How to bridge blockchain knowledge Gap between different protocols

I’ve been there and can understand your situation. 4+ years on Solana before people started asking me to “go cross-chain.” It felt like learning three new programming languages at once.

Here’s what helped me:

1. Stick to Your Main Chain First
Your Solana experience isn’t wasted. Use it as your reference point. When you try Ethereum, Polkadot, or Cosmos, just look for what’s different, how contracts are deployed, how transactions work, what tools people use.

2. Learn One New Chain at a Time
I give myself 2–3 months per chain. I build a small working project, then move to the next one. That way, I come out with something real to show.

3. Prep for Interviews Based on the Role

• Chain-specific role → lead with Solana, then mention other projects.

• Interoperability role → say “Solana specialist who’s understands Ethereum & Cosmos.”

Quick tip: Public mini-projects on multiple chains are the fastest way to prove you can adapt.

As a protocol engineer for more than 8 years in blockchain i see the changing markets and needs and its very dynamic, a blockchain company founder is uncertain many times about the revenue that will come up from one chain and so he expects developers to be knowledgable in multi chain which is difficult sometimes but that's how the crypto industry is now.

Focussing on Blockchain architecture and in deep areas like Smart contracts, Virtual machine, Offchain computation techs, Cross chain bridging of one main popular chain can make things easier to get understanding of other L1, L2 and L3 chains.

Hi Shailesh, Thanks for your input. Its a great question actually asked by @Naina. We all somewhere struggle with it.  I would add my two cents what worked for me. 

I started with Ethereum and later had to work on Solana and Cosmos for client projects. Switching wasn’t easy, but a few things helped me pick up new chains faster:

1. Build Something Small First
Instead of trying to learn the whole stack upfront, I start with a small project like a token or simple DApp and get it running end-to-end. Deploying it forces me to understand the essentials without getting stuck in theory.

2. Focus on Tool Equivalents
I note what tools fill similar roles across chains. For example, Hardhat in Ethereum compares to Anchor in Solana. Having that mapping helps me switch without re-learning fundamentals from scratch.

3. Adjust Your Pitch Based on the Role

• Chain-specific job → lead with your strongest chain, mention the others as secondary skills.

• Multi-chain role → show you’ve shipped live projects on more than one chain.

Best lesson: presenting even a small working app speaks louder in interviews than saying you’re “learning” another chain.

Hi Shailesh, Thanks for your input. Its a great question acutally asked by naina. We all somewhere struggle with it