I am looking to get comfortable using Blockchain technology over the coming year. What computer science concepts should I be comfortable with/seek to master?
A bit about me: I am a self taught developer with a background that is general IT. I mostly use HTML, CSS, Python and of late I have been dipping my toes in JavaScript as well as Node.js.
An awesome curated list of Cryptoeconomic research and learning materials https://github.com/jpantunes/awesome-cryptoeconomics
A collection about awesome blockchains https://github.com/openblockchains/awesome-blockchains
Building Blockchain in Go https://jeiwan.net/posts/building-blockchain-in-go-part-1/
If you start with Ethereum, the js ecosystem around it is by far the most advanced in the blockchain space and you can hit the ground running pretty fast building dApps while you learn more about the protocols that make them interesting.
https://github.com/bitcoinbook/bitcoinbook
https://github.com/ethereumbook/ethereumbook
Jimmy Song's "Programming Bitcoin"
Pick up a marketing course while you're at it, the number of people using Blockchain technology for technically sound reasons is pretty small.
You will find that doing a cost-benefit analysis of Blockchains and their use in a variety of applications to be a useful exercise.
Seriously.