WhiteBIT launches free talent program for Ukrainian developers
WhiteBIT opens applications for a four-month intensive for Junior+ developers looking to work in the blockchain industry. The program starts March 2, 2026, with registration closing February 1. Below: requirements, realistic chances, and alternatives for those who don’t pass selection.
Global Talent Program (GTP) starts March 2, 2026 and concludes with a direct job offer for successful participants. Registration is open until February 1.
The program targets developers from Ukraine and the EU (Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia) with a technical background, ready to work on WhiteBIT’s real infrastructure under the guidance of the company’s senior engineers. Unlike online courses, GTP offers a direct path into a European crypto exchange team – but with rigorous selection and high engagement requirements.
Why WhiteBIT invests in its own training program
Web3 specialists are scarce globally, but Ukraine faces an especially tight market. According to DOU.ua, in 2024 vacancies requiring blockchain expertise made up less than 2% of all IT positions, while the median salary for such specialists is 30-40% higher than for traditional stack backend developers.
Ukraine offers almost no specialized blockchain education: universities can’t keep pace with technology development, and most online courses focus on Solidity and smart contracts, ignoring crypto exchange backend infrastructure – databases, high-load APIs, microservice architecture.
WhiteBIT tackles the gap head-on: instead of searching for ready specialists, the company grows them for its own needs. The program builds a talent pipeline – a pool of candidates already familiar with internal processes – and lowers the entry barrier for Junior+ developers who find it extremely difficult to join the company directly.
The program invests in talent development – successful graduates get job offers, the company gets trained employees.
What Global Talent Program offers
The program is divided into two tracks, each with its own focus and duration:
PHP Track: architecture and scalability (10 weeks)
Targets developers who want deeper experience designing complex systems. The program goes beyond writing code:
- Engineering Excellence: service architecture, database query optimization, schema design
- Infrastructure: containerization (Docker, Kubernetes), CI/CD pipelines, monitoring systems
- Performance: asynchronous systems, APIs handling high loads
- Agile environment: teamwork, code review, regular mentor feedback
Who it suits: Developers with PHP experience (or similar languages – Python, Ruby), ready to work on backend system architecture. If you’ve written pet projects with databases, APIs, and deployment – this track is for you.
Go Track: high-load microservices (6 weeks)
Focused on Go – the primary tool of modern fintech and blockchain due to its speed and efficiency in handling concurrency.
- Core Go: structures, pointers, interfaces
- Concurrency: goroutines, channels – parallel processes, the language’s key advantage
- Microservices: HTTP services, microservice architecture from scratch
- Testing & Observability: unit tests, code profiling, monitoring systems (logs, metrics)
Who it suits: Developers with basic Go understanding or ready to learn the language from scratch with a strong backend background. If you’ve worked with microservices in other languages (Java, C#, Node.js) – the transition to Go will be logical.
Both tracks share the same foundation: participants work on WhiteBIT’s real infrastructure under company senior engineers’ guidance, undergo code reviews like in production teams, and immerse themselves in Agile culture, ownership, and teamwork. No educational simulations – only real production.
Requirements: who can apply
Mandatory requirements: Candidates must be Junior+ developers with a technical background and a pet project in any language. English B1+ is mandatory for working with documentation and team communication. The program is open to Ukrainians living in Ukraine or the EU (Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia), ready to dedicate 4 months to intensive work in Agile teams. Main condition: desire to work at WhiteBIT after program completion. If you view GTP as “free courses” without intention to join the company – don’t apply.
Who is NOT suitable:
- Interested in trading, not engineering
- Unable to fully commit 4 months to the program
- Prefer theory over practice
- Don’t plan to work at WhiteBIT after completion
- Avoid teamwork, code review, or feedback
- Expect quick results without consistent effort
Selection: 4 stages from application to technical interview
The selection process mirrors hiring at top IT companies:
Stage 1: Application and background check
Candidates fill out a form indicating technical experience, pet project, and motivation. WhiteBIT verifies whether the candidate meets basic criteria (level, location, English proficiency).
Stage 2: Pet project evaluation
WhiteBIT trainers analyze project code: architecture, readability, tests, Git history. Project scale doesn’t matter – execution quality does. The pet project should demonstrate understanding of fundamentals: working with databases, APIs, error handling.
Stage 3: Interview with recruiters (soft skills)
A brief meeting to assess communication, readiness to work in a team, attitude toward feedback. WhiteBIT checks how well the candidate fits the company culture.
Stage 4: Technical interview with mentors
Final stage: discussion of technical solutions in the pet project, questions about architecture, databases, algorithms. Mentors assess growth potential, not current level.
How many candidates pass? WhiteBIT doesn’t disclose the rejection rate, but judging by the structure (4 stages + strict requirements), the program targets a small cohort of highly motivated candidates. Expect competition.
Red flags (who is NOT suitable): Beginners in programming without a technical background, candidates without a pet project (nothing to show during selection), those working full-time and unable to dedicate 20+ hours per week. The program is not for those who do not plan to relocate to Ukraine/EU for work at WhiteBIT, or are looking for “free courses” without intending to build a career at the company later.
Borderline cases:
- Frontend developers: The program is backend-oriented, but if you have experience with Node.js and architecture – the Go Track might fit.
- Juniors without commercial experience: If the pet project is strong and you have clear motivation – there is a chance.
- Developers from other CIS countries: The program is only for UA/PL/CZ/SK, but you can monitor similar programs from other companies.
Alternative paths into Web3 for Ukrainian developers
If you do not meet GTP criteria or did not pass selection, there are other ways to enter Web3:
Self-learning (free)
Crypto Zombies offers an interactive Solidity course, Alchemy Docs – tutorials on Ethereum and Web3.js, Chainlink Developer Hub – oracle integration and smart contracts. If you choose Go for Web3 backend – start with Go by Example.
Online programs with certification
Binance Academy covers blockchain theory and DeFi, Coursera: Blockchain Basics (University at Buffalo) provides an academic approach, Udacity: Blockchain Developer Nanodegree – paid course with portfolio projects.
Freelance for experience
Gitcoin Bounties publishes tasks for Web3 projects, Upwork and Freelancer – search projects tagged “blockchain.” Hackathons (ETHGlobal, Chainlink Hackathon) allow remote participation and portfolio building.
Other companies with training
Ledger runs internship programs for developers, ConsenSys offers paid courses with strong networking, Ukrainian Web3 startups post Junior vacancies on DOU.ua.
Realistic path without GTP:
- Complete Crypto Zombies + Alchemy Docs (2–3 months)
- Create a pet project: smart contract + frontend (dApp)
- Participate in hackathons for portfolio
- Apply for Junior positions in Ukrainian Web3 startups
How to apply
Registration is open until February 1, 2026 on WhiteBIT’s official landing page.
What to prepare before applying: Pet project on GitHub with README, clean code, and tests to demonstrate your skills. Resume should include technical stack and experience. Motivation letter: explain why Web3, why WhiteBIT, why now. Check English level (B1+).
What to expect after registration:
- Application response: 1–2 weeks
- Selection: February 2026
- Program start: March 2, 2026
- Completion: June–July 2026 (depending on track)
Main advantage: job offer after 4 months
GTP concludes with a real job offer. Not a vague “industry job” – successful graduates join WhiteBIT directly.
What participants receive: Production experience on real infrastructure used by millions of users, with senior engineer mentorship and regular code reviews. The program builds a career track from Junior to Middle through real tasks in WhiteBIT product teams – not isolated educational projects. Participants gain hands-on experience with company processes, culture, and workflows before being hired.
Trade-off: The program requires full engagement. Full-time workers elsewhere or those unable to commit 4 intensive months should look elsewhere.
Comparison with other Web3 programs
Global Talent Program isn’t the only way into Web3, so we compared it with competitors:
Binance Academy
Free online courses focused on blockchain theory, trading, and DeFi. Flexible schedule and wide topic selection, but without mentorship and production practice. Binance periodically hires graduates, but there are no employment guarantees.
Alchemy University
10-week cohorts focused on Ethereum, Solidity, and dApps. Strong community and career support, but without job offers and focus on exchange backend infrastructure. Suitable for frontend developers wanting to work with smart contracts.
ConsenSys Academy
Paid courses ($1,500-$2,500) with certification in Ethereum and Web3 architecture. Recognized certificates and structured program, but theoretical bias and high price without any employment guarantees.
WhiteBIT GTP uniqueness
Free program with backend focus (PHP/Go, not Solidity), production experience on real exchange infrastructure, and job offer upon completion. Limitation: only for Ukrainian developers in UA/PL/CZ/SK.
If you meet the criteria and can commit 4 months – GTP offers the best ROI among competitors. If not – consider Binance Academy (theory) or Alchemy University (smart contracts).
Who should apply
Ideal candidate: Junior/Middle backend developer (PHP, Python, Go, Java) with 1-2 years of experience and a pet project including databases, APIs, and deployment. Understands web application architecture (REST, microservices, caching), has English B1+ for reading documentation and writing comments. Wants to switch from traditional backend to Web3/fintech, ready for intensive work and feedback, and sees themselves at WhiteBIT after program completion.
The material on GNcrypto is intended solely for informational use and must not be regarded as financial advice. We make every effort to keep the content accurate and current, but we cannot warrant its precision, completeness, or reliability. GNcrypto does not take responsibility for any mistakes, omissions, or financial losses resulting from reliance on this information. Any actions you take based on this content are done at your own risk. Always conduct independent research and seek guidance from a qualified specialist. For further details, please review our Terms, Privacy Policy and Disclaimers.
Articles by this author
