USDC Dominates Crypto Salaries in 2024, Signaling Shift Toward Blockchain Payroll Systems

• 63% of crypto salaries are paid in USDC, outpacing USDt despite its trading volume dominance.

• The number of crypto professionals receiving salaries in digital assets has tripled in the past year.

• 88% of vesting schedules for token-based compensation are now set for four years.

Circle’s USDC leads crypto payrolls in 2024, with 63% of salaries paid in digital assets, reflecting a significant shift in the industry.

What is the significance of USDC in crypto payrolls?

Circle’s USDC is increasingly recognized as a leading stablecoin for payrolls, accounting for 63% of all crypto salaries in 2024. This shift indicates growing institutional trust in dollar-backed assets.

How has the crypto payroll landscape changed?

The number of professionals receiving salaries in crypto has tripled, with 9.6% now opting for stablecoins. This trend reflects a broader acceptance of blockchain-native payroll systems.

Frequently Asked Questions

What percentage of crypto professionals are paid in stablecoins?

Currently, 9.6% of crypto professionals receive their salaries in stablecoins, reflecting a significant trend towards digital asset compensation.

How does USDC compare to USDt in the payroll sector?

USDC leads with 63% of crypto payrolls, while USDt, despite being the most traded stablecoin, accounts for less than 30%.

Key Takeaways

• USDC Dominance: Circle’s USDC is leading in crypto payrolls with 63% market share.
• Growth in Crypto Salaries: The number of professionals paid in crypto has tripled in the last year.
• Long-term Compensation Structures: 88% of token vesting schedules are now set for four years.

Conclusion

In summary, Circle’s USDC is reshaping the crypto payroll landscape in 2024, with significant growth in stablecoin adoption among professionals. This trend highlights the increasing trust in digital assets and the importance of regulatory compliance in the evolving financial ecosystem.

• Circle’s USDC accounted for 63% of salaries paid in crypto in 2024, outpacing USDt despite its trading dominance, according to Pantera’s global compensation survey.

• The number of crypto professionals receiving salaries in digital assets has tripled over the past year, with 9.6% now paid in stablecoins, according to a report by venture capital company Pantera Capital.

• Based on over 1,600 responses from crypto professionals across 77 countries, the report points to a shift toward blockchain-native payroll systems and growing institutional trust in dollar-backed assets, like USDC Coin (USDC) and USDt (USDT).

Circle’s USDC leads the way in crypto payrolls, reflecting a significant shift in the industry towards stablecoin adoption.

Source: Pantera Capital Report

According to the report, token-based compensation is also increasingly structured around long-term alignment, with nearly 88% of vesting schedules now set to four years, up from 64% the year before.

The findings suggest that in the blockchain industry, hands-on experience and technical expertise often outweigh academic credentials. Professionals with a bachelor’s degree earned an average salary of $286,039, notably higher than those with a master’s at $214,359 or a doctorate at $226,858.

Percentage of people paid in crypto. Source: Pantera Capital Report

Circle’s enterprise push

Circle is aggressively positioning USDC as a core tool for institutional payments, payroll, and B2B financial infrastructure, not just trading.

In March 2024, the company partnered with Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), the NY Stock Exchange parent firm, to explore USDC and tokenized fund integration in global derivatives markets.

Two months later, Circle applied for a federal trust bank charter with the US Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, part of its long-term strategy to provide regulated infrastructure for stablecoin payments, custody, and settlement.

In July, US President Donald Trump signed the GENIUS Act into law, establishing a bipartisan regulatory framework for stablecoin issuers like Circle. Supporters of the bill cited USDC as a model for compliant digital dollars.

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