“This feels weird,” I muttered to myself last Friday, scrolling through the usual token charts over my third cup of coffee. No dramatic green spikes. No “buy the dip” hysteria. Just… stillness. And in crypto, stillness always says something—especially when crypto markets cool after a period of high volatility.
Crypto Markets Cool—and that’s not just a line for the headlines. It’s the vibe across Telegram, Twitter, and even my hiring calls. June’s barely begun, but already we’re seeing signs that the mad dash of Q1 is giving way to a more measured, cautious pace. As someone who’s been recruiting in this space for years, I’ve come to realise that markets cooling doesn’t mean jobs drying up—it just means the game is changing.
Let’s break down what’s happening—and what it means if you’re building, hiring, or looking for your next gig.
Hiring Doesn’t Freeze—It Refocuses
When the crypto markets cool, it’s tempting to assume everything else slows with it. But honestly? That’s rarely the case from a recruitment standpoint.
Back in early 2022, I remember one DeFi protocol calling me in a panic—token price had dipped 40% in a week, and they were worried no one would accept offers anymore. Two weeks later, they’d hired a killer head of growth who’d actually preferred the downturn because it meant he could join at a “more rational” valuation.
What I’m seeing now is similar. Projects are hiring—but they’re being smarter about it. Instead of “just add more engineers”, the question now is “do we really need this role right now?” That means leaner teams, clearer KPIs, and an uptick in demand for folks who can wear multiple hats.
So if you’re a generalist who’s dabbled in community, comms, AND growth—your CV is gold right now.
Talent is (Finally) Doing More Due Diligence
Here’s a refreshing twist: candidates are asking better questions.
When the market’s hot, I often see people rush into roles because they don’t want to miss the rocket. But when crypto markets cool, there’s more time to think—and the quality of conversations I’m having has shot up.
This week, a brilliant Web3 PM asked me how a company managed treasury during 2022’s crash. Not “what’s the salary?” Not “when do the tokens vest?” Just—how did they survive?
That kind of thinking is exactly what separates opportunists from operators.
And it’s not just PMs. Engineers are looking for real impact, not just hype. Designers want clarity on user problems, not just “make it look like Base.” Even founders are shifting from chasing followers to chasing retention. When the market’s hot, it’s easy to mask fragility. When it’s cool—you build.
VCs Are Still Hiring—But Quietly
You know who doesn’t shout when the market cools? Venture capital.
But make no mistake—they’re still hiring. And not just for their own teams, but for portfolio companies they quietly believe in.
Just last week, I placed a candidate at a DePIN project backed by a Tier 1 fund. It wasn’t on any job board. No Twitter announcement. No flashy pitch deck. Just a direct referral, three interviews, and a signed offer in five days.
These are the types of roles that never see daylight unless you’re already in the loop.
So if you’re job hunting right now—don’t just hit “apply.” Engage. Reach out to hiring managers. DM founders. Go to the events no one’s tweeting about. The jobs are there—but you’ve got to do more than scroll to find them.
Builders Still Building = Long-Term Opportunities
Here’s the thing no chart ever shows: who’s still building during the quiet months?
Right now, we’re seeing steady hiring from infrastructure, security, and protocol R&D teams. Not the flashiest names. Not the fastest token pumps. But these are the builders laying groundwork for 2026.
One example? A zk-rollup project I’ve supported since 2023—they’ve doubled their engineering team in the last 8 months, despite no major token news. Why? Because they raised well, budgeted wisely, and built a hiring roadmap that wasn’t pegged to $SOL or $ETH price.
The moral of the story: when crypto markets cool, long-term builders don’t panic—they prepare. And that means they’re looking for people who think the same way. If you’re the kind of person who sticks around during the “boring” quarters—you’re exactly who they want.
So, What Should You Be Doing Right Now?
If you’re a founder:
Reassess your hiring roadmap. You don’t need to freeze—you just need to focus. Who’s truly critical to ship v1? Who’s adding velocity, not just headcount?
If you’re hiring:
Double down on transparency. Good talent is more cautious right now—they want clarity, not charisma. Be honest about runway, roadmap, and remote policies.
If you’re job hunting:
Build relationships, not just applications. The best roles aren’t listed. They’re whispered about in DMs and Discords. Be curious. Follow the builders who don’t go viral.
And if you’re just lurking and watching:
That’s fine too. But don’t tune out entirely. The hiring landscape moves differently when the markets cool—and if you pay attention now, you’ll be way ahead when things heat up again.
Every time crypto enters a quiet patch, someone says “is it over?” But if you’ve been around long enough, you know better. Crypto markets cool, and that’s when the real work starts.
Recruitment doesn’t die during the dips—it gets sharper. More deliberate. More real. And honestly? That’s when some of the best matches are made.
So chin up. Stay sharp. And if you’re not sure what your next move should be—maybe it’s time to have a chat. You never know who’s hiring in the shadows.
