I still remember the first time I spoke with a startup founder looking to hire blockchain developers. It was 2017, and we were in the middle of the crypto boom. He had this fire in his eyes—totally convinced his project would be the next big thing. But what surprised me wasn’t his enthusiasm—it was his hiring criteria. “I don’t care if they’ve been to university,” he told me. “I just need people who can code.” Back then, the focus was narrow, but today, what blockchain employers want has evolved far beyond just coding ability.
Fast forward to today, and things have shifted. Yes, technical skills are still vital, but it’s no longer just about coding ability or being a blockchain genius. There’s a deeper blend of skills and education that blockchain employers want now—and if you’re job hunting in this space, you’ll need to have a well-rounded toolkit. Let’s break it down.
1. Tech Skills: The Foundation, but Not the Whole Picture
Technical expertise is still the bread and butter of blockchain roles. Developers, engineers, and even product managers need a strong grasp of programming languages like Solidity, Rust, or Python. If you’re not proficient in these, you’ll struggle to make headway in this industry. But here’s the kicker—tech skills alone won’t cut it anymore.
I’ve seen plenty of candidates who aced coding tests, yet failed to secure the role. Why? Because employers are now looking for more than just someone who can write smart contracts. They want people who understand the wider ecosystem—things like tokenomics, consensus algorithms, and decentralised finance (DeFi) structures. It’s not enough to know how blockchain works; you need to know how it fits into the bigger picture.
For instance, I recently helped a decentralised exchange (DEX) recruit a product lead. The candidate who won the role wasn’t just a great coder; they had a strong grasp of how liquidity pools function, how market makers work, and the regulatory landscape. That holistic view was what sealed the deal.
2. Soft Skills: The Underrated Difference-Maker
This is where a lot of blockchain job seekers trip up. The industry’s reputation for being all about tech can make it easy to forget that soft skills—communication, collaboration, problem-solving—are critical. But here’s a little secret: they’re often the deciding factor in whether you get hired.
Take it from me—one of the most common complaints I hear from blockchain employers is that some candidates lack the ability to communicate complex ideas clearly. It’s all well and good to be brilliant at solving problems with code, but if you can’t explain your thinking to a team or stakeholders, you’ll struggle to add value in a real-world setting.
A few months back, I worked with a web3 gaming company looking for a lead engineer. They had plenty of candidates with top-notch coding skills, but the one who stood out was someone who could articulate technical challenges in a way the entire team—techies and non-techies alike—could understand. That kind of cross-functional communication is gold dust in today’s blockchain landscape.
3. Education: A Balancing Act Between Formal and Self-Taught
When blockchain first started making waves, formal education wasn’t something anyone cared about. In fact, being self-taught was almost a badge of honour. But as the industry has matured, I’ve noticed a growing respect for formal education. A degree in computer science or cryptography can open doors, especially with larger, institutional employers stepping into the space.
However, that doesn’t mean a degree is a golden ticket. I’ve placed candidates with no formal qualifications in top blockchain firms simply because they took the time to learn through real-world experience—by contributing to open-source projects, working on side hustles, or building their own decentralised applications (dApps). It’s about balancing formal education with self-driven learning.
Just last year, I placed someone in a major DeFi project who had no degree but had spent years learning Solidity through online courses, building personal projects, and contributing to GitHub repos. They demonstrated such a strong understanding of the field that the hiring team didn’t even blink at their lack of formal qualifications. That’s what blockchain employers want today—a balance of book smarts and hands-on grit.
4. Business Acumen: Understanding the Why Behind the Code
Blockchain might have started as a purely tech-driven industry, but business acumen is fast becoming just as important. Employers want candidates who understand why they’re building what they’re building—how it fits into the market and what kind of value it’s creating. This is especially true in the era of decentralised finance, NFTs, and tokenisation.
I’ve had conversations with blockchain employers who’ve turned down brilliant developers because, while they could code beautifully, they had no understanding of the project’s business model. Whether you’re working on a DeFi protocol or a new NFT marketplace, you need to know how that tech translates into value for users—and, ultimately, profit for the company.
One example that sticks with me is from last year when I was working with a crypto startup looking for a product manager. The candidates who made it to the final round all had great technical chops, but the one who landed the role was the one who asked, “How will this feature drive user adoption and increase token utility?” That’s the kind of thinking employers crave.
5. Adaptability: The Only Constant in Blockchain Is Change
Let’s face it, blockchain moves fast. What’s hot today could be obsolete tomorrow, and employers need candidates who can keep pace. This means being adaptable, willing to learn, and not getting too attached to any one technology or protocol.
I’ve seen candidates miss out on roles simply because they were too wedded to a particular framework or didn’t want to step outside their comfort zone. But in blockchain, adaptability is non-negotiable. Whether it’s new regulatory frameworks, technological breakthroughs, or market trends, the ability to pivot is critical.
I remember working with a company that was shifting its focus from Ethereum to Solana. They needed developers who could adapt quickly. The ones who thrived were those who embraced the challenge, dove into learning Rust, and saw it as an opportunity rather than a headache. That’s the kind of mindset employers value in this space.
What Do Blockchain Employers Really Want?
So, what do blockchain employers want? It’s a blend of skills, education, and—most importantly—a mindset. Yes, you need to be technically proficient, but you also need to understand the business, communicate effectively, and be willing to adapt as the landscape changes.
If you’re entering the blockchain job market, my advice is simple: don’t focus solely on technical skills or academic credentials. Build a well-rounded toolkit, stay curious, and be ready to learn, unlearn, and relearn as the industry evolves. Because if there’s one thing I’ve learned after years in the crypto recruitment game, it’s that blockchain employers are looking for candidates who can do more than just keep up—they want people who can lead the way forward.
