10 Things Every Blockchain Engineer Should Know in 2025

The blockchain tech industry has dramatically changed over the past 10 years: Here’s what you should know about it.

Blockchain is no longer just the backbone of Bitcoin (BTC) or cryptocurrencies. It is more than that. Its application in various industries is as wide as the seas. And despite the technology’s limitations and challenges, demand for blockchain engineers increased by more than 500% between 2018 and 2019. Many engineers want to jump on the blockchain bandwagon. Blockchain engineers can have a head start or stay relevant if they know these 10 aspects of the industry. Maybe not all of them. But the more they know, the better.

Blockchain Interoperability

Blockchain interoperability refers to the ability of separate blockchains to access, see, and share information. However, current blockchains are isolated and siloed from the next. They exist independently, perhaps because there is too much competition. Experts argue that blockchain interoperability will lead to the overall success of the industry. A good example is that of payment platforms such as PayPal, which can interoperate with other mobile payment apps. A bridge has to be built — say for example, between Bitcoin and Ether (ETH). Let’s imagine a world where it was impossible to send an email from Yahoo servers to Google’s Gmail servers.

DAML

As blockchain technology continues to evolve, the need for improved blockchain systems grows. Digital asset modeling language, or DAML, is a smart contract language that enables blockchain engineers to accurately code multi-party agreements for various blockchains. DAML is now open-source and expected to deploy improved developer experience and provide front-end support and ledger model improvements in 2020.

BaaS

Blockchain-as-a-Service, or BaaS, is a managed blockchain model that allows engineers to build blockchain applications and other digital services over a distributed network. In this model, the industry provides the infrastructure and blockchain-building tools. The BaaS model provides an auditable transaction record, a middleware for monitoring application development, a modular and preconfigured network and infrastructure, and platform architecture management.

Cryptojacking

Cryptojacking — also called malicious crypto mining — is an emerging online threat that involves the malicious mining of cryptocurrencies on a victim’s device. Though crypto mining’s potential has not yet been fully explored, there has been a significant rise in cryptojacking instances. It is better to detect and prevent cryptojacking through network monitoring solutions since the threats are not easily detected by endpoint solutions. Most businesses and organizations have network monitoring tools.

Lightning Network

The Lightning Network — a second-layer technology for instant micropayments — was introduced as a solution to blockchain’s scalability issues. However, it is facing troubles of its own. A research paper titled “Lightning Network: A Second Path Towards Centralisation of the Bitcoin Economy” concluded that the network has security vulnerabilities due to increased centralization. Blockchain engineers are working to eliminate this loophole.

Federated Blockchain

Blockchain is a blessing to many organizations — and a curse to those that deal with highly sensitive information. The breakthrough of federated blockchain has brought relief to these organizations. A federated blockchain is a private and permissioned blockchain where entities become members of the network by way of voting or prior approval. 2020 is the year of federated blockchain, and every engineer should prepare themselves for this feat.

Blockchain-Based Supply Chain

A supply chain is vital to many organizations. Blockchains improve traceability, reduce counterfeit goods, enhance transparency, and redefine traceability in supply chains. The distributed ledger technology records key product information such as the origin, raw materials used, etc. in manufacturing products. Consumers can use this information to verify the authenticity of products. Blockchain is expected to make supply chains even better in the coming decade.

Transferable Skills

Blockchain builds on other technologies. This nascent space requires engineers with skills in software development, cryptography, programming, web applications, and data analytics, among others. No single skill will ever be enough to give an engineer an advantage over others. A combination of skills in several areas is highly desirable as new concepts are brought to the field every day.

IoT

The industry for the Internet of Things, or IoT, has significantly taken off in the recent past. Research by Gartner estimates that the number of IoT devices will reach over 20 billion in 2020. IoT links “things,” people, sensors, and products, with data as the common denominator among them. While this is exciting, it must be noted that numerous security vulnerabilities can be exploited. Blockchains can be used to authenticate and transfer data in an IoT system without the need for a third party.

An Evolving Industry Needs Flexible Engineers

The full scale of blockchain’s reach is yet to be known. Some have called the technology a “hammer looking for a nail.” Several crypto startups have been criticized for using blockchain where a simple solution could have sufficed. What is evident is the rate at which the technology is being adopted. CargoSmart is working in conjunction with COSCO SHIPPING LINES and electric car manufacturer Tesla to test a blockchain supply chain pilot project.

Blockchain Engineers Have a Lot to Learn and a Lot to Give to the Industry.

Source:cointelegraph