Coinbase: US Crypto Developers Losing Market Dominance Despite Corporate Demand

As an experienced analyst with a background in technology and finance, I find Coinbase’s State of Crypto report and Paul Grewal’s comments on the US losing ground in crypto development to be concerning. Based on the data presented, it is clear that there is a significant gap between the demand for skilled talent in the crypto space and the availability of such talent in the US.


According to Coinbase’s most recent State of Crypto report, some major American corporations are considering transitioning to on-chain platforms. Yet, Coinbase points out, there is a significant shortage of skilled professionals able to facilitate this move.

US Losing Ground In Crypto Development

According to the State of Crypto report, as mentioned by Paul Grewal, Coinbase’s Chief Legal Officer, the United States has experienced a significant decrease in its share within the last five years, shrinking from approximately 30% in 2018 down to 26% currently. This reduction signifies that more than one-quarter of global crypto development is now taking place outside the US.

Grewal emphasized that the use of cryptocurrencies and on-chain activities within corporations will expand, potentially threatening the US’s dominance as a global innovator in technology. To prevent this loss, Grewal strongly advised the US government to take meaningful steps by enhancing its approach towards crypto development.

“The world leads in technological advancement, a position we can easily relinquish if the US administration doesn’t make the effort and commitment to improve,” he stated.

A Look Into the State of Crypto Report

In Q1 2024, according to Coinbase’s State of Crypto report, a remarkable number of crypto, blockchain, and Web3 projects were announced by the Fortune 100 companies for the first time. Nevertheless, a significant challenge emerged: the scarcity of reliable talent and essential skills.

As a researcher delving into the adoption of on-chain technology in Fortune 100 companies, I’ve come across an intriguing finding. Approximately half of these executives identified the lack of skilled talent as their major hurdle in implementing this technology. Moreover, the shrinking pool of US crypto developers is compounding this issue. Currently, just one out of every four crypto developers hail from the United States – a number that has decreased by 14% over the past five years.

Despite this fact, there continues to be a significant level of intrigue surrounding blockchain technology. Notably, an impressive 70% of Fortune 500 executives expressed a strong desire to explore the applications of stablecoins. The motivation behind their interest lies in the advantages offered by these digital currencies: swift processing times and affordable fees.

Small businesses are progressively drawn towards digital assets because they offer effective solutions to financial challenges through quicker and more affordable payment methods.

The Coinbase report has gained endorsement from lawmakers, and I, along with them, believe that the United States needs to make necessary corrections to its regulatory approach towards cryptocurrencies sooner rather than later. Wyoming Senator Cynthia Lummis echoed this sentiment in her statement.

“The relentless crackdown on Bitcoin and digital assets by the Biden administration under Gary Gensler’s leadership is driving the industry abroad, leaving America trailing behind as the world’s innovator in finance. Instead of pushing businesses away, let’s embrace them and create a welcoming environment.”

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2024-06-13 08:57