Bitcoin Job Market Grows Against the Trend – Germany Lags Behind

Bitcoin Job Market Grows Against the Trend – Germany Lags Behind

The Bitcoin industry is undergoing a remarkable transformation: While German crypto platforms like BISON reach new user milestones, the global Bitcoin job market is expanding with a clear shift toward non-technical positions. However, the discrepancy between growing adoption in Europe and actual job development reveals a critical gap – Germany is largely absent from the map of Bitcoin job markets, even though local platforms are regulatory pioneers.

This development raises fundamental questions about the future of the European Bitcoin industry: Can regulated providers like BISON remain competitive in the long term if talent pools and innovation centers concentrate elsewhere?

The Facts

German crypto trading platform BISON surpassed the one million active users mark in 2025, recording 13 percent year-over-year growth ^[1]. Particularly during Bitcoin all-time highs, the platform registered up to six times more new registrations than on average trading days ^[1]. The company, operating as part of Boerse Stuttgart Group, now offers trading in over 50 cryptocurrencies as well as access to more than 2,500 securities for users from 72 nations ^[1]. CEO Dr. Ulli Spankowski sees this as evidence that "demand for regulated crypto offerings from Germany continues to increase and cryptocurrencies have now become firmly established in the financial daily lives of many investors" ^[1].

A key distinguishing feature of BISON remains the custody of cryptocurrencies in Germany through Boerse Stuttgart Digital Custody GmbH, which became the first German crypto custodian to receive a MiCAR license from BaFin ^[1]. This regulatory compliance positions BISON as a trusted player in the German market.

In parallel, new data from Bitvocation shows a global expansion of the Bitcoin job market: In 2025, a total of 1,801 Bitcoin-related positions were advertised, an increase of 6 percent compared to 1,707 positions the previous year ^[2]. Job listings were distributed across Bitcoin mining, the Lightning Network, Bitcoin financial services including payments, and self-custody solutions ^[2].

Particularly noteworthy is the shift in desired qualifications: Non-technical positions accounted for 74 percent of all Bitcoin job postings, compared to 69 percent in 2024 ^[2]. Product managers were the most sought-after non-technical role, while director positions increased tenfold – an indicator that Bitcoin companies are scaling their operations ^[2]. More than 150 Bitcoin-focused companies hired in 2025, led by mining company Riot Platforms and Bitcoin payment provider Lightspark, with the top 10 companies increasing their job postings by 122 percent year-over-year ^[2].

Geographically, the USA continues to dominate with around 500 job postings, while Singapore advanced to second place with a 158 percent year-over-year increase ^[2]. The Czech Republic, Gibraltar, and Malaysia rounded out the top five, while Switzerland recorded the steepest decline among the top 10 countries – down 70 percent year-over-year ^[2]. Germany does not appear in this list.

Bitcoin companies report "a shortage of candidates who combine professional competence with Bitcoin culture and lived understanding of the ecosystem" ^[2]. The most difficult positions to fill are highly specialized technical roles such as Bitcoin Core and Lightning development, as well as non-technical roles that require translating Bitcoin's values into product, growth, operations, or communication ^[2]. Many companies are looking for "Swiss Army knife" candidates who excel through "reliable execution" and the ability to "deliver in chaotic, real-world environments" ^[2].

Analysis & Context

The parallel development of BISON as a regulated German platform and the global Bitcoin job market reveals a fundamental discrepancy in European Bitcoin strategy. While Germany creates a "safe haven" for retail investors through MiCAR regulation and established financial infrastructure, the operational and innovative center of the Bitcoin industry is developing elsewhere – primarily in the USA and increasingly in Asia.

The shift from 69 to 74 percent non-technical roles signals the maturation of the Bitcoin industry. Mining companies like Riot Platforms primarily need not developers, but project managers, communications experts, and strategists who can scale Bitcoin business models. This professionalization is historically comparable to the transition of the internet industry in the late 1990s, when marketing and business development roles complemented pure software development. The significant tenfold increase in director positions underscores that Bitcoin companies are transitioning from startup to enterprise structures.

The geographic concentration poses long-term risks for Europe. Singapore's massive 158 percent increase shows how regulatory clarity combined with business-friendly frameworks attracts talent. Switzerland's dramatic 70 percent decline – traditionally a crypto hub – suggests increasing competitive pressure and possibly more restrictive frameworks. Germany is completely absent from the top 10, even though platforms like BISON serve millions of users. This gap between user base and job market suggests that Germany functions primarily as a sales market, not as an innovation hub – a concerning development for long-term competitiveness.

The decline in remote-working Bitcoin jobs from 53 to 45 percent contradicts the general trend toward remote work and could be attributed to the increasing importance of physical infrastructure in mining as well as regulatory requirements that mandate local presence. For German talent, this effectively means that careers in the core Bitcoin industry increasingly require relocation – a brain drain risk for Europe.

Conclusion

• Adoption versus Innovation: Germany is developing into a consumer market for Bitcoin services, while actual value creation and innovation takes place in the USA and Asia – a problematic long-term development for European competitiveness

• Professionalization Advances: The significant increase in non-technical roles and director positions marks the transformation of Bitcoin companies from startups to scaled organizations – the industry is maturing faster than many observers expected

• Regulation as a Double-Edged Sword: BISON benefits from regulatory compliance and grows solidly, but Germany is absent from the map of Bitcoin job markets – strict regulation protects consumers but could hinder innovation and job growth

• Talent War Intensifies: Bitcoin companies increasingly seek generalists with deep Bitcoin conviction rather than pure technical expertise – traditional career paths and credentials are losing importance compared to demonstrable contribution to the ecosystem

• Geographic Concentration Increases: With declining remote work share and clear dominance of few locations, Bitcoin hubs with network effects are emerging – Europe risks losing connection to this development unless targeted countermeasures are taken