Build the systems where code enforces the rules. Go from zero to deploying smart contracts and full dApps in about five months — everything on free testnets.
Web3 is learned by shipping contracts, not watching charts. Everything below is deployed to free test networks, verified publicly, and written up on GitHub — real proof anyone can check on-chain.
Who it suits: You're drawn to new tech frontiers and want to build systems where the code itself enforces the rules.
Indicative 2026 starting ranges in India — actual pay varies widely by city, company, and skill. Salary is an outcome of skill and a strong project portfolio, not a guarantee.
How blockchains actually work, before any code.
Blocks, hashing, consensus, why it can't be quietly edited.
Accounts, gas, transactions; set up MetaMask on a testnet.
Public/private keys, signatures, hashes in practice.
The language of Web3 tooling and frontends.
What contracts can (and can't) do; reading real ones.
Write, test, and deploy real smart contracts.
Types, functions, modifiers, events — in Remix.
Ownership, access control, upgradability basics.
Hardhat/Foundry tests — the habit that prevents disasters.
Build and deploy your own token, properly.
Mint an NFT collection with on-chain metadata.
Deploy a verified token contract with a test suite.
Connect contracts to real user interfaces.
Talk to contracts from JavaScript.
Sign-in with wallet, transactions from the browser.
IPFS for images and metadata.
Events, indexing, The Graph basics.
Chainlink — bringing real-world data on-chain.
A complete mint site or voting dApp, live on a testnet.
Think like an auditor — the highest-paid skill in Web3.
Reentrancy, overflow, front-running — and their fixes.
Hack intentionally-vulnerable contracts, legally.
Audits, OpenZeppelin libraries, checklists.
How swaps, lending, and staking actually work.
A polished dApp with tests and a self-audit writeup.
Projects beat certificates. Do them in order — each builds on the last. Put every one on GitHub with a clear README.
Learn Solidity by building a game — free and interactive.
Deployed, verified, and tested on a public testnet.
ERC-721 contract with IPFS metadata and a mint frontend.
Voting or crowdfunding dApp — contract + wallet-connected UI.
Full test suite, security self-audit, and documentation.
Click any resource to open it — free and well-known first, then build something with it.
Universal (any field): roadmap.sh · freeCodeCamp · GitHub Student Pack · Coursera
Free wallet extension — switch it to a test network (no real money).
cryptozombies.io — you'll write your first Solidity in 30 minutes.
remix.ethereum.org — deploy a Hello-World contract to a testnet today.
PathAhead helps you choose the career that fits you — with guidance built for Intermediate students. Explore every roadmap in one place.
This roadmap is a free educational resource. Timelines are a guide — everyone learns at a different pace. Referenced resources (Cyfrin Updraft, Alchemy University, CryptoZombies, Ethernaut, Solidity docs) are for learning only and are not affiliated with PathAhead.