Polkadot’s Ecosystem Growth: Top Projects Building on the Relay Chain

Polkadot’s multi-chain vision is firmly moving from theory to production. With OpenGov, XCM cross-chain messaging, and the shift to Agile Coretime, the network is scaling in a way that keeps security and decentralization at the center. For builders, it means more predictable access to blockspace. For users, it means richer apps that feel unified across chains. This article surveys what’s new around the Relay Chain and highlights standout projects shaping the next wave of adoption.

Why the Relay Chain Still Matters

Polkadot’s Relay Chain provides shared security, consensus, and message routing for an expanding set of application-specific blockchains (“parachains”). Rather than trying to fit every use case on one chain, Polkadot deliberately composes specialized runtimes that interoperate via the Relay Chain’s capabilities. If you’re new to the architecture, the Polkadot Wiki offers a clear overview of how the Relay Chain, parachains, and cross-consensus messaging fit together. Reference: Polkadot architecture and XCM basics.

• Learn the architecture: https://wiki.polkadot.network/docs/learn-architecture
• Understand XCM cross-chain messaging: https://wiki.polkadot.network/docs/learn-xcm

What’s New in 2024–2025

• Agile Coretime and on-demand execution: Polkadot moved away from inflexible long-term slot auctions toward a market for “coretime,” letting teams reserve execution resources when they need them. This makes onboarding more affordable and flexible for new networks. Reference: Agile Coretime on the Polkadot Wiki.
  https://wiki.polkadot.network/docs/learn-coretime

• Asynchronous backing: Protocol-level optimizations reduce block production latencies and increase throughput, improving UX across parachains without sacrificing security. Reference: Asynchronous Backing explainer.
  https://wiki.polkadot.network/docs/learn-asynchronous-backing

• OpenGov at scale: Governance now runs entirely on-chain with fast, continuous decision-making and multiple tracks to manage everything from runtime upgrades to treasury spending. Reference: OpenGov overview.
  https://wiki.polkadot.network/docs/learn-open-gov

• Asset and Bridge system chains: Polkadot’s system parachains, Asset Hub and Bridge Hub, standardize asset issuance and cross-ecosystem connectivity. Expect more projects to rely on these neutral hubs for stablecoin liquidity and external bridges. References: Asset Hub and Bridge Hub.
  https://wiki.polkadot.network/docs/learn-asset-hub
  https://wiki.polkadot.network/docs/learn-bridge-hub

Together, these upgrades are catalyzing a new wave of projects that combine app‑chain performance with unified, cross-chain UX.

Top Projects Building on the Relay Chain

Below is a curated snapshot of networks that exemplify Polkadot’s strengths. This is not exhaustive, but it captures the breadth of real-world use cases already live.

Smart Contracts and Programmability

• Moonbeam: EVM-compatible smart contracts with native XCM integration, making it easy for Solidity developers to tap into Polkadot-wide liquidity and assets. Moonbeam’s focus on cross-chain applications continues to attract multi-chain teams.
  https://moonbeam.network/

• Astar Network: A multi-VM platform supporting EVM and WASM, with deep ties to Japan’s enterprise and creator communities. Astar’s builder programs and ecosystem funds remain a magnet for production-grade dApps.
  https://astar.network/

• Substrate and ink! for native builders: For teams targeting custom runtimes or Rust smart contracts, Substrate and ink! are the canonical toolchains.
  Substrate docs: https://docs.substrate.io/
  ink! smart contracts: https://use.ink/

DeFi Liquidity and Yield

• HydraDX: A purpose-built DeFi chain centered on an omnipool that concentrates liquidity and reduces fragmentation. Its native design aligns well with Polkadot’s cross-chain asset flows via XCM.
  https://hydradx.io/

• Bifrost: A liquid staking and cross-chain DeFi protocol offering liquid derivatives for staking and crowdloans, improving capital efficiency across the ecosystem.
  https://bifrost.finance/

• Acala: A DeFi infrastructure chain known for aUSD and runtime-level financial primitives. While it navigated major governance and security incidents in the past, it remains an important reference point for on-chain financial tooling in the Polkadot universe.
  https://acala.network/

• Native stablecoins on Asset Hub: Polkadot’s Asset Hub increasingly acts as a neutral venue for asset issuance and routing, including stablecoins used by DeFi apps across parachains. Reference: Asset Hub overview.
  https://wiki.polkadot.network/docs/learn-asset-hub

Bitcoin and Cross-Asset Interop

• Interlay: A Bitcoin-focused parachain bringing BTC-backed assets and bridging primitives into Polkadot’s DeFi. Interlay’s security model and BTC integration broaden the reach of on-chain liquidity.
  https://www.interlay.io/

Real-World Assets and Financing

• Centrifuge: Tokenized real-world assets (RWA) with on-chain financing rails. Centrifuge has been a pioneer in bringing off-chain collateral and yield mechanisms on-chain, relevant to credit, invoices, and supply-chain financing.
  https://centrifuge.io/

Privacy, Compute, and Data

• Phala Network: TEE-backed confidential compute for on-chain apps. Phala enables privacy-preserving services and off-chain computation that can be verified on-chain, a key capability for regulated or data-sensitive use cases.
  https://www.phala.network/

• KILT Protocol: Decentralized identity credentials for Web3 and enterprise scenarios, enabling provable, revocable attestations. KILT is frequently used for identity, compliance, and reputation layers in multi-chain applications.
  https://www.kilt.io/

IoT, Mobility, and Edge

• Nodle: A crowdsourced IoT network leveraging smartphones as edge nodes. Nodle’s model fits well with Polkadot’s multi-chain setup, connecting physical world signals to on-chain logic.
  https://www.nodle.com/

NFTs, Gaming, and Creative Economies

• Unique Network: A chain focused on NFTs with features such as customizable economic models, batch transactions, and scalable minting, important for gaming and large-scale digital collectibles.
  https://unique.network/

System Chains: The Network’s Neutral Settlement Layer

Two system chains deserve special attention:

• Asset Hub: The canonical chain for asset issuance and management inside the Polkadot ecosystem. Expect more tokens (including stablecoins) and non-fungible assets to standardize here for seamless routing via XCM. Reference: Asset Hub.
  https://wiki.polkadot.network/docs/learn-asset-hub

• Bridge Hub: A dedicated chain for trust-minimized connectivity to external ecosystems. As more bridges launch and harden, users should see safer cross-ecosystem flows without fragmenting security. Reference: Bridge Hub.
  https://wiki.polkadot.network/docs/learn-bridge-hub

Cross-Chain UX Is Becoming the Default

Thanks to XCM, parachains can trustlessly transfer assets and instructions without centralized bridges. Developers can compose multi-chain dApps where logic runs on the best-suited chain and assets move only when necessary. This is emerging as Polkadot’s signature UX advantage: cross-chain by design rather than bolt-on bridging. Reference: XCM fundamentals.
https://wiki.polkadot.network/docs/learn-xcm

Governance, Staking, and Participation

• OpenGov: Polkadot’s governance is proactive and continuous, with track-based decision-making and safeguards aligned with on-chain risk. Community members can follow and participate via OpenGov interfaces such as Polkassembly.
  https://wiki.polkadot.network/docs/learn-open-gov
  https://polkadot.polkassembly.io/

• Nominating and staking: DOT staking secures the Relay Chain and indirectly all parachains. With nomination pools and improved tooling, more users can participate without running their own validators. Reference: Staking overview.
  https://wiki.polkadot.network/docs/learn-staking

For Builders: Choosing the Right Path

• Need a full custom runtime? Use Substrate to build a specialized chain that reserves coretime as needed.
  https://docs.substrate.io/

• Want EVM speed-to-market? Deploy on Moonbeam or Astar and bridge to the rest of the ecosystem via XCM.
  https://moonbeam.network/
  https://astar.network/

• Require confidential compute or identity? Leverage Phala for TEE-backed privacy and KILT for verifiable credentials.
  https://www.phala.network/
  https://www.kilt.io/

With Agile Coretime, projects can scale their needs up or down while retaining Relay Chain security and XCM interoperability.

Risk and What to Watch

• Economic security assumptions: As coretime markets and execution schedules evolve, monitor how changes influence fees, liveness, and attack costs.
• Governance velocity: OpenGov’s speed is a feature, but it demands informed participation. Follow proposals and discussions closely.
• Cross-chain dependencies: XCM composability is powerful; teams should implement robust failure modes and on-chain safeguards for external calls.

Polkadot’s Wiki and blog are the best places to track protocol-level changes, including performance upgrades and governance changes.
https://wiki.polkadot.network/
https://polkadot.network/blog/

Managing Assets Securely

As the number of parachain assets grows, good key management is non-negotiable. A hardware wallet with offline signing helps protect DOT and parachain tokens while interacting with OpenGov, staking, and DeFi.

If you prefer open-source tooling and multi-chain coverage, OneKey offers a straightforward way to generate and store keys offline, sign transactions for DOT and Substrate‑based assets, and manage portfolios across EVM and non‑EVM chains with a single device. For users active in governance or cross-chain DeFi, keeping signing isolated from your browser and mobile environment can materially reduce operational risk.

Final Thoughts

Polkadot’s direction is getting clearer: specialized runtimes, predictable blockspace via Agile Coretime, and XCM-centered UX. The projects above show how the Relay Chain model can produce a cohesive, multi-chain application layer without centralization trade-offs. As 2025 unfolds, expect more teams to lean into system chains like Asset Hub, adopt privacy and identity primitives natively, and ship dApps that feel cross-chain by default.

For builders, the message is simple: pick the best execution context, compose via XCM, and let the Relay Chain’s shared security do the heavy lifting. For users, secure your keys, participate in OpenGov, and explore the breadth of apps flourishing on Polkadot’s Relay Chain.