Crypto Salaries Triple: Why This Trend Can’t Be Ignored

In 2024, salaries paid in crypto have tripled, marking a decisive turning point in the digital work landscape. Nearly 10% of professionals in the sector are now paid in stablecoins, notably USDC. This is a sign that crypto is establishing itself as a reliable, structured payment method, increasingly recognized by institutions.

USDC Outpaces USDT: A Strategic Choice Driven by Business Trust.

Although Tether’s USDT remains the most used stablecoin for global trading, it is Circle’s USDC that prevails when it comes to salary payments. In 2024, 63% of crypto remunerations were made in USDC. USDT, meanwhile, has slipped into the background playing a secondary role that few would have anticipated.

This preference is largely explained by a often overlooked factor: compatibility with payroll platforms. Deel, Remote, and Rippling, leaders in the digital payroll sector, simply do not support USDT.

But beyond the technical aspect, it is a matter of perception. Circle positions itself as a regulated, pro-institutional, and reassuring player for businesses. Its strategic alliance with ICE, the parent company of the New York Stock Exchange, and its application for a federal bank charter in the United States show a clear intent to anchor itself durably in the traditional financial infrastructure.

This trend is detailed in Pantera Capital’s report. USDC thus establishes itself as the ideal Trojan horse to introduce crypto at the heart of the most traditional corporate environments. By simplifying payment processes, it transforms HR services into key players in blockchain adoption within global companies.

Towards a World Where Crypto Dictates Employment Rules

The rise of crypto salaries is not limited to a change in payment method. It also redefines the relationship to work. According to Pantera’s report, 88% of token remunerations are now subject to four-year vesting schedules.

This figure shows a profound change. Companies seek to retain their talents, align them over the long term, and build lasting relationships.

Another observation emerges: diplomas are no longer the absolute reference in recruitment. In the crypto tech universe, practical experience and technical skills now prevail. Contrary to all expectations, a high school diploma sometimes suffices to earn more than a doctorate.

From now on, merit is evaluated in code and deployments. This new meritocracy driven by crypto disrupts traditional models. In emerging economies, blockchain allows a developer in Nairobi to be paid like one in San Francisco, in USDC. Same currency, same contract, same recognition.