How to Start a Career in Blockchain Technology?

What Exactly is Blockchain Technology?

Ten years ago, Blockchain was combined with other innovative technologies to generate cryptocurrencies, beginning with Bitcoin, the first Blockchain-based cryptocurrency. That was the first instance when Blockchain was successfully integrated and executed. Mr. Alex of Blockchain Research Institute, who authored Blockchain Revolution 2016, states that “Blockchain is a trustworthy digital ledger or a distributed database that keeps track of transactions and can be programmed to record not only financial transactions but also everything else that has worth.”

In layman’s terms, Blockchain is an encoded, dispersed database that records data similar to a computerized record of any exchanges, transactions, contracts, etc. One of Blockchain’s major highlights is that it’s an automated record that’s widely available over a large number of PCs. This means that Blockchain is accessible across a plethora of computer systems and doesn’t need to be tied down to a single place. Blockchain has started impacting the financial and technical sectors drastically by utilizing digital currency like Bitcoin, smart contracts, and other innovative and revolutionary applications.

Blockchain is useful for the protected transfer of items like property, money, contracts, and so on without any third-party intermediary, such as a bank or government agency. Once the information is recorded inside a blockchain, it is impossible to change it, thanks to its stable features.

All the information in a blockchain is chronologically stored and the central authorized organizations typically do not handle any of it. Blockchain technology becomes a valuable tool in the economic sector as the users directly access and conduct transactions without the involvement of any third party. Such transactions are carried out securely by encrypting user information. The primary benefit of blockchain technology is that it rarely faces data breach issues.

Why There Is So Much Hype Around Blockchain Technology?

There are plenty of claims regarding Blockchain’s actual potential. The distributed ledger database has been regarded as a game-changer, with many individuals staking their reputations and fortunes on it. Claims have been made about its ability to aid in increasing transparency in the health and manufacturing sectors, as well as reducing fraud for enterprise applications, such as financial systems or for that matter, any system involving centralized control. Actualizing Blockchain innovation in the thriving shared economy could diminish the requirement for focal control.

Blockchain proves its capability by bringing simplicity and immutability to the process of accessing information. The potential for smart contracts, as well as the opportunity to make new business models, should inspire business heads to review the fundamental aspects of their business in the context of Blockchain. Features like trust, immutability, privacy, and reliability make Blockchain appropriate for every industry. Blockchain technology is going to be a relevant subject of conversation for many days to come.

How Does Blockchain Technology Work?

In simple words, you can think of Blockchain as a Google spreadsheet that a vast number of worldwide systems share. The spreadsheet is connected to the internet, and every time a transaction takes place, the details are recorded in the spreadsheet. Anyone with a computer or mobile device can access the spreadsheet after connecting via the internet. Also, anyone accessing the spreadsheet can view or add transactions in the spreadsheet, but cannot edit the information already present in it.

Let’s Recall a Few Important Features Before We Get into the Details

Blockchain technology maintains a record of entire data exchanges. In the world of cryptocurrency, the transfer of each dataset is called a transaction, while the data where all transactional records are stored is called a shared ledger. Each completed transaction is included as a block in the ledger.

Every transaction is confirmed using a distributed system — a peer-to-peer network of nodes. It also uses the consensus algorithm model for transactions. The consensus model consists of specific objectives that are used in Blockchain to create equality and fairness in the online world. The following are some of the objectives of Blockchain’s consensus model:

• Coming to an agreement
• Collaboration
• Co-operation
• Equal Rights
• Participation
• Activity

Once the digital transaction happens and it is added to the distributed ledger, it becomes almost impossible to alter the data at a later time.

To start with, we need to unfold the theory of “keys.” You are provided with a set of cryptographic keys for your identity. One of the keys is called the private key, and the other is the public key. They are combined to give you a digital signature.

Your public key is like a notice that enables others to recognize you. The private key gives you a digital identity to authorize a transaction. However, to authorize any complete Blockchain transaction, you have to use both private and public keys jointly.

In the cryptocurrency world, the wallet address (public key) signifies you, and your private key helps you to authorize transfers, withdrawals, or perform other actions with your digital property, such as cryptocurrencies. Hence, it is imperative to protect your private key or else anyone who can access it would have complete authority to corrupt any of your digital assets that are associated with the public key.

Whenever a transaction happens, the user with a private key is authorized by default. For instance, in the transaction “Bob is sending Rex 0.4 BTC”, he adds Rex’s address (public key), and puts in the digital signature that he is using both private and public keys.

This transaction is updated in the blockchain ledger as “Bob sent to Rex 0.4 BTC”, and it is given a unique ID number and timestamp to indicate the time the transaction occurred. As this transaction occurs, it’s transmitted to a peer-to-peer network of nodes, which are essentially other digital entities that acknowledge that the transaction has occurred, and thus, they should be added to the ledger. This alerts other digital entities to the completed transaction and suggests the same be updated in the digital ledger.

How Do You Learn Blockchain?

Through this software, people can add blockchain to their programming skill. The best part of this approach is that there’s no need to learn to code before learning this technology. Thus, an interested neophyte can learn blockchain and use it eventually for either personal or professional purposes.

A better approach to learning blockchain is to find the essential fundamentals that are driving this global phenomenon. After all, this is a revolutionary technology that can change one’s life significantly and entering the world of blockchain technology can render long term dividends. But still, one must be very cautious about how to initiate it.

What Skills Do I Need?

Blockchain isn’t a simple concept, so if you want to learn all about it, there are some skills you should have at least a passing knowledge of:

• Programming (especially Java, Solidity, C+, Python, and JavaScript)
• Data structures and architecture
• Cryptography
• Cybersecurity 

You don’t have to be a master in the above skills, but it helps to understand them because many of the concepts that they encompass will be things you will see when you learn blockchain.

The Fundamentals

By now, you might be thinking of the easiest way to begin your journey in the Blockchain space. Well, if you are a beginner, there are specific basic terms that you need to know, like :

• Blockchain

  It is generally a chain of blocks. Each block contains some sort of value or data that is cryptographically stored in it without any central supervision.

• Decentralized and Distributed Ledger

  A system that is not governed by any central authority.

• Consensus Mechanism

  This is a method in which a decentralized network comes to a consensus on some specific objectives.

• Miners

  The users who use their systems to mine for blocks or authorize them.

Apart from the terms mentioned above, you should also be aware of the studies in computer science fields introduced to Blockchain technology. These fields are categorized as Cryptography, Distributed Computing, and Mechanism Design.

Cryptography

Cryptography refers to the study of finding ways to establish secure communication between computer systems.

To know the magnitude of cryptography, here’s a stat - a piece of information in Bitcoin cryptography can secure a value as high as $300,000,000,000. This digital trend will continue to surpass the more traditional methods of how our society makes safe the information or properties that we consider valuable.

Cryptography is an essential part of Blockchain, because the private and public keys are cryptographically encrypted, making it nearly impossible for anyone to hack them. Therefore it is recommended that you learn cryptography before learning Blockchain.

Distributed Computing

Bitcoin designed the first useful distributed trusted network across the world by introducing techniques like digital signatures, one-way functions, distributed computing, mechanism design, etc.

Before the release of bitcoin, torrenting websites were the only thing that could be considered comparable to globally distributed peer-to-peer network nodes. Although many of these websites were fairly good, they missed rendering proper incentives for people to work ethically and accurately within the network. Anyone could post anything without any consequences, things such as malicious software or subject matter that violated copyrights. Also, there were no rewards for uploading quality information.

Mechanism Design

Mechanism design is yet another confusing part of Blockchain technology that is nevertheless extremely important. A cryptographer alone may protect the information, but there has to be some incentive for owning that information. For it to have any worth (and to prove it may not be double-spent), a distributed computing engineer might connect a network of computers to spread information.

However, if there is an imbalance in the incentives created, it makes for a lesser safe network such as the aforementioned torrenting sites. Mechanism design eliminates these issues and provides a safe working space for Blockchains.

Although Blockchain is a decentralized technology, the advent of miners, mining, and building blocks has challenged the basic idea that Blockchain is a decentralized network. This is where the nature of mechanism design can help in securing the digital assets and can provide you with a great platform before learning Blockchain.

Where do I Start? Join Professional Courses for Learning Blockchain Technology

If you are a novice to blockchain technology but are passionate about it and want to learn more, or you are searching for career options in blockchain technology, then a Blockchain Certification course is the perfect place for you to start. This course is beneficial for individuals who wish to learn about relevant topics in cryptocurrency and the wider blockchain space.

Additionally, it will help you master the core blockchain platforms. You’ll understand Bitcoin and its working, key vocabulary, and the concepts commonly utilized while learning blockchain. Also, you can learn about the tools, like git, docker, and even truffle.

Professional courses provide you with blockchain lessons and offer valuable tips that ensure you have a clear understanding of blockchain technology and its implementation.

The web is littered with a lot of hype about Bitcoin and other "blockchain-related" topics that have no real-time information. So, when you learn blockchain and its uses through these courses, you’ll understand how to develop a sample blockchain application.

The blockchain technology courses and training programs will provide you with a deep and solid foundation that can help you build a great career in a blockchain -related field. Among other things, the courses provide you with comprehensive knowledge on building a career in blockchain.

The courses cover many essential concepts, from the cryptographic underpinnings of blockchain technology to allowing de-centralized applications on a private Ethereum blockchain platform. It’s a perfect platform for programmers, engineers, or anyone who is keen to learn the implementation of blockchain application and decode its potential.

As a part of the certification training courses, you also learn programming languages that help you develop Blockchain applications, like:

• Solidity

  A programming language developed by the core team of Ethereum, with smart contracts particularly in mind. The programming language solves various problems that arise for a  Blockchain developer.

• Go

  This is considered to be the best programming language for building hyper ledger fabric in Blockchain. The programming language comes with advanced features that are instrumental in helping you build your first Blockchain.

• Simplicity

  A relatively new and high-level Blockchain coding language developed in 2017, Simplicity aims to reduce the complex low-level understanding of the development of smart contracts.

Qualifications Required

To succeed in a career in blockchain technology, there are certain qualifications that you will need to have. First, you will need to be highly skilled in computer programming. Second, you will also need to have strong mathematical skills. Finally, it is also beneficial to have experience in economics and finance. Earning the relevant certification is also the key to a successful career in blockchain technology. With these qualifications, you will be able to pursue a career in blockchain technology and develop the necessary skills to become a successful blockchain developer.

Prerequisites for Blockchain

To get the most out of a blockchain training course, there are certain prerequisite skills and knowledge that students should have. Familiarity with basic computer science concepts is a must, as is some experience working with programming languages. In addition, a strong understanding of mathematics is also beneficial, as blockchain technology heavily relies on cryptography. Finally, it is also helpful to have a basic understanding of economics, as many blockchain applications are related to financial transactions.

With these prerequisite skills and knowledge, students will be able to get the most out of a blockchain training course and be well-prepared to use this cutting-edge technology in their careers.

Blockchain Career FAQs

1. What are the benefits of a career in blockchain?

There are many benefits to a career in blockchain. The technology is still in its early stages of development, which means there is significant potential for growth and advancement. Additionally, blockchain offers a unique opportunity to work with cutting-edge technology and solve complex problems.

2. What skills are needed for a career in blockchain?

A career in blockchain requires strong technical skills. Familiarity with programming languages, cryptography and data structures is essential. Additionally, blockchain professionals need to be able to think creatively to solve complex problems. Strong communication and collaboration skills are also important, as most projects are developed by teams.

3. What are the job prospects for a career in blockchain?

The job market for blockchain professionals is still in its early stages of development. However, the demand for blockchain talent is growing rapidly as more and more industries begin to explore the potential of the technology.

4. What are some tips for landing a job in blockchain?

The best way to land a job in blockchain is to start building your skills and experience, as well as earning your certification. There are many online resources that can help you get started, such as the online courses offered through Simplilearn. Additionally, it is helpful to network with other professionals in the field. Participating in blockchain events and meetups is a great way to make connections and learn about job opportunities.

Career Opportunities in Blockchain

As the adoption of blockchain technology grows, so will the demand for professionals with expertise in this area. Here are some of the most in-demand blockchain jobs:

1. Blockchain Developer

Blockchain developers are responsible for developing and maintaining blockchain applications. They need to have a strong understanding of cryptography, distributed systems, and smart contract programming.

2. Blockchain Engineer

Blockchain engineers are responsible for designing and implementing blockchain solutions. They should have a strong understanding of distributed systems, cryptography, and computer science.

3. Blockchain Architect

Blockchain architects are responsible for designing and implementing blockchain solutions. It’s best to have a solid comprehension of distributed systems, cryptography, and computer science.

4. Blockchain Project Manager

Blockchain project managers are responsible for leading and coordinating blockchain projects. They should have experience with distributed systems, cryptography, and project management.

5. Blockchain Consultant

Blockchain consultants are responsible for providing advice and guidance on blockchain projects. They need to have a strong understanding of distributed systems, cryptography, and business.

Conclusion

Though Bitcoin is the most successful implementation of blockchain technology, it has much broader and has more significant potential than just cryptocurrencies. It might be a new technology for some people and organizations, but it’s on the verge of creating a revolution in the world of technology and finance.

While some industries have started using blockchain in various sectors, there are plenty of others who are only now finding out the possibilities. Many applications are being tried and tested each day, adding to this exciting technology. And once these applications are made live for the global audience, blockchain will reshape the technology and lives of the people for good.

So, what are you waiting for? If Blockchain and its applications intrigue you and you want to make your career in blockchain technology, then this is the right time to learn the necessary skills. Enroll in our Professional Certificate Program in Blockchain in collaboration with IIT Kanpur today to get started on a path toward your new career in blockchain technology!

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You can also consider signing-up for the University of Minnesota's Blockchain bootcamp to become a successful expert in the field. In this program, you will learn how to build and administer smart contracts, create both public and enterprise Blockchain technology, learn about Ethereum, Hyperledger, and more. Start your growth journey with this 6-month UMN Blockchain bootcamp now!