Hiring for crypto and blockchain jobs is exploding

On the hunt for employees who specialize in crypto or blockchain? So is everyone else.

Data from LinkedIn released on Wednesday found that from 2020 to 2021, job postings with titles including “cryptocurrency,” “blockchain” and “Bitcoin,” and also “Ethereum” have increased 395% year over year in the U.S. In comparison, tech industry job postings grew about 98%. 

Most jobs are related to software and finance, according to LinkedIn. However, professional services jobs like accounting are also seeing a rise. I did a job search on the site under “blockchain,” the foundation for crypto. It garnered more than 28,000 results. Searching by entry-level, there were about 2,900 listings. Looking for mid-senior, director and executive levels, I received about 13,000 job listings. 

For example, American Express is seeking to hire a senior backend engineer in digital payments and blockchain. In 2017, American Express partnered with Ripple (XRP) to form a blockchain-based payment infrastructure. Job titles “blockchain developer,” “blockchain engineer” and “senior blockchain engineer” combined represent 15.64% of the open job listings, LinkedIn said. Meanwhile, Travoom, a travel experience startup, is looking for a “CFO and possible-cofounder.” “Blockchain knowledge and understanding, experience working on crypto products a huge plus,” according to the post. 

When searching under “crypto,” I received over 15,000 results. Under entry-level, just under 2,000 jobs. And mid-senior, director and executive levels showed over 9,000 jobs. Needless to say, crypto companies like Blockchain.com and Coinbase and broker-dealer app Robinhood had several listings. 

Although assets like Bitcoin have been around for a long time, the maturity of the markets and platforms around the digital currency, “are light years ahead of what they were three or four years ago,” Kevin Werbach, professor of legal studies and business ethics at The Wharton School, said during a virtual press briefing last month. 

Werbach noted that 2021 was a crazy year for everything having to do with crypto and digital assets, but also one where we’ve seen a tremendous amount of real activity, including investors pouring $30 billion into crypto. “What is 2022 likely to be?” he said. “Even crazier.”

Bitcoin’s volatility continues to garner a range of predictions and reactions. The cryptocurrency fell below $40,000 on Monday for a time before rebounding, though plenty of bulls continue to have far-out price targets, with even Goldman Sachs predicting Bitcoin could hit $100,000 if it continues to take market share from gold. “I think the volatility you’re seeing right now is no different than the volatility that’s existed throughout all of Bitcoin’s existence,” BTCS Inc. CFO Michael Prevoznik told me earlier this week.

“CFOs shouldn’t be pushing to jump into holding crypto just because it’s the future or because Elon Musk says so,” Werbach said in December. “But I would urge them to understand it better.”

Or at least hire some folks that do.

See you tomorrow.

Sheryl Estrada
sheryl.estrada@fortune.com

Big deal

Climate action failure was named a top risk in the next decade, according to The World Economic Forum Global Risks Perception Survey. The findings are based on 1,000 global risk experts and leaders. The environment is of great concern. However, societal risks are high on the list as well. The survey is part of the organization's larger report released on Jan. 11.

Courtesy of World Economic Forum

Going deeper

In a Fortune opinion piece, The age of the frontline worker, Jared Spataro, a corporate VP in the Modern Work division at Microsoft, discusses how tech can empower frontline workers. "Data from Microsoft’s latest Work Trend Index shows we’re at an inflection point," Spataro writes. "Frontline workers feel culture and communication have not been prioritized, doubt stress will improve, and feel underserved by tech and training. While the numbers reflect a tough reality, they also represent a significant opportunity for leaders to empower frontline employees with the tech they need."

Leaderboard

Carlos Olea was named CFO at The Howard Hughes Corporation (NYSE: HHC), effective Jan. 12. Olea has been with the company since 2017 and has served as chief accounting officer since 2019, overseeing the financial accounting strategy for the nation's largest portfolio of MPCs. Prior to joining HHC, he served as chief accounting officer at Carr Properties, a Washington, D.C.-based owner-operator and developer. Previously, he was a senior manager with the Advisory Services practice of Ernst and Young and a director of technical accounting and financial reporting with AvalonBay Communities in Arlington, Virginia.

Adrian Bartella was named CFO at The Fresh Market, Inc., a grocery retail brand, effective Jan. 17. Bartella has over 15 years of experience leading finance and accounting teams, most recently as CFO at Hudson Group for nine years. He was CFO during its IPO in February 2018 where he led the SEC registration process as well as the roadshow marketing process with institutional investors, and subsequently working with equity research analysts and presenting on quarterly earnings calls.

Overheard

"Three of my favorite themes are disrupting the consumer, digital transformation and really thinking about climate and ESG opportunities around the globe."

—Kate Moore, BlackRock's head of thematic strategy for the global allocation, on three major investing themes, as told to Yahoo Finance.