Becoming a Web3 developer often means moving from a traditional career path to a completely new technology field. Many developers initially have a good educational background and can choose a stable career. However, their inner desire for adventure and exploration prompts them to make more challenging decisions and choose to leave their familiar environment and go to the vast world to seek more possibilities.
Take Hong Kong, a cyberpunk-style city, for example. Many technical talents come here from all over the world to pursue their career dreams. The financial industry is the starting point for many people. Standing on the top floor of a skyscraper, overlooking the bustling city, it seems that the future is within reach. However, the fluctuations of the global economy are often unpredictable. With the arrival of the economic recession, the financial industry has suffered layoffs, and many career dreams have been forced to be interrupted. At this time, the change of career path has become a choice that must be made.
The transformation path to becoming a Web3 developer
Some people choose to find new inspiration by traveling. During their travels, they met "digital nomads" - a group of people who live freely around the world by working remotely. This lifestyle inspired many developers to realize that relying on programming can not only make a living, but also pursue true freedom and independence. Although programming seems complicated, through self-study, many novice developers gradually mastered the skills and started their own freelance careers.
For beginners, PHP and WordPress are common choices for entry. These technologies are relatively easy to get started with and can gain customers in a short period of time. However, despite the smooth progress of work, the income gap has gradually emerged. There is a clear division in the field of programming, and different technical directions determine different income levels. The income of PHP developers is often lower than that of high-paying positions in the industry, which has prompted many developers to rethink their career direction.
In order to achieve higher income, more stable jobs and remote work opportunities, many developers choose to adjust their strategies and focus on emerging technology fields. At this time, blockchain technology gradually entered the public eye, especially the rise of Ethereum, which attracted a large number of technical talents. Through in-depth research on blockchain, many developers found that this field is not only technologically cutting-edge, but also has great development potential.
At the same time, as competition intensifies, the establishment of personal brands in the technology industry is becoming increasingly important. Excellent technical skills are certainly the foundation, but in order to stand out in the market, the shaping of personal brands is also crucial. Many developers have accumulated industry recognition and attracted more job opportunities by sharing their learning experiences and technical insights. By publishing blockchain-related tutorials and content, many developers have not only increased their industry influence , but also brought themselves high-paying remote blockchain development jobs, achieving a major breakthrough in their careers.
Today, with the development of Web3, more and more developers are entering this emerging field through transformation. From traditional Web2 developers to Web3 technical experts, this transformation requires not only the improvement of technical capabilities, but also a keen insight into the market and the management of personal brands. For those who are eager to enter the blockchain field, mastering cutting-edge technologies, constantly accumulating experience, and building personal influence have become key elements in starting a Web3 career.
Web3 Developer Job Market Status and Opportunities
Since 2017, the Web3 space has experienced significant growth and evolution. Now, in 2024, the market is more mature and job prospects for Web3 developers are growing. While some people believe that the Crypto industry is declining and even criticize its development on social media, it turns out that the overall trend of the Crypto market is still upward. Although the market performance is volatile, in the long run, its lows and highs are rising, and volatility is gradually decreasing. Compared to the early days, Crypto is more stable and mature today.
When discussing the Web3 job market, the state of the Crypto market is particularly important. Although the Crypto market does not completely dominate employment, it has a significant impact on job opportunities within the industry. When the market is in a bull market, opportunities tend to increase. 2024 is another bull market in the Crypto market, especially with the approval of BTC and Ethereum ETFs, which has injected a steady inflow of funds into the entire Crypto ecosystem, which is not only beneficial to traders, but also greatly promotes the employment prospects of blockchain developers.
In addition, the potential reduction in interest rates is also a positive signal. The high interest rate environment is coming to an end, and it is expected that the decline in interest rates will drive the rise of traditional stock markets such as the S&P 500, which will also affect the Crypto market and further create more jobs. Therefore, the current market conditions undoubtedly provide a good development opportunity for Web3 developers.
There are many ways to enter the Web3 industry, and Solidity development is one of the important areas. As one of the most core programming languages in blockchain development , the demand for Solidity jobs is growing steadily. According to data from a well-known recruitment website, there were about 3,500 Solidity-related job vacancies in June 2024, and by July, this number had increased by 500. This shows that the Web3 development market is showing a strong upward trend and the demand is huge.
The bounty system in the Web3 field is not common in Web2, but it is very common in the Crypto industry. This not only provides developers with more diversified income channels, but also creates good opportunities for freelancers. Through many freelance projects, Web3 developers can flexibly choose how to work and find opportunities around the world.
It is worth mentioning that there are still a lot of "hidden opportunities" in the Web3 job market. These jobs are not publicly posted on traditional recruitment platforms, but are obtained by building connections or participating in community activities. Such opportunities are particularly important in Web3. Therefore, actively participating in industry activities and expanding social networks are the key to developers opening more employment doors.
In summary, 2024 is undoubtedly the golden age for Web3 developers. The maturity and steady development of the market provide more opportunities for industry practitioners. At the same time, the demand for Web3 skills continues to rise, and the salary level is also considerable. For developers who are interested in entering this field, this is an era full of prospects and opportunities.
Web3 career development path, explore diverse professional directions
As Web3 grows rapidly, the industry job market is also expanding rapidly. However, the Web3 field is vast and complex, and specialization is essential to success in this field. Different career paths provide practitioners with diverse choices, from technology development to financial applications, each with its own characteristics. The following will explore several common Web3 career development paths to help you find the right direction in the future Web3 world.
Full-stack Web3 Developer
The responsibilities of a full-stack Web3 developer are similar to those of a full-stack Web2 developer, who is responsible for the development of the entire application, including the front-end and back-end. The difference is that in Web3, full-stack developers not only need to master front-end skills, but also need to write smart contracts. Smart contracts are small programs that run on the blockchain and are responsible for executing the core functions of decentralized applications. The challenge of becoming a full-stack Web3 developer is that you need to take into account both Web2 and Web3 skills, especially the proficiency in front-end development and smart contracts.
Backend Web3 Developer
Backend Web3 developers focus on the development of backend systems that interact with the blockchain. Although this role carries the Web3 label, most of the work is still based on Web2 technology. About 95% of development tasks are Web2 backend development, and only 5% involve blockchain-related interfaces and integrations. Therefore, if you want to focus entirely on Web3 technology without involving Web2, then becoming a smart contract developer may be more suitable.
Smart Contract Developer
Smart contract developers are one of the core technical roles in the Web3 field. They focus on writing smart contracts that run on the blockchain, which are responsible for managing the assets and logic of decentralized applications. Smart contract development is characterized by its high requirements for code security, especially when dealing with large amounts of funds, any code vulnerabilities may lead to huge financial losses. With the development of the Web3 industry, smart contract development has gradually become a field that requires deep specialization.
Safety Auditor
Since smart contracts may involve a large amount of money, security audits have become an integral part of the Web3 industry. The main responsibility of a security auditor is to review the code of smart contracts, find potential vulnerabilities and work with developers to fix them. Unlike hackers, auditors aim to protect rather than exploit vulnerabilities. This profession is very well paid because it requires not only expertise in security but also proficiency in smart contract development.
MEV Trader
MEV (Maximum Extractable Value) traders are mostly developers who understand both programming and finance, and they use the unique mechanism of blockchain to conduct arbitrage and other transactions. MEV transactions are usually completed through automated trading robots, which can run 24/7 to automatically find and seize arbitrage opportunities in the blockchain network. Although this field seems attractive, becoming a truly profitable MEV trader requires extremely high professional skills and rich experience.
Blockchain core developer
If you are interested in technical challenges, you can consider becoming a blockchain core developer. This role is about building the blockchain itself , rather than just developing applications that run on the blockchain. Core developers are involved in the development and maintenance of blockchain protocols, such as Ethereum or Solana clients. This position has extremely high technical requirements, and developers who do this work are usually technical elites in the Web3 field.
Specialization in different application areas
In addition to technical roles, you can also choose a career path based on the application scenario. The main application scenarios of Web3 include decentralized finance (DeFi), NFT, and blockchain games.
Decentralized Finance (DeFi): DeFi is currently the largest application scenario in the Web3 field, covering financial products and services based on blockchain. Whether it is smart contract development or backend system construction, DeFi is an important direction.
NFT: Although NFT reached its peak in 2021, it is still an important part of Web3. The application of NFT is not limited to digital art, it can also be combined with DeFi or used for the digitization of game assets.
Blockchain games: The core concept of blockchain games is to put game assets on the chain to ensure that players have ownership of their in-game assets. This not only increases players’ sense of involvement, but also creates a new business model.
The career paths in the Web3 industry are rich and varied. Whether it is a full-stack developer, smart contract expert, security auditor or MEV trader, each path has its own unique challenges and opportunities. By choosing a direction that suits you and specializing in it, you can succeed in this rapidly developing field.
Career Path
In terms of career development, the Web3 field provides individuals with a variety of working methods. First, as an employee, you can choose a traditional full-time job and directly serve the employer company. Second, as a freelancer , you can cooperate on short-term projects through contracts, which is especially suitable for beginners. Finally, you can also become an entrepreneur and start your own business. You can either start a project through venture capital or start a small Web3 project independently without financial support through personal entrepreneurship and gradually make a profit.
Roadmap for learning Web3
One of the main challenges of being a Web3 developer is that technology is changing very quickly. It is key to avoid distracting yourself from focusing too much on emerging blockchains while learning. To stay focused, it is recommended to start with the Ethereum ecosystem. Ethereum is not only the leading blockchain in terms of market capitalization and technology, but its EVM (Ethereum Virtual Machine) compatibility also allows developers' skills to be seamlessly transferred to chains like Arbitrum. Therefore, starting with Ethereum can open up a wide range of career and development opportunities for you.
Ethereum’s development tools are relatively mature, with rich resources, a larger developer community, and a large number of users. Focusing on Ethereum development will help you lay a solid technical foundation, which will also lay the foundation for you to explore other blockchain systems such as Solana in the future.
Web3 Technical Architecture
To build a decentralized application (DApp), you need to master several basic skills. The first is front-end development, which uses JavaScript, HTML, and CSS to interact with smart contracts on the blockchain. Smart contracts are small programs that are responsible for executing core logic on the blockchain. The front-end communicates with smart contracts through wallets (such as MetaMask) to handle transactions and user authentication. You can also choose to develop the back-end, which is responsible for interacting with smart contracts and databases to read or store data.
Learn the technical route of Web3 development
When learning technical content in depth, you can refer to the following skill map. First, you need to understand how the Ethereum blockchain works, including its data structure, transaction mechanism, consensus algorithm, etc. Ethereum has shifted from proof of work to proof of stake, and the scalability of the blockchain has been improved through the implementation of L2 chains (such as Arbitrum) and Ethereum 2.0. Mastering the technical details of the Ethereum blockchain is an important foundation for developing Web3 applications.
In addition, it is essential to master tools such as EtherScan and development frameworks (such as Remix and Foundry), which can help developers write, test and deploy smart contracts. Learning oracle technology (such as Chainlink) can expand the application scenarios of blockchain and introduce external data into smart contracts.
Practical applications in the Web3 field include DeFi, NFT, and blockchain games. As a developer, you need to understand the core projects and token standards in these fields, such as decentralized exchanges and stablecoins in DeFi, NFT markets, and the implementation of fungible and non-fungible assets.
MEV technology interacts with blockchain
As a developer, you also need to understand the miner extractable value (MEV) technology and how to profit from the blockchain through arbitrage, etc. MEV technology involves concepts such as memory pools, front-end transactions, and flash loans. Understanding these technologies will open the door to developing trading robots.
Ethereum API and client are indispensable tools for blockchain interaction. Through these APIs, you can get data on the blockchain, send transactions, and listen to events. In addition, using the services provided by the blockchain API, developers can easily integrate node API, price API, etc., avoiding the need to run complex blockchain nodes locally.
Front-end development and wallet interaction
In front-end development, it is crucial to understand how to interact with wallets such as MetaMask. Through libraries such as ethers.js, developers can easily read and send transaction data with the blockchain in JavaScript code. With this technology stack, developers can quickly build full-featured Web3 applications to ensure that users can interact with the blockchain smoothly.
Web3 development offers a variety of career paths and learning routes, from front-end, back-end to blockchain interaction, each skill will broaden your opportunities in this rapidly developing field. Starting with Ethereum and gradually expanding to other ecosystems such as Solana and Arbitrum can build a solid career foundation for you.
How to find your first job?
After learning the relevant knowledge, many people will face the challenge of how to find their first job. Especially for those who are learning Web3 or software development, they often fall into a tutorial cycle, constantly learning but not knowing how to turn this knowledge into actual work. Therefore, some effective strategies will be explored here.
First, you need to be clear about the career path you want. There are three main options: employee, freelancer, and entrepreneur. Which path you choose depends on personal preference. You can start as a freelancer because this option allows for a flexible transition to subsequent career development. Once you become a freelancer, you can choose whether to be more inclined to start a business or become a full-time employee, leaving yourself with more possibilities.
Regarding career direction, there are multiple options, such as full-stack development, Web3 development, backend development, and smart contract development. However, it should be noted that most of the work is still focused on Web2 development, which may be confusing for you who want to focus on Web3. In addition, the role of security auditor, while attractive, usually requires experience in the Web2 security industry or a background as a smart contract developer to effectively conduct smart contract audits. Although the position of MEV trader is independent and has high income potential, a deep understanding of smart contracts is essential, and there will be certain challenges in the early stages of entry.
The advantage of being a freelancer is that it is easier to get project opportunities than looking for a full-time job. When it comes to building industry experience, you need to consider the career direction you are pursuing. The advice for smart contract developers is to create a complex Crypto project and ensure that it is deployed on the mainnet instead of just kept locally. By creating and deploying a feature-rich project, you can not only demonstrate technical capabilities, but also demonstrate your ability to apply it in actual work. In addition, creating a website to showcase your project will greatly enhance your credibility.
Networking is also an important factor that cannot be ignored. By building personal connections, you can effectively reduce competition. Participate in industry meetups in your area, which are good opportunities. In the surrounding activities before and after the conference, you will also have the opportunity to connect with like-minded people and expand your network. You will find that other participants are also eager to communicate, so it is much easier than you think to establish connections and start conversations.
In short, finding your first job is not easy, but by clarifying your career direction, actively participating in projects and networking, you can get started smoothly in the Web3 industry.
