how to get a career in crypto (even if you have zero experience)

technical and non technical

The key point here is start learning in public, contribute to open source, join discords, write threads on what you’re figuring out

For technical:

If freshmen want to enter the blockchain* industry, it is either because of interest or because they want to use blockchain to get rich, or both.

Freshmen are young and in the golden period of learning and progress. They have unlimited potential and everything is possible.

The blockchain industry is a relatively broad term. Freshmen can enter this industry from a technical perspective and strive to become developers.

Everything has its root and end, every matter has its beginning and end. If you know what comes first and what comes later, you will be close to the right path.

First, you should have a basic understanding of blockchain.

It is necessary to master the basic knowledge and core concepts of blockchain. You should know what blockchain is, how it works, and understand the core characteristics of blocks, chains, hashes, consensus mechanisms (PoW, PoS, DPoS, etc.), distributed ledger technology, Merkle trees, and decentralization and immutability.

Then you can learn more about Ethereum* and smart contracts+

Gain a general understanding of the Ethereum platform, including its architecture, gas mechanism, account model (EOA and contract account), as well as the definition, working mechanism and application of smart contracts, and a general understanding of how to deploy and execute contracts on the blockchain.

A nine-story tower starts with piling up earth; a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

Since we are entering the blockchain technology industry from a technical perspective, learning technology is inevitable.

If the questioner does not currently have any computer knowledge, it is recommended that you first learn relevant knowledge, understand programming development languages, and accumulate certain development experience.

Assuming that the questioner already has basic computer knowledge and certain development experience, he or she can further learn smart contract development languages and tools. Learning is a process of accumulation over time. Haste makes waste. Only with determination can you persevere to the end.

Learn Rust

Rust is often used for low-level logic and high-performance computing. Learn basic syntax, including variables, data types, control flow, functions, structures, enumerations, traits, generics, and lifecycles. Also gain an understanding of advanced features like the ownership system, borrow checker, concurrent programming, error handling, and macros.

Learn to use Cargo to manage project dependencies, builds, tests, and releases. Gain proficiency in common libraries like tokio, rayon parallel computing, serde, actix-web, anyhow/thiserror, and clap.

Practice is a good way to learn a computer language, starting with small projects and gradually increasing the complexity.

Blockchain doesn't equal cryptocurrency speculation. 90% of the pitfalls in the industry come from blindly entering the market. The core tasks of a freshman: accumulating knowledge, practicing skills, and networking .

Learn Solidity

The smart contract part usually uses Solidity. Just like learning Rust, you need to master the basic syntax: variables, data types, functions, contracts, events, structures, enumerations, inheritance, interfaces, etc. Then you can further learn about libraries, proxy contracts, upgrade modes, gas optimization, etc.

As learning progresses, the ultimate goal should be to start with simple token contracts and gradually write more complex DEX contracts.

Note: Pay special attention to smart contract vulnerabilities and attack methods to improve contract security. On February 21st of this year, Bybit was hacked and nearly $1.5 billion was stolen, which further demonstrates that security is crucial.

Enrich your knowledge

You need to understand network security technology, network protocols, network structure, device IP, common encryption technologies, hash functions, asymmetric encryption, digital signatures, zero-knowledge proof, etc.

Centralized exchanges, decentralized exchanges, wallets, public keys, private keys, addresses, etc. are also required to be learned.

If you want to delve deeper into the ever-changing field of blockchain technology, you must continue to enhance your understanding of blockchain technology, not forget your roots, absorb foreign ideas, face the future, and possess the ability to innovate.

You must be familiar with the following two documents:

To become a more professional developer, you also need to have a deep understanding of the underlying communication protocols and decentralized protocols of the blockchain, such as IPFS and Filecoin or Walrus

Practice: Experience the real ecosystem

Freshman must-do list : 1. Introduction to technology:

The Secret to Social Networking: A Universal Guide for Socially Afraid People

suitable for introverts 🔥

Offline Breakthrough (Suitable for Extroverts)

Blood and Tears Pitfall Avoidance Guide (Important 💢)

  1. Training scams: Any organization that promises "guaranteed employment" will be blocked!

  2. Leveraged swindlers: College students playing with contracts is suicidal.

  3. Internship red lines: Stay away from Ponzi scheme promotion positions.

Student-only opportunities

  1. On-campus associations: If there are no associations, start your own (affiliated with the Entrepreneurship College)

  2. Big company channels: Apply for Consensus scholarships/Coinbase programs, Fellowship...

  3. Hackathons: Participate in ETHGlobal or DoraHacks events

Development Direction (for CS students)