Active Job Listings Plunge 97%, Crypto Talent Market Shrinks Sharply
According to the latest report from Tiger Research, as of June 18, 2026, the global crypto industry had only 2,932 active job listings, a dramatic decrease of over 97% from the estimated peak of about 130,000 in 2022. This data marks a transition from the hyper-expansion phase of 2021-2022 into a deep contraction. The report indicates that the layoff wave persisted through the first half of 2026, with March being the most concentrated month, involving multiple well-known companies such as Gemini, Crypto.com, Algorand, OP Labs, PIP Labs, and Messari.
Some companies that underwent multiple rounds of layoffs were eventually acquired at heavily discounted prices. For example, market research firm Messari, after completing three rounds of layoffs, was acquired by Blockworks in June 2026 for approximately $10 million. Messari was previously valued at as high as $300 million, meaning the acquisition price represented only 3.3% of its peak valuation, highlighting the dramatic reshaping of industry valuations.
Hiring Structure Concentrates on CEX and Stablecoins, AI Skill Demand Doubles
Looking at the distribution of job openings, centralized exchanges (CEX) remain the largest source of positions, accounting for 30.8% of the total, or 904 jobs. These positions are primarily offered by three major exchanges: OKX, Bybit, and Binance, showing that leading exchanges continue to maintain a relatively active hiring pace even during the market downturn. The stablecoin and payments sector accounts for 13.4% of jobs but is heavily concentrated at Tether and Ripple, with hiring from other companies in this segment being almost negligible.
Notably, the demand for talent with artificial intelligence (AI) skills in the crypto industry has been rising continuously. Among crypto-related job postings, the proportion that mentions AI skills surged from 23% in early 2025 to 53.1% in March 2026, more than doubling. This trend indicates that traditional crypto companies are accelerating the integration of AI capabilities to improve product efficiency, risk management, and automation. It also reflects that the demand for pure crypto technical talent is being replaced by demand for hybrid profiles combining AI and crypto expertise.