Guide

Ultimate Guide to Learning Blockchain

Lauren Stewart

Written By Lauren Stewart

Jess Feldman

Edited By Jess Feldman

Last updated on September 29, 2023

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So you’ve probably heard that Blockchain is taking over the world, but what is Blockchain? And how can you become a Blockchain developer? In this guide we look at the definition of blockchain, the growth of the blockchain industry, what sort of jobs exist in blockchain, how much you can earn on a blockchain salary, and which skills you’ll learn to become a blockchain developer. Plus, our picks for the best blockchain bootcamps, and coding bootcamps which cover blockchain in their curriculum.

What is Blockchain Development?

A blockchain is a distributed ledger system with immutable data add-only functionality. Essentially, blockchain is a digitized, decentralized, and trustless database. Blockchain is an ‘add-on’ system where the most recent transactions are constantly growing as ‘completed’ blocks, and they are recorded and added in chronological order. The cool thing about using Blockchain is that users can keep track of digital currency transactions without central recordkeeping. So think about it like this – there’s no one single place this digital information is being held, it’s distributed all across the world!

Currently, Blockchain technology is primarily used to verify transactions within digital currencies, but it is possible to digitize, code and insert practically any document into the blockchain. To ensure that the process is secure, when you enter the document, it creates an indelible record that cannot be changed. Then, the record or transaction authenticity can be verified by the entire community using the Blockchain instead of a single centralized authority.

The Blockchain Economy

It’s safe to say that the industry is seeing tremendous growth – here’s what we know:

The market is mainly being driven by mammoth investments made by several startups companies working in the same field, but as time goes on, you can expect that a more crowded market.

Blockchain and Cryptocurrency

Cryptocurrency refers to digital or virtual currency used for the buying and selling of goods. Originally, Blockchain was developed as the accounting method for the virtual currency, Bitcoin. But because blockchains are known as distributed ledger technology (DLT) and are seen in a variety of commercial applications today, there are many other cryptocurrencies in the market like Litecoin, Ethereum, Ripple and more.

5 Other Uses for Blockchain

Blockchain development is not just for cryptocurrency; as the industry has evolved, various fields can utilize blockchain. Some other uses for Blockchain include:

  1. Supply Chain Management: streamlining the buying and selling of goods
  2. Identity Control: digital passports or online voting
  3. Contracts
  4. Qualification records
  5. Non Fungible Tokens (NFTs)

Skills for Blockchain Developers

General skills that make software developers stand out can be transferred to Blockchain developers. Here are a few specific skills that will make Blockchain developers excel in their role, according to IBM:

  • Learn how to drive business outcomes
  • Collaboration and Negotiation Skills
  • Ledger Expertise
  • Understand Blockchain security
  • Be comfortable learning as you go

Wondering where to focus your efforts? Here are some of the top programming languages used in Blockchain development:

  • C++
  • Java
  • Python
  • Simplicity
  • Solidity

And here are some of the top Blockchain Platforms and Systems:

  • Bitcoin
  • Ethereum
  • Spark Solidity
  • Hyperledger
  • Ripple

4 Jobs in Blockchain

Since the Blockchain Industry is on the rise, we’re sure job titles in the field will change. Right now, here are some of the top Blockchain job titles:

  1. Blockchain Project Manager
  2. Blockchain Developer
  3. Blockchain Quality Engineer
  4. Blockchain Web Designer

Here are some examples of coding bootcamp grads who already work in Blockchain:

Average Salaries for Blockchain Developers

Developing blockchain distributed ledgers for businesses was recently ranked first among the top 20 fastest-growing job skills – and job postings for workers with those skills grew more than 200% last year. Because there are currently only a few qualified candidates with Blockchain knowledge, it’s not surprising that salaries for blockchain positions are typically higher than in other specialized technical areas. Average Blockchain salaries range from $40,000 to $150,000. Here’s a breakdown of average Blockchain developer salaries for established firms and startups:

  • Blockchain Developer: $85K at startups and $110K at established firms
  • Blockchain Management: $40K at startups and $125K at established firms

The Top Blockchain Development Bootcamps

So are you ready to start learning Blockchain? The following courses are designed to give you a primer on the underlying technology and economics behind the cryptocurrency boom. Below you will find a list of specific Blockchain focused bootcamps, and a list of coding bootcamps that incorporate Blockchain into their curriculum.

11 Blockchain Bootcamps:

  1. B9lab
  2. Byte Academy
  3. Blockchain Engineering Essential Bootcamp
  4. Chainboard Academy
  5. ChainShot
  6. ConsenSys
  7. EmergingEd
  8. Macro Engineering Fellowship
  9. Metacamp
  10. RareSkills
  11. USTech Academy

1. B9lab
Length:
12 weeks, part-time
Curriculum:
B9lab teaches Blockchain, Ethereum, Hyperledger Fabric, and more through a bootcamp and a variety of courses. B9lab aims to offer a wide range of different blockchain technologies and does not favor a single technology stack, to provide a balanced, well-rounded educational experience. Students should have one year experience as a developer before applying.
Career Prep:
Industry-experienced instructors provide active tutoring with one-on-one, personalized support for professional growth.
Cost:
€1450
Location:
Online

2. Byte Academy
Length:
12 weeks, full-time or 12 weeks, part-time
Curriculum: In Byte Academy’s Blockchain Lab, students will create their own cryptocurrency and build their own blockchain. The course covers blockchain platforms, keys and addresses, cryptocurrency, assets and tokenization, smart contracts and development, solidity, dAPPs (decentralized applications), regulatory environment, security, trustless networks and more.
Career Prep: Students get to experience startup guest speaker meetups, hackathons, conferences, workshops, API demos, networking and more.
Cost: $14,950
Location: NYC and Online

3. Blockchain Engineering Essential Bootcamp
Length: 180 hours
Curriculum: This immersive course covers Ethereum development, hyperledger development, HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
Career Prep: Career guidance is given to students at the end of the bootcamp.
Cost: $15,000
Location: Online

4. Chainboard Academy
Length: 
10 weeks
Curriculum: This bootcamp covers Solidity, NFTs, blockchain, cryptocurrency, smart contracts and more. 
Career Prep: Career services include mentorship, networking, and interview preparation. 
Cost: 800 USDC 
Location: Online

5. ChainShot
Length: 
10 weeks
Curriculum: This immersive bootcamp covers Solidity, Ethereum, cryptography, blockchain, smart contracts and more. 
Career Prep: None
Cost: $3,000
Location: Online

6. ConsenSys 
Length: 
10-12 weeks
Curriculum: This bootcamp covers Ethereum, smart contracts, decentralized finance, and other essential blockchain concepts. 
Career Prep: Includes networking opportunities and lifetime community mentorship through ConsenSys alumni network. 
Cost: $985
Location: Online

7. EmergingEd
Length: 8 weeks
Curriculum: EmergingEd has several different blockchain courses that cover topics like tokenization, smart contracts, and cryptocurrency.
Career Prep: None
Cost: $1,500 each
Location: Online

8. Macro Engineering Fellowship
Length: 6 weeks 
Curriculum: The Engineering Fellowship is for experienced engineers to level up and become effective smart contract engineers (e.g. deep dive into the programming language Solidity, writing secure smart contracts, etc).
Career Prep: None
Cost: 1 eth (~$2,270 as of 5/6/22)
Location: Online

9. Metacamp
Length: 4 weeks
Curriculum: In Metacamp's Blockchain Bootcamp, students learn the fundamental concepts of Rust from expert Rust developers in Singapore. The bootcamp is beginner-friendly, and meets once-a-week for four weeks. 
Career Prep: None
Location: Hybrid (Singapore and online)

10. RareSkills 
Length: 16 weeks
Curriculum: Rigorous curriculum that covers Ethereum, Solidity, smart contracts, blockchain, advanced pattern designs, and more. 
Career Prep: None
Location: Online

11. USTech Academy
Length: 40 weeks
Curriculum: The curriculum at USTech Academy covers JavaScript, Node.js, React, blockchain fundamentals, Solidity, Hardhat, ThirdWeb, and cryptocurrencies. 
Career Prep: Yes
Location: Online

Coding Bootcamps which cover Blockchain in the curriculum:

  • Hack Reactor Remote teaches Blockchain development in their 12-week, full-time and 24-week, part-time course.
  • Codesmith covers Blockchain development in their software engineering immersive, 12-week, full-time course.
  • The self-paced program at 42, which takes 1 to 5 years to complete, covers Blockchain in the curriculum.

Online Blockchain resources and Intro Courses:

  • 101 Blockchains offers an Enterprise Professional Blockchain Certification online program. 
  • BitDegree offers some paid video tutorials about Blockchain and Solidity.
  • B9lab teaches shorter Blockchain courses for professionals.
  • Code Fellows offers Web3 101, an 8-hour course for beginners.
  • Destination Dev teaches an Intro to Ethereum Blockchain course.
  • Ethereum Blockchain Developer offers a self-paced, online tutorial for learning Smart Contract Development and Solidity.
  • General Assembly hosts a Blockchain workshop.
  • Hack Reactor has a video tutorial covering an introduction to Blockchain.
  • The Blockchain Academy offers a variety of paid online on-demand courses.
  • NetCom Learning offers various workshops in Blockchain development.
  • Udemy provides various short-form Blockchain courses.
  • IBM offers several Blockchain courses.
  • Product School has live online and in-person Blockchain classes.

Further Reading:

About The Author

Lauren Stewart

Lauren Stewart

Lauren is a communications and operations strategist who loves to help others find their idea of success. She is passionate about techonology education, career development, startups, and the arts.

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