Cryptocurrencies are global. They allow us to pay for anything, anywhere, in seconds. It opens up the world, rendering it borderless when it comes to financial interaction. Using Bitcoin, I can easily pay someone on the other side of the world for a product or service. Something that would otherwise take days and a considerable amount of fees is now made easy with marginal fees and in less than an hour.
As so, freelancing for cryptocurrencies becomes much easier than doing it for any other national currency. Traditional freelancing platforms will often require your to reveal a multitude of personal details and the fees charged to ensure that you will only receive a portion of your salary. Bitcoin freelancing also removes any geographical restrictions one might have when signing up for a freelance job.
Ethereum is one of the most popular and successful cryptocurrency platforms out there. Its features allow us to create advanced decentralized apps. Unlike traditional freelancing websites, Etherlance, a dApp created on the Ethereum network, allows us to work and be paid in a trustless manner (meaning that the website does not hold funds). Etherlance relies on smart contracts to ensure that the system runs smoothly and best of all, it does not charge middle man fees.
However, in order to make operations, users are required to pay network fees that go to Ether miners. These fees ensure that every action is recorded on the blockchain.
So, let’s get to it! The first thing you'll need is an Ethereum browser. We'll use Metamask.
Part 1 - Installing MetaMask
Step 1: Click here to go to the Chrome Webstore and get the MetaMask plugin
Step 2: Click "Add to Chrome" to Install MetaMask as Google Chrome extension.
Step 3: Click "Add Extension" to confirm and MetaMask will be added
You can see that MetaMask is added by the little fox logo that shows up on the top right corner
Part 2 - Creating a new wallet
Step 1: Click the MetaMask logo
Step 2: Read and agree to the MetaMask terms and Conditions
Step 3: Click "Create a new vault"
Step 4: Enter a strong password and click "OK"
Step 5: Metamask will now show you your seed. It is very important that you copy and store those 12 worlds, without them you cannot restore your wallet.
Your account is now created! It's possible that 1 Ether shows up on your balance. That's because you're on the testnet
Part 3 - Changing to the Mainnet & Funding your account
Step 1: Click "Modern Testnet"
Step 2: Choose "Main Ethereum Network"
Step 3: MetaMask will now ask you for the password. Type it in and click "Unlock"
You'll notice that your Ether balanced has disappeared, which is a bummer, but now you're ready to fund your account for real.
Step 4: Click the copy logo to get your wallet address. Then all you have to do send Ether to it from your favorite exchange or wallet.
Part 4 - Register an account with Ethlance
Step 1: Click here to go to Ethlance
Step 2: Click “Become freelancer” to create a employee account
Step 3: Enter your name and email
Step 4: Select your country
Step 5: You can also connect a github and/or linkedin account
Step 6: Select your languages
Step 7: Write your job description and your hourly rate (you can change the currency in the upper right corner)
Step 8: Now choose the categories you want to work in and your job skills
Step 9: Lastly, type in a description about you and your work
Step 10: Click “Send”
Step 11: MetaMask will show up. Enter your password (1) and click “Unlock” (2)
Step 12: Now click “Accept” to confirm the transaction
Your profile has been created
Part 5 - Find a job
Step 1: Now click on “Find Work”
Step 2: Browse through the jobs until you find one that is to your liking. When you do, click on the title
Step 3: You will be taken to the job description page. Read the job description and if you’re interested, you can click “Write Proposal” to apply
Step 4: Enter your hourly rate and a proposal. In this proposal explain why you’re the perfect person for the job!
Step 5: Click “Send"
Step 6: Once again, MetaMask will pop up and you will need to click “Accept”
And that’s it! Your proposal has been submitted and now you’ll have to wait for the employer to accept/reject it. Good luck with your new job!
Alternatively, you can also mine Ether or buy a cloud mining contract with Hashflare or Genesis Mining.