Why crypto startups should hire a recruiter to grow their team fast

The Dover Team

October 23, 2024

4 mins

The cryptocurrency and DeFi (Decentralized Finance) industries are some of the fastest-growing and competitive sectors in the world today. Blockchain technology is rapidly evolving and becoming more and more mainstream, and crypto startups need agile, innovative and talented teams to succeed.

Naturally, hiring for crypto startups is no easy feat. Candidates need a unique combination of talent, drive and a deep understanding of these still fledgling technologies to succeed. And if you’re a crypto startup, you likely don’t have the time or resources to find quality talent. That’s where a crypto recruiter becomes essential.

The cryptocurrency and DeFi (Decentralized Finance) industries are some of the fastest-growing and competitive sectors in the world today. Blockchain technology is rapidly evolving and becoming more and more mainstream, and crypto startups need agile, innovative and talented teams to succeed.

Naturally, hiring for crypto startups is no easy feat. Candidates need a unique combination of talent, drive and a deep understanding of these still fledgling technologies to succeed. And if you’re a crypto startup, you likely don’t have the time or resources to find quality talent. That’s where a crypto recruiter becomes essential.

An introduction

An introduction

According to Bloomberg News, crypto startups have raised over $100 billion in funding from investors over the past 10 years. Clearly, the crypto startup industry is thriving, and there’s a lot of money moving around. But that also means there is a lot of competition, and top crypto job seekers don’t have to settle for less-than-stellar hiring experiences. With the help of a crypto recruiter, you can attract, impress and hire team members who thrive in this cutting-edge space.

What does a freelance or contract crypto recruiter do?

What does a freelance or contract crypto recruiter do?

A freelance or contract cryptocurrency recruiter serves the same functions as general recruiters when it comes to sourcing, evaluating and placing talent in crypto or DeFi-driven sectors. But, a cryptocurrency recruiter brings specialized skills, knowledge and resources to the table that go beyond standard recruiting. They can also conduct technical interviews with their solid understanding of blockchain technology, decentralized platforms, Web3 and other skills unique to the crypto world.

These startup recruiters can work closely with your team to understand the specific roles you need to place such as blockchain developers, product managers and more. They can also identify candidates who are not only technically proficient but who are aligned with your startup culture. Contract recruiters are also freelancers, which gives you flexibility when it comes to budget and how involved you need them to be in your hiring processes.

In short, they have the skills to quickly sift through the crypto talent market to find the right fit for your startup, saving you time, energy and resources.

What are the benefits of working with a cryptocurrency recruiter?

What are the benefits of working with a cryptocurrency recruiter?

Working with a recruiter is generally beneficial for any startup, but recruiters with specialized industry knowledge can be especially helpful. Here are some of the top benefits of working with a cryptocurrency startup recruiter:

1. Access to Blockchain and DeFi Talent Pools

As a relatively young industry, the pool for qualified crypto candidates isn’t large. It can be a challenge for any crypto startup to find skilled professionals who are experienced in blockchain and who also fit their company culture. But, experienced cryptocurrency recruiters will already have access to these niche talent pools.

Although crypto recruiters may not always place someone they talk to, they still maintain connections with developers, engineers and innovators in the space. Their network also gives them access to passive crypto candidates. These are candidates who aren’t actively job hunting, but who are open to hearing about the right job opportunity.

2. Saves Time and Resources

Crypto startups need innovation, agility and constant focus on growth to succeed in this hyper-competitive industry. Time and resources are extremely valuable, and most startups don’t have the internal resources to dedicate to hiring processes. Founders may have handled hiring in the beginning, but soon even the most involved founder is going to get overwhelmed and find they don’t have time to source and hire new team members.

A specialized crypto recruiter can take over your end-to-end hiring pipeline and save you time and resources. They can handle job postings, pre-screening candidates, technical interviews, negotiating offers and essentially anything else related to talent acquisition. You can still be involved in the hiring process if you wish, but the recruiter can handle all of the tasks you don’t have time for while getting you the best talent in the process.

3. Specialized Knowledge in Blockchain Development, Smart Contract Engineering, Web3 and More

Blockchain, DeFi smart contracts, Web3, tokenomics, Proof of Work and Proof of Stake – these are all terms and technologies that are familiar to anyone in the crypto industry. But a general recruiter isn’t going to have this specialized knowledge. It’s nice when a general recruiter can take some basic recruiting tasks off your plate, but it takes a crypto recruiter to make a significant difference in your hiring pipeline.

This level of expertise allows crypto recruiters to find top talent for critical roles, such as product managers with a deep understanding of DeFi protocols or tokenomics, UX/UI designers who can create seamless user experiences for decentralized applications (dApps) and legal professionals who are well-versed in navigating the regulatory landscape surrounding digital assets. Whether you need a smart software engineer, a blockchain developer or any other crypto role, a crypto recruiter can help you make the right hire.

4. Faster Time-to-Hire for Rapidly Changing Crypto Market Demands

The crypto industry is volatile and changes happen quickly. New protocols, regulatory changes and new technologies are constantly evolving the crypto landscape. Crypto startups need to adapt quickly, and it’s not uncommon to have a spike in hiring demand to keep up with market demand or pivot to new trends.

A cryptocurrency startup recruiter understands the need to move quickly and can deliver faster time-to-hire when there’s a hiring push. They know the current state of the market, the technical skills in demand and how to secure top talent before competitors do. 

5. Quality Hires with Expertise in Current and Emerging Crypto Innovations

The crypto industry has a wide range of subfields like DeFi, NFTs, DAOs, Web3 applications, etc. Cryptocurrency recruiters stay on top of these developments and know how to source candidates who are experts in existing and emerging trends and innovations. A specialized recruiter will find you a high-quality candidate who can hit the ground running and innovate. This ensures that your startup is not only hiring for current needs but is also prepared for future developments.

How to find expert crypto recruiting and hiring help

Now we know the value of an expert crypto recruiter, but how do you go about hiring one? There are a few ways you can go about it.

The first is to hire an in-house recruiter. Of course, the problem with this is the cost-to-value ratio, since most startups don’t need a full-time recruiter. Plus, it can take time to find the right fit for a full-time role.

Another option is going through a recruiting agency, but for niches like crypto, it might be difficult to find the right one. There’s also the expense associated with this option, as many recruiting agencies may require you to sign a long-term contract. For agile startups that need flexibility, this isn’t an ideal solution.

The best option for most startups is finding a freelance recruiter who specializes in placing crypto roles. These recruiters can offer flexible arrangements and variable pricing to fit your budget. If you need to find a freelance recruiter, Dover can help.

Dover is the top recruiter marketplace for startups

Dover is ideal for crypto startups that need to scale quickly with specialized recruiting assistance. Our Recruiting Partners marketplace connects you with proven startup recruiters who specialize in a variety of niches. You can easily browse available recruiters from our curated network and find one that can help with your hiring needs.

Our recruiting partners are also priced hourly, which is perfect for startup budgets. You can work with your recruiter as much or as little as you need them. Ready to find your recruitment partner and make great hires? Explore our Recruiting Partners marketplace today!

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Table of contents

An introduction

What does a freelance or contract crypto recruiter do?

What are the benefits of working with a cryptocurrency recruiter?

How to find expert crypto recruiting and hiring help

How to find expert crypto recruiting and hiring help

Dover is the top recruiter marketplace for startups

Dover is the top recruiter marketplace for startups

Kickstart recruiting with Dover's free ATS

Meet our Recruting Partners

Learn more