNL that node operators can rely on. By curating and publishing the dUNL, the Foundation helps ensure the network remains robust and accessible, which is absolutely vital for developers building on XRPL (nobody wants to build on a shaky foundation).

Beyond the UNL, the XRPL Foundation also maintains a lot of the “plumbing” of the XRPL ecosystem that builders use every day. For example, the Foundation manages key community resources like the domain for the official developer portal (XRPL.org). This site is a one-stop hub for XRPL documentation, tutorials, and tools, basically a lifeline for any developer learning to build on XRPL. By keeping xrpl.org up-to-date and accessible, the Foundation ensures that information about the ledger is open and easy to find. The Foundation’s mandate extends to network monitoring, running public infrastructure, and even open-source tooling. These might not be as flashy as hackathons or bootcamps, but they create an environment where developers can build with confidence. In addition, the new XRPL Foundation has working groups and committees (e.g. the XAO DAO) where community members can get involved in decisions. This open governance approach means developers have a voice in the direction of XRPL’s evolution. From my perspective, the XRPL Foundation acts as the steady backbone of the ecosystem, by maintaining essential infrastructure and coordinating governance, it lets the developer community flourish on a reliable network.

The Root Network: Building a Developer Ecosystem

Now, let’s talk about The Root Network (TRN) and how we’ve applied similar developer-growth strategies there. For those unfamiliar, TRN is a relatively new blockchain optimized for gaming experiences and AI, and it’s interoperable with the XRPL (in fact, TRN is a substrate-based sidechain that even uses XRP as a gas token). In the TRN ecosystem, we’ve recognized from day one that attracting developers and creators is key to success. That’s why my team at Gen3 works very closely with TRN Labs (the core foundation of the network) on developer relations and builder-focused programs. Our collaboration aims to mirror the proven approaches from the XRPL: providing funding, guidance, and education to bring more builders into TRN.

One major initiative we’ve rolled out is the TRN Odyssey grants program. The ethos behind Odyssey is similar to XRPL Commons Aquarium residency: attract top-tier talent and give them the resources to thrive on our network. As TRN Labs described it, TRN Odyssey is about “attracting top-tier talent and visionary innovators to drive the expansion of The Root Network ecosystem.” This initiative reflects TRN’s commitment to fostering innovation and growth, much like how XRPL’s grants and residencies do for the XRP Ledger. From my vantage point helping run Odyssey, I can tell you it’s been amazing to see developers from gaming and web3 communities get excited about building on TRN when they realize there’s funding and support available. It lowers the risk for them to jump in and start experimenting, which is exactly what we need for a young ecosystem.

In addition to grants, we place a big emphasis on hands-on developer workshops and community events for TRN. Just as XRPL Commons organizes bootcamps and trainings, we’ve been hitting the ground to engage developers in person. For example, we recently ran a builder workshop during Malaysia Blockchain Week 2025, where we introduced The Root Network to new developers in the region. It was a blast seeing a room full of eager devs interact with their first native pallet on TRN with our team’s guidance. These workshops are not just coding sessions, they’re community bonding experiences. Developers get face time with our senior developers (yes, that means 1on1 time with the legendary Mark Ibanez), and they meet fellow builders who share similar passions. We also use these events to gather feedback and understand what tools or documentation new devs need, so we can improve the onboarding process. Much like XRPL Commons hackathons or meetups, TRN developer workshops help turn an unfamiliar ecosystem into a welcoming community. We plan to do many more such events globally, because each one lights a spark that can grow into the next big project on The Root Network.

Community Initiatives Fuel Ecosystem Growth

Working in both the XRPL and TRN ecosystems has reinforced a core truth for me: if you invest in your developers, you invest in the future of your ecosystem. Developer relations and builder programs might sound like buzzwords, but they translate into concrete growth in a blockchain ecosystem. When developers have access to training, funding, and support, they can build faster and bolder. Programs like the XRPL Commons Aquarium or TRN Labs Odyssey empower creators to pursue ambitious ideas, resulting in more dApps, features, and use cases on the network. Each successful project inspires others, creating a flywheel of innovation.

Dev Rel initiatives turn a loose group of coders into a collaborative community. Through bootcamps, residencies, and workshops, developers form personal connections and learn from each other. This camaraderie leads to knowledge-sharing and mutual help long after the event ends. A strong developer community will advocate for the ecosystem and welcome newcomers, sustaining growth organically.

Builder programs aren’t just about writing code, they also feed back into the network’s health. For example, XRPL Foundation’s work on the dUNL and infrastructure gives developers confidence that the ledger is stable and here to stay. Engaged developers often become validators, documentation contributors, and problem solvers who help maintain the ecosystem’s integrity.

Ultimately, more builders mean more applications and services for end-users, which attracts more activity to the blockchain. Every hackathon project or grant-funded app on XRPL and TRN can onboard new users (be it gamers, traders, or enterprises). By seeding the ecosystem with diverse projects, Dev Rel and builder-focused programs indirectly drive user adoption and real-world value for the ledger.

In both the XRP Ledger and The Root Network, we’ve seen these benefits take hold. The XRPL’s decades of success owe a lot to the community efforts, from independent developers building on the XRP Ledger, to organizations like XRPL Commons and the Foundation providing guidance and support. That ecosystem now boasts everything from DeFi protocols to NFT marketplaces, backed by a passionate global dev community. The Root Network, being newer, is rapidly building its community using those same principles. We’re actively inviting developers in, offering them resources and a stake in shaping TRN’s direction. The early results are promising: interest in TRN is growing, and each developer we bring on board tends to become an advocate who brings in others.

I want to emphasize how important these initiatives are for both the XRPL and TRN going forward. Blockchain technology evolves fast, and the networks that will thrive are the ones with a thriving builder culture. By continuously lowering barriers and celebrating our developers, we ensure that the XRPL and TRN remain vibrant and resilient. Personally, I find it incredibly rewarding to be a part of these programs, watching a hackathon idea turn into a full-fledged product on XRPL, or seeing a team secure a TRN Odyssey grant and then deliver a groundbreaking gaming experience. Moments like these underscore that community is everything.

So to all XRP community members reading this: whether you’re a developer, an enthusiast, or just curious, know that these Dev Rel and builder programs are here to help you engage and succeed. Feel free to reach out, join a workshop, apply for a grant, or even just hop into the community chats. Together, through initiatives like the XRPL Commons Aquarium and XRPL Foundation’s support, and through Gen3’s collaboration with TRN Labs on Odyssey and TRN developer workshops, we are building more than just blockchains, we’re building an XRP ecosystem where everyone can be a builder. That, in my view, is the key to long-term growth and innovation for the XRPL, TRN, and the entire XRP community.

If you read all of this, thank you, and a massive shoutout to the incredible work that teams like XRPL Commons, the XRPL Foundation and TRN Labs do for the XRP builder ecosystem. Without them, we definitely would not be where we are today. 💜