Attend a pre-college summer program. These provide a taste of a future in programming and often include some elements of career counseling, so you can start to map out your future.
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- Sponsored by Microsoft, DigiGirlz High Tech Camp works with young women in the U.S. and overseas to dispel stereotypes and give them a preview of a future in tech.
- The GE Girls program encourages young women with a technical frame of mind to pursue a math or engineering career.
College Students
There are several ways for college students to build their blockchain and fintech expertise. Joining groups will help you get oriented in blockchain development and practice technical skills.
- Attend public lectures. Sponsored by women’s professional computing groups, these talks are generally open to the public. For example, the Women’s Blockchain & Cryptocurrency for Beginners is sponsored by the Gyals Network, a group that sponsors accelerator labs and other events for women in fintech.
- Get an internship. College students who want to get real-life experience and skills in the cryptocurrency and blockchain space can start at these well-known sites:
- Blocktribe – Blocktribe provides mainly blockchain developer opportunities for students looking for internships.
- Glassdoor – Search for blockchain-related and other internship opportunities at a major job and recruiting site.
- Simply Hired – This major job and recruiting site offers both cryptocurrency investment and trading opportunities, as well as internships in blockchain development.
- Attend a hackathon. College students can show that they have the right stuff at these programming competitions. Start by checking with your computer science department to see if you have any existing affiliations through your school. Look into finding local Major League Hacking events; they sponsor a series of annual, local events. Each event offers a full day of workshops, activities, freebies, and more.
- Join extracurricular special interest groups, or start your own. These include blockchain research groups, such as student-led initiatives established at Duke University and UC Berkeley. These universities in the U.S. and overseas have developed new research initiatives. You can always start your own! Members of BEN (Blockchain Education Network) take another approach—creating research groups from the ground up.
Technical Beginners or Continuing Education
No matter your age or level of professional experience, continuing education can be an effective way to learn and keep up with the latest blockchain skills and knowledge. Here’s a wide assortment of solo and group learning opportunities.
Videos
Designed for solo learning, these free videos vary in length and topics, but they all provide beginners with useful introductions to different aspects of the blockchain universe.
- What is a blockchain? – This video presents a very intuitive way to start your understanding of blockchain technology and provides some important use cases.
- Blockchain: massively simplified – The evolution of blockchain technology from the internet era and the characteristic features of normal databases to that of a blockchain distributed Ledger.
- Blockchain- A short introduction – The explanation starts with the need for money and the evolution of blockchain technology from the bitcoin cryptocurrency. The explanation continues with a demonstration of how blockchain technology can reduce the transactional costs and provide digital identity to currency or any real-world object.
- Blockchain – Demystified – Explains the origin of the internet and blockchain technology.
- How does Blockchain work- Simply explained – Compares blockchain technology with a digital notary. Bitcoin as an application of blockchain technology and how it solved the double spend problem.
- What is Blockchain? – This video explains the positive and negative implications of blockchain technology and its impact on the real world.
- Why blockchain matters more than you think – This video from Coldfusion TV explains the working of the cryptographic features of the blockchain technology The video concludes by explaining the smart contract concept in a very simple fashion by considering a real-world scenario.
Online Course Materials
There are a wide variety of online programs that can guide you through specific curricula that deal with blockchain technology. These range from solo learning opportunities all the way through get-togethers with other learners to create your own blockchain “school.”
- Khan Academy: Bitcoin – Khan Academy is a passionate provider of all kinds of free online education. This course includes nine extensive videos that talk about bitcoin, the Bitcoin blockchain, bitcoin transactions, proof of work consensus rules, and other basics.
- Bitcoin, Altcoins & Blockchain – Originally designed for Stanford University students, this highly regarded course includes lecture notes for students who want to sweat the details of blockchain and cryptocurrencies. Cryptocurrency topics include bitcoin and Ethereum, smart contracts, distributed ledger technologies, and consensus systems.
- Ethereum 101 – This course provides all the juicy details that underlie the Ethereum blockchain technology. It begins with an introduction to blockchain technology with a focus on Ethereum. The course then describes the underlying Ethereum blockchain and distributed ledger technologies and how Ethereum works.
- Introduction to Digital Currencies – This is the first free cryptocurrency massive open online course (MOOC). The 12-part course, which is presented by the University of Nicosia, covers bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies from economic, legal, financial, and social perspectives.
- Bitcoin and Cryptocurrency Technologies – Presented by Princeton University via Coursera, this course includes 11 weeks of online material. Topics include how bitcoin works, and what makes bitcoin secure. Free course content includes 12 lecture videos and 11 lecture slides.
Development Bootcamps
Here’s a sampling of the many online and in-person boot camps available to current or future blockchain developers.
- Blockchain and Crypto – Provided on the Switchup online platform, this mini-directory of for-fee coding boot camps lists face-to-face learning opportunities in the U.S., Canada, and overseas.
- 1st Online Coding School with Blockchain – Offered by HackReactor, this online course focuses on coding blockchain applications.
Books and White Papers
If you want to get down to the history and technical details of blockchain technology, it pays to read the information in these books and white papers.
If you want to build a future in cryptocurrency business and entrepreneurship, there are plenty of learning resources for you, too.
Resources for Cryptocurrency Investors and Blockchain Entrepreneurs
Interest in cryptocurrency investment and entrepreneurship has reached courses, programs, and activities across the U.S. and overseas. If you want to learn about cryptocurrencies—the business use cases of blockchain tech—here’s where to start.
Business education and training for high school students are offered through cryptocurrency-related:
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- Internships – Check out A Cryptocurrency Research Summer Program, a directory of internships for business-minded students interested in cryptocurrencies.
- Extracurricular clubs – There are many examples of U.S. high schools sponsoring after-school clubs for entrepreneurs. If you want to start one from scratch and start your own club, you can get ideas for clubs and startup process information online.
- Pre-college summer programs – This is the most comprehensive list that we could find.
Business-centered boot camps, which include:
- Internships – Cryptocurrency-related internships are a hot item. You’ll find many opportunities online. At DRW Internships, for example, the focus is on business-side data analytics for college and post-graduate students. Another cryptocurrency Internship guide provides more than 130 internship opportunities for business and technical students.
- Startup pitch competitions – Whether the event is a fast-pitch event or a standard business startup competition, there are plenty of opportunities to design new cryptocurrency use cases and business models.
- Investment and business development clubs – Students won’t have to look far for a chance to develop cryptocurrency investment and entrepreneurial skills. Often, all it takes is to review a school’s directory of student groups. Some schools offer general-interest groups for entrepreneurs. Others include cryptocurrency-related clubs.
Continuing Education Resources for Cryptocurrency Business Pros
Do you prefer the DIY approach to cryptocurrency education? If so, you have a wide variety of free, continuing educational materials to choose from—and many more for-fee courses, too. Although some of these topics mention blockchain technology, business knowledge and skills are the emphasis.
Investment and Entrepreneurship Videos
These videos are a great place to start building successful cryptocurrency-based businesses.
There are of course, many more examples of cryptocurrency trading and investment content, but many tend to emphasize getting rich quick or duplicate each other’s content.
Investment and Entrepreneurship Bootcamps
These camps help you develop the business smarts you need to invest, trade, and create successful cryptocurrency-based ventures.
Cryptocurrency Investment and Finance: Books and White Papers
Roam through these books and white papers to get a bit of financial and technology history and learn the connections between blockchain tech and today’s financial reality.
First, the books:
These white papers provide blockchain basics for finance and business professionals and link blockchain tech with global business and finance trends.
- Blockchain: Technology Beyond Bitcoin – This is a great introductory white paper for anyone looking for a basic blockchain primer to relay to management. It reviews how Bitcoin technology works, how it functions in public discourse, and how it’s used as a payment system on underground and illicit websites.
- A brave new world? – DLT (distributed ledger technology) is the main technological development that attracts many to blockchain. This paper takes a brief look at this new technology and the implications it’s likely to have on the financial markets in Europe.
- Banking in a world of programmable assets – Focuses on the widening potential of blockchain technology, as well as what underpins this technology. The paper also talks about the creation of DCLs (distributed consensus ledgers), and the implications of blockchain on financial assets.
- Distributed Ledger Technology: Beyond Blockchain – This blockchain whitepaper clearly covers the technology, governance and regulation, security and privacy, disruptive potential, and the global perspectives of DLT.
- Digital Assets on Public Blockchains – This paper provides you with the basics of asset ledgers that are based on blockchain tech and how asset ledgers are used for the IoT (Internet of Things) in the financial services industry.
There’s more to success in blockchain development than coding wizardry. Creating a robust professional network and keeping it strong is essential, too.
GET TOGETHER
Participate in the Blockchain Community
If you’re a woman active in the cryptocurrency/blockchain field, you’re a pioneer. And, life as a pioneer is much better when you run with a posse of smart, determined peers.
There are more opportunities than ever for women in the blockchain/cryptocurrency universe to meet and form communities. Online or in-person, at networking events or hackathons, women are finding knowledge, opportunities, and a sense of solidarity in the community.
Conferences
There’s nothing like a conference to expand one’s skills, enthusiasm, and network. Here are examples of the fast-growing list of domestic and overseas meetings:
- 2022 Blockchain Events – This mini-directory provides information about blockchain-related events in the U.S. and overseas.
- 2018 Women in Blockchain Summit at UC-Irvine – Here are details about an UN-sponsored event that occurred in April 2018.
- Asset-Backed Crypto Summit – Here’s another list of 2022 blockchain-, cryptocurrency- and ICO-related events in the U.S. and overseas.
- Blockchain Africa Conference – This is an announcement of the 2023 conference scheduled for Johannesburg, South Africa.
- Blockchain Developer Conference – This announcement is for the annual event, which this year emphasizes building decentralized apps and infrastructures.
- Blockchain Futurist Conference – The 2022 event emphasizes the future of blockchain.
- Blockchain Innovation & Investment Summit – In 2022, this regional conference occurs in Dubai.
- Blockchain Summit 2022 – In this annual conference, tech experts, world leaders, and global changemakers meet to discuss how to build blockchain technology for everyone’s benefit.
- Blockchain Technology Conference – In 2022, this international conference emphasizes creating the future of business with blockchain.
- Chicago Blockchain Project – This evening-long event gathers local experts to discuss topics of interest to blockchain specialists.
- Cryptocurrency Conference 2022 – Sponsored by Token Fest, this event highlights the business of blockchain.
- Disrupt SF 2018 – This is the blockchain event designed for startups and the people who create, staff, and report on them.
- Malta Blockchain Summit – This year, the summit puts the spotlight on blockchain applications and ICOs.
- San Francisco Blockchain Week – Scheduled for October 2018, this educational event is designed for blockchain enthusiasts, developers, and entrepreneurs.
- SF BETA: Blockchain Edition – San Francisco’s #1 startup mixer invites blockchain developers, startup execs, and investors to meet and discuss the latest in all things blockchain.
- World Blockchain Technology Forum – This year, the forum emphasized blockchain use in small and mid-sized enterprises.
Many of these conferences are regional events, where participants are likely to hear about new technologies, standards, use cases, and ideas.
Meetups and Networking Events
If you prefer to engage with live human beings as well as commune online, these meetups, hackathons, networking sessions, and professional group chapter meetings will give you plenty of opportunities to meet—and compete—face to face.
- “Code and Coffee” – Search for the closest one next to your hometown. Most cities and major towns have at least one event, which often occurs weekly.
- Develop your skills while you meet your peers at hackathons, such as Major League Hacking, Consensus 2018, or many local, regional, and national events.
Social Media Communities
If social media are your guides into the blockchain realm, start with these blog posts, Twitter feeds, and online magazines to keep you informed and connected:
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- Austin Blockchain Collective – advocates for and showcases blockchain and crypto companies, projects, and innovation.
- Bitcoin News – weekly headlines and events gathered from Blockchain Blog.
- Blockchain Magazine – online magazine that gathers the latest blockchain education, research, and news.
- ICO COGUIDE Blog – weekly news, interviews and educational product reviews about ICOs.
- International Legal Technology Association Blog – This blog notifies the blockchain community about live events, volunteer opportunities, and blockchain-related events served up weekly.
- Jamie Moy’s Forbes Blog – well-known business writer focuses on women in blockchain, their work, and innovations.
- SHE256 Blog – women’s group whose mission is to empower and motivate women to enter the blockchain space before its full disruptive force takes effect.
- The Very Blog – created by VeryPossible, a blockchain, IoT, and machine learning development house, the blog reviews the latest topics and blockchain technology.
GET INVOLVED
Advocate for Blockchain Technology
It’s easy to forget that blockchain technology and its cryptocurrency applications are less than 10 years old. There’s a lot of educating, advocating, and explaining to do before cryptocurrency and blockchain tech can maximize their effects on finance and other sectors of our modern economy.
Organizing up-and-coming students and professionals already working in the field is one way to make sure that information about blockchain tech is accurate, noticed, and understood. Members of these groups are already engaged in the advocacy process:
Join the members of these groups. Promote the policies and innovations that will help blockchain tech, cryptocurrency business–and women’s participation in it—grow.
Making More Progress—Today
Although women throughout the world are excited by the potential of blockchain-based tech and business, we risk losing the chance to innovate and move new business and technology ideas forward.
Unless, of course, we continue to rise up and push to make our mark in the global blockchain business and technology.