How do I become a cryptocurrency programmer?
Cryptocurrency is one of the most popular buzzwords in the tech world these days. It’s predicted that it will grow from a $220 billion industry to a $2 trillion industry by 2020, so there’s no doubt that it’s important to learn. To help you on your cryptocurrency journey, we’ve put together this list of everything you need to know about becoming a cryptocurrency programmer, complete with top three languages for programming in cryptocurrency and what skills you’ll need.
Please note: This post does not offer any advice on how to become good at programming in cryptocurrency (or anything else). Please consult our How to program well guide for that.
What is cryptocurrency programming?
Cryptocurrency refers to any digital or virtual currency that uses cryptography for security. Examples include Bitcoin, Litecoin and the thousands of altcoins (alternative coins) that have been launched since Bitcoin’s creation in 2009. From a programming standpoint, cryptocurrency programming involves writing code for cryptocurrency miners, exchanges and other related applications. Examples include Gekko, an open source platform for automating trading strategies over cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum; Cryptonator, a free online service that offers real time exchange rates of many popular cryptocurrencies; and Blockchain Explorers, which offer users a way to monitor transactions occurring on the blockchain.
What skills do I need?
Understanding of how blockchains work
Good understanding of the role of miners in securing the blockchain they are working with
Experience with Python, C++ or C# is helpful, but not required Some knowledge of an object-oriented programming language (OOP) like Java or C++ is useful for grasping the bigger picture as it relates to blockchain and cryptocurrency programming.
Understanding of cryptography, especially public/private key encryption and digital signature verification Understanding OOP will give you a better understanding of what’s going on under the hood. Good programs are written with OOP in mind and understand how data flows between different classes inside the program. You’ll learn this skill if you’re a software engineer, but it will give you an advantage in cryptocurrency programming. Understanding of how the blockchains are secured and transactions verified
For the most part, the software for securing and verifying transactions is open-source, which means that anyone can read it to get a better understanding of how it works. With that in mind, cryptocurrency programmers need to be familiar with computer security. Experience with Git, Linux and command line usage is helpful These are essentials that every programmer must have good knowledge of these days. Having as much experience as possible with Bitcoin or Ethereum (or other blockchains) would be a bonus.
A willingness to learn and do research There’s no way of getting around it — cryptocurrency programming is all about learning and doing research. If you want to get started, you’ll need to know how to use search engines like Google. Being a googler (someone who always has their hands on the latest search engine results) is one of the prerequisites for any programmer.
Understanding how digital wallets work Digital wallets can be either hot or cold storage, depending on the cryptocurrency programmer’s preference. Hot wallets are connected to the internet and are vulnerable to hacking. Cold storage means that cryptocurrency is stored offline in a safe environment (so it can’t be hacked). Or it could be in a fireproof metal box that’s locked up and unplugged. This is what many cryptocurrency programmers use for their wallets. Understanding digital signatures and how to use them Cryptography is important if you want to join the blockchain industry, so cryptocurrency programmers should be familiar with public/private key encryption. A cryptocurrency programmer can perform tasks like signing a transaction with a private key, or verifying the message sent by a public key during an exchange or transaction. This requires a good understanding of cryptography, public/private key encryption and digital signatures.
Top three languages for cryptocurrency programmers
If you want to become a cryptocurrency programmer, it’s probably a good idea to pick up the language most popular with cryptocurrency programmers — Python. There’s no shortage of Python tutorials on the internet and if you’re looking for specific examples, there’s plenty out there too. However, if you aren’t interested in writing your software from scratch (and just want to dig into existing code), you might enjoy working with C++ or C# instead. Both are object-oriented programming languages that are used for creating Windows programs (C++), as well as Mac applications and mobile games (C#). If you’re worried about the time commitment, you may want to consider a platform like C++ or C# that allows you to develop cross-platform applications.
No matter what language you choose, we’d recommend getting started with a course on programming in cryptocurrencies — it’s better to get some solid experience under your belt before you set out on your journey as a cryptocurrency programmer. Coursera has a growing number of cryptocurrency courses and there are several other options available as well, including Udemy and Edx.
What other skills do I need?
Understanding of how blockchains are secured and transactions verified
For the most part, the software for securing and verifying transactions is open-source, which means that anyone can read it to get a better understanding of how it works. With that in mind, cryptocurrency programmers need to be familiar with computer security. Experience with Git, Linux and command line usage is helpful These are essentials that every programmer must have good knowledge of these days. Having as much experience as possible with Bitcoin or Ethereum (or other blockchains) would be a bonus. A willingness to learn and do research There’s no way of getting around it — cryptocurrency programming is all about learning and doing research. If you want to get started, you’ll need to know how to use search engines like Google. Being a googler (someone who always has their hands on the latest search engine results) is one of the prerequisites for any programmer. Understanding how digital wallets work Digital wallets can be either hot or cold storage, depending on the cryptocurrency programmer’s preference. Hot wallets are connected to the internet and are vulnerable to hacking. Cold storage means that cryptocurrency is stored offline in a safe environment (so it can’t be hacked). Or it could be in a fireproof metal box that’s locked up and unplugged. This is what many cryptocurrency programmers use for their wallets. Understanding of digital signatures and how to use them Cryptography is important if you want to join the blockchain industry, so cryptocurrency programmers should be familiar with public/private key encryption. A cryptocurrency programmer can perform tasks like signing a transaction with a private key, or verifying the message sent by a public key during an exchange or transaction. This requires a good understanding of cryptography, public/private key encryption and digital signatures.
