Let me tell you—if I had a dollar for every time someone asked me for Rust developers in the last six months, I’d be typing this from a hammock in Bali.
Seriously though, Rust Developers are having their moment, especially across Layer 2 (L2) blockchain projects. From rollups to zk tech, Rust is quietly (and sometimes not so quietly) becoming the go-to language for teams building speed, scalability, and security into the next generation of Web3 infrastructure.
As someone who’s been deep in crypto recruitment for years—watching every talent wave, hype cycle, and rug pull—I’ve never seen such consistent inbound demand for one specific skill set. Solidity used to be the golden child. Now? Rust’s stealing the spotlight.
Here’s what I’ve seen on the ground—and what you need to know if you’re hiring, building, or coding in this fast-evolving corner of Web3.
Rust is the Language of L2 Innovation
It’s not just hype—Rust Developers are genuinely building the future.
Take the explosive growth of projects like Starknet, Fuel, and Solana’s Sealevel VM-inspired L2s. These aren’t just side projects—they’re mission-critical chains and infrastructure layers looking to onboard millions of users and process billions in transaction volume. And guess what’s under the hood? Rust.
The language’s performance, memory safety, and zero-cost abstractions make it ideal for L2 use cases where speed and precision matter. And it’s not just technical hype; I’ve placed devs into these teams. The moment they update their LinkedIn to say “Rust,” their inbox lights up like it’s Christmas.
If you’re a dev, learning Rust is more than just career insurance—it’s a ticket into the inner circle of Web3 protocol development.
Hiring Rust Devs? Prepare for a Challenge
I’ll be blunt: recruiting Rust Developers right now isn’t for the faint-hearted.
Why? Because demand is completely outstripping supply. Most top-tier Rust engineers are already employed—often by L1s or L2s with serious funding—and they’re not easily lured away. I’ve had hiring managers come to me with dreamy budgets, remote flexibility, and equity offers, only to get ghosted after one technical interview. It’s brutal out there.
What does work? Relationship building. Long-term courting. Sometimes you need to spot a mid-level systems engineer with potential and invest in Rust training rather than expecting a senior dev to fall into your lap.
I’ve also seen success with global hiring—places like Eastern Europe, LATAM, and Southeast Asia are producing incredible Rust talent that’s still somewhat under the radar.
From Smart Contracts to zk Architectures—Rust is Everywhere
One thing that’s surprised me? Just how wide the application of Rust has become in Web3.
It’s not just powering L2 clients—it’s being used in smart contract frameworks (like Ink! on Polkadot), zero-knowledge proof systems, and even DAOs building custom validator logic. I recently spoke with a team building an L2 rollup specifically optimised for gaming—they’re using Rust for everything from asset management to real-time matchmaking.
Even wallet teams are jumping on the Rust bandwagon. Fast, safe, and portable code? It’s kind of a no-brainer when security is everything.
If you’re building anything remotely close to infra, systems programming, or performance-heavy tools—Rust is probably the answer. Or at least, your next hire is probably going to think it’s the answer.
So… Should You Be Learning Rust (or Hiring for It)?
Here’s my take, after talking with hundreds of candidates and hiring managers: Rust isn’t just a trend—it’s a long-term shift in how serious teams are building.
If you’re a developer, there’s never been a better time to pick up Rust. It’ll open doors to the kind of deep, protocol-level work that really moves the industry forward. And if you’re a founder or engineering lead? Don’t wait until you’re deep into an L2 build to realise you’ve got no one to write the core logic.
Start training. Start hiring. Or partner with someone (hello 👋) who knows where these Rust devs are hiding.
Because one thing’s for sure—Rust Developers aren’t going to get easier to find anytime soon.
Final Thoughts from a Crypto Recruiter
I’ve seen tech trends come and go, but this one feels different. Rust’s growing presence in L2 development isn’t just a passing wave—it’s shaping how the foundational layers of Web3 will be built.
And as someone sitting at the intersection of builders and opportunity, my advice is simple: if you’re working in this space, Rust should be on your radar—whether you’re writing it or recruiting for it.
Because when it comes to L2 innovation, the Rust Developers are already miles ahead.
