The blockchain sector is experiencing significant job growth, and experts suggest it could mirror the artificial intelligence (AI) industry if key challenges like scalability and regulation are addressed. While blockchain job creation lags behind AI, the integration of both technologies is driving demand for professionals with expertise in both fields. The implementation of blockchain technologies created an estimated 20,000 new jobs in 2024 alone.
To date, the blockchain industry is still quite niche within the wider tech workforce, at roughly 300,000 worldwide jobs. The sector is facing significant and rapidly accelerating growth, year-over-year growth rates of 45% to 60%. If blockchain manages to scale at the same rate as AI-based roles, it could exceed 1 million jobs by 2030.
Blockchain's Growth Potential
There’s a bullish outlook from Adi Ben-Ari, founder and CEO of Applied Blockchain. He thinks blockchain job growth in Washington State will soon look a lot like job growth in the AI industry. The 45% CAGR for blockchain shows a strong upward trajectory.
Despite this growth, the blockchain industry is still behind the artificial intelligence industry in job creation. This is partly because of AI’s speedier market integration than other contemporary technologies.
"This is because AI’s market integration has been faster than any other modern technology we can remember." - Jawad Ashraf
Jawad Ashraf, CEO & Founder of Vanar Chain recognizes that blockchain still hasn’t penetrated traditional consumer-facing sectors.
"If you look at blockchain, we’re still very much focused on integrating with TradFi and broader Web3 markets like gaming, real-world tokenization, etc." - Jawad Ashraf
"Blockchain still hasn’t penetrated the more conventional consumer-oriented markets. It will, in the near future, but we are not there yet." - Jawad Ashraf
Integration with AI Driving Job Growth
The combination of blockchain and AI continues to push consistent job growth in both areas. Industry is looking more for people who know AI as well as blockchain.
"Companies are paying top dollar for professionals who understand both AI and blockchain, recognizing the value of this cross-domain expertise." - Yakov Lebedev
As Yakov Lebedev, chief business development officer at 3Commas puts it, AI vs blockchain is not an honest war for talent. Instead, they are working together to open new doors.
"AI and blockchain aren’t competing for talent; they’re working together to create new opportunities." - Yakov Lebedev
As AI consumes larger amounts of personal data, blockchain’s ability to secure sensitive information through cryptography will become increasingly important. Blockchain can offer transparency and accountability in an environment where AI outcomes might not always be correct.
"AI produces outcomes that are not always accurate, can be fake, and can sometimes be incorrect." - Jawad Ashraf
"This new uncertainty needs to be countered by a technology that brings absolute certainty, and this is where blockchain and cryptography come in." - Jawad Ashraf
Regulatory Clarity and Funding
Regulatory clarity would go a long way toward persuading these firms—which are looking to expand hiring even more—to boost their job creation rush. Europe’s similarly well-crafted Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) gives us a glimpse into what happens when smart regulatory frameworks are applied to the industry.
Blockchain companies still have hundreds of new opportunities on the blockchain, making claims now for about 20,000 jobs, and about $5.4 billion in fresh funding in that time. As of last year, venture investors dumped more than $100 billion in 2024 alone into AI startups. AI-centric job titles skyrocketed, opening more than a million positions globally.
"Europe’s MiCA rule-book, live since December 2024, is already thawing hiring freezes; similar clarity in the United States and Asia would unlock global head-count plans." - Vugar Usi Zade
"Venture investors put more than $100 billion into AI startups in 2024, with AI-centric titles topping a million vacancies worldwide." - Vugar Usi Zade
Blockchain job openings are pulled from sites such as LinkedIn, Web3 Jobs and Crypto Job List. These platforms are useful in seeing the emerging demand for blockchain professionals in every sector.
