In recent years, blockchain and cryptocurrency have gained a lot of attention. As it turns out, this technology has enormous business potential and there are already many companies all over the world that decided to adopt it for their various operations. Yet, even though blockchain’s popularity is growing fast, there are still only a few blockchain developers experienced enough to manage the blockchain projects, and they are often working remotely. Is it a good idea to hire a remote blockchain developer?
Working remotely has been a growing trend in IT for many years. Experienced developers can participate in projects from other parts of the world. All they need is a computer, smartphone, a good Internet connection, and access to systems they will work with. Although blockchain projects are rather complex, the best blockchain developers are easily capable of working remotely. Moreover, hiring remote blockchain specialists has multiple advantages.
Potential advantages of using blockchain in business
Before we tell you what the crucial skills of blockchain developers are and how to find one, we should explain why blockchain got so popular. Let us start by pointing out why you should consider adopting blockchain technology. Blockchain and smart contracts have multiple business applications.
Better security and privacy
Having a blockchain-based business solution built by an experienced blockchain developer is a good way to enhance the security of transactions and data. Blockchain creates an unalterable record of transactions and leverages end-to-end encryption, which makes fraud and any other unauthorized activity virtually impossible. Data is stored in a decentralized network of machines, so getting access to it by hacking the system is unlikely.
Lower operational costs
First, using a blockchain for handling transactions eliminates the need for any kind of intermediaries (which is now required for example on the real estate market). Second, the number of manual tasks (such as aggregating and processing data, as well as reporting) is reduced through process automation.
Increased transaction speed
Both the above-mentioned elements – intermediaries and manual processes – make transactions slower, as there are additional procedures to follow and interactions to be carried out between all the participants of the transaction. It takes time. Blockchain can help you handle some transactions in a matter of seconds or less. The speed of the transaction depends on the size of the particular block of data and network traffic. For now, blockchain is considered one of the fastest technologies available on the market.
Better control over data
In the blockchain, data can be controlled by an arbitrary number of individuals. For example, a company can individually decide which pieces of its digital data it wants to share and with whom. To do so, organizations leverage smart contracts, which are simple programs that represent certain rules defined by the developer.
Immutability of the transaction
Transactions carried out and recorded on blockchain cannot be modified or deleted. Data regarding each transaction includes date and time, so the record is permanent. This way, blockchain can be used for tracking information even sometime after the transaction was completed, unlike in the case of traditional approaches to saving information on paper or legacy computer systems that can be hacked and corrupted.
What are typical blockchain developer skills?
So, you considered all your options, and you have decided that blockchain is the kind of technology that you want to invest in, but you do not employ a blockchain developer with the proper experience at the moment? You can enhance your in-house team by adding the ideal candidate for as long as you need by leveraging the staff augmentation hiring model. Such experts usually work remotely, as they cooperate with many business clients all over the world. Before you start looking for a new employee, learn what skills a blockchain developer should have.
Data structure knowledge
Knowledge regarding data structure is one of the most important skills that a blockchain programmer needs to have. Without it, they will not be able to take care of the advancement and deployment of the systems they created. We can assume that each block is a data structure. Blocks can consist of a header, which is a smaller element than a block. Blocks have hashes that define them and their contents, and each time a change is made within a block, a hash is modified as well.
As you can see, understanding data structures is crucial for blockchain-related projects.
Understanding smart contracts
Smart contracts that we have already mentioned program with the rules that are performed if all participants engaged in the transaction have fulfilled their contractual duties. They enable the exchange of various goods without intermediaries. The rules are rather simple — if some condition A is met, action B will follow automatically. The problem is, a smart contract cannot be modified, so creating bad rules can have considerable negative effects. That is why you need an experienced developer who will provide you with a high-quality smart contract.
Cryptography
To ensure the highest security of your project, you need to hire a blockchain developer who knows a great deal about cryptography. It is all about inventing procedures and algorithms that can prevent unauthorized access and hacking of the code. The task is to protect the data and code from cybercriminals.
Interoperability skills
Interoperability skills can be defined as the ability to move between many blockchain systems and collect various information. Nowadays, data cannot be shared across different DeFi applications, but so-called “cross-chain” technology has been a hot topic in recent years. Leveraging new trends in blockchain-related technologies can help you gain a competitive advantage, that is why you need a blockchain developer who will keep his finger on the pulse and advise you on the best solutions for your business at any given moment.
Designing blockchain architecture
Your blockchain developer needs to understand the difference between public, private, and consortium architecture. They differ in terms of who can gain access to data and use the platform. The expert needs to know the differences, to advise you on how to leverage blockchain to your company’s advantage.
How to hire a blockchain developer?
When it comes to hiring a developer, you can follow one of many different approaches. You can start the recruitment process and hire someone full-time. That is not always the best idea, especially on projects that are limited in time. You may not need a full-time, in-house blockchain developer. Additionally, you will spend a lot of time and money on the recruitment process, and it is not certain that you will find the right specialist for you and your company.
Nowadays, staff augmentation and remote working have become attractive method of enhancing an in-house team of developers. All you need to do is to contact the chosen software house, describe the project and your requirements. We provide our customers with blockchain-based solutions regularly, and we can help you with finding the blockchain developer that will support your full-time programmers.
Blockchain developer, who works remotely — is it a good solution?
Working remotely is no problem for experienced blockchain developers. Our experts have participated in numerous, international projects all around the world, so they know how to organize their time and ensure the highest productivity. Multiple tools can improve communication between customers, their in-house teams of developers, and our blockchain programmers.
Andrzej Kopera • Sep 05
