Why Am I Making the Switch?
For years, I worked as a Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET)—a field deeply rooted in traditional software development. It was a stable career, but something was missing. That missing piece? A sense of true innovation and revolution.
Looking back, I think my journey toward becoming a Smart Contract Engineer can be traced to one of my biggest passions: investing in cryptocurrency.
The Moment That Changed Everything
Like many others, my crypto journey started with Bitcoin, the first truly decentralized digital currency. At its core, Bitcoin wasn’t just another asset—it was a fundamental shift in the way we think about money, trust, and decentralization.
The Bitcoin whitepaper, written by Satoshi Nakamoto, is often referred to as the Bible of Cryptocurrency. Despite being only a few pages long, it proposed a groundbreaking solution to a centuries-old problem: how to create a trustless, decentralized system of value exchange.
"The root problem with conventional currency is all the trust that’s required to make it work. The central bank must be trusted not to debase the currency, but the history of fiat currencies is full of breaches of that trust. Banks must be trusted to hold our money and transfer it electronically, but they lend it out in waves of credit bubbles with barely a fraction in reserve."
— Satoshi Nakamoto, Bitcoin Whitepaper (2008)
This completely changed my perspective. Bitcoin wasn’t just a digital coin—it was a revolution against traditional financial systems.
Ethereum & The Rise of Smart Contracts
Then came Ethereum. While Bitcoin solved the problem of decentralized money, Ethereum took it a step further: it created a programmable blockchain, enabling Smart Contracts that could automate trust and transactions.
At first, I didn’t grasp the full implications. But when I encountered NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens), everything clicked.
NFTs weren’t just about digital art. They represented ownership, proof of authenticity, and verifiable scarcity on the blockchain. I realized that anything that required proof—certificates, real estate, supply chain tracking—could one day exist as an NFT, secured by Smart Contracts.
"Code is Law"—and for the first time, I saw a world where contracts, agreements, and transactions could be trustless, transparent, and immutable.
That’s when I knew:
This was more than just an investment opportunity—it was a technological revolution.
The world was moving fast, and if I didn’t jump in now, I’d be left behind.
I didn’t just want to be a passive observer—I wanted to be a builder.
Why This Matters to Me
Technology is most powerful when it empowers people. With Smart Contracts, I see a future where:
- Artists no longer need intermediaries to sell their work.
- Supply chains are transparent, ensuring ethical sourcing.
- Real estate transactions happen without unnecessary bureaucracy.
- Financial systems are truly accessible to everyone—not just the privileged few.
I asked myself:
"If I could contribute to making this future a reality—even in the smallest way—wouldn’t that be worth the switch?"
The answer was obvious.
Join Me on This Journey
This is just the beginning of my Web3 developer journey. If you’re also learning Solidity, Smart Contracts, or blockchain development, let’s connect!
GitHub: https://github.com/benzdriver
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ziyan-zhou/
Let’s build the future of blockchain together.
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