The number of crypto professionals paid in digital assets has tripled in the past year, with 9.6% receiving salaries in stablecoins. Pantera Capital’s report reveals a shift towards blockchain-native payroll systems, with Circle’s USDC leading the way, accounting for 63% of all crypto payrolls.

Token-based compensation in the crypto industry now focuses on long-term alignment, with nearly 88% of vesting schedules set to four years. Academic credentials take a backseat to hands-on experience, as professionals with bachelor’s degrees earn an average salary of $286,039, higher than those with master’s or doctorate degrees.

Circle is aggressively promoting USDC for institutional payments, partnering with Intercontinental Exchange to explore stablecoin integration in global derivatives markets. Circle has also applied for a federal trust bank charter, aligning with US President Donald Trump’s GENIUS Act for a regulatory framework for stablecoin issuers.

Read more at Cointelegraph: USDC leads crypto payrolls as Circle expands enterprise adoption