Working at a cryptocurrency exchange might seem like a world dominated by blockchain jargon and decentralized protocols, but the reality is far more nuanced. While many assume that every engineer must be deeply versed in Web3 and distributed ledger technology, the truth is that backend roles vary significantly across different teams within an exchange.
The backend infrastructure of a crypto exchange typically spans multiple specialized units:
- Exchange Website API: Handles user-facing functionalities like account management, order submission, and market data.
- Trading Engine: Powers core operations such as order matching, margin calculations, and yield (Earn) product logic.
- Payment API: Manages deposit and withdrawal workflows, often interfacing with wallets and external payment systems.
- Wallet System: Deals directly with blockchain networks—managing keys, signing transactions, and monitoring on-chain activity.
Among these, only the Wallet team requires deep expertise in blockchain protocols and Web3 development. The other teams focus more on high-performance financial systems, scalability, and real-time data processing—skills common in traditional fintech environments. In fact, many exchanges outsource wallet infrastructure to trusted third-party providers like Cybavo or Fireblocks, reducing the need for in-house blockchain development.
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However, I work directly on the Wallet backend team, where our responsibilities are deeply intertwined with blockchain ecosystems. Our core tasks include:
- Developing business logic for wallet operations and asset lifecycle management
- Researching and integrating new blockchain networks—including running and maintaining full nodes
- Validating blockchain upgrades and managing token listings across mainnets and testnets
Morning: Monitoring Blockchain Updates
My day starts with automation. A custom-built Blockchain Release Checker tool sends notifications to our Slack channel every morning, summarizing the latest releases from all blockchains we support—ranging from Bitcoin and Ethereum to newer chains like Solana and TON.
I review any updates published within the last 24 hours. Critical changes—such as hard forks, consensus upgrades, or network maintenance—are flagged for immediate attention. If a mainnet or testnet requires an update, I first deploy it to our test environment, run comprehensive integration tests on wallet functions (like balance syncing and transaction broadcasting), and then coordinate with the infrastructure team to schedule production deployment.
But not all critical information appears in official GitHub releases. Some projects announce upgrades via blog posts, validator Telegram groups, or Discord channels. Staying proactive means constantly monitoring these decentralized sources of truth—because missing an upgrade window can lead to node desynchronization or transaction failures.
Midday: Development & Task Prioritization
Once update checks are complete, I shift focus to active development tasks tracked in Jira. Work items are prioritized based on urgency and impact. Common assignments include:
- Routine token listings following standard approval workflows
- Full integration of new blockchain networks
- Refactoring legacy modules for better maintainability
- Enhancing security protocols for key management systems
Although our backend is primarily written in Java, my role demands fluency in multiple programming languages. When a blockchain doesn’t offer a native Java SDK, I study existing implementations in Golang, Rust, Python, or C++, then port essential components into our internal Java libraries.
For EVM-compatible chains (like Ethereum, BSC, Arbitrum), we follow a well-documented SOP for contract deployment and interaction. But non-EVM blockchains—such as Near, MultiversX (formerly Elrond), and TON—require deeper research. Each has unique tooling, signing mechanisms, and smart contract models. For example:
- Near uses Rust-based smart contracts deployed via NEAR CLI
- MultiversX relies on WASM contracts and a custom transaction format
- TON employs a stack-based virtual machine with FunC as its primary language
This constant exposure to diverse architectures keeps the job intellectually stimulating.
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Afternoon: Code Reviews & Collaborative Growth
In the afternoon, I usually continue coding or participate in code reviews. We’ve adopted a peer-review-first policy: before any merge request (MR) enters the pipeline, it’s shared with at least one teammate for preliminary feedback.
Code reviewing isn't just about catching bugs—it’s a powerful learning mechanism. I often ask myself:
- Could this logic be made more resilient?
- Is the design scalable for future features?
- Are there edge cases related to network latency or reorgs?
Through this process, I’ve picked up elegant patterns from colleagues and contributed to improving system-wide consistency. It also fosters open communication and collective ownership of the codebase.
Handling Emergencies: When Blockchains Break
Despite careful planning, emergencies arise frequently:
- Full nodes falling out of sync due to network congestion
- RPC timeouts or errors affecting transaction confirmations
- Urgent security patches requiring immediate node updates
- Unexpected fee model changes or even temporary network outages—like the well-known Solana disruptions
When such incidents occur, we switch to incident-response mode: diagnosing root causes, rolling back if necessary, and communicating with operations teams to minimize user impact.
Beyond Coding: Community Engagement & Problem Solving
One unexpected but rewarding aspect of this role is engaging with external developer communities. Blockchain documentation is often outdated or incomplete. When stuck, I turn to platforms like Discord, Telegram validator groups, or GitHub repositories to seek help.
I’ve had incredibly helpful responses—from core protocol engineers guiding me through consensus quirks to SDK maintainers clarifying undocumented APIs. Submitting detailed GitHub issues has sometimes led to bug fixes benefiting the broader ecosystem.
This blend of internal development and external collaboration makes the job dynamic and impactful.
Skills Gained & Career Impact
Beyond technical growth in distributed systems, cryptography, and high-availability design, this role has deepened my understanding of Web3 service architecture. I now approach system design with a stronger awareness of decentralization trade-offs, finality guarantees, and economic incentives baked into various blockchains.
It’s not just about writing code—it’s about building bridges between centralized financial infrastructure and decentralized networks.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do all crypto exchange engineers need blockchain knowledge?
A: Not necessarily. Only teams like Wallet or On-chain Monitoring require deep blockchain expertise. Others focus on APIs, trading engines, or risk systems using traditional backend skills.
Q: What programming languages are most useful for wallet backend work?
A: Java is common for enterprise systems, but knowledge of Go, Rust, Python, and C++ helps when integrating with blockchain SDKs or analyzing protocol codebases.
Q: How often do blockchain networks require updates?
A: Major networks may upgrade every few months, while smaller chains can change more frequently. Staying alert through official channels is crucial.
Q: Is node operation always done in-house?
A: Some exchanges run their own full nodes for control and reliability, while others use third-party node services like Infura or Alchemy—especially for less critical chains.
Q: What tools are used for monitoring node health?
A: We use Prometheus for metrics collection, Grafana for dashboards, and custom alerting scripts tied to Slack and PagerDuty for real-time incident response.
Q: How do you test changes before deploying to mainnet?
A: All updates go through testnet validation first. We simulate deposits, withdrawals, reorgs, and edge-case scenarios to ensure stability before production rollout.