Blockchain startups face skill shortage, opt for freelancers

Blockchain startups are facing a shortfall of skilled professionals as corporates are tapping the same talent pool with better packages, prompting some small firms to turn to experienced freelancers abroad.
While India has 1,500-2,000 blockchain professionals, only 200-400 are actually skilled in the core architecture, experts said. “With around 1,000 job openings, if only 400 are employable, the mismatch in supply and demand is clear,” said Akshay Aggarwal who runs a community of blockchain enthusiasts. According to him, building applications can be an easy task for a developer, but building it from the core is a challenge. “You will get a number of developers who can build smart contracts, but to find someone who can start from scratch is where the real issue is,” Aggarwal said.