Crypto firms in the United States are significantly increasing their hiring efforts following new legislation and clearer regulations that have reversed previous trends of talent migration abroad, as noted by industry experts.
Hugh Norton-Smith, co-founder of the crypto recruitment agency Intersection Growth Partners, informed Cointelegraph that his firm is witnessing a substantial re-shoring of crypto expertise due to the regulatory clarity established in the US.
This clarity has largely derived from new crypto legislation passed in Congress, particularly the Genius Act, a law that provides clear guidelines for stablecoins in the nation and was enacted by US President Donald Trump in July.
A year prior, “all US crypto firms had backup plans for Dubai or similar locales. Every protocol foundation was relocating to the Caymans,” remarked Norton-Smith. Currently, Dubai and Singapore are becoming secondary locations, with “90% of our leadership searches occurring within the US.”
Marieke Flament, former CEO of Near Foundation and board member of MINA Foundation, stated that US crypto recruitment has been “very active” in 2025, while demand for crypto professionals remains consistent in the Middle East, especially in Dubai. “In Europe,” she added, “there is substantial demand for those with TradFi and crypto experience.”
Norton-Smith mentioned that the emphasis has shifted towards recruiting “bilingual executives” who can integrate both traditional finance and crypto sectors. He highlighted that hiring demands have transitioned from developers and compliance roles to commercial positions like marketing, business development, and partnerships, as firms strive to capture market share.
“Crypto has developed a remarkable infrastructure that’s ready to be utilized,” he stated. “Now, it requires someone to market it and attract users at scale.”
As per Crypto Jobs List, the average global Web3 salary stands at approximately $103,000 per annum, with the top 10% of positions earning near $160,000 and the bottom 10% around $18,000. This data is based on thousands of anonymous submissions and job postings.
“The crypto sector remains a highly dynamic and evolving field,” Flament remarked, “thus maintaining a continuous growth mindset and a readiness for daily learning is an essential skill.”
Related: Crypto execs take center stage as Trump enacts stablecoin legislation
Crypto firms enhance US recruitment
Upon taking office in January, Trump initiated the Working Group on Digital Asset Markets, a governmental body aimed at synchronizing crypto policies. He also surrounded himself with industry allies in his cabinet.
A notable shift occurred with new leadership at the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). In July, Paul Atkins, the newly appointed chair, launched “Project Crypto,” an initiative aimed at modernizing securities regulations and transitioning US financial markets onchain.
Less than a month later, during an address at the Wyoming Blockchain Symposium, Atkins stated that only a select few tokens should be regarded as securities, marking a departure from the SEC’s prior “regulation-by-enforcement” stance under previous leadership.
Pro-crypto policies have resulted in evident changes within the industry. In January, Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse announced that 75% of Ripple Labs’ job prospects were based in the US.
In May, Cointelegraph reported that Coinbase planned to create around 1,000 US-based positions in 2025.
Traditional finance has also been entering the arena. In August, major US asset managers Charles Schwab and Fidelity announced openings for senior crypto positions.
Related: Coinbase CEO aims to replace banks with a crypto super app
Uncertain tax regulations and political resistance
Despite advancements in US regulations, the guidelines regarding digital asset taxes remain ambiguous.
During a hearing on July 16 in the House of Representatives, lawmakers and industry leaders cautioned that fragmented US crypto tax rules continue to push innovation abroad, with bipartisan consensus that comprehensive tax reforms are imperative.
Moreover, there has been opposition to the administration’s pro-crypto initiatives from certain US lawmakers, who perceive Trump’s affiliations with projects like World Liberty Financial and the Trump memecoin as potential conflicts of interest.
In an MSNBC interview in August, Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren stated,
“We don’t need regulation written by the crypto industry […]. We need regulation that limits the corruption and the ability of elected officials to engage with it, while also preventing the potential economic fallout from crypto.”
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