5 Blockchain Careers to Consider

Written by: University of Tulsa • Sep 26, 2024

A blockchain developer working on a computer at a desk.

5 Blockchain Careers to Consider

As more organizations and individuals share information virtually to do business and manage daily tasks, protecting that data has taken on increased importance. Add in bad actors on the web who aim — and often succeed — to attack, gain access to, and steal private information and money, and it’s easy to see why career opportunities in cybersecurity have skyrocketed in the last decade.

When blockchain technology was introduced in 2008, it opened up a pathway for greater security on the web, and blockchain careers took shape. Prospective cybersecurity professionals should know the potential career opportunities in this growing industry.

What Is Blockchain Technology?

At its core, blockchain is a decentralized, shared ledger of information transactions. Computer networks that interact with blockchain —much how computer networks interact with the internet — communicate with all other networks on that blockchain.

In this way, blockchain technology eliminates the security vulnerabilities of most information-sharing. Rather than there being a single source of truth for stored data and information that a malicious hacker can infiltrate, alter, and steal, there are as many sources of truth as there are networks on the blockchain. If a bad actor tries to manipulate the data in one location, it will be immediately detected as being inconsistent with the other sources of truth. The intrusion will be obvious, and, therefore, easy to eradicate.

Compare this with cybersecurity measures of the last few decades. A bad actor may have a tough time infiltrating encrypted data that’s stored in a single location, but once they’re in, they’re in — not unlike breaking into a bank vault.

Blockchain Careers: Job Outlook and Industries

Blockchain offers security on the web that’s essential to organizations and individuals safely processing, storing, and sharing information. As such, blockchain careers are expanding, along with other cybersecurity careers , much faster than the average occupation, according to projections from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) for occupations in computer and information technology (IT).

Blockchain technology applications and associated industries include the following:

New forms of currency exchange — blockchain careers in cryptocurrencies
Data security and privacy — blockchain careers in Web3 and technology
Traditional payment processing — blockchain careers in banking, finance, and financial technology ( fintech )
Medical record storage — blockchain careers in health care
Interconnected database storage — blockchain careers in technology

How to Become a Blockchain Professional

With so much opportunity, a master’s degree in cybersecurity can set aspiring blockchain professionals up for success in a booming industry. To become a blockchain professional, interested individuals should do the following:

Earn a degree in cybersecurity or a related field with coursework on:
- Sociotechnical system security, such as malware, keylogging, and data loss
- Defensive cybersecurity technologies and methods
- Fundamentals of network security design
- Applications of cryptography
Earn relevant certifications, such as:
- Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
- CompTIA Security+
Gain entry- to mid-level experience with a:
- Cybersecurity team
- Information security team
- Blockchain-focused company

When considering degree programs in IT vs. cybersecurity both are strong entry points into the larger field, but cybersecurity study generally covers more cutting-edge defensive methodologies and technologies, and IT tends to be a mix of technology and business-focused concepts.

5 Blockchain Careers: Duties, Skills, and Salary

These blockchain careers apply technical and interpersonal skills in different ways to add value to this burgeoning industry.

Blockchain Developer or Engineer

Blockchain developers are software engineers who build and maintain the structure of blockchain systems. They create applications that strengthen the distributed blockchain system they work on. They also troubleshoot and implement improvements.