Ilia is available for hire
Hire IliaIlia Bukalov
Verified Expert in Engineering
Blockchain Developer
Location
Santiago, Chile
Toptal Member Since
August 10, 2020
Ilia has been a software engineer since 2010. After focusing on C++, OS programming, and assembly (x64, x86) early in his career, he became technology-agnostic and gained expertise with JavaScript, Solidity, Hardhat, EVM, TypeScript, and MetaMask. His projects include blockchain, decentralized finance, Web 3.0 DApps, trading software, game development, 3D graphics, and low-level programming. Companies appreciate Ilia's ability to solve seemingly unsolvable problems at the cutting edge of tech.
Portfolio
Fireblocks Private Ltd
Decentralized Finance (DeFi), Web3, Cryptocurrency Wallets, API Integration...
6ix Limited
Blockchain, CTO, Solidity, Technical Consulting, Cryptocurrency...
WAGMI Games
Solidity, JavaScript, Non-fungible Tokens (NFT), MetaMask, Node.js, Web 3.0...
Experience
Availability
Part-time
Preferred Environment
Git, Visual Studio Code (VS Code), Ubuntu, Node.js, Express.js, Solidity, JavaScript, TypeScript
The most amazing...
...thing I've developed is a low-level tunneling protocol allowing connection through NAT network bypassing firewalls. After 10 years, it is still up and running.
Work Experience
DeFi Developer
2023 - 2023
Fireblocks Private Ltd
- Developed infrastructure and architecture and finally implemented REST API microservice specifically dedicated for organizing custodial asset management within the crypto-exchange back end.
- Created the internal architecture, including asynchronous bridge functionality between end user authorized requests (sending money) and actual Fireblocks API back end and database for maintaining internal accounting consistency and tracking other events.
- Integrated the Fireblocks API using request-based and response hook-based approaches by integrating the Fireblocks hardhat plugin for smart contracts deployed inside the Fireblocks ecosystem and web3 direct provider integration for inter-exchange communication.
- Implemented internal server-to-server JSON Web Tokens (JWT) authorization as well as full integration of Auth0 by Okta for user authorization management.
- Documented APIs using Postman Collections, collaborating with other remote team members.
Technologies: Decentralized Finance (DeFi), Web3, Cryptocurrency Wallets, API Integration, Express.js, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, Web3.js, Hardhat, Solidity, Blockchain, Node.js, JavaScript, Smart Contracts, Cryptocurrency Exchanges, APIs, ÐApp, Ethereum, Cryptocurrency, Decentralized Systems, Full-stack, Web 3.0, Blockchain & Cryptocurrency, Finance, Off-chain Development, Ledgers, Decentralized Applications, Ethers.js
CTO
2021 - 2023
6ix Limited
- Validated mathematics behind derivatives calculation (options and perpetual futures) according to DeFi requirements for a fintech startup. Tested different models, finding product market and technology fit, working directly with former market makers.
- Drove the R&D team in defining a new technology stack, which required preliminary VM capabilities research. Managed the team in a fully remote environment, following industry standards, including agile, GitFlow, code review, and CI/CD pipeline.
- Validated and wrote some parts of the white paper related to the technology implementation. Participated in fundraising, receiving, and supporting grants.
- Absorbed and summarized accumulated team knowledge and outcome of research implemented fully non-custodial (100% decentralized) traditional order book. Prepared end-to-end demo and demonstrated ready workable product MVP.
Technologies: Blockchain, CTO, Solidity, Technical Consulting, Cryptocurrency, Smart Contracts, JavaScript, Web 3.0, Decentralized Systems, Software Architecture, Technical Leadership, Estimations, Technical Requirements, Bitcoin, Blockchain Platforms, DApps, Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAO), Full-stack, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Blockchain Design, Tokenomics, Customized Blockchains, Decentralized Finance (DeFi), ÐApp, Cryptocurrency Wallets, Fractionalization, Stock Exchange, Digital Asset Management, Leadership, Exchanges, Security, Express.js, MongoDB, Cryptocurrency Exchanges, Architecture, Crypto, Web3, APIs, Node.js, Utility Tokens, Finance, Ledgers, Decentralized Applications, Ethers.js
Senior Back-end Engineer
2022 - 2022
WAGMI Games
- Executed a unique commit hash/reveal approach as a key part of the NFT game design, for an NFT game project.
- Executed the end-to-end implementation of game design, feature set, filling gaps and missing parts, preparing for security audit and passing it, followed by final release.
- Implemented, from scratch, and executed interfaces for randomity function on chain (VRF) using Chainlink, a unique and key part of the game design.
Technologies: Solidity, JavaScript, Non-fungible Tokens (NFT), MetaMask, Node.js, Web 3.0, Decentralized Systems, Blockchain, Smart Contracts, Software Architecture, Blockchain Platforms, DApps, React, Ethereum, Loyalty Programs, Enterprise Loyalty Programs, Decentralized Finance (DeFi), ÐApp, Cryptocurrency Wallets, Chainlink, Fuzz Testing, Casinos & Gaming, Crypto, Web3, APIs, Utility Tokens, Web Development, Decentralized Applications, Ethers.js, ERC-721, Polygon
Full-stack Web 3.0 Developer
2021 - 2022
Wacdonalds cryptopoly
- Developed an NFT game smart contract from scratch, continuous support, adjusting game logic according to the new design. Handled performance as well as gas cost optimization, deployment, and integration.
- Developed the scripting tools, full unit testing coverage, and smart contract security audit.
- Introduced and developed unique know-how randomness algorithms based on the commit-reveal approach.
- Conducted Web 3.0 MetaMask integration into React and Redux, excluding UI design.
Technologies: JavaScript, Solidity, React, Redux, MetaMask, Blockchain & Cryptocurrency, Web3.js, Web 3.0, Decentralized Systems, Node.js, Blockchain, Smart Contracts, Software Architecture, Non-fungible Tokens (NFT), Blockchain Platforms, DApps, Full-stack, Ethereum, Loyalty Programs, Enterprise Loyalty Programs, Decentralized Finance (DeFi), ÐApp, Cryptocurrency Wallets, Fuzz Testing, Casinos & Gaming, Crypto, Web3, APIs, Utility Tokens, Web Development, Decentralized Applications, Ethers.js, ERC-721, Polygon
Ethereum Smart Contract Developer
2021 - 2021
Advanced Blockchain AG
- Studied DeFi projects, their business models, and codebase: MakerDAO, Balancer, Warp Finance, Aave, Compound Finance, and Yearn Finance, taking it as a source of codebase and ideas for the future development of the project.
- Analyzed approaches of different L2 bridges (Arbitrum, Optimism, Polygon, zkSync, xDAI, BNB Chain, Biconomy), combining knowledge, researching security issues, communicating with other researchers regarding this matter, and reading scientific papers.
- Worked closely with stakeholders to understand business requirements and helped translate these into technical specifications and tasks for the dev team. Performed tech management in a small engineering team.
- Helped to establish better engineering management in the company. Performed engineering consulting. Participated in the HR process, assisting the team in hiring engineers.
- Implemented liquidity pools (automated market making) and vaults in EVM (Solidity), working on own cross-chain interoperability solution. Integrated, from scratch, the secure cross-chain liquidity management system on top of existing L2 solutions.
- Conducted internal smart contracts security audit.
Technologies: Blockchain, Solidity, Ethereum, Ethereum Smart Contracts, Smart Contracts, JavaScript, Web 3.0, Decentralized Systems, Software Architecture, Technical Leadership, Technical Requirements, Blockchain Platforms, DApps, Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAO), Cryptocurrency, ERC-20, ERC-1155, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Blockchain Design, Tokenomics, Customized Blockchains, Decentralized Finance (DeFi), ÐApp, Cryptocurrency Wallets, MySQL, Audits, CTO, Fractionalization, Stock Exchange, Digital Asset Management, Leadership, Exchanges, Security, Express.js, MongoDB, Cryptocurrency Exchanges, Architecture, Fuzz Testing, Crypto, Web3, APIs, Utility Tokens, Finance, Ledgers, Decentralized Applications, Ethers.js, MetaMask, Polygon
Senior Software Architect in Blockchain
2020 - 2020
Sifchain
- Implemented a Solidity smart contract for token sales.
- Co-developed an automated market maker (AMM) and liquidity pool.
- Developed a Solidity smart contract for pegged assets—a cross-chain, decentralized bridge between EVM and Cosmos/Tendermint. This was associated with research in Tendermint and Cosmos SDK internals (Go and Rust).
- Served as an individual contributor in a flat team management structure working with open-source technologies.
Technologies: Solidity, Cosmos, Business Intelligence (BI) Platforms, Tendermint, Go, Rust, Automated Market Makers (AMMs), Tokenization, Smart Contracts, Blockchain, Blockchain & Cryptocurrency, Web3.js, Web 3.0, Decentralized Systems, JavaScript, Blockchain Platforms, DApps, Cryptocurrency, ERC-20, Full-stack, Blockchain Design, Tokenomics, Customized Blockchains, Decentralized Finance (DeFi), ÐApp, Stock Exchange, Digital Asset Management, Exchanges, ICO, Architecture, Fuzz Testing, Crypto, Web3, APIs, Decentralized Applications, Ethers.js, MetaMask
Blockchain Developer
2019 - 2020
Ocean Protocol
- Created framework and library (TypeScript + Python) of secure and decentralized data-sharing protocol for trusted end-peers.
- Used this framework so they can interact with smart contracts (such as events parsing and filtering and executing transactions with business logic and other features) on a high level without writing much code.
- Executed proof of authority chain based on the parity codebase and implemented a complex smart contract deployment system built on multiple Docker containers dependent on each other on Python.
- Developed smart contracts in a distributed public ledger. Implemented smart contract upgradability support as well. Integrated MetaMask UI support for such smart contract interaction. Deployed a blockchain network as its own VPS and on AWS.
- Developed a blockchain based on the original bitcoin codebase written in C. Performed deep research of this codebase.
Technologies: JavaScript, MetaMask, TypeScript, Truffle, Solidity, Smart Contracts, Blockchain, Blockchain & Cryptocurrency, Web3.js, Web 3.0, Decentralized Systems, Node.js, Bitcoin, DApps, ERC-20, Full-stack, Ethereum, Decentralized Finance (DeFi), ÐApp, Stock Exchange, Digital Asset Management, Exchanges, Architecture, Python 3, Docker, Parity Polkadot, Projects, TypeScript 3, Crypto, Web3, APIs, Ledgers, Decentralized Applications, Ethers.js
Research Porting Team Member
2015 - 2017
NVIDIA Lightspeed Studios
- Participated in a small team that developed and released flagship products containing several million lines of code. These included The Witness, Contrast, and AAA+ games for Android.
- Optimized performance of the Doom 3: BFG game for Android. Improvements included CPU/GPU time and memory management, debugging and solving performance issues, and low-level optimizations.
- Researched and debugged widely used game engines—Unreal Engine 3 and Bitsquid.
- Implemented and optimized high-dimension mathematics (matrix and quaternion) and linear algebra.
Technologies: 3D Graphics, C++, OpenGL, Full-stack, 3D Games, Linux, OpenCV, Cross-platform, Parsers, Compilers
Software Engineer
2010 - 2011
MetaQuotes
- Performed complex mathematical tasks such as Fourier analysis, wavelet analysis, linear regression, cubic interpolation, and digital filters.
- Implemented the Financial Information eXchange (FIX) protocol from scratch, programming in a low-latency, highly resilient server-side process.
- Developed and deployed a high-performance system for big data processing that included a large number of quotations and autogenerated reports.
Technologies: Windows API, Microsoft Foundation Class (MFC) Library, Microsoft Foundation Classes (MFC), C++, Full-stack, Exchanges, Qt, Windows
Experience
Blockchain Solutions
While serving as the CTO, I led the full-stack and full-cycle of blockchain architecture, design, development, and integration and also I provided advisory consultancy services related to blockchain and delivered real-time DApp and web3.js solutions, decentralized CRM systems, and Bitcoin, among others.
Real-time Betting and Bidding System
https://relic-subdued-crayon.glitch.me/index.htmlDeveloped an Ethereum smart contract-based gambling system for real-time betting and bidding. The UI is fully integrated with the browser, which integrates directly with smart contracts in the back end. Real-time observation of all events happens in the blockchain network, and an advanced random number generator is embedded into the blockchain. I developed the back end, smart contract, betting systems, and integration of Metamask into the browser. The main marketing materials of the system were implemented on Wix.
Senior Blockchain Architect
Played a key role in developing, testing, and deploying an automated market making (AMM) smart contract. My work included deep research and understanding of the codebase (including the underlying mathematics) with replication, modification, and deployment of the Balancer platform (https://balancer.fi).
Authorization Integration into Microservice
A small microservice project, practically a back-end REST API. I have integrated Auth0 account management services into it, having seamless authorization on the web page, using the JWT, Express.js, and NestJS.
Skills
Languages
C++, TypeScript, Solidity, JavaScript, Python, Java, Go, Rust, Python 3, TypeScript 3
Frameworks
Hardhat, Truffle, Express.js, Qt, Tendermint, Redux, Parity Polkadot, NestJS
Libraries/APIs
Node.js, OpenZeppelin, Web3.js, React, OpenGL, Microsoft Foundation Class (MFC) Library, Windows API, OpenCV, Microsoft Foundation Classes (MFC)
Tools
MetaMask, PyCharm, IntelliJ IDEA, Git, Auth0, Rollup
Paradigms
Fuzz Testing, Cross-platform, REST
Platforms
Blockchain, Ethereum, Blockchain Platforms, Windows, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Linux, Visual Studio Code (VS Code), Docker
Other
Ethereum Smart Contracts, 3D Games, Smart Contracts, DApps, Blockchain & Cryptocurrency, Web 3.0, Full-stack, Decentralized Systems, Non-fungible Tokens (NFT), CTO, Cryptocurrency, Software Architecture, Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAO), ERC-20, Customized Blockchains, Decentralized Finance (DeFi), ÐApp, Stock Exchange, Digital Asset Management, Leadership, Exchanges, Security, Cryptocurrency Exchanges, Architecture, Casinos & Gaming, Crypto, Web3, Decentralized Applications, Ethers.js, ERC-721, Polygon, 3D Image Processing, Reverse Engineering, Technical Leadership, Estimations, Technical Requirements, ERC-1155, Blockchain Design, Tokenomics, Loyalty Programs, Enterprise Loyalty Programs, Cryptocurrency Wallets, Audits, Chainlink, Fractionalization, ICO, Back-end Development, Back-end, Gambling, API Integration, APIs, Utility Tokens, Finance, Off-chain Development, Ledgers, Computer Science, Radio Electronics, 3D Graphics, Cosmos, Automated Market Makers (AMMs), Tokenization, Business Intelligence (BI) Platforms, Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Technical Consulting, Bitcoin, Projects, Parsers, Compilers, Web Development, Layer 2 Networking, Arbitrum, zkSync
Storage
MongoDB, MySQL, PostgreSQL
Education
2009 - 2010
Master's Degree in Computer Science and Information Security
South Ural State University - Chelyabinsk, Russia
2004 - 2008
Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science
South Ural State University - Chelyabinsk, Russia
Certifications
APRIL 2023 - PRESENT
Node.JS Accelerator Graduate
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