Over the past year, there has been a significant increase in salary payments in digital assets among crypto industry specialists. According to a report by Pantera Capital, based on a survey of over 1,600 respondents from 77 countries, the percentage of employees receiving salaries in cryptocurrencies has doubled.
Growth of Digital Asset Salaries
The share of crypto industry specialists receiving salaries in digital assets increased from 3% to 9.6% over the year. This indicates a growing recognition of cryptocurrency as a form of compensation.
Popularity of Stablecoins for Payroll
Stablecoins have become the main means of payment in the crypto industry, accounting for over 90% of all salaries paid in digital assets. USDC dominates with a 63% share, while USDT stands at 28.6%. Analysts noted that USDC is more popular for payroll payments because major payroll providers like Deel, Remote, and Rippling do not offer payouts in USDT.
Salary Disparities and Remote Work
Technical specialists’ incomes grew significantly, especially for entry-level and mid-level engineers, with increases of 25.6% and 14.49%, respectively. Senior engineers’ salaries rose by 4.9%. Practical experience in the blockchain industry tends to outweigh academic degrees, as professionals with a bachelor's degree earn an average of $286,039, compared to $214,359 for master's holders and $226,858 for doctorate holders. The study also revealed that 82% of crypto employees work remotely, with office-based workers increasing from 1.5% in 2023 to 6% in 2024.
Changes in the crypto industry show a growing trend of digital assets as a form of compensation, as well as significant salary disparities among specialists. Remote work remains prevalent, while practical experience becomes more valuable than formal education.
