Skill Profile

Applied Cryptography

Hash functions, digital signatures, elliptic curves, Merkle trees, ZKP

Blockchain & Web3 Blockchain Fundamentals

Roles

where this skill appears

Levels

structured growth path

Mandatory requirements

the other 4 optional

Blockchain & Web3

Blockchain Fundamentals

3/17/2026

Choose your current level and compare expectations. The items below show what to cover to advance to the next level.

What is Expected at Each Level

The table shows how skill depth grows from Junior to Principal. Click a row to see details.

Role	Required	Description
Blockchain Developer		Understands applied cryptography fundamentals for blockchain: hash functions (SHA-256, Keccak), digital signatures (ECDSA, EdDSA), and key derivation (BIP-32/39). Follows team patterns for wallet integration and transaction signing.
Smart Contract Developer		Understands applied cryptography for smart contracts: hash commitments, signature verification (ecrecover), and Merkle proof validation. Follows team patterns for implementing commit-reveal schemes and signature-based authorization.

Role	Required	Description
Blockchain Developer		Independently develops with Applied Cryptography in Hardhat/Foundry. Conducts basic audits. Optimizes gas.
Smart Contract Developer		Independently develops with Applied Cryptography in Hardhat/Foundry/OpenZeppelin. Conducts basic audits. Optimizes gas.

Role	Required	Description
Blockchain Developer	Required	Designs cryptographic systems for blockchain protocols: threshold signatures, VRFs, and zero-knowledge proof integration. Conducts security analysis of cryptographic implementations and evaluates post-quantum cryptography readiness.
Smart Contract Developer	Required	Designs cryptographic smart contract patterns: ZK-SNARK/STARK verifiers, multi-signature schemes, and privacy-preserving computations. Conducts security audits of on-chain cryptographic implementations and evaluates gas-efficient crypto libraries.

Role	Required	Description
Blockchain Developer	Required	Defines cryptographic standards for blockchain product: key management policies, signature scheme selection, and entropy source requirements. Establishes security audit processes for cryptographic implementations and coordinates with external auditors.
Smart Contract Developer	Required	Defines cryptographic architecture for smart contract platform: proof system selection, signature aggregation strategies, and privacy protocol integration. Establishes cryptographic review standards and gas optimization guidelines for on-chain proofs.

Role	Required	Description
Blockchain Developer	Required	Defines organizational cryptographic strategy for blockchain platforms: post-quantum migration roadmap, HSM infrastructure, and key ceremony governance. Evaluates emerging cryptographic primitives and shapes industry-aligned security frameworks.
Smart Contract Developer	Required	Defines organizational cryptographic strategy for smart contract platforms: ZK-proof system roadmap, cross-chain signature standards, and privacy framework evolution. Shapes enterprise vision for cryptographic innovation in decentralized applications.

Junior 2 requirements

Blockchain Developer

Understands applied cryptography fundamentals for blockchain: hash functions (SHA-256, Keccak), digital signatures (ECDSA, EdDSA), and key derivation (BIP-32/39). Follows team patterns for wallet integration and transaction signing.
Smart Contract Developer

Understands applied cryptography for smart contracts: hash commitments, signature verification (ecrecover), and Merkle proof validation. Follows team patterns for implementing commit-reveal schemes and signature-based authorization.

Middle 2 requirements

Blockchain Developer

Independently develops with Applied Cryptography in Hardhat/Foundry. Conducts basic audits. Optimizes gas.
Smart Contract Developer

Independently develops with Applied Cryptography in Hardhat/Foundry/OpenZeppelin. Conducts basic audits. Optimizes gas.

Senior 2 requirements

Blockchain Developer
Required

Designs cryptographic systems for blockchain protocols: threshold signatures, VRFs, and zero-knowledge proof integration. Conducts security analysis of cryptographic implementations and evaluates post-quantum cryptography readiness.
Smart Contract Developer
Required

Designs cryptographic smart contract patterns: ZK-SNARK/STARK verifiers, multi-signature schemes, and privacy-preserving computations. Conducts security audits of on-chain cryptographic implementations and evaluates gas-efficient crypto libraries.

Lead / Staff 2 requirements

Blockchain Developer
Required

Defines cryptographic standards for blockchain product: key management policies, signature scheme selection, and entropy source requirements. Establishes security audit processes for cryptographic implementations and coordinates with external auditors.
Smart Contract Developer
Required

Defines cryptographic architecture for smart contract platform: proof system selection, signature aggregation strategies, and privacy protocol integration. Establishes cryptographic review standards and gas optimization guidelines for on-chain proofs.

Principal 2 requirements

Blockchain Developer
Required

Defines organizational cryptographic strategy for blockchain platforms: post-quantum migration roadmap, HSM infrastructure, and key ceremony governance. Evaluates emerging cryptographic primitives and shapes industry-aligned security frameworks.
Smart Contract Developer
Required

Defines organizational cryptographic strategy for smart contract platforms: ZK-proof system roadmap, cross-chain signature standards, and privacy framework evolution. Shapes enterprise vision for cryptographic innovation in decentralized applications.

Loading comments...