Discover a Rewarding Career in Blockchain Technology with these Top Courses

A blockchain is a centralized distributed database or ledger between computer network nodes. It serves as an electronic database for storing data in digital form. The creation of a blockchain generates confidence without the necessity for a reliable third party by ensuring the accuracy and security of a data record.

Using cryptography, a group of records known as blocks is connected. Peer-to-peer computer networks independently verify each transaction, time-stamp it, and then add it to the ledger. The data cannot be easily changed once it has been recorded. So, a blockchain acts as the basis for immutable ledgers or records of transactions that cannot be modified, removed, or destroyed. Because of this, blockchains are often referred to as Distributed Ledger Technologies (DLT).

Blockchain technology has gained popularity with the increasing use of different types of blockchain technology such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other cryptocurrencies, but it also has promising uses in the legal sector, real estate transactions, the medical field, and any other sector that requires the authorization and documentation of a series of actions or transactions. This has opened up a lot of career opportunities as employers are on the constant look out for professionals skilled in blockchain technology.

Blockchain has emerged from the once-shadowy world of cryptocurrency to become a catalyst technology for many businesses. Companies such as IBM, Microsoft, and JP Morgan Chase are making huge investments in blockchain in the hope that it will make their operations more efficient and give them a competitive advantage.

Blockchain is now recognized as the most in-demand skill in the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Australia. With many companies seeking talented blockchain professionals, there has never been a better time to pursue a career in the field with so many opportunities in blockchain technology.

Today, blockchain serves a variety of purposes across a wide range of industries, including the ones listed below:

• Accounting: Blockchain technology helps automate asset and ledger recording tasks for accounting purposes.
   
• Financial Services: In this industry, blockchain software is used for payment infrastructures, compliance and auditing, and credit scoring, to name a few.
   
• Insurance: Here, blockchain works through smart contracts. Thanks to these contracts, customers and insurers can manage claims in a clear and secure manner. This helps eliminate any claims that are invalid.
   
• Supply Chain Management: Blockchain enables it to be used for tasks like tracking items in real-time; an innovative and dynamic way to organize tracking data and use it.
   
• Healthcare: It is used in the healthcare industry to store and exchange patient data between doctors, nurses, diagnostic labs, hospitals, and pharmacies. The performance, security, and transparency of sharing medical data in the healthcare industry can all be improved with the use of blockchain technologies.
   
• Cybersecurity: It eliminates the possibility of a single point of failure. Additionally, blockchain technology offers anonymity and end-to-end encryption.
   
• Internet of Things (IoT): Applications for the Internet of Things (IoT) that use blockchain technology will increase security by preventing data breaches by utilizing the technology's transparency and theoretical incorruptibility.

According to a Grandview Research report, the market for blockchain technology was estimated to be worth $10.02 billion in 2022, and is anticipated to increase at a CAGR of 87.7% from 2023 to 2030. The rise in venture capital funding for blockchain technology startups is fueling the expansion of this sector. IBM Corporation, Microsoft Corporation, Linux Foundation, and R3 are some major companies active in the blockchain sector. Other notable market players are BTL Group, Chain Inc., Deloitte, Circle Internet Financial Limited, etc. Now let us take a look at the top reasons that make it worthwhile to pursue careers in blockchain technology.

• Lack of Skilled Professionals: One of the smartest choices you can make right now is to pursue a career in blockchain. Industries are becoming more reliable and efficient thanks to blockchain and are thus seeking professionals adept at this technology. But because the technology is new, there are not many highly skilled individuals available.
   
• Transient Skills: The best part about pursuing a career in blockchain is that skills acquired for this industry are transferable to other fields as well. Thus, you can easily transition to other fields like data science, IT, etc.
   
• Varied Job Roles: Most people think that there is only one kind of job role available in the blockchain field i.e. blockchain developer career path, however, in reality, it is not limited to just technical roles. There are different types of jobs involved such as developer, engineer, writer, lawyer etc.
   
• High Demand: Blockchain technology is expected to become widely used by 2024 due to the market's growing interest in cryptocurrencies. As a result, demand for blockchain professionals is constantly growing. The adoption of blockchain technology industries is the primary reason for its growth. As per the Grandview Research report, by the end of 2022, blockchain had a market share of almost $10 billion.

Some jobseekers think ‘blockchain developer’ is the only position available in this industry. Interestingly, there are quite a lot of lucrative career growth prospects for blockchain professionals in both technical and non-technical positions. The need for blockchain experts would significantly rise by roughly 300% to 500% yearly.

Here is a list of some of the most popular prospects with career scope in blockchain technology industry:

Blockchain Developer

They are responsible for developing, executing, and managing a blockchain platform or application. A blockchain developer is a software developer who focuses on blockchain technology. There are two major subcategories of blockchain developers, i.e. core blockchain developer and blockchain software developer.

• Qualification: A bachelor’s degree in computer science, information technology or a related field.
• Required Skills:
  • You need to be proficient in programming languages such as C, Java, and Python
  • Familiarity with the different types of blockchain platforms, such as Hyperledger Fabric, Ethereum, and Corda
  • Knowledge of cryptography, databases and networking, data structures and algorithms, blockchain architecture
  • Soft skills including strong communication skills, ability to seamlessly collaborate, problem-solving and time management

Blockchain Project Manager

Their responsibilities include developing and positioning the blockchain projects of the organization. They are similar to a software project manager but work with a few additional blockchain native tools, processes, technologies.

• Qualification: A bachelor’s degree in computer science, management degree or certifications in courses like fundamentals of blockchain or risk management or a related field.
• Required Skills: 
  • Basic knowledge of blockchain architecture, smart contracts and compliance requirements
  • Understanding of software development methodologies like Agile, Waterfall and tools such as JIRA, Confluence
  • Soft skills like solid communication skills, organizational skills, ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously, and focus on details.

Blockchain Engineer

Their responsibilities include creating and planning blockchain infrastructure, creating decentralized apps (dApps), and training employees.

• Qualification: A bachelor's in computer science, software engineering, software development or a related field.
• Required Skills:
  • Expertise in at least one programming language like Solidity, Go, C++ Java, Python, etc.
  • Understanding of blockchain platforms such as Hyperledger Fabric, Ethereum, and Bitcoin
  • Knowledge of blockchain technology including smart contracts, distributed ledger systems.
  • Soft skills like attention to detail, time management and organization, collaboration

Blockchain Architect

They are responsible for providing blockchain structural and architectural services.

• Qualification: A bachelor’s in computer science engineering, information technology, computer applications or a related field.
• Required Skills:
  • Good understanding of blockchain fundamentals, smart contracts, consensus algorithms, DeFI applications, non-Fungible tokens and Fungible tokens
  • Proficiency in programming languages such as Solidity, Rust, Go, Swift, or C/C++
  • Familiarity with blockchain or distributed ledger technologies like Hyperledger Fabric or Ethereum
  • Expertise in the cryptography application in blockchain and Agile development methodologies such as Scrum
  • Soft skills like team management, attention to detail, communication skills

Blockchain Designer

They are responsible for creating user-friendly interfaces and user experiences for blockchain-based applications and platforms.

• Qualification: A bachelor’s in computer science, design or a related field.
• Required Skills:  
  • Well-versed with graphic design tools like Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, or Affinity Designer
  • Familiar with Project management tools such as Asana, Trello, or Jira
  • Understanding of design softwares including Sketch, Figma, Adobe XD, and InVision
  • Soft skills like communication, organizational skills, creativity, collaboration

According to a PwC report, the blockchain market is expanding and will have 40 million job openings worldwide by 2030. Non-technical jobs account for more than 40% of all positions in this sector. Thus, the industry is open to everyone, with roughly 2/3 of the wide options in a career in blockchain without coding experience or interest.

The most sought-after non-technical skills are needed to fill the following positions:

• Engineering (31%)
• Operations (17%)
• Marketing (13%)
• Design (10%)
• Sales (9%)
• Customer Support (7%)
• Other various functions (13%)

As per the results of a LinkedIn study, the number of people working in the blockchain industry grew by 76%. The study also found that the United States, India, and China are the top 3 nations having a skilled force in the blockchain. Because of this talent gap, the salary offered is quite high compared to other professions, and the blockchain career future seems quite rewarding.

Comparing salary data is a great method to understand the blockchain business comprehensively. Here is the data for different career opportunities in blockchain across different countries -

In the United States, blockchain developers primarily work in the sectors of Information Technology, Management and Consulting, and Financial Services, drawing average gross salaries of $157,102, $110,316, and $102,212, respectively. The average blockchain career salary ranges from $56,947 to $144,453.

Due to a lot of benefits involved in pursuing in terms of career, a lot of aspirants are out there who want to know “how can I start a career in blockchain technology?”. However, not all are from a technical background or sometimes need help upskilling themselves to transition to a more specific role in the blockchain.

To grow in this field, you can utilize the different learning resources available online. You can check the handpicked list of top-rated courses, from different course providers, available on Careervira:

• Learn the Basics of Blockchain with Python
  • Course Provider: Codeacademy
  • Duration: 2 hours
  • Level: Beginner
  • USP: Case Studies, Capstone Projects, Instructor-Moderated Discussions

It helps learn about the blockchain's structure, its features, and the building blocks that are its foundation. Also, you will learn blockchain technology security features on the blockchain work between various blockchain players. Through interactive simulations, you will be able to see many features of the blockchain and construct and modify your own blocks.

To enroll in this course, no prior knowledge is necessary. However, if you are familiar with Python, you can create a simple blockchain library in Python that includes a Blockchain class and a Block class. Include tools for creating hashes, adding blocks, and chain verification.

• Blockchain Technology
  • Course Provider: edX
  • Duration: 6 weeks
  • Level: Intermediate
  • USP: International Faculty, Instructor-Moderated Discussions

This course developed by BerkeleyX helps you become a blockchain developer. It offers a thorough overview of various subjects related to blockchain and covers the fundamentals of bitcoin technology.

Learners are also taught about many enterprise-level blockchain implementations, including J.P. Morgan's Quorum, Ripple, Tendermint, and Hyperledger, as well as the use cases for blockchain in various sectors and the growing regulatory framework for blockchain. Persons with any background can enroll in this course as it aims to help develop critical skills needed to become future-proof. On successful completion, learners are awarded with a professional certification.

• Blockchain – Principles and Practices
  • Course Provider: Pluralsight
  • Duration: 161 minutes
  • Level: Intermediate
  • USP: International Faculty, Case Studies, Capstone Projects

This is a great blockchain course for those who want to develop a solid understanding of the C# programming language and want to develop blockchain technology. The course's learning includes understanding the cryptography used in blockchain, adding many transactions into one block and linking the blocks together to create the blockchain. Thus, you will be able to create your own blockchain by the end of this course.

• Blockchain Specialization by Coursera
  • Course Provider: Coursera
  • Duration: 4 months
  • Level: Intermediate
  • USP: International Faculty, Hands-On Training

With this course, offered by the University of California, you will gain operational knowledge of the Ethereum blockchain technology. Also, you will learn how to design and implement smart contracts and decentralized applications. The best part is that you will be able to develop fresh blockchain-based application models on finishing the course.

• Certified Blockchain Expert
  • Course Provider: Blockchain Council
  • Duration: 10 hours
  • Level: Intermediate
  • USP: Case Studies, Capstone Projects, Hands-On Training

You will learn about the numerous aspects of blockchain technology in this course and the industry that is developing around it. The certification will also help you understand commercial solutions based on blockchain technology.

This certification opens up various opportunities for professional growth. You can become a blockchain architect, blockchain project manager or blockchain consultant. Overall, you will have a significant competitive advantage owing to this certification. There is no mandatory requirement to enroll in this course.

• Certified Enterprise Blockchain Professional (CEBP)
  • Course Provider: 101 Blockchains
  • Duration: 4 weeks
  • Level: Advanced
  • USP: International Faculty, Case Studies, Capstone Projects

This advanced-level online blockchain technology courses ideal for those who understand the immense potential of blockchain enterprise and technology. This course teaches you how to create smart contracts, install a blockchain, use public and private blockchains, and use the most recent tools. You will also thoroughly understand principles of blockchain technology and the ecosystem surrounding it.

• Blockchain Developer
  • Course Provider: Udacity
  • Duration: 4 months
  • Level: Advanced
  • USP: International Faculty, Case Studies, Capstone Projects

This nanodegree program is developed for professionals who want to build blockchain applications and work on real-world projects, but need more hands-on expertise. It starts with blockchain fundamentals and architecture, building your private blockchain using Node.js and Leveldb, then Ethereum smart contracts, tokens and Dapps. You get to build your own Dapp and complete a Capstone project.

All the roles in the blockchain industry, including those of developers, consultants, specialists, and engineers, enjoy tremendous credibility. You can improve your status as a blockchain professional as you gradually develop your skills through certifications and practical projects. To gain a competitive edge in your career, you must have the right qualifications, stay up-to-date with recent trends, and, most importantly, have passion.

With this article, we hope all your questions related to how to get a career in blockchain will be resolved. You can improve your status as a blockchain professional as you gradually develop your skills through certifications and practical projects. Discover the opportunities for blockchain career growth right away with the help of learn advices, learn guides and a wide range of top blockchain courses at Careervira.