BlockchainWork: A 5-Year Journey Connecting Blockchain Talent from Vietnam to the World

On 22 October 2021, BlockchainWork was founded in Ho Chi Minh City. Back then, we were a small team with one idea and many questions we could not yet answer. Five years later, that community has grown to 25,000+ candidates, 350+ employers, 12+ MOUs with universities and educational institutions, and 200+ media articles mentioning BlockchainWork. On our fifth birthday, we want to tell the story of this journey, not only through numbers, but also through the questions and doubts that brought us here.

2021: it started with a question

In 2021, blockchain was one of the most talked-about words in technology. New projects appeared every week, and companies in Vietnam and abroad began to see Vietnam as a promising source of tech talent. But the closer we looked, the clearer the gap became: companies did not know where to find people who understood the industry, and young people who wanted to enter the field did not know where to start, what to learn, or which opportunities were real.

The question that stayed with us was this: if blockchain is truly a major wave of technology, where will Vietnamese people stand in that wave? Will we only watch from the side, or can we become the people who build it?

That question brought four Vietnamese and Japanese co-founders together to build BlockchainWork: Ms. Le Ngoc My Tien (CEO), Mr. Eiji Shioda and Mr. Koichiro Abe (Board Members), and Mr. Phan Trung Hieu (Chairman). Mr. Shioda has invested in more than 100 cryptocurrency projects since 2018, bringing hands-on insight into the global blockchain ecosystem. Combining local market knowledge with international experience, we shaped our vision from day one:

• To spread and accelerate the development of blockchain technology in Vietnam.
• To become a trusted blockchain talent hub in Vietnam.
• To be a bridge between Vietnam’s blockchain industry and projects around the world.

We believe technology only grows when the right people stand behind it. So instead of building another blockchain project, we chose to build a place that connects the people who will build those projects.

2022-2023: through the quiet years of the market

In August 2022, we launched the blockchainwork.net recruitment platform with a beta trial programme. It was the first milestone the whole team had been waiting for.

But the market waits for no one. Only a few months later, the global blockchain industry entered a quiet period. Many projects scaled back, hiring slowed down, and we had to ask ourselves whether we had started too early. Those were our hardest months, when every plan had to be rethought.

What kept us going was the belief that market cycles pass, while the need for people who understand technology stays. Instead of chasing short-term waves, we chose to invest in long-term foundations: universities and the community.

Our first education partners came from exactly that period: the Faculty of Software Engineering, University of Information Technology (UIT) (October 2022) and the Faculty of Information Technology, Van Hien University (December 2022). In 2023, the network grew with the Faculty of IT at Saigon University, Green Academy, MindX, Hoa Sen University and Aptech.

We also showed up where the community gathered. In 2022, BlockchainWork was part of the media partner network of ETHVietnam 2022. In 2023, we were the official media partner of TalentX 2023 by VINASA, and became an Honorary Member of the Vietnam Blockchain and Digital Assets Association (VBA).

In October 2023, BlockchainWork was selected among the Top 30 promising startups at StartupGo!Go! x 10th The Pitch in Fukuoka, Japan. For a team that had just come through a difficult period, it was a sign that the path we had chosen was being noticed.

2024-2025: patiently building the foundations

As the market warmed up again, we entered a phase of acceleration, standing on the foundations we had prepared.

October 2024 was a month to remember. BlockchainWork became a Silver Member of the Japan Blockchain Association (JBA), opening a direct door to the Japanese ecosystem. In the same month, we closed our Seed 1 round of USD 87,000 from Japanese investors who believed in BlockchainWork from the very beginning.

In December 2024, we released the Vietnam Blockchain Job Report 2024, the first industry report on Vietnam’s blockchain job market. It was something we had always wanted to do: turn what we observed in our community into useful data for both candidates and companies.

Our education network kept growing with T3H Institute of Information Technology, HUTECH and FUNiX in 2024, then Greenwich Vietnam, Dai Nam University and Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics and Finance (UEF) in 2025.

At industry events, BlockchainWork was the official media partner of Digital Asset Summit 2024, community media partner of TalentX 2024 for the second consecutive year, and community partner of Vietnam Tech Impact Summit 2024. In 2025, we joined GM Vietnam 2025 as official media partner and GrowthVerse Summit 2025 as media partner.

During this period, Vietnam’s legal framework also changed in important ways. Resolution 05/2025/NQ-CP allows a pilot crypto-asset market, and the Law on Digital Technology Industry, effective from 1 January 2026, recognises crypto assets as digital assets for the first time. For us, this was a sign that the industry is entering a more mature stage, and that demand for well-trained talent will keep rising.

2026: from Vietnam to the world

2026 is the year we have travelled furthest since our founding.

In March 2026, we published the Vietnam Blockchain Job Market Report 2025 – Outlook for 2026. In April 2026, BlockchainWork partnered with Open Campus to strengthen the Web3 workforce in Vietnam. In May 2026, we closed Seed 2 at nearly USD 142,000 from four Japanese strategic investors. What moved the whole team most was that three of them had been with us since Seed 1.

Our team also travelled to Tokyo several times this year: to Blockchain EXPO Tokyo Spring 2026, where a video and flyers on Vietnam’s blockchain talent were shown at the JBA booth, to TEAMZ Summit 2026 and to WebX 2026. Each trip was another chance to tell international partners the story of Vietnam’s blockchain talent.

In ASEAN, in June 2026, Singapore Management University (SMU) visited BlockchainWork and expanded the internship collaboration. In September 2026, we signed an MOU with Nguyen Tat Thanh University. In October 2026, BlockchainWork attended Vietnam Innovation Summit (VIS) 2026 to connect with investors and partners across the region. We were also the official Web3 media partner of Vietnam RWA Summit 2026 and community partner of Conviction 2026.

And right on our fifth birthday, we launched the English edition of BlockchainWork Insider. Through many meetings with international partners, we saw how interested they are in Vietnam’s blockchain talent, and how little English-language information exists about this market. The English edition covers Hiring in Vietnam, Market & Job Reports, Blockchain Careers, Blockchain Guide, Events and BlockchainWork News. A good place to start is the Vietnam Blockchain Job Market Report 2025 – Outlook for 2026.

The numbers we are grateful for

After five years, the BlockchainWork community includes:

• 25,000+ candidates registered on blockchainwork.net
• 350+ employers in Vietnam and abroad
• 12+ MOUs with universities and educational institutions
• 200+ media articles in Vietnamese, English and Japanese mentioning BlockchainWork, including VnExpress, VIR, AP News, Nikkei and NNA (Kyodo)

Behind every number is a story: a student landing their first blockchain job, a company finding the right person, a university bringing blockchain knowledge closer to its students. We are grateful to the companies that have worked with us, from international projects to Vietnamese tech companies, such as CommandOSS, Twendee, Bacoor Vietnam and Azdag.

A message from CEO Tien Le

Marking the 5-year milestone, Ms. Le Ngoc My Tien, CEO of BlockchainWork, shared:

“Blockchain and digital assets are entering a new stage in Vietnam, as the legal framework matures and the Vietnamese economy connects more deeply with global financial and legal infrastructure. To seize this opportunity, professionals need to prioritize continuous learning and adaptability, while companies need to build strong systems that ensure compliance, so they can benefit from Vietnam’s investment and growth trends.”

“As artificial intelligence becomes more widely used, digital assets and security-related technologies such as blockchain hold an even more special position. BlockchainWork aims to be a trusted destination and bridge, helping professionals capture future opportunities and helping companies find passionate, experienced talent with real-world networks in this field.”

The road ahead

Five years ago, we started by asking where Vietnamese people would stand in the blockchain wave. Today the answer is clearer, and the road ahead is still long. We will keep connecting Blockchain, Web3 and AI talent from Vietnam to the world, guided by the three priorities announced with Seed 2:

• Expanding Vietnam’s blockchain talent network: becoming the place companies think of when hiring blockchain talent, and the place candidates trust for career direction, through matching programmes, industry events and partnerships.
• Upgrading our products with an AI-first approach: applying AI to profile optimisation, candidate-employer matching and internal operations.
• Connecting Vietnamese talent with global opportunities: building links to Asian markets, especially Japan and Singapore.

Thank you to our candidates, employers, universities and associations, event organisers, shareholders and the media for being with BlockchainWork over the past five years. We look forward to walking the next chapter together with you.

Frequently asked questions

When was BlockchainWork founded, and by whom?

BlockchainWork was founded on 22 October 2021 in Ho Chi Minh City by four Vietnamese and Japanese co-founders: Ms. Le Ngoc My Tien (CEO), Mr. Eiji Shioda, Mr. Koichiro Abe (Board Members) and Mr. Phan Trung Hieu (Chairman). Its mission is to connect Vietnamese blockchain talent with global opportunities.

What is BlockchainWork’s vision?

BlockchainWork aims to spread and accelerate blockchain technology in Vietnam, to become a trusted blockchain talent hub in Vietnam, and to be a bridge between Vietnam’s blockchain industry and projects around the world.

What does BlockchainWork offer employers and candidates?

For employers, BlockchainWork offers job postings, candidate search and access to Vietnam’s blockchain talent community through events and partnerships. International projects can hire Vietnamese talent through the platform. For candidates, BlockchainWork provides Blockchain, Web3 and AI jobs, career knowledge and a professional community.

How large is the BlockchainWork community today?

After five years, BlockchainWork has 25,000+ registered candidates and 350+ employers in Vietnam and abroad. BlockchainWork has also signed 12+ MOUs with universities and educational institutions, and has been mentioned in 200+ media articles in Vietnamese, English and Japanese.

Which universities and educational institutions does BlockchainWork work with?

BlockchainWork’s education partners include UIT, Van Hien University, Saigon University, Hoa Sen University, HUTECH, Greenwich Vietnam, Dai Nam University, UEF and Nguyen Tat Thanh University, as well as training providers such as Green Academy, MindX, Aptech, T3H, FUNiX and Open Campus.

Who is the English edition of BlockchainWork Insider for?

The English edition is for international partners, employers and investors who want to understand Vietnam’s blockchain talent market. It covers hiring in Vietnam, job market reports, career guides, blockchain knowledge, events and BlockchainWork news.

According to BlockchainWork’s CEO, how should professionals and companies prepare for the new stage?

According to Ms. Le Ngoc My Tien, as the legal framework for digital assets matures, professionals should prioritise continuous learning and adaptability. Companies need to build strong systems that ensure compliance, so they can benefit from Vietnam’s investment and growth trends.

BlockchainWork

***Disclaimer: This content does not constitute investment advice, investment strategy recommendations, or sponsored advertising. Please refer to our Disclaimer and use the information at your own discretion.

BlockchainWork – Vietnam’s leading blockchain talent community, connecting passionate candidates with pioneering companies in blockchain and Web3. With 25,000+ registered candidates, 12+ educational institution MOUs and 350+ hiring companies, BlockchainWork is the specialized platform for blockchain careers – from Vietnam to global opportunities.

Partnership inquiries: contact@blockchainwork.net

Learn more: https://blockchainwork.net/
Employers – connect with top talent: https://blockchainwork.net/employer-signup
Candidates – find your next opportunity: https://blockchainwork.net/candidate-signup

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