It’s a bold new world, and as cryptocurrency gains credibility on the street, there’s a sizzling gold rush in hiring.

According to a new Indeed report, searches for careers in cryptocurrency and blockchain (the technology that supports it) soared, and posts for careers in the field jumped 118% in July 2021, compared to the previous year .

Michael Hearne, CEO of Decentralized publishing and creator of “Uncensored Crypto” an online docuseries, is not surprised.

“The boom seems to be here for the foreseeable future,” Hearne said. “Start-up.jobs, VentureLoop.com, Angel.co and Upwork.com are all easy-to-use job sites that feature new companies. The hottest trends and near-term growth opportunities work with non-fungible tokens (NFTs), games, and everything metaverse.

Cryptocurrencies (Bitcoin, Dogecoin, Ethereum and more) are global digital currencies represented by virtual and physical tokens. They are cryptographically secured and do not rely on banks; instead, the currency is stored in digital wallets. Its value fluctuates like any other currency, and with its 24/7 open market, it can be traded around the clock.

Cryptocurrency is based on blockchain technology, essentially a digitally distributed public ledger. NFTs are also stored on a blockchain and are associated with digital files such as photos, artwork, video, and audio.

“The goal is for cryptocurrency to function as its own monetary system,” said Hearne, who hopes candidates will soon trade tokens the same way they trade salary.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams is ahead of that curve: Hizzoner delivered on his promise by taking his first paycheck every two weeks in Ethereum and Bitcoin cryptocurrencies. “New York is the center of the world, and we want it to be the center of cryptocurrency and other financial innovation,” Adams said. His dollars were converted via Coinbasea crypto-exchange, since it is currently illegal for US employees to collect their pay in cryptocurrency.

“The blockchain and cryptocurrency industries have been around for over 10 years, but they’re still considered early in the grand scheme of things,” Hearne said. “Candidates looking to make the leap literally have thousands of jobs to choose from.”
Here are some hot jobs in space, and not all of them are tech-based. All salaries listed are based on US Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook 2020.

blockchain engineer

Blockchain engineers maintain and support blockchain-based networks or applications such as cryptocurrency exchanges, payment processing, document sharing and more.
Madan Nagaldinne, Director of Human Resources at Union Square Paxos, a blockchain infrastructure company (a regulated platform that builds crypto and blockchain solutions for clients), said that basic engineering skills are needed to understand the architecture, algorithmic complexity, and design best practices. Typically, these jobs require multiple programming languages ​​such as Kotlin, Golang, Rust, Java, C++, JavaScript/TypeScript, or Python.

“You have to be a really good coder,” Nagaldinne said. “You have to build great software, which means common engineering skills, whether or not you’ve done fintech in the past. Do you understand the database, the security layer, do you understand the back-end, the development tools? These are transferable skills.
Salary: $92,870

Blockchain Technical Evangelist

This role requires understanding the ins and outs of the platform and helping people discover it. Think of it as a product manager or marketing manager with technical support capabilities – communication and critical thinking skills are important to thrive.
Brooklyn-based Williamsburg Talent Manager Alvaro Cadena Ava Laboratoriesstressed the importance of “proactive education” if you don’t already have direct experience with blockchain.

“The whole blockchain space is open, and there’s no shortage of educational resources or ways to get involved on your terms with projects that interest you,” he said. “Passion wins when it comes to hiring in this space.”
Salary: $161,070

Head of Partnerships

Consumer-facing companies typically have a partnership team, such as business development or partner management. NFT collections typically include many unique digital items that need to be tracked and quality checked, so content management skills are essential, along with effective communication.

Jeff Zeller, Senior Director of NFT Partnerships and Business Operations at Crypto.com, works with partners such as the UFC and Philadelphia 76ers licensing teams, which launch NFT collections on the Crypto.com platform.

The Forest Hills resident said: “Similar to the agency world, the best way to gain experience in partner management is to start as an assistant where you get broad exposure but also task responsibility. specific. Partner management is usually more closely related to marketing than sales, but it is also necessary to be able to work closely with a sales organization – the two are closely related. »
Salary: $161,050 (for sales managers)

Recruiter

As businesses grow, so does infrastructure. Paxos currently has 240 employees worldwide and is hiring 400 new employees this year. With over 40 recruitment positions available in their remote organization, Nagaldinne stresses that your commitment to curiosity is key. Previous work in the crypto space is not a prerequisite.

“If you have that level of curiosity and it really excites you, and you think that’s where you want to be, most companies would take you very seriously,” Nagaldinne said. “Tell a good story and simplify it by saying, ‘This is what the crypto world is going through, this is what blockchain does. And knowing how to spot great talent.

Experience typically involves research strategies, interview training, employer branding, and the ability to develop strong relationships with hiring managers, coupled with a passion for diversity.
Salary: $63,490

Compliance Associate

These roles typically require a few years of compliance work as well as an understanding of anti-money laundering (AML) and sanctions regulations, as well as experience in transaction monitoring, sanctions screening or onboarding. client. Strong writing skills are important as documents are reviewed by regulators, auditors and law enforcement.

“Compliance hiring is front and center every day,” Nagaldinne said. “Do you understand AML, have you worked on these systems in the past, do you understand the regulations in the United States? Compliance focuses on the technical aspect of products and customers, where the legal can be business development and other things. »
Salary: $82,400