Landing a job in the crypto sector may pose difficulties for less-experienced candidates this year, with merely one in ten roles being entry-level, as revealed by a recent survey from venture capital firm Dragonfly Capital.
Crypto recruitment executives note that this trend could be tied to a rise in unsuccessful crypto projects recently.
“Crypto has been challenging to enter; fewer than 10% of roles are entry-level,” Dragonfly Capital mentioned in a report released on Thursday, referencing data gathered from 85 crypto companies in late 2024 and Q1 2025, along with around 3,400 employee and candidate data points.
In contrast, senior and principal-level positions made up the largest segment of industry roles at 37%. Engineering remained the leading function within the sample, representing about 67% of total headcount.
Crypto hiring in “cautious” mode this year
Dragonfly indicated that, despite a bullish crypto market, increasing positive sentiment, and a pro-crypto Trump administration, hiring throughout the industry has been “cautious,” with net hiring turning negative in the first half of 2025.
“Initial trends included strong job growth in January, a tariff shock in February, and significant reactive job cuts in March,” Dragonfly noted.
Entry-level workers faced the brunt of job cuts, experiencing lower salaries and diminished token packages, which were “partly balanced by increased equity.”
These findings might be surprising, given crypto’s allure among younger demographics. By December 2024, approximately one-third, or 34%, of global crypto holders were aged between 24 and 35, according to a report by crypto payment firm Triple-A.
Kevin Gibson, founder of recruitment agency Proof of Search, stated that the findings align with his recent observations.
Experienced crypto professionals are back on the market following project failures
“Despite the overall market positivity and the success of several initiatives, numerous projects have failed after their token generation events,” Gibson told Cointelegraph.
“This has led to many seasoned professionals re-entering the job market, providing hiring firms with the opportunity to choose from a pool of experienced candidates,” he added.
Related: Crypto firms increase US hiring in 2025 amid regulatory clarity
Gibson noted that, with many anticipating a strong market for at least another six months, companies are focusing on hiring senior talent to speed up project delivery.
“We haven’t reverted to the recruitment environment we saw in 2021, when entry-level candidates with minimal experience were quickly hired,” he explained.
Matt Thompson, founder of TRB Executive Search, mentioned to Cointelegraph that when market conditions are favorable, crypto firms typically increase hiring but start downsizing during downturns.
Thompson suggested that the inherent volatility may discourage younger candidates from entering the field long-term. “This instability might dissuade students from pursuing careers in crypto, particularly compared to traditional banking, where career security is more assured.”
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