In 2024, there has been a significant increase in the number of Web3 specialists receiving salaries in cryptocurrency. According to recent data from Pantera Capital, the share of such workers has reached 9.6%, which is three times more than a year ago. The majority of payments are made in stablecoins.
This is reported by Finway
USDC Stablecoin Leads in Cryptocurrency Salaries
An analysis of over 1600 responses from 77 countries indicates a steady rise in the popularity of digital assets in compensation. The largest share among cryptocurrency payments is held by the USDC stablecoin from Circle — it accounts for 63% of all salary transactions. This significantly outpaces USDT from Tether, which, despite higher trading volumes, has fallen behind USDC in employee payments.
Experts explain this trend not only by the geography of respondents but also by the functional limitations of payroll services. In particular, platforms like Deel, Remote, and Rippling do not support payments in USDT. Together, USDC and USDT account for over 90% of all cryptocurrency payments in the sector.
Vesting and Qualifications: New Trends in Compensation
Another notable trend has been the increase in the share of tokens with a four-year vesting period: in 2024, such conditions were granted to 88% of employees, while in 2023, this figure was only 64%. This indicates a strengthening of long-term commitments by companies towards their employees and a focus on stability.
The report also highlights the impact of qualifications on salary levels. The highest average income, specifically $286,000 per year, is earned by specialists with a bachelor’s degree. This is more than those with a master’s ($214,000) or doctoral ($226,000) degree. Experts believe this underscores the value of practical skills and technical expertise in the blockchain industry.
“The highest salaries in the industry are earned by specialists with a bachelor’s degree — on average $286,000 per year. This is higher than for those with master’s ($214,000) and even doctoral ($226,000) degrees. Analysts believe this highlights the importance of practical skills and technical experience in the blockchain sector.”
Additionally, in 2025, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission allowed stablecoins to be classified as cash equivalents, which also influenced the popularity of digital assets in salary payments.