Non-fungible tokens or NFTs, have successfully grabbed the attention of millions of tech enthusiasts worldwide in recent years. The sales of NFTs reached well over $40 billion in 2021. Subsequently, the celebrity-induced NFT shopping sprees also drive higher levels of user activity in the NFT space.
Therefore, many professionals want to become NFT developer and capitalize on the job opportunities associated with non-fungible tokens. NFTs account for one of the fastest-growing markets worldwide, which presents lucrative job prospects. On the other hand, the complicated nature of NFTs in the blockchain ecosystem can be quite difficult for beginners.
On the contrary, you don’t have to worry about starting from scratch to learn about NFTs and creating them. The right NFT developer skills and courses could help you find the way towards a career in NFTs. The following discussion provides you with a detailed guide for becoming an NFT developer. You can find a comprehensive roadmap for building your career as an NFT developer. The roadmap features an outline of the skills you need and the best practices for finding jobs for NFT developers.
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Background of NFTs
Before you try to find out more information about NFT developer jobs, it is important to understand what the job entails. As the name implies, NFT developers have to create NFTs by using their blockchain and programming expertise. Non-fungible tokens or NFTs are a special class of digital assets or tokens that you cannot substitute with other assets. The most striking highlight of an NFT is that it has a single owner only. Why is the whole world going gaga over these new digital assets? Here is an outline of the features of NFTs which showcase the potential for career development for NFT developers.
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Indivisible
It is impossible to divide a single NFT into smaller denominations like cryptocurrencies.
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Authenticity
The authenticity of every NFT comes from the fact that it has a specific owner. NFTs rely on smart contracts for governance, and blockchain ledgers could help in verifying token authenticity.
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Tradability
NFTs also serve opportunities for trading or reselling in order to generate better profits.
The properties of NFTs offer adequate reasons for people to search for an NFT developer tutorial and make the most of the new technology. At the same time, companies are actively looking for skilled experts who can create and manage NFTs for them. On average, the NFT developer salary could vary between $100,000 and $150,000, according to the experience and platform expertise. The attractive annual salary estimate for NFT developers is an obvious reason to look for the skills you need to become one.
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Skills Required for NFT Developers
The number of listings featuring “NFT developers for hire” has been increasing gradually over the course of time. As a result, aspiring NFT developers are curious about the skills they need to become expert NFT developers. First of all, you must note that blockchain is the foundation for building non-fungible tokens.
However, you could not enter the domain of NFT development with any random blockchain network, as every network does not have the capabilities for handling NFT transactions. Therefore, you must develop your fluency in the blockchain networks which are suitable for non-fungible tokens. NFT developers must have skills in using Ethereum, FLOW, and Solana to establish a competitive advantage over other applicants.
1. Ethereum
The foremost thing you need to learn in an NFT developer course points at Ethereum basics. Ethereum is the most common platform used for developing non-fungible tokens and features a massive developer community. The developer community serves as a promising highlight for Ethereum as it can have quick bug fixes alongside regular addition of new features. Ethereum has also employed different technical documents, which developers can use for building decentralized applications or smart contracts.
If you want to become NFT developer, then you must know the fact that NFTs are based on ERC-721, an Ethereum token standard. At the same time, ERC-1155 token standard is also setting the foundations for creating semi-fungible tokens. Furthermore, Ethereum also plans on introducing another token standard, EIP-2309, to offer the facility for NFT minting. EIP-2309 can also allow minting an unlimited amount of tokens for each transaction.
Why is Ethereum Important for NFT Developers?
Ethereum is a striking highlight in an NFT developer roadmap for various reasons. It is an integral requirement for developing NFTs on the grounds of following factors.
- Ethereum supports peer-to-peer NFT trading, thereby taking away the need for paying trading fees to the platforms.
- Ethereum helps in public verification of token metadata and transaction history. It also supports easier verification of ownership history for NFTs.
- It is impossible to manipulate data on Ethereum after confirming a specific transaction, thereby making NFT ownership impossible to steal.
- Ethereum is always available, thereby ensuring that non-fungible tokens are readily accessible for sale and trading.
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Skills for Ethereum
The NFT developer skills in Ethereum can have a formidable influence on your career. Here is an outline of the skills you would need in Ethereum to pursue the best jobs in NFT development.
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Cryptography Fundamentals
Candidates interested in “NFT developers for hire” listings must develop comprehensive fluency in cryptography. It can help them in creating and supporting for verification of digital signatures. A detailed understanding of cryptography basics could help developers facilitate secure NFT transactions. You must develop a solid understanding of encrypted storage, private key encryption, ring signatures, hash functions, and zero-knowledge proofs.
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Solidity Programming
Ethereum skills for NFT development are practically incomplete without drawing Solidity to the discussion. Solidity programming language is an essential skill requirement for blockchain and cryptocurrency expert. Candidates aspiring to become NFT developer must learn Solidity development alongside the best ways for using tools such as Truffle to optimize workflow.
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Web Development
A major share of the work of NFT developers involves web browsers. You must note that browsers account for a majority of the decentralized app traffic on Ethereum. Therefore, candidates seeking NFT developer jobs must have a solid knowledge of CSS, HTML, and JavaScript for implementing necessary functionalities in NFTs.
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ERC-721 Token Standard
NFT developers should also work on familiarizing with the ERC-721 token standard, the foundation for creating non-fungible tokens. NFT developers must also understand the different use cases possible with the ERC-721 token standard.
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2. FLOW
The next important mention in an NFT developer tutorial would throw the limelight on FLOW. It is a Proof of Stake consensus blockchain tailored particularly for NFT minting and developing crypto games and applications. Launched in 2020, FLOW has gained immense popularity for NFT development use cases. Aspiring developers must notice that smart contracts on FLOW use a proprietary programming language, Cadence. FLOW also offers a unique multi-node and multi-role architecture for NFT verification.
How is FLOW Relevant to Aspiring NFT Developers?
The superior performance of FLOW is one of the reasons why NFT developers must learn about the Proof of Stake blockchain. How does FLOW fit in the NFT developer roadmap for the future? Here are some of the notable features of FLOW that prove the same.
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Cadence
The first highlight in FLOW basics would refer to Cadence, the proprietary programming language used for developing decentralized applications and digital assets.
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User-Ready Experiences
FLOW blockchain works effectively for supporting optimizations in the NFT ecosystem. For example, the facility of multiple payment onramps can help in creating easier and more favorable consumer experiences.
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FLOW Client Library
The FLOW Client Library serves as a browser-based assortment of features and functions for developing NFT projects on the platform.
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Upgradeable Smart Contracts
The NFT developer skills in FLOW also imply the need for expertise in upgradeable smart contracts. Developers can leverage the feature to ensure bug patches alongside secure upgrades for specific parts of the smart contracts on blockchain.
Skills for FLOW
If you are searching for NFT developer jobs, then you must prepare to develop expertise in FLOW. First of all, you would need expertise in Cadence, which helps in coding scripts, smart contracts, and transactions on FLOW. NFT developers need to learn skills for writing the following three types of programs.
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Contracts
Contracts are basic programs on FLOW, which help in executing the NFT logic. The program enables access to different capabilities and resources of the token. Some of the common highlights of a contract refer to resources and interfaces.
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Transactions
Transactions point towards the on-chain contract regarding the need for changes in the state of the chain. FLOW features considerable similarities with Ethereum, especially considering the fact that change is generally irreversible.
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Scripts
Scripts in Cadence are the programs that help in reading the state of the blockchain. Developers don’t need an account or gas fees for signing up for scripts.
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3. Solana
Solana or SOL is one of the biggest competitors to Ethereum and Cardano, especially considering the advantages of speed. The Solana blockchain features multiple projects spanning NFTs, web3, and DeFi ecosystems. Solana is one of the essential blockchain platforms you must learn about to become NFT developer with comprehensive fluency.
The Solana blockchain features the capability to execute almost 65,000 transactions in one second. On top of it, the minting program of SOL blockchain, referred to as Candy Machine, can help NFT developers focus on the artwork rather than the smart contract. The minting program also offers support to developers throughout the ecosystem with flexibility for customizing the program.
Why is Solana Essential for NFT Developers?
The importance of Solana as an NFT developer roadmap is evident in the facility of access to new functionalities. Solana enables access to DAOs, NFT marketplaces, rationalization tools, and artist collectives. Therefore, it can be a great choice for any developer seeking to create NFTs that would contribute value and resonate with the requirements of users. For example, the Launchpad on Solana by Magic Eden serves flexible options for minting NFT collections, albeit with limited technical expertise.
Skills for Solana
Candidates can land up with a lucrative NFT developer salary estimate with comprehensive skills in all blockchain platforms for NFT development. Therefore, you must have in-depth expertise on Solana if you want to use it for creating NFTs. Here is an outline of the essential skills in Solana you would need to become an NFT developer.
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Rust
Aspiring NFT developers must have a strong command over Rust, an intermediate programming language for developers. You must develop fluency in object-oriented programming and data structures alongside other common highlights for a specific general-purpose language.
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C, C++
Candidates who want to become NFT developer with expertise in Solana must also work on their knowledge of C and C++. The two programming languages are essential for writing on-chain programs in Solana.
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Where Will You Search for NFT Developer Jobs?
The promising opportunity for a lucrative career in NFTs can be a solid reason for choosing an NFT developer course and beginning the preparations. At the same time, you must think of the road you must take after completing your training in required skills. The obvious concern for a candidate would point to the search for a platform to find jobs for NFT developers. Here is an outline of the top places you can look for NFT developer jobs with promising scope for career development.
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LinkedIn
The biggest and most popular professional networking platform, LinkedIn, is one of the first places to find job listings for NFT developers. LinkedIn is one of the first places you should look for any type of job, and a few relevant keywords can help you find numerous listings. Create your bio on LinkedIn with the details of your training and qualifications for developing NFTs. Use some NFT certifications as digital badges on your bio to show that you have qualified for the exam with distinction.
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Talent Marketplaces
The world of jobs is shifting and adapting to new methods for integrating talent into the workforce. Almost every individual with NFT developer skills can market their profile on talent marketplaces and freelance websites. The talent marketplaces ensure that talented professionals can serve the necessary time and resources for NFT projects. In return, they receive professional standard remuneration for their specialized talent.
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NFT Job Boards
The most interesting place to look for jobs in an NFT developer tutorial would obviously be the NFT job board, Niftyjobs. It is a specifically designed job board developed specifically for jobs in the world of NFTs. Look for job posts according to the different requirements of employers. Interestingly, the job boards can help you find the details about the location, your role, and the type of employment contract.
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Final Words
The journey to the position of an expert NFT developer might not be easy. You have three different blockchain platforms and a lot of technical skills to learn before you start creating non-fungible tokens. If you find an “NFT developers for hire” advertisement, you must have the necessary skills and experience for the responsibilities of NFT developers. You can start working on your expertise in Ethereum, Solana, and FLOW blockchain networks for creating different components of the NFT architecture.
On top of it, learning the essential skills for NFT developer jobs is not enough to find you a job. As a matter of fact, you must look out for job listings on popular professional networking platforms and job boards. Make sure that you have a presentable profile and a comprehensive set of skills for jobs in NFT development. Keep exploring to learn more about NFTs and grow your career.
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*Disclaimer: The article should not be taken as, and is not intended to provide any investment advice. Claims made in this article do not constitute investment advice and should not be taken as such. 101 Blockchains shall not be responsible for any loss sustained by any person who relies on this article. Do your own research!
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