How many people in your circle complain about their jobs? Are you familiar with phrases like, “Finally, this shift is over” or “I can’t wait for the weekends!”? If you hear this often, there’s a high chance that people around you work in the traditional economy. If such comments are rare, they’re probably working in the Web3 space.

According to a CoinMarketCap survey on Web3 careers, 31.7% of 63 respondents said they are already working in this field, and 22.2% are considering a career there. For an industry barely a decade old, this is an impressive level of engagement. It also means that if in the 2010s your classmates dreamed of an internship at a bank, today they’re more likely to have on LinkedIn: “Smart Contract Developer” or “Blockchain Specialist.” Professionals from major companies are increasingly welcoming young people into their work. For example, Kronos Research - a major company pioneering cryptocurrency financial innovation - states:

“At Kronos, we welcome students and graduates into our internship and full-time programs, where curiosity and drive matter more than prior experience. Through mentorship, campus partnerships, and hands-on projects, we help young professionals grow into the next generation of leaders in quantitative research and trading.”

Vincent Liu, CIO, Kronos Research

Hayden Adams once spent his days as an engineer at Siemens, modeling projects for aerospace and automotive clients. Sounds cool? Not quite. Within a year, corporate monotony made him question every life choice. The “darkest period of my life,” he later called it. Luckily, getting fired pushed him straight into crypto.

One day, his friend showed him a post by Vitalik Buterin about decentralized exchanges - and just like that, a lightbulb went off. Hayden applied for a $65,000 Ethereum Foundation grant, launched Uniswap in 2018, and suddenly, the world of finance wasn’t so boring anymore. Smart contracts, decentralized trading, and a platform users actually loved skyrocketed Uniswap’s popularity. By September 2020, it outpaced Coinbase in monthly trading volume - $15.3 billion. 

Not bad for a former corporate type. A real case of how stepping off the beaten path can turn early missteps into opportunities to grow beyond expectations.

According to a CoinMarketCap survey, 39% of 41 respondents say blockchain development and smart contract engineering are the most in-demand roles right now. Another 31.7% point to Web3 marketing. The key isn’t just which roles are hot - it’s that people generally see this space as full of opportunity. According to TheCryptoRecruiters.io, Web3 hiring jumped 45% year-over-year. Head over to LinkedIn today, and you’ll be blown away by the number of Web3 job postings.

Today, the hottest roles include blockchain developers, Web3 product managers, DeFi specialists, and NFT strategists. And to prove it’s not just talk, here’s a list of real, currently open positions from top crypto exchanges - maybe your first step into the Web3 world:

1. Binance

Binance - the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, trusted by over 250 million users. With such global reach, the company continues to expand its team and offers exciting career opportunities for professionals worldwide.

If you’re new to Web3 or blockchain, the “Junior Golang Engineer” vacancy is your golden ticket to the DeFi future. If you love helping people, the “Dispute Analyst - P2P” role is your great chance to demonstrate it. And if you want to build scalable microservices and tackle big data challenges, consider the “Backend Engineer” role.

1. WhiteBIT 

WhiteBIT - the largest European cryptocurrency exchange by traffic, with a market capitalization of $39 billion. The platform brings together 35 million users and hosts global trading tournaments. Growing at such a pace, the exchange is opening vacancies for talented specialists ready to contribute to its development.

Strategy management, risk control, and team coordination - if these challenges appeal to you, the “General Manager” role opens this opportunity. If communication and management are your thing, the “Head of VIP” vacancy could be your sweet spot. And if you prefer building fiat infrastructure and managing top clients, then there’s the “Head of FX Desk” role.

1. LinkedIn

LinkedIn - the world’s leading professional network, connecting over 1 billion users and thousands of companies. To support and further develop such a large-scale platform, LinkedIn is constantly seeking skilled professionals across diverse fields.

Maybe you want to keep the blockchain world from falling apart? If you’ve got the skills, the “IT/Blockchain Infrastructure Engineer” role is for you. If you’re confident in sourcing Web3 talent, you can take a closer look at the “Web3 Recruiter” role. And if you’re looking for something creative and unconventional, the “Crypto Brand Designer” role could be your inspiration.

You can be anything, from zero to hero. Unlike traditional roles, it doesn’t matter if you’re seasoned or just starting out. These innovations are built by the young, so even if you’re new, you can make an impact… and maybe even become a CEO.

As a millennial, I can’t downplay the value of traditional jobs. They’ve always been there, they exist, and they’ll always exist. Even that mishap called Elon Musk’s robots can’t fully replace human work. But humanity keeps pushing forward with innovations and tech. That’s why Web3 work shouldn’t be underestimated either. Sure, some will scoff, saying “Back in my day we managed fine without phones.” But let’s imagine a day in the life of an intern at a bank versus Web3:

Both jobs look busy. But let’s be real: in a bank, don’t expect a proper coffee break unless you’re the boss. In Web3, you mix actual work, team chats, and occasional breaks. The roles are specific, but the directions here are wide, giving you solid experience. And in this field, you get the most important thing - freedom. Freedom in your work, and freedom in your creativity.

If you’ve made it this far, at least once a fleeting thought has probably crossed your mind: “Maybe I should try Web3 too.” So, if you’re planning to enter Web3 (or if you’re just curious about this space), you should keep in mind the following - risks, the jargon, and the forecasts for the future:

1. What are the risks of working in Web3?

The first one is stability which isn’t always that stable. The Web3 market is young and volatile, which means a project might be booming today and frozen tomorrow. Another challenge: time zones. Web3 operates 24/7. If your partner is in Singapore, then 3 AM calls can easily become your new normal. This leads us to the next risk - burnout. With the fast pace of the market and the fully remote setup, it’s easy to lose balance between work and rest.

1. Is working in Web3 as hard as Web3 jargon itself?

Not everyone can immediately grasp the terminology of this next-gen field. But once you do, no - your job won’t necessarily become easier (a moment of pessimism). You’ll understand workflows better, but the work itself will still demand versatility from you. On the bright side, that’s exactly what makes your experience stronger.

1. Where is this space headed?

The Web3 development market is projected to grow from $4.43 billion in 2024 to $6.15 billion in 2025, with a compound annual growth rate of approximately 38.4% expected by 2029. Forecasts keep looking better, and the line of candidates for Web3 roles is only getting longer.