Crypto Industry Job Openings Plunge to 2,932 in H1 2026, Down 97% from 2022 Peak

According to Tiger Research's latest report, as of June 18, 2026, the crypto industry had only 2,932 active job openings, plummeting 97% from an estimated peak of approximately 130,000 positions in 2022. The downturn reflects an ongoing wave of layoffs in the first half of 2026, with March marking the most concentrated month of cuts across Gemini, Crypto.com, Algorand, OP Labs, PIP Labs, and Messari. Notably, Messari was acquired by Blockworks for approximately $10 million in June after three rounds of layoffs, down from a prior valuation of $300 million.

Centralized exchanges (CEXs) dominated hiring, accounting for 30.8% of positions (904 roles), primarily from OKX, Bybit, and Binance. Demand for AI skills in crypto job postings surged, rising from 23% in early 2025 to 53.1% by March 2026.