Blockchain currently has about 300,000 global jobs, lagging behind AI’s 1.5 million. However, job growth in blockchain is at 45% CAGR, lesser than AI’s 57%. Regulatory clarity and sustained growth could potentially help blockchain exceed a million jobs by 2030, though AI is likely to keep attracting more talent. Integration of both technologies could yield new opportunities, making their collaboration essential for future growth.
The blockchain sector is still relatively small, with only about 300,000 jobs globally, compared to the expansive artificial intelligence (AI) sector, which boasts around 1.5 million positions. This was highlighted in a recent Bitget Research report that claims the hiring gap could shrink by the year 2030. Notably, the software development industry leads the tech field with a whopping 25 million jobs.
In 2024, blockchain created roughly 20,000 new jobs, sourced from platforms like LinkedIn and Crypto Job List. Although this represents a significant annual growth rate of about 45%, the blockchain job market still falls behind the AI sector, which grew at an impressive 57%, as per the report. Why the difference? According to Vugar Usi Zade from Bitget, it’s mainly about venture capital investment.
Zade explained that venture capitalists poured over $100 billion into AI startups in 2024, resulting in over a million open positions in the AI field globally. On the flip side, blockchain attracted around $5.4 billion in new funding during the same stretch, with only 20,000 job ads circulating. It’s clear where the funding is flowing, at least for now.
Interestingly, the report suggests that blockchain could potentially jump over the 1 million job mark by 2030 if it ramps up its growth to match that of AI industries. Year-on-year job listings in AI have been surging, showing growth rates between 75% to 100%, while blockchain jobs hover around a steadier 45% to 60%. This is a significant gap that raises eyebrows.
Zade points out that a bit of regulatory clarity, such as with Europe’s new Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA), might just provide the boost blockchain companies need. He noted that since MiCA’s implementation in December 2024, hiring freezes are beginning to thaw and if similar regulations pop up in the United States and Asia, we might see a more concerted hiring approach.
Performance upgrades for blockchains, like Ethereum’s Dencun update which dramatically reduced layer-2 fees, show that these technologies are indeed becoming robust enough to handle corporate demands. So, while growth looks promising, others in the space warn that AI technology integration is outpacing blockchain efforts.
Jawad Ashraf, CEO of Vanar Chain, noted that AI’s market penetration has been rapid and widespread, putting it in a stronger position for new talent over the next ten years. He added that blockchain is still largely integrating with traditional finance and sectors like gaming, suggesting we haven’t reached the full consumer market penetration yet.
In contrast to the common narrative, industry experts like Yakov Lebedev from 3Commas stress that AI and blockchain aren’t really competing for the same talent pool. Instead, they’re converging to create new career avenues. This blend of technologies is paving the way for more sophisticated financial tools accessible to a broader audience.
Cross-disciplinary expertise in both AI and blockchain is becoming increasingly valuable, with companies ready to pay a premium for professionals who understand both realms. This synergy is stimulating job growth across both fields as more firms move integrated solutions beyond just pilot phases.
Also, as Adi Ben-Ari, founder of Applied Blockchain, mentioned, the partnership between AI and blockchain can mitigate some risks. AI can produce uncertain outcomes that need assurance through blockchain’s ability to offer a secure environment for sensitive data. With the rising volume of personal data being processed by AI, blockchain is poised to play a crucial role in safeguarding that information.
To note a practical application, there has already been an instance of AI agents using cryptocurrency for transactions. An example from December 16, 2024, involved an AI agent called Luna from Virtuals Protocol paying another AI agent from STIX Protocol for services rendered, which signals an interesting evolution in how these technologies are working together in real-time.
As the landscape continues to evolve, the outlook for blockchain jobs seems promising, especially if the sector capitalises on its synergistic relationship with AI.
