Bitwise CEO Urges AI-Displaced Engineers to Join Crypto
Bitwise CEO Hunter Horsley urged engineers facing AI-driven layoffs to pivot to crypto, saying builders are needed and comparing the chance to joining OpenAI early.
Hunter Horsley, chief executive of Bitwise, urged engineers affected by AI-driven layoffs to consider jobs in crypto, comparing the opportunity to joining OpenAI before it reached mainstream attention.
Horsley acknowledged the industry includes scams and incomplete projects but said those gaps create engineering work to build protocol and product infrastructure. He framed the sector as a place for disciplined technical teams to solve practical problems.
He pointed to openings in engineering, protocol design and product development and said those roles can offer competitive pay and career growth. Large financial firms including JPMorgan, BlackRock and Citi have posted crypto-related positions with base salaries reaching about $300,000, and employers are seeking candidates with both blockchain knowledge and traditional finance or compliance experience.
The appeal to switch careers comes as AI-driven restructuring reshapes technology work. A segment of employees at leading AI and chip firms has seen large wealth gains in recent years, while many other tech workers face layoffs. Executives at some companies report compute spending has grown to exceed budgets for employee costs, a factor companies cite as reshaping hiring and staffing decisions.
Horsley described the industry need for ‘talented, professional, pragmatic people’ to move projects beyond headlines into usable systems. TRON founder Justin Sun urged young builders to act quickly, writing, ‘AI is here; while we’re young and still have the chance to do something, let’s just go for it.’
After recent headcount reductions at some crypto firms, traditional asset managers and banks have increased hiring in digital and tokenized assets, offering roles that bridge legacy finance systems and blockchain technology. Industry participants say whether crypto can absorb a larger wave of displaced engineers will depend on product roadmaps, regulatory clarity and whether projects deliver usable infrastructure in the coming year.
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