Working in the bitcoin
Bitcoin
industry is one of the most rewarding ways to spend your career. It remains a niche field with more demand for jobs than there are openings, but that may be changing soon. With bitcoin’s momentum expected to build considerably over the next 12 months and beyond, 2025 might be the year that bitcoin – and bitcoin jobs – finally go mainstream.

For millennials and Gen Z professionals looking to break into this space, competition is fierce and opportunities come and go quickly. But don’t let that deter you. If you’re ready to pivot into a career in bitcoin, this guide will help you position yourself to stand out.

The Key to Getting Hired: Stand Out From the Crowd

The competition for bitcoin jobs is steep, so it’s essential to make yourself noticed. There are ways to carve out a space for yourself in this industry, and the formula isn’t as complicated as you might think.

Here are the five key components to a successful bitcoin job search:

1. Learn bitcoin inside and out
2. Build your personal brand in public
3. Create your “Proof of Work”
4. Proactively construct your network
5. Follow up religiously

Let’s take a look at each step in detail.

Learn bitcoin inside and out

Passion is essential, but knowledge is a hard requirement. Bitcoin attracts people with lots of enthusiasm, but not everyone has the expertise to back it up. If you’re just starting out, understand that you’re entering a highly specialized industry that demands deep understanding, not just surface-level excitement.

The first thing you should do is build a strong foundation of knowledge. You’ll probably need to keep earning money at your current job while stacking sats and diving deep into bitcoin during your free time. Transitioning your career is a long-term project — expect it to take months or even a few years to become truly proficient. As you increase your understanding of bitcoin, you’ll start to see where your skills fit into the industry.

How to Build Your Bitcoin Knowledge

Start by reading the key texts that have shaped the space:

Ultimately, your goal should be to not only understand bitcoin but to specialize in an area that matches your career ambitions.

Specialize. Don’t Be a Bitcoin Generalist.

The bitcoin space is broad, with roles ranging from engineering to community management. Most bitcoin companies are fast-paced startups that need employees who can hit the ground running with specialized skills.

Think about which niche in bitcoin excites you the most. It could be bitcoin banking and financial services, mining, payments, custody solutions and technologies

By diving deep into one area, you distinguish yourself from countless job applicants who have general, but surface-level, knowledge. It also shows that you’re serious about focusing on one particular problem set and making progress in solving it.

Build Your Personal Brand In Public

In 2025, having a personal brand is non-negotiable. It’s the most effective way to stand out to potential employers, especially in an industry as competitive as bitcoin. However, building a brand isn’t about chasing likes or retweets — it’s about showcasing your expertise, values, and contributions to the space.

This is an important distinction, because many might first assume that they must make an X account and become a prominent voice on “Bitcoin Twitter.” But this is not the only form that a personal brand can take. Another tactic is to register a domain name under your full name or a variation of it and make sure your website is up-to-date and professional. If you have writing skill, start publishing articles in bitcoin and bitcoin-adjacent outlets. If you write code, contribute to open source projects.

Real Talk About Privacy

Many bitcoiners are privacy-conscious, which is a good thing. However, over-optimizing for privacy can sometimes work against your goals, especially when building a professional brand. Most roles require at least some level of public presence, whether you’re publishing content, contributing to projects, or speaking at meetups.

While pseudonymity can work for specific roles (especially coding), most positions in Bitcoin require a more traditional online presence. You can be a strong advocate for privacy without staying completely under the radar yourself. Your chances of maximizing your personal privacy and your career potential at the same time is basically nil.

Centralize Your Online Presence

Nobody harmed a job search by creating and maintaining a professional online presence. As mentioned above, you can start with a personal website. A well-designed website can serve as your portfolio, resume, and blog, all in one. Think of it as your online headquarters where prospective employers or collaborators can learn about your skills, achievements, and interests without wading through your social media profiles.

Create Your Proof of Work

The bitcoin community values action over talk, grit over appearances, and results over ideas. This ethos is referred to as “Proof of Work.” Just as bitcoin miners expend energy to secure the network and set bitcoin transactions into an immutable order, you must demonstrate commitment by producing tangible results.

What counts as Proof of Work?

• Contribute to open-source projects: Many bitcoin companies and software projects operate on open-source principles. By contributing code, documentation, or ideas to these projects, you’ll not only gain practical experience but also build your professional network.
• Organize meetups: If you’re not a coder, don’t worry. Organizing or speaking at bitcoin meetups is another fantastic way to demonstrate leadership and communication skills.
• Work on side projects: Offer your skills for free initially if necessary. By contributing to bitcoin projects on a volunteer basis, you build up a portfolio of work that you can showcase to employers.

Volunteering your time and skills also builds goodwill in the community. When you show up consistently and add value, people will take notice — and an offer of a job may follow.

Content Creation as Proof of Work

Another excellent way to build your Proof of Work is through content creation. You can create a podcast, write blog posts, or produce video content centered around your area of specialization. Not only does this hold you accountable to learn continuously, it also helps you network and build a community around your work.

However, content creation isn’t for everyone, and it requires a lot of time. If you’re not aspiring to work in marketing or media, focus your efforts on technical or organizational Proof of Work instead.

Network Strategically

In the bitcoin world, networking is everything. Many jobs are never formally posted online, as companies prefer to hire from within their own networks. This means you’ll need to get involved in the bitcoin community both online and in person.

Here are some ideas for where to network:

• X.com (formerly Twitter): Despite the doom-scrolling risks, X remains the main hub for bitcoin discussions. (Nostr is another important network that can be used in addition to or instead of X.) Participate in conversations, share insights, and connect with industry professionals.
• Meetups and Conferences: Don’t underestimate the power of in-person networking. Attend bitcoin conferences, local meetups, or even organize your own.
• Telegram Groups: Join Telegram groups focused on bitcoin jobs or development. These channels often share exclusive opportunities that aren’t posted elsewhere.

Play the Long Game

Don’t expect to walk into a conference and leave with a job offer. Building a reputation in this space takes time. Get to know people, be helpful, and show genuine interest in the work others are doing. Even if there aren’t immediate job openings, relationships built through networking will be valuable down the road.

Follow Up and Add Value

Once you’ve sent in an application or made a connection, don’t just sit back and wait for something to happen. Proactively follow up — but do it in a way that adds value. Here’s how:

• Share ideas on how you could contribute to the company’s success.
• Provide a portfolio of work that shows relevant experience.
• Send thoughtful notes after meetings or interviews, reiterating your enthusiasm and offering something of value (like a solution to a problem the company is facing).

The key is to remain persistent without being pushy or inauthentic. Show that you’re invested in the company’s mission and that you’ve thought critically about how you can help them succeed.

Final Thoughts: Bring Your Passion, but Hone Your Skills

To rebuild your career in a new field is always a challenge. In the case of bitcoin, because it is such a buzzworthy subject matter, it can be even harder to stand out. Nonetheless, the formula is straightforward: Build skills that are actually needed, network as much as you can, and improvise ways to add value. The opportunities are there for those willing to put in the work, specialize, and play the long game.

Even with all the momentum behind bitcoin, the industry is still in its early days. As we move into 2025, the bitcoin industry may grow significantly. If you’re serious about getting hired, start learning, building, and networking today.