Blockchain to Eclipse AI in Job Creation—1.5 Million Roles by 2030
Move over, artificial intelligence—blockchain’s coming for your hype crown. The distributed ledger revolution isn’t just disrupting finance; it’s quietly building an employment juggernaut.
The numbers don’t lie: While Wall Street still bets on AI to save their quarterly reports, blockchain adoption could spawn 1.5 million new jobs before 2030. Developers, auditors, even legal specialists—all racing to onboard the next wave of decentralized infrastructure.
Why it matters: Unlike AI’s promise of replacing workers, blockchain creates roles that can’t be automated away. Smart contract engineers aren’t getting outsourced to chatbots anytime soon.
The cynical take: Half those jobs will probably exist to clean up after crypto founders’ ’innovative accounting practices.’ But the other half? That’s where the real Web3 transformation happens—no MBA required.
In brief
- Blockchain could create more than 1.5 million jobs by 2030, rivaling AI.
- Clear regulation, like MiCA, is essential to accelerate adoption and job creation in blockchain.
- Blockchain funding needs to increase, with a $75 billion gap compared to AI.
- Salaries in blockchain, especially for specialized roles, could surpass those in AI.
- Blockchain talent demand is concentrated in North America (40%) and Asia-Pacific (35%).
An explosive growth in blockchain employment
Currently, blockchain employs around 15,000 to 20,000 people worldwide, a figure far below the 1 million jobs related to AI. However, according to forecasts, if blockchain follows the pace of artificial intelligence, it could create more than 1.5 million new positions by 2030, making it a major pillar of the digital economy. This growth would be driven by the adoption of blockchain in critical sectors such as finance, healthcare, and logistics.
One of the key drivers of this growth lies in clear regulation of the industry, notably with initiatives like the EU’s MiCA regulation on cryptos. This regulation would provide a solid framework, boosting confidence among companies and investors. Meanwhile, adoption by giants like JPMorgan and Visa, who are integrating blockchain into their projects, shows the way forward for other companies seeking to leverage this technology. If this adoption becomes widespread, it could significantly accelerate job creation.
An urgent need for funding
According to the report, to compete with AI in terms of market size and job creation, blockchain needs greater funding parity. In 2023, AI startups attracted more than $100 billion in venture capital, compared to only $25 billion for blockchain. Increased financial support would accelerate innovation and adoption of blockchain, while supporting the creation of new specialized jobs.
Especially as jobs in blockchain, particularly in niche roles such as smart contract auditors, could offer salaries higher than those of AI professionals. Currently, blockchain salaries range from $115,000 to $191,000 per year. If adoption accelerates, these figures could exceed $250,000, rivaling top AI engineers.
Leading regions: North America and Asia-Pacific
Demand for blockchain talent is mainly concentrated in North America (40% of jobs) and Asia-Pacific (35%), these regions being the main innovation hubs and benefiting from crypto-friendly policies. In particular, countries like Singapore and Vietnam, with their pro-blockchain initiatives, are expected to continue playing a key role in recruitment.
Blockchain is therefore at a crucial moment in its development. With clear regulation, increased investment, and broader adoption, it could soon rival AI in global job creation, and even experience its “ChatGPT moment” in 2025. This technology has enormous potential, and its flourishing could redefine key sectors of the global economy by 2030.
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