A decade as a mid-tier developer, then half a decade stepping away from code—what felt like rust and forgotten skills turned out to be just dormant. The fundamentals never really disappear. Enter AI, and suddenly that old knowledge becomes actionable again. Understanding how software actually works, even after years away, now pairs with modern tools that can fill the execution gaps. The friction that once required constant hands-on practice? Tools handle that. What's left is architectural thinking, problem-solving logic, design patterns—the stuff that sticks. Turns out you don't need to be grinding daily to stay relevant in crypto engineering. AI changes the equation. For anyone who stepped back from coding but still held the mental models—this might be your moment to build again.