From Qualcomm engineer to Solana founder: lessons from eight years in cryptography

Solana founder Anatoly Yakovenko shared valuable insights from his eight-year experience in digital assets. His journey in this field began unexpectedly — while working as an engineer at Qualcomm, he became interested in cryptographic algorithms that sparked the blockchain revolution. Studying Proof of Work and Satoshi Nakamoto’s consensus mechanisms opened new perspectives for the development of distributed technologies.

The Birth of Solana During Market Volatility

When Anatoly Yakovenko founded Solana in early 2018, the market was experiencing a significant downturn. Crypto asset prices were falling weekly, especially noticeable in major projects losing tens of percent in value. Such harsh conditions shaped the team’s conservative approach to resources and hiring.

Survival Strategy That Became a Source of Strength

The decision to avoid excessive expenses and maintain sufficient funds for development was a key factor. Anatoly Yakovenko and his team focused on deep product development instead of rapid expansion. This choice allowed them to refine the technology carefully, understand real user needs, and continuously improve their offerings.

The Value of User Understanding

The Solana founder emphasized that success in the crypto industry depends on how deeply developers understand the actual value their solutions bring to the audience. Innovation without a focus on user problems inevitably leads to failure. Conversely, when the team clearly sees how their product solves specific problems, it creates a foundation for exponential growth during favorable market conditions.

Looking to the Future

Anatoly Yakovenko’s eight-year experience proves that in cryptography, long-term vision and discipline are more important than haste and short-term ambitions. Stability and thoughtful planning during a crisis lay the groundwork for sustainable development.