Listed right here is a customer post and belief of Yurii Kovalchuk, Senior Blockchain Engineer at Strong level Group.
Three and a half of years within the past, I made a choice that fully changed the trajectory of my occupation. I left the familiar world of Web2 and stepped into the deep, chaotic, and exhilarating achieve of blockchain development.
It wasn’t an apparent transfer. I wasn’t chasing pump or in a single day success. I was browsing for which intention – for abilities that aligned with my values, challenged my thinking, and gave me a reason to preserve building.
Since then, I haven’t looked abet. Web3 grew to turn out to be greater than a job – it grew to turn out to be the lens right by which I now look the future of the gain.
In this share, I must share why I made the soar, what I’ve learned from it, and the scheme diversified builders can intention the switch with clarity and intention.
What to Demand from Web3
Versatile Compensation & Excessive-Stakes Incentives
One among the main things that stood out to me when switching to Web3 used to be how diversified – and most frequently extra rewarding – the compensation structure is in contrast with used tech.
As an different of mounted salaries and HR forms, Web3 initiatives most frequently offer a mix of stablecoin payments, on-chain invoices, and token-based mostly mostly incentives. In plenty of cases, you’re paid straight to your pockets. In most cases it’s a clean invoice; diversified conditions, it’s a hybrid model.
Then there are the tokens.
A lot esteem equity in startups, project tokens give you a stake within the product you’re building. If the project succeeds, so create you. That adds a layer of motivation that’s laborious to replica in Web2. But pointless to relate, tokens could well well well also descend in label honest as like a flash – market volatility is proper, and so are the dangers.
That acknowledged, the upside doable is mostly significant higher. Based entirely totally on my indulge in abilities, senior-stage Web3 engineers most frequently invent greater than used tech leads – in particular when combining sinister comp with token incentives.
Quiet, there’s a tradeoff: stability.
Web3 moves like a flash. Projects pivot, funding shifts, markets fracture and rally. It’s now no longer the predicament to simply “droop the paycheck.” But within the occasion you’re joyful with alternate, the flexibility and upside could well well well also honest be price each and every little bit of the chaos.
Fair correct Faraway, Now no longer Honest a Perk
Whereas used corporations slowly nudge employees abet into locations of work, Web3 by no intention left faraway. Allotted teams aren’t a development right here – they’re the default.
For many, which intention the freedom to work from anyplace, dwelling your indulge in rhythm, and structure your existence round greater than honest work hours. It’s now no longer “faraway-pleasant,” it’s faraway-native – built into the DNA of how the industry operates.
Yet every other standout operate? Anonymity is mostly the norm. In plenty of initiatives, you’re now no longer asked for honest names or personal paperwork. Payments bolt straight to your pockets, and that’s it. Especially in roles esteem orderly contract auditing or white-hat safety, contributors most frequently remain pseudonymous. On my mute project, I don’t know the proper names of most teammates – some utilize train changers at some level of calls, and I create now no longer indulge in any clue where they live.
Finally, within the occasion you’re any individual who flourishes on in-person collaboration, Web3 could well well well also feel setting apart. Locations of work are uncommon. Physical meetups are occasional, now no longer expected. The culture is built round async conversation and autonomy.
But when independence, flexibility, and privacy are high on your record, Web3 delivers that in stout.
A Different Constructing Mindset
Web3 isn’t honest a brand mute industry – it’s a brand mute paradigm. It’s a achieve where reducing-edge tips are shaping the future of cryptography, dispensed programs, decentralization, and consensus algorithms. And since the tips haven’t been fully written yet, used development approaches most frequently don’t educate.
Right here’s a world where experimentation isn’t now no longer compulsory – it’s expected. Many core tools are aloof evolving. Languages esteem Solidity are relatively young, with frameworks that can perchance well well also honest now no longer also indulge in a real model yet.
Whereas you’re the extra or less developer who flourishes on studying, tinkering, and building in uncharted territory, Web3 is the most involving atmosphere. It’s messy, thrilling, and entire of varied.
Nonetheless it also demands agility and a high tolerance for alternate. Whereas you’re procuring for predictability, legacy tools, or clearly outlined roadmaps, Web3 could well well well also check your persistence. Right here, adaptability is a skill honest as main as writing bright code.
Starting up Supply at the Core
In Web3, transparency isn’t honest a nice-to-indulge in – it’s the basis. Round 80-90% of all code written for blockchain initiatives is originate-source by default. Which intention someone can dive into a protocol’s logic, explore its mechanics, or even originate contributing straight.
But this openness isn’t almost about collaboration. It’s also a trust-building mechanism. In an industry where scams and rug pulls aloof exist, popularity is the entire lot – and publishing your code is no doubt one of the clearest indicators of integrity.
Starting up code invites scrutiny. It encourages neighborhood contributions. It permits public, zero-payment code experiences that can let you get minor issues long earlier than a formal audit.
If originate-source has ever felt esteem greater than a aspect project to you – within the occasion you look it as a philosophy or a craft – Web3 provides you the achieve to live that out fully. It’s a uncommon predicament where building in public isn’t honest encouraged – it’s expected.
Regulations Is Catching Up
No subject its like a flash growth, Web3 aloof operates in a landscape of honest uncertainty.
Regulations varies wildly from country to country – while the EU has launched certain frameworks esteem MiCA (Markets in Crypto-Property), diversified regions aloof deal with crypto as a honest gray zone.
That acknowledged, we’re starting up to verify up on proper momentum. Final year marked a prime milestone with the approval of Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs within the U.S., and 2025 is expected to elevate identical developments for diversified digital resources.
Web3 comes with never-ending prospects, however also its bright share of challenges. It demands adaptability, curiosity, and the willingness to develop by uncertainty.
So how create you ranking the soar from Web2 now no longer only gentle, however worthwhile?
9 Methods to Prevail in Web3
Tip #1: Leverage Your Web2 Expertise
After I started engaged on my first Web3 project – a blockchain-based mostly mostly supply chain resolution built on Corda – my background in Kotlin and Java grew to turn out to be out to be a proper asset. Since Corda is a non-public blockchain, significant of the infrastructure used to be familiar. A lot extra main? The management abilities I had developed in my Web2 roles as a crew lead.
When hiring builders for that project, I wasn’t procuring for deep recordsdata of orderly contracts or decentralized programs. What mattered most were solid fundamentals: real programming abilities, figuring out of databases, and a elevate of networking tips.
So within the occasion you’re a JavaScript backend dev taking a conception to damage into Web3, the most involving transfer isn’t to pivot into something fully mute esteem protocol engineering. As an different, safe a job that mirrors your mute skill dwelling internal a Web3 context. It’ll be a substantial smoother and further sustainable transition.
Don’t strive and alternate the entire lot right this moment – that’s the quickest scheme to lose each and every momentum and profits. Judge it as a step-by-step evolution, now no longer a stout reset.
Tip #2: Master the Fundamentals – Languages, Tech, and System Make
Earlier than Web3, I was a die-laborious JVM fan – Java, Kotlin, Groovy. I laughed at JavaScript memes and jokingly noticed .NET devs as phase of the “corporate sad aspect.”
But the entire lot changed with my 2d Web3 project – a crypto pockets asset administration gadget. One among the main hurdles? Learning to work with JavaScript and TypeScript libraries. The deeper I went into Web3, the extra I realized that JavaScript – and increasingly extra, Python – were for the duration of the predicament. Now, I utilize each and every nearly each and every day.
Whereas you’re making ready to enter Web3, add these languages to your toolbox. They’re now no longer easiest main in blockchain, however broadly pale for the duration of tech.
Honest as main: don’t neglect core applied sciences and gadget plan. In one hiring round, we chose a candidate with weaker Web3 recordsdata however stronger plan thinking and engineering fundamentals. Frameworks could well well well also honest be learned. Stable engineering instincts steal longer to form – and subject extra within the slay.
On the stop of the day, what issues most is being an engineer who can resolve issues, no subject the stack. That mindset is your strongest asset – in Web3 or anyplace else.
Tip #3: Compose Solid Relationships — With Teammates and Managers
In tech circles, it’s now no longer odd to listen to builders throw color at managers, calling them ineffective, blockers, or honest of us that preserve asking, “How’s that activity coming alongside?”
That mindset most frequently comes with finger-pointing: the trojan horse is QA’s fault, the deployment is on DevOps, the decrease-off date stress is all on administration.
But over the years, working as each and every an IC and a lead, I’ve learned something easy however principal: success in any role starts with taking responsibility and building trust with every person round you.
Some of my easiest alternatives came now no longer from CVs, however kinfolk. One engineering supervisor I labored smartly with put me on the radar for the project I’m on this day. And as a lead, I’ve offered flexibility and give a boost to to engineers I knew I could well well well also count on, whether that supposed a time off or achieve to work in their very indulge in rhythm.
This isn’t about being good for the sake of it. It’s about mutual respect and shared accountability. Solid relationships ranking teams extra resilient and originate doorways that abilities on my own most frequently don’t.
In Web3, where teams are dispensed and like a flash-sharp, relationship capital is proper capital. Make investments in it early.
Tip #4: Take dangle of Initiative, Contain Your Work, and Portion What You Know
This builds straight on the old level – on story of solid relationships thrive when they’re backed by action, accountability, and a willingness to lead.
There’s an extinct asserting that goes esteem “initiative will get punished,” however in my abilities, that easiest occurs when any individual steps up with out following by. I’ve learned a diversified rule: initiative will get rewarded.
All over my occupation, I’ve launched internal workshops, hosted guilds, kicked off aspect initiatives, and built neighborhood initiatives. Extra most frequently than now no longer, these efforts paid off – now no longer only in recognition, however in proper growth. To illustrate, my work on corporate studying capabilities laid the basis for my teaching role at the university.
In each and every project I’ve labored on, of us who steal possession – the of us that don’t wait to be taught what to create – are these who ranking promoted, invent bonuses, and ranking looped into high-impact work. I’ve even viewed cases where such of us continued to receive raises at some level of firm-large freezes. And when laborious calls needed to be made, esteem downsizing, they were at all times final on the record. I protest that now no longer only as a developer, however as any individual who’s needed to ranking these choices.
In Web3, where the tempo is volatile and teams develop and shrink rapid, being proactive, expert, and generous alongside with your recordsdata is your easiest job safety – and your quickest route to development.
It’s now no longer almost about getting forward. It’s about turning into any individual others must form with, even when the road will get tricky.
Tip #5: Compose Your Personal Heed
No, this doesn’t indicate you indulge in to turn out to be a stout-time influencer or share your existence on Instagram (unless you want must). Constructing a non-public stamp isn’t about having a million followers. It’s about having a weird viewpoint, sharing it by public channels – online or offline – and making your abilities visible.
In a competitive market, your personal stamp could well well well also honest be the edge that will get you noticed. When recruiters or prospects are picking between candidates, they’re extra most likely to transfer with any individual who speaks up, shares recordsdata, and brings something certain to the desk.
Let’s be lawful: we all must work with reducing-edge tech, on thrilling initiatives, alongside top-tier of us. A solid personal stamp helps put you on the radar for precisely these forms of alternatives. It shows you’re now no longer only clocking internal and out – you’re odd, engaged, and now no longer insecure to share what you’ve learned.
Originate little. Post each and every infrequently on LinkedIn. Portion a lesson, a instrument you liked, or a technical insight. It’s sufficient to ranking going.
Now no longer into tying your tips to your proper title? That’s fine – in particular in Web3. Anonymous accounts on X (formerly Twitter) thrive within the dev and meme culture. Some of the most influential voices accessible don’t also indulge in a face linked. It’s now no longer my route, however it unquestionably’s a sound and principal one if it resonates with you.
And within the occasion you want must steal that visibility even further – the next tip will come in to hand.
Tip #6: Apply Crypto Twitter (Seriously)
Crypto Twitter (or “CT”) is the heartbeat of Web3. It’s where the most smartly-liked trends, tools, debates, and alternatives emerge – most frequently earlier than they ranking it to blogs, newsletters, or mainstream media.
To be blunt: within the occasion you’re inquisitive about a Web3 occupation, being on X (formerly Twitter) isn’t now no longer compulsory – it’s main.
I’ll admit, I pale to miss it. The trolls, the anonymity, the Elon train – it all regarded esteem a buzz. But over time, I realized something: CT is where the place is. Founders, builders, VCs, and core devs – including Ethereum’s indulge in Vitalik Buterin – share their thoughts and product drops right here first.
It’s now no longer only a source of alpha. It’s a predicament to form your stamp, develop your community, and liberate mute alternatives. Appropriate now, I’m phase of Uniswap’s incubator program, and almost about all conversation for the cohort (120+ of us from 50+ international locations) occurs on X. All individuals there is inspiring, plugged in, and engaged.
Essentially, many employers and hackathon organizers now quiz to your Twitter deal with at some level of the applying direction of. And within the occasion you’re planning to commence your indulge in project? Your neighborhood starts on X. No traction there = no traction at all.
Tip #7: Be half of Hackathons
Hackathons are a cornerstone of Web3 culture. Dozens happen each and per week – online and offline – with prize swimming pools that on a frequent basis stretch into the masses of of thousands of bucks. But the proper label isn’t honest within the money.
Many hackathons offer investment alternatives, grants, or incubator invites for promising MVPs built at some level of the occasion. It’s no doubt one of the most accessible ways to damage into Web3, in particular within the occasion you’re honest starting up out.
You don’t must be a Solidity wizard to be half of. Groups most frequently consist of backend devs, frontend builders, deploy wranglers, and any individual to deal with the pitch. Even college students or self-taught devs can contribute meaningfully. Every role counts. Previous product hackathons, there are also safety contests and CTFs (Take dangle of the Flag), where the aim is to damage things earlier than they hit the mainnet. These challenges can pay extraordinarily smartly – esteem the $2.35M bounty from the Uniswap v4 contest – and abet crimson meat up the safety of the total ecosystem.
In my conception, I’ve taken phase in plenty of hackathons. Now no longer each and every project used to be a winner, however the abilities used to be game-altering. I met collaborators, stepped into mute roles, and learned the scheme to form below stress. Hackathons aren’t honest events – they’re launchpads for careers, connections, and tips that can alternate your existence.
Tip #8: Make contributions to Starting up Supply
As talked about earlier, 80–90% of Web3 code is originate source. And within the slay, your code will most likely live on-chain, fully visible to the realm.
But past that, contributing to originate source is no doubt one of the most involving ways to showcase your abilities, place bright intentions, and form your popularity right by the neighborhood.
It’s also a sturdy scheme to ranking noticed. On my mute project, just a few teammates started out simply submitting GitHub pull requests. Now, they’re stout-time contributors.
Yet every other underrated assist? It forces you to jot down higher code. Shiny that diversified builders will read, evaluate, and rely on your work raises the bar – and sharpens your craft.
If collaboration, transparency, and shared possession subject to you, Web3 is your playground. So originate little: touch upon issues, imply modifications, commit code to initiatives you are concerned on. It’s now no longer only an even abilities – in plenty of cases, it’s your stamp into Web3.
Tip #9: Exercise AI to Supercharge Your Workflow
There used to be a time when using AI tools felt esteem dishonest, or no now no longer as a lot as something to cloak. Some builders overlooked them. Others downplayed their usefulness.
But by 2025, that mindset is old-normal. Whereas you’re aloof now no longer using AI on your workflow, it raises severe questions.
Ignoring AI this day is esteem refusing to jot down assessments or utilize a linter. And in a achieve esteem Web3, where plenty of the code is originate-source, tools esteem GitHub Copilot and AI pair programmers indulge in access to large practicing sets that can dramatically boost your output.
These tools don’t honest let you write code. They tempo you up, decrease psychological load, and let you kind out proper field-fixing as a substitute of boilerplate. With the most involving setup, you in actual fact can turn out to be that “10x engineer” we all pale to droll story about.
And we’re now no longer stopping at autocomplete. In 2025, AI agents are stepping in – orderly assistants that don’t honest generate code, however check their very indulge in work, analyze failures, automate initiatives for the duration of platforms, and even talk with teammates (or diversified agents). They’re succesful of handling complex workflows that pale to require just a few of us.
So don’t snooze on AI. Embody it, combine it deeply, and let it expand what you’re already worthy at.
Closing Thoughts
Transitioning from Web2 to Web3 isn’t almost about switching tech stacks – it’s a mindset shift. It intention embracing uncertainty, staying adaptable, and turning into phase of a swiftly-sharp, global neighborhood.
Web3 provides builders unheard of freedom, innovation, and possession, however it unquestionably also demands real studying, resilience, and a bias against action.
Whereas you’re ready to steal payment of your occupation and lean into alternate, Web3 can steal you extra than you imagined. The guidelines I’ve shared right here won’t quilt each and every field, however they’ll give you a real head originate.
Welcome to the frontier.
