Internet Computer ICP Celebrates 4th Anniversary: Major Updates & Milestones

The Internet Computer (ICP), a blockchain platform developed by the DFINITY Foundation, marked its fourth anniversary on May 10, 2025, with a series of announcements highlighting its growth, technological advancements, and global impact. 

In a detailed Medium article and an X post, DFINITY showcased the platform's achievements over the past year, including significant developer growth, AI integration, and partnerships with global organizations like the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The platform recorded numerous milestones, with the community eager to know what lies ahead as it aims to realize the "World Computer" vision.

A Milestone for the Internet Computer

The Internet Computer, launched in May 2021, aims to serve as a decentralized "World Computer" capable of hosting applications at scale without relying on centralized servers. On its fourth anniversary, DFINITY celebrated the platform’s progress with a comprehensive review of the past year. 

“The story of the Internet Computer is not an ordinary one — it’s an extraordinary project, powered by a community of brilliant people,” the Founder, Dominic Williams, stated, emphasizing the platform's unique mission to replace traditional IT infrastructure with a secure, decentralized alternative.

The anniversary celebration will culminate at the World Computer Summit 2025 on June 3, 2025, in Zurich, Switzerland, where developers, policymakers, and enthusiasts will gather to discuss digital sovereignty, AI, and finance. The event will feature a main stage, an ecosystem stage, and networking opportunities, reflecting ICP’s growing influence in the blockchain space.

Developer Growth and Community Engagement

One of the standout achievements for ICP over the past year has been its developer growth. ICP added 2,155 new developers, making it the third-largest ecosystem in terms of new developer onboarding. It also ranked second for full-time developer growth across all Web3 ecosystems. This momentum is further evidenced by a 19% increase in GitHub activity, with over 4,300 repositories opened since the last anniversary. Additionally, Internet Identities—unique digital identities on the platform—grew by 14% to 260,000.

“In its 2024 Developer Report, Electric Capital noted that ICP was the third largest ecosystem in terms of attracting new developers, with 2,155 new developers entering the ecosystem last year. For full-time developer growth, ICP was ranked second highest,” the blog read. 

The platform has also fostered community engagement through its network of ICP HUBs. Over the past year, more than two dozen HUBs organized 1,200 in-person meetups worldwide, with new HUBs established in the United States and the UK. These events have helped build local developer ecosystems, encouraging innovation and collaboration. Projects like OpenChat, with 233,000 users, and DecideAI, with 42,000 verified users, highlight the growing adoption of ICP-based applications.

Technological Advancements: AI and Chain Fusion

ICP has made significant strides in integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into its blockchain ecosystem, pursuing a vision of a "Self-Writing Internet." This concept involves hosting AI models on-chain, enabling applications to be created using natural language. Notable projects include DecideAI, which leverages GPT-2, and Onicai, built on DeepSeek with 1.5 billion parameters. A demo of onchain facial recognition showcased the platform’s capabilities, while a partnership with the ETH AI Center underscores ICP’s commitment to advancing AI in Web3.

Another key development is Chain Fusion, a technology that enables ICP smart contracts to interact with other blockchains like Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH). The Tritium milestone has already brought Ethereum integration, with the upcoming Helium milestone set to include Solana. Chain Fusion has facilitated 1.7 million chain-key token transactions, a 118% increase, with ckBTC gaining widespread adoption. This interoperability, powered by chain-key cryptography, positions ICP as a leader in unifying Web3 ecosystems.

Decentralized Network and DeFi Growth

ICP’s decentralized network has expanded significantly, now comprising 92 independent node providers and 113 data centers across 34 countries. The platform has also seen a 2,500% increase in token burning, with over 1.5 million ICP tokens removed from circulation, reflecting high network activity and a deflationary mechanism. DFINITY claims that ICP handles more computation and data than the broader blockchain industry combined, a testament to its scalability.

In the decentralized finance (DeFi) space, ICP has introduced several innovations. The OISY Wallet v1.0 launched in February 2025, while KongSwap debuted in October 2024. The Orbit framework, completed in March 2025, supports further DeFi development. BTC DeFi projects like Odin.fun, which recorded $30 million in volume in its first month, along with Liquidium, Bob.fun, and Omnity, highlight the growing ecosystem. Upcoming milestones, Nexus and Echelon, will focus on enterprise-ledgers and Orbit expansion, further solidifying ICP’s role in DeFi.

Global Impact and Partnerships

ICP’s global engagement has been a key focus, with the platform making appearances at major events like Web Summit, ETHDenver, Token2049, and Paris Blockchain Week. A significant partnership with the UNDP aims to enhance digital inclusion for Cambodia's micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). 

The collaboration with Cambodia’s MISTI, announced on X, further extends ICP’s real-world applications. The ICP Dashboard also received a major redesign, providing clearer insights into network metrics, node decentralization, governance activity, and ecosystem projects. This transparency underscores ICP’s commitment to building trust within its community.

Looking Ahead: World Computer Summit 2025

The upcoming World Computer Summit 2025 in Zurich will be a pivotal moment for ICP. The event will bring together the community to discuss the platform’s future, with a focus on AI, digital sovereignty, and finance. Previous events, such as the World Computer Show in late 2024 and World Computer Day in Davos in January 2025, have already set the stage for ICP’s growing influence.

Analysts remain optimistic about ICP’s future, with price predictions suggesting potential growth driven by its technological advancements and partnerships. The sentiment is that ICP could see significant market movements by the end of 2025, reflecting confidence in its long-term potential.

Overall, the Internet Computer’s fourth anniversary marks a year of remarkable growth and innovation. With significant developer adoption, advancements in AI and Chain Fusion, and impactful global partnerships, ICP is solidifying its position as a leader in the blockchain space. 

As ICP heads toward the World Computer Summit 2025, its vision of a decentralized "World Computer" continues to gain traction, promising an exciting future for developers and users alike.