In 2024, one technology stands out as a game-changer in how we handle and trust data: Blockchain. This revolutionary technology offers a decentralised, secure, and transparent way of recording transactions, making it a cornerstone of many modern technological solutions.

As we discussed in our previous article. “Blockchain Beyond Bitcoin: Reshaping Industries in the Digital Age”, blockchain technology has penetrated various industries, from supply chain management to healthcare and digital content. We recommend reading both articles for a more in-depth understanding of blockchain technology and its real-world applications.

In this article, we will guide you on the pathways to becoming a blockchain developer, a profession that’s in high demand in 2024. We’ll explore the skills required, learning pathways, and opportunities in this exciting field.

Understanding Blockchain

Ultimately, blockchain is a type of database. It’s called “blockchain” because it involves a chain of blocks, where each block contains information. This information can be about transactions, contracts, or any data that needs to be independently recorded and verified as accurate. Each block contains a list of transactions. Once a block is filled with transactions, it’s added to the blockchain.

Each block is connected to the one before and after it, making it difficult to tamper with a single record. If a hacker wanted to change a transaction record on a block, they would have to change the information on that block and all the blocks linked to it, which is nearly impossible.

Unlike traditional databases that are controlled by a single entity (like a business or government), a blockchain is decentralised. This means that no single person or entity has control over the entire chain. Instead, everyone in the network gets a copy of the whole blockchain, creating transparency. Everyone can see the transactions, making blockchain very secure and trustworthy.

In addition to decentralisation, other key concepts of blockchain are:

Cryptography: A method of protecting information by transforming it into an unreadable format. It’s used to secure transactions and control the creation of new units in a blockchain. For example, in Bitcoin, cryptographic algorithms are used to ensure that only the owner of a Bitcoin can spend it and that each Bitcoin can only be spent once.

Consensus Algorithms: These are rules that the blockchain network uses to agree on the contents of the blockchain. They ensure all copies of the distributed ledger are the same. There are various types of consensus algorithms like Proof of Work (PoW), Proof of Stake (PoS), and Delegated Proof of Stake (DPoS), with each having its own way of validating transactions and adding new blocks to the blockchain.

In simple terms, decentralisation is about distributing control across the network, cryptography is about securing the data, and consensus algorithms are about agreeing on the data’s validity. All three are fundamental to how blockchain works.

Essential Skills

It’s important to understand the key skills you’ll need to acquire before embarking on your journey to becoming a blockchain developer. These skills range from programming languages to understanding specific blockchain platforms and data structures, and will form the foundation of your blockchain development career.

Programming Languages

JavaScript: The backbone of web development and is essential for creating interactive elements on a website. As a blockchain developer, you might use JavaScript to interact with the front-end of your blockchain application.

Python: Known for its simplicity, Python is often used in data analysis, machine learning, AI, and back-end web development. In blockchain, Python is used for creating blockchain applications and smart contracts.

Solidity: This is a must-learn language for anyone wanting to get into blockchain development. Solidity is used to write smart contracts on Ethereum, the most popular blockchain platform for creating decentralised applications (DApps).

Data Structures

Understanding data structures like linked lists, graphs, trees, and hash maps is crucial. The blockchain is a type of linked list, and understanding how data is structured and retrieved can help you create more efficient blockchain solutions.

Blockchain Platforms

Ethereum: The most widely used blockchain platform for creating DApps and smart contracts. Understanding Ethereum, its programming language Solidity, and its development tools is essential.

Hyperledger Fabric: This is a blockchain framework implementation and one of the Hyperledger projects hosted by The Linux Foundation. It’s designed for use in enterprise contexts and allows components, such as consensus and membership services, to be plug-and-play.

Web Development Skills

Blockchain applications often interact with the web. Therefore, understanding web development fundamentals like HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and backend development is important. You’ll likely need to create user interfaces for interacting with your blockchain, and APIs for communicating between the blockchain and your application.

Remember, becoming proficient in these areas requires practice and real-world application. Start with small projects and gradually take on more complex challenges as your skills improve.

Learning Pathways

Now we're aware of the expertise required, lets explore the several pathways you can take to acquire the necessary skills to become a blockchain developer. Here we’ll explore the key resources available in 2024:

Self-Learning

Online Resources: Websites like Coursera, Udemy, and Khan Academy offer courses on blockchain technology and development. These platforms provide comprehensive learning materials created by industry experts. Check out our list of key certifications below.

Books: Books like “Mastering Blockchain” by Imran Bashir and “Blockchain Basics” by Daniel Drescher are great resources for understanding the fundamentals of blockchain.

Tutorials: Websites like Medium, YouTube, and Stack Overflow have numerous tutorials and articles that can help you understand and solve specific problems or tasks in blockchain development.

Communities: Joining communities like GitHub, Reddit (r/ethereum, r/BlockChain), and Stack Exchange can provide you with a platform to ask questions, share your work, and learn from others’ experiences.

Certifications and Courses

Many online platforms and universities offer certifications and courses, providing in-depth training on blockchain technology and its platforms. Here are some of our favourites:

Certified Blockchain Developer: Offered by the Blockchain Council, this certification is designed for those who want to become competent blockchain developers.

Certified Blockchain Developer - Ethereum (CBDE): Offered by the Blockchain Training Alliance, this certification validates an individual’s expertise in developing and implementing smart contracts and decentralised applications (DApps) on the Ethereum platform.

Blockchain Developer Nanodegree: This course is provided by Udacity. It offers comprehensive training on how to work with the Bitcoin and Ethereum platforms, build projects for real-world application, and gain the essential skills for a career in this dynamic space.

Certified Hyperledger Fabric Developer (CHFD): Offered by the Linux Foundation, this certification is designed for developers who want to build applications on the Hyperledger Fabric platform.

Certified Blockchain Solution Architect (CBSA): Provided by the Blockchain Training Alliance, this certification validates an individual’s expertise in designing and implementing blockchain solutions.

Gaining Practical Experience

Getting hands-on experience is crucial in mastering blockchain development. Here are some beginner-friendly projects and open-source contributions you should consider:

Beginner-Friendly Projects:

Create a Basic Blockchain: Start by creating a simple blockchain in your preferred programming language. This project can help you understand the basics of how a blockchain works.

Develop a Smart Contract: Use Solidity to write your own smart contracts on the Ethereum platform. You could start with something simple like a voting or token system.

Build a DApp: Decentralised Applications are applications that run on a P2P network of computers rather than a single computer. Try building a simple DApp on Ethereum or another blockchain platform.

Open-Source Contributions:

Contributing to open-source projects is a great way to improve your skills and contribute to the community. Here are a few blockchain-related open-source projects that we’d recommend:

Bitcoin

Bitcoin is the first decentralised cryptocurrency, and it operates on an open-source platform. There are always enhancements and optimisations being made to the Bitcoin network.

Bitcoin Core is the backbone of the Bitcoin network. Developers can contribute to this project by reviewing code, making changes, and submitting pull requests. You can find the project on GitHub.

Ethereum

Ethereum is an open-source, blockchain-based platform that enables developers to build and deploy decentralised applications.

Ethereum.org is the official website for Ethereum and it’s an open-source project. You can contribute by improving the website’s design, adding or editing content, or even translating the website into different languages.

Hyperledger

Hyperledger is an open-source collaborative effort created to advance cross-industry blockchain technologies. It offers several frameworks and tools for blockchain developers.

Hyperledger.org hosts several projects, each with its own focus and requirements. Some of the notable ones include Hyperledger Fabric, Hyperledger Besu, and Hyperledger Aries. You can choose a project that aligns with your interests and skills.

Job Market and Opportunities

The job market for blockchain developers in 2024 is incredibly dynamic, with several emerging trends likely to influence job opportunities, required skills, and industry focus. The demand for blockchain professionals in 2024 is expected to reach an all-time high, with new roles are being created across various domains, including tech innovation, product management, legal compliance, and growth & strategy.

Roles in Blockchain Development:

Blockchain Developer: This is the cornerstone of the blockchain job market. Developers are in high demand for their skills in creating decentralised applications and smart contracts.

There are two primary types of blockchain developers:

Core Blockchain Developer: Develops and maintains the architecture of blockchain systems, designing protocols, developing security patterns, and supervising the network as a whole.

Blockchain Software Developer: Builds applications onto existing blockchain platforms.

Blockchain Solution Architect: They work with technical and non-technical teams to design and implement blockchain solutions. A deep understanding of the blockchain technology and its best practices is essential.

Blockchain Project Manager: They oversee the planning and implementation of blockchain projects, ensuring projects meet their deadlines and budgets while coordinating between technical and non-technical teams.

Industries Hiring Blockchain Developers

Several industries, such as banks and financial services, insurance, and retail, are in search of competent blockchain developers. Companies operating in these industries are seeking talent relating to blockchain so that they can keep up with advancing technology.

Additionally, start-up businesses are also focusing heavily on blockchain. The global blockchain market size in 2023 was valued at $10 billion and is expected to reach $1.4 trillion by 2030. This rapid growth is attributed mostly to the increasing venture capital funding, indicating a surge in blockchain start-ups.

It goes without saying that tech businesses are one of the most integral entities that are on the lookout for blockchain developers at all times. According to Glassdoor, tech companies have seen a 300% increase in demand for blockchain-related roles compared to 2023.

Whichever industry you journey into, it's clear the blockchain job market in 2024 is full of opportunities. Whether you’re a developer, architect, or project manager, there’s a role for you in this exciting field. As blockchain technology continues to evolve, so do the opportunities for those skilled in this area.

Conclusion

In this article, we’ve explored the exciting journey to becoming a blockchain developer in 2024. We’ve discussed the essential skills required, and the various learning pathways to enhance those skills. We’ve also highlighted the importance of gaining practical experience through beginner-friendly projects and open-source contributions. Finally, we provided an overview of the dynamic job market for blockchain developers, discussing the range of roles and industries that are actively seeking blockchain professionals.

It's important to remember that the field of blockchain is rapidly evolving. Continuous learning and adaptation are not just recommended, but necessary in this exciting field. Embrace the journey with enthusiasm and curiosity, and you’ll find that the world of blockchain has a lot to offer. Good luck on your path to becoming a blockchain developer.

Embracing the Blockchain Revolution: A 2024 Guide to Becoming a Blockchain Developer