Overview

Joined Certchain Limited as a Founding Engineer, building an EVM-compatible blockchain forked from Ethereum for digital identity and certification. This was a ground-up blockchain project combining Web3 technology with real-world use cases.

Key Responsibilities

Blockchain Development

  • Forked Ethereum to create custom EVM-compatible blockchain
  • Implemented custom consensus mechanisms
  • Optimized block processing and transaction throughput
  • Built blockchain explorer and monitoring tools

Smart Contract Architecture

  • Designed smart contract architecture for digital identity
  • Built certification and verification contracts in Solidity
  • Implemented access control and permission systems
  • Created upgradeable contract patterns

Full-Stack Application

  • Built React frontend for certificate management
  • Developed Node.js backend for blockchain interaction
  • Integrated Web3 wallets and transaction signing
  • Implemented IPFS for decentralized document storage

DevOps & Infrastructure

  • Set up blockchain node infrastructure on AWS
  • Implemented network monitoring and alerting
  • Built deployment pipelines for smart contracts
  • Managed testnet and mainnet deployments

Technical Architecture

Custom Blockchain

  • Forked from Ethereum go-ethereum client
  • Modified consensus for permissioned network
  • Adjusted block time and gas mechanisms
  • Implemented custom precompiled contracts

Smart Contracts

  • Identity registry contracts
  • Certificate issuance and revocation
  • Verification and attestation system
  • Multi-signature governance

Application Stack

  • Frontend: React, Web3.js, Ethers.js
  • Backend: Node.js, Express, GraphQL
  • Storage: IPFS, PostgreSQL (off-chain data)
  • Cloud: AWS, Docker, Kubernetes

Key Achievements

EVM Blockchain

  • Successfully launched custom EVM-compatible chain
  • Achieved 3-second block times
  • Processed 1000+ TPS in testing

Digital Identity Platform

  • Built complete digital identity solution
  • Integrated with existing certificate authorities
  • Created verification API for third parties

Team Building

  • Helped hire initial engineering team
  • Established development practices
  • Created technical documentation

Technologies

  • Blockchain: Solidity, EVM, Ethereum, Go
  • Frontend: React, TypeScript, Web3.js
  • Backend: Node.js, GraphQL, PostgreSQL
  • Storage: IPFS, S3
  • Cloud: AWS, Docker, Kubernetes
  • Tools: Hardhat, Foundry, OpenZeppelin

Learnings

Founding Certchain taught me:

  • Blockchain Deep Dive: Understanding EVM internals
  • Consensus Mechanisms: Trade-offs in blockchain design
  • Identity Systems: The complexity of digital identity
  • Startup Velocity: Moving fast with limited resources
  • Regulatory Awareness: Compliance in blockchain applications

Transition

After Certchain, joined MetaLab as Software Architect while continuing to advise on blockchain projects and eventually joining Sharpei as Lead Developer.