Crypto hiring surges in US amid regulatory clarity

Crypto companies have sharply increased hiring in the United States after new legislation and regulatory clarity reshaped the industry’s outlook, according to recruiters and industry leaders.

Regulatory clarity drives hiring boom

Much of this shift is linked to recent legislation, most notably the GENIUS Act, a law setting clear rules for stablecoins that President Donald Trump signed into law in July 2025.

According to Cointelegraph, Hugh Norton-Smith, co-founder of crypto recruiting firm Intersection Growth Partners, said that his company is witnessing “a massive re-shoring of crypto talent given the regulatory clarity unlocked [in the US].”

“A year ago, every US crypto company had a Dubai contingency plan or similar. Every protocol foundation was bailing to the Caymans,” Norton-Smith said. “Now, Dubai and Singapore offices are becoming outposts, and 90% of our leadership searches are US-based.”

Industry experts point out that hiring demand has also evolved. While early focus was on compliance officers and developers, the current push is toward commercial roles in marketing, business development, and partnerships, as firms chase adoption and market share.

“Crypto has built incredible infrastructure that’s ready to roll,” Norton-Smith explained. “Now someone needs to sell it and get users at scale.”

US emerges as global crypto hiring hub

Marieke Flament, former CEO of Near Foundation and board member at MINA Foundation, confirmed to Cointelegraph that US crypto hiring has been “definitely very active” in 2025. While demand for crypto professionals remains steady in Dubai, she noted that Europe is increasingly asking for candidates with traditional finance (TradFi) plus crypto experience.

Norton-Smith added that bilingual executives who can bridge TradFi and blockchain are now among the most sought-after candidates.

According to Crypto Jobs List, the average global Web3 salary is about $103,000 per year. The top 10 percent of roles can earn around $160,000 annually, while entry-level salaries hover closer to $18,000.

Trump administration boosts pro-crypto momentum

Since taking office in January, Trump has prioritised crypto policy, establishing the Working Group on Digital Asset Markets and appointing allies to key financial positions.

One of the most notable changes has been at the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). New chair Paul Atkins announced “Project Crypto” in July, aimed at modernising securities rules and enabling onchain markets. In a break from past enforcement-heavy tactics, Atkins later stated that only a few tokens should qualify as securities.

This friendlier approach has already reshaped hiring:

• In January, Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse reported that 75 percent of Ripple Labs’ job openings were US-based.
• In May, Coinbase announced plans to add about 1,000 US jobs in 2025.
• In August, traditional finance giants Charles Schwab and Fidelity posted senior-level crypto job openings.

Challenges remain: tax rules and political pushback

Despite these advances, uncertainty persists around crypto taxation in the US. At a July congressional hearing, lawmakers warned that fragmented tax guidance continues to drive some innovation offshore, with bipartisan calls for comprehensive reform.

There has also been political resistance to Trump’s pro-crypto agenda. Critics have flagged his ties to projects like World Liberty Financial and the so-called Trump memecoin as potential conflicts of interest.

Speaking to MSNBC in August, Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren argued:

“We don’t need regulation written by the crypto industry. We need regulation that limits corruption and prevents elected officials from trading in crypto while protecting the economy from instability.”