Crypto.com is rolling out a company-wide AI integration plan while cutting about 12% of its workforce. CEO and co-founder Kris Marszalek said the layoffs target roles that cannot adapt to the new environment, adding that affected employees have already been notified and given transition support.
Marszalek used blunt language in his public statement. He said companies that do not make this pivot immediately will fail, and those that move slowly will be left behind. In his view, only rapid action paired with the best AI tools and top talent can deliver a level of scale and precision that was previously out of reach. That framing places AI at the center of Crypto.com’s internal restructuring rather than treating it as a simple productivity add-on.
Layoff ratio is public, total headcount is not
Crypto.com has not disclosed its total employee count, so the exact number of jobs affected is still unknown. Even so, a 12% reduction points to a sizable cut. The source says the move is aimed at positions that cannot adjust to the new operating model, not a limited reshuffle tied to a single team or geography.
AI-first hiring and staffing moves spread across industries
The decision also fits a broader pattern described in the source. Companies ranging from Shopify to Duolingo, along with firms in traditional finance and tech startups, have been introducing AI-first staffing strategies. Some have gone as far as stating that future hiring will favor candidates who can work alongside AI tools. Crypto.com’s decision to combine AI integration with workforce reduction shows how that shift is now reaching job design and organizational structure directly.