This follows the passage of the GENIUS Act, an effort that highlights regulated digital payments
An increasing number of professionals working in the crypto industry are now receiving their salaries in digital assets, particularly stablecoins, according to a new report by Pantera Capital. Over the past year, the number of people opting for crypto-based payroll has more than tripled. Nearly 10% of respondents said they are paid in stablecoins, with Circle’s USDC making up the majority of those payments.
The survey gathered responses from over 1,600 crypto professionals across 77 countries. The findings show a shift toward using blockchain-native payment systems, reflecting both a rise in institutional confidence in digital currencies and a preference for dollar-backed tokens like USDC and USDT. While Tether’s USDT remains the most traded stablecoin globally, it was USDC that dominated payroll use, accounting for 63% of crypto-based salary payments.
The report noted that this wasn’t just a regional trend. Even after adjusting for survey demographics, it became clear that major payroll platforms like Deel, Remote, and Rippling have leaned toward supporting USDC over USDT, possibly due to regulatory preferences and integration readiness.
Stablecoins made up more than 90% of all crypto-based salary payments recorded in the study. Meanwhile, token-based compensation is increasingly designed to focus on long-term engagement. About 88% of token vesting schedules now extend over four years, a noticeable increase from 64% the year prior.
Another standout detail in the report relates to earnings. Bachelor’s degree holders in crypto roles reported the highest average salary at over $286,000, outpacing those with advanced degrees.
Circle, the company behind USDC, has continued to position itself at the center of crypto payroll and institutional finance. Recent moves include a partnership with ICE to explore tokenized financial instruments and an application for a federal trust bank charter.
