Jan 19, 2026 
17 mins to read Midnight Thoughts: The Pulse of the Web3 Talent Market
To be honest, right now the night in Hong Kong outside my window is thickening, and I'm staring blankly at the screen in my office with a cold cup of coffee beside me—this scene has repeated countless times over the past decade. Just as you can see, this industry is always full of uncertainty and possibilities. Hmm... by the way, I met a Decentralized Application developer at ETHGlobal in Tokyo last week who made a strong impression on me...
He suddenly asked me: "Charles, do you think it's still possible to transition into Decentralized Finance now?" This question reminded me of those frantic hiring scenes during the 2021 bull market. The Clique Recruitment team was processing hundreds of Solidity developer resumes every day back then, and now...
The Cold and Heat Cycles of the Web3 Recruitment Market
Actually, the market has never been a straight line. I remember at the end of 2022, after the FTX incident broke out, the entire industry seemed to be put on pause. The LD Capital Recruitment department's KPIs were halved, while projects focused on infrastructure continued to quietly expand. Just as you can see, this is the wonderful aspect of Web3—it always manages to surprise you in the most unexpected places.
By the way, the data I saw recently on MyJob.one is quite interesting:
- Qingtong Capital Recruitment's DeFi researcher position received over 300 applications
- KVERSO Recruitment's GameFi product manager role only had around 20 applicants
- The average salary for StarkNet ecosystem developers has increased by 15% compared to last year
This reminds me of what a founder I met yesterday said: "The current Web3 talent market is like an immature oracle—there's severe data lag."
The Career Transition Journey of DApp Developers
From Smart Contracts to Full-Stack Thinking
I encountered an interesting case on the Berlin subway. A developer who originally only wrote Solidity now excels in projects on StarkNet after learning Rust and ZK-proof knowledge. For him, Gas Fees are no longer a nightmare—just like an experienced driver who always finds the optimal route.
To be honest, this is what I want to emphasize: today's Decentralized Application developers must possess full-stack thinking. Just as you can see:
- Proficiency in at least one front-end framework (React/Vue)
- Essential basic DevOps knowledge
- Practical experience with Layer 2 solutions
- Understanding of some cryptographic fundamentals
The Golden Age of DeFi Experts
Hmm... when it comes to Decentralized Finance, I suddenly recall a conversation I had in a coffee shop in San Francisco last week. Two quantitative analysts from traditional investment banks were passionately discussing how to optimize AMM strategies using machine learning. The LD Capital Recruitment manager told me that the salaries for this type of talent have already increased by 30% compared to traditional finance.
By the way, if you're considering a transition into DeFi, these directions are worth paying attention to:
- Risk modeling for derivative protocols
- Cross-chain liquidity solutions
- MEV Protection Mechanism Design
- RegTech applications
Decoding the Hiring Logic of Capital Firms
Often, job seekers don't understand what investment institutions are thinking. The partner at Qingtong Capital Recruitment told me last week that they value more than technical depth—they prioritize "fast learning ability and industry intuition". This reminds me of an analyst they hired in 2020 who originally worked in traditional PE and quickly mastered the technical characteristics of all major public chains within three months.
Meanwhile, the strategy at Clique Recruitment is quite different. Their CTO said: "We're looking for someone who can fix a bug in a blockchain browser at 3 AM." Just as you can see, this is the characteristic of Web3—standards are never uniform.
Special Talent Needs in GameFi
Speaking of KVERSO Recruitment, they recently encountered a challenge: finding a technical director who is proficient in both Unity development and NFT standards is extremely difficult. It's like trying to find a chef who can make both Sichuan hot pot and French desserts—not impossible, but definitely rare.
I'm thinking... actually, GameFi talents can consider these interdisciplinary areas:
- Compliance design for virtual assets
- Balancing game economy systems
- Application of SBTs in gaming identity systems
- Cross-game asset interoperability
Late-Night Advice for Job Seekers
It's now 4:17 AM, and my coffee has long gone cold. But there are some things I still want to say to you, the reader: The Web3 world changes too quickly, so instead of worrying, take action. A couple of days ago, I saw some excellent positions on MyJob.one for the Celestia ecosystem—the requirements are surprisingly straightforward—solid Go language skills plus an understanding of modular blockchains are sufficient.
To be honest, the barriers in this industry aren't as high as imagined, but they're not easy either. Just as I often tell job seekers: "Don't ask what this industry can offer you. First, ask what you can contribute to this ecosystem."
