<![CDATA[AlexSR]]>https://alexsr.meRSS for NodeSat, 02 May 2026 09:15:42 GMT60<![CDATA[From 100 Days to 250 Weeks: My New Security Researcher Challenge]]>https://alexsr.me/from-100-days-to-250-weeks-my-new-security-researcher-challengehttps://alexsr.me/from-100-days-to-250-weeks-my-new-security-researcher-challengeSat, 30 Aug 2025 19:27:58 GMTBack in January, under the nickname 0xAlexSR, I kicked off a personal experiment: “100 days to join the Cantina fellowship.”

It was my entry into the world of smart contract security — a crash course of daily learning, finding vulnerabilities, and sharing the grind in public. By the end of those 100 days, I did it: I reached the fellowship.

But the journey wasn’t a straight line. After months of pushing hard, life forced me to pause. I took a break, reset, and came back with fresh eyes and a clearer plan.

Why 250 Weeks?

Five years is roughly the time it takes to earn a university degree or a master’s, which sounds like a good amount of time to build a real deep expertise.

The 5-Year Roadmap

I split my challenge into Main Quests (career-defining goals) and Side Quests (personal growth). Here’s how I see it unfolding year by year.

Main Quests

Year 1: Foundation & Consistency

  • Sharpen fundamentals in Solidity, EVM internals, and common vulnerabilities.

  • Start participating in ZK contests.

  • Start competing in contests regularly (1-2 per month).

  • Publish the first few articles to build writing momentum.

  • Target: 2–3 top rankings, 3+ published articles.

Year 2: Breakthrough

  • Push for consistent high rankings in contests.

  • Contribute to open-source tools or research.

  • Target: 5+ top rankings, 6+ total published articles.

Year 3: Recognition

  • Join a respected audit firm or team.

  • Lead or co-lead audits.

  • Publish in-depth technical write-ups that gain traction.

  • Target: 10+ top rankings, 12+ articles.

Year 4: Mastery

  • Establish myself among the top auditors in the field.

  • Handle complex, high-stakes audits.

  • Possibly start teaching or running workshops.

  • Target: 12–13 top rankings, 16+ articles.

Year 5: Legacy & Leverage

  • Hit the “15+ top-1’s” milestone.

  • Complete 20+ published articles.

  • Reach $1M+ in gains.

  • Cement a position in a top firm or run independent audits at scale.

Side Quests

  • Learn Bulgarian 🇧🇬

    Five years is enough to go from zero to fluent. Already living in Bulgaria for 2 years but still knowing only the basics - what a shame! I want to belong here.

  • Sustainable Growth

    No more sprints that end in burnout. I want progress to feel like compound interest: slow at first, exponential over time.

Closing Thoughts

The 100 days challenge proved that I could sprint. The 250 weeks challenge is proof that I can build something that lasts.

This isn’t just about smart contracts. It’s about learning how to learn, committing for the long term, and designing my own education.

The next 5 years are mapped. The quest begins Monday, 1st September 2025.

— 0xAlexSR

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