Industry Job Market Shrinks Drastically: Openings Down Over 97% from Peak
A new report from Tiger Research reveals that as of June 18, 2026, the crypto industry had only 2,932 active job openings, representing a decline of more than 97% compared to the estimated peak of approximately 130,000 in 2022. This sharp contraction highlights the severe reduction in hiring demand following multiple bear markets and structural consolidation. The report notes that layoffs persisted through the first half of 2026, with March being the most concentrated month. Companies such as Gemini, Crypto.com, Algorand, OP Labs, PIP Labs, and Messari all announced workforce reductions during this period. Some firms, after repeated layoff rounds, were forced into distressed sales. A prominent example is Messari, which was acquired by Blockworks in June 2026 for approximately $10 million after three rounds of layoffs — a dramatic fall from its previous valuation of $300 million.
Job Structure Divergence: CEX Dominates, Stablecoins and Payments Highly Concentrated
From the perspective of job distribution, centralized exchanges (CEX) accounted for the largest share at 30.8%, totaling 904 active openings, primarily contributed by OKX, Bybit, and Binance. The stablecoin and payments sector represented 13.4% of openings, but this segment is heavily concentrated in two companies: Tether and Ripple. Other sub-sectors such as DeFi, NFTs, and infrastructure have relatively smaller shares, indicating that industry resources are further concentrating around core trading and payment services.
AI Skills Demand Doubles: From 23% to 53.1%
The report also highlights a significant trend: the proportion of crypto job listings mentioning AI skills surged from 23% in early 2025 to 53.1% in March 2026 — more than doubling. This signals that demand for AI-related capabilities has become mainstream among crypto firms. Job descriptions frequently reference machine learning, data science, automated trading, and smart contract auditing combined with AI tools. The industry is rapidly absorbing AI talent to enhance operational efficiency, improve risk models, and develop next-generation products.