Viewpoint | Professor of Beijing Jiaotong University: Blockchain talent reserve is extremely insufficient

Author: Wang Yuanfeng (vice chairman of China Development Strategy Studies, Beijing Jiaotong University)

Source: World Wide Web

Editor's Note: The original title was "Wang Yuanfeng: Three Challenges Facing Blockchain Development"

Blockchain technology has been a hot topic worldwide in recent years. This "hot" originates from the fact that the blockchain is indeed a technology with many advantages, which presents a bright future, but at the same time, the development of the blockchain will bring very great challenges, and this challenge can be said to be history Sexual.

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So what challenges will blockchain bring? I think there are three main aspects.

First, the talent reserve is extremely insufficient. From October 2008, Satoshi Nakamoto wrote a paper on blockchain. It was only 12 years since Satoshi Nakamoto established the first blockchain on January 3, 2009. There has never been a technology in the past. Blockchain has attracted worldwide attention and eager application enthusiasm so quickly. But in general, countries in the world, including China, have very limited knowledge and understanding of the blockchain, and the talent pool of the blockchain is extremely insufficient.

Reports published by LinkedIn and other websites show that in the past few years, especially in 2018, the demand for blockchain talent in many countries has exploded. The recruitment of blockchain talents by enterprises has increased by 2000% and reached 3500% at the highest. Despite the increase in recruitment positions, there are very few blockchain talents who can meet the requirements. The National Research Think Tank report shows that China has very scarce talents with blockchain development and related skills, accounting for about 7% of total demand. There is also a shortage of blockchain talent in the United States, which can be reflected in the salary of blockchain developers. Data from research employee pay information company Paysa shows that the average salary of U.S. blockchain developers is $ 95,545, and the average salary of the highest earners is about $ 140,000. Blockchain developers are among the highest paid developers in all professional fields. List. The US media even used the "epic shortage" to describe the blockchain talent shortage.

Second, the current application of the blockchain is too shallow, and there is even the possibility of misuse and misuse. As for blockchain technology, many companies and organizations now want to combine this technology with existing production and service models. A report from the Davos World Economic Forum in July last year showed that 75% of the enterprises surveyed are now investing in blockchain technology, mainly in order to ensure the traceability of information, ensure that data is not eroded, and protect the security of the network. From these aspects to enhance the competitiveness of existing production and services. As for the use of blockchain to create new production and service business models, 97% of companies ranked it as the last or second last.

Blockchain is a very important new technology. In particular, we need to have a deep understanding of it, have a vision for its application, and be able to see the new opportunities it brings. There is a view that the changes brought about by blockchain technology may be revolutionary. For example, blockchain is currently used more in digital finance, the Internet of Things, smart manufacturing, and digital asset trading. Especially in the financial field, the application of blockchain is considered by investors as a “window”. However, some experts pointed out that the impact of blockchain technology on finance may be like the disruptive changes brought by the Internet and mobile social media to traditional media. Without a deep understanding, this technology may not be applied on a correct track.

Third, the social impact of blockchain technology is not well understood. Blockchain is not just a technology, it may have a profound impact on basic theories of politics, society and economics. The subject of several academic conference debates in the United States and Europe is: Is blockchain a technology or a philosophy? Blockchain is undoubtedly a technology, but the changes it brings are very different from the past. The original intention of the creation of blockchain technology is a very important idea is to be dissatisfied with the problems of opacity, centralization, undemocracy and corruption of data existing in commercial institutions and financial institutions in the world. Therefore, the decentralization, openness and transparency of the blockchain network are completely rule-based, and the characteristics of no corruption deserve our deep consideration and attention.

In essence, the idea is the opposite or different from the current government, business or organizational governance of human beings. So some people say that the ideal of Satoshi Nakamoto, the ideal behind the blockchain, is utopian in nature. Based on the politics and politics of the blockchain, of course, how to develop depends on human design, but if it is only driven by the blockchain technology, its evolution will be beneficial to society or harmful to society's governance, which requires in-depth thinking and research. .

Blockchain is considered to be an important technology similar to steam engine, electricity, internet, artificial intelligence and other technologies, which will have a significant impact on human society. Some people even think that the blockchain may have a greater social impact than any technology in the past. So, how to deal with these historical challenges of blockchain? This is not the only one who can give the answer. The author believes that we must first wake up and see the problem. This is the first step in solving the problem. Then, gather in-depth research from various aspects to find solutions. Blockchain is a technology invented by humans. Like other technologies such as artificial intelligence, it is necessary to promote its technological advantages while controlling its negative effects to benefit humankind. This is a major issue facing human society in the era of the fourth industrial revolution. (The author is the vice chairman of the China Development Strategy Research Association and a professor at Beijing Jiaotong University)

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