Pantera Research Lab




Crypto's Reverse Wage Gap

Matt Stephenson, Ally Zach & Nick Zurick

July 29, 2024

We report findings from Pantera Capital's cross-sectional survey of blockchain industry compensation. This survey, with 502 respondents from the general population, is the largest of its kind to date. Our analysis finds that gender wage differentials among crypto employees are the reverse of what is normally observed - in our sample women outearn men.

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Methodological Approach:

This study employs a two-stage research design to address potential issues of multiple hypothesis testing and p-hacking. The initial observation from our previous year's survey was treated as a pilot study, informing the current research.

Pilot Study (Previous Year)

The gender wage differential was observed during the exploratory data analysis for the previous survey but not reported as a finding due to the risk of false positives from multiple comparisons. This approach aligns with best practices in avoiding Type I errors and publication biasIoannidis, John PA. "Why most published research findings are false." PLoS medicine 2, no. 8 (2005): e124.. Based on the pilot data, we conducted an a priori power analysis to determine the required sample size for detecting the hypothesized effect with adequate statistical powerCohen, Jacob. Statistical Power Analysis for the Behavioral Sciences. United Kingdom: Taylor & Francis, 2013. in this year's survey. These are the presented results herein.

Confirmatory Analysis:

The current study serves as a confirmatory test. This approach allows for a more reliable p-value interpretation, as it is not subject to inflation from multiple comparisons or post-hoc hypothesizingWasserstein, Ronald L., and Nicole A. Lazar. "The ASA statement on p-values: context, process, and purpose." The American Statistician 70, no. 2 (2016): 129-133..

By employing this two-stage approach, we avoid the need for multiple comparison corrections, such as the Bonferroni method, which would be appropriate in a single study testing multiple hypotheses simultaneously. Instead, our method aligns with the concept of "out-of-sample validation" in predictive modeling, enhancing the robustness of our findingsAshley, Richard, Clive WJ Granger, and Richard Schmalensee. "Advertising and aggregate consumption: An analysis of causality." Econometrica: Journal of the Econometric Society (1980): 1149-1167..

This methodological framework strengthens the validity of our results and provides a model for rigorous hypothesis testing in exploratory fields such as cryptocurrency industry research.

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Survey Methods and Results:

Data were collected from June 4 to July 20, 2024, through a web-based survey disseminated via professional networks (LinkedIn), social media platforms (X), newsletters, and emails. The sample comprises 502 U.S.-based respondents self-identifying as male or female. Only full-time employees were included in the analysis.

Analysis of median base salaries reveals that women in cryptocurrency companies earn 14.67% more than their male counterparts. The median base salary for women is $172,000, compared to $150,000 for men, equivalent to women earning $1.15 for every dollar earned by men.

This difference is statistically significant (Mann-Whitney U test, p < 0.05), contrasting with the general labor market trend where women typically earn less than men. Using a regression analysis, we also observe that the mean difference favors women (p < 0.05).

This result challenges the gender wage gap narrative, where women typically earn less. At non-crypto companies, a woman generally earns $0.84 for every dollar earned by a man.

Further Analysis:

Examining occupational groups more closely, Producers and Directors within the entertainment industry is the only other field where women earned higher pay than men. While other advanced degree professions are approaching equal pay, the reality is that even within the Web2 tech industry, men still outearn women by a notable margin.

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This reverse wage gap may partly be attributable to the differing experience levels between genders. Women in crypto tend to be more experienced and are often in mid-level to senior positions, with over five years in their current roles. In contrast, a larger proportion of men occupy entry-level positions as they transition into the crypto industry.

The "reversed" wage gap may suggest that crypto offers better opportunities for women compared to traditional fieldsNote that the results shown above reflect an analysis of cisgender survey participants. We received insufficient data from other gender-related identities for comparison.. It is important to recognize that women still likely continue to face hurdles and obstacles in this industry. However, the relatively fair wages in crypto suggest a move toward greater gender equity, marking a progressive trend in this fairly new field.

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