Crypto careers: What a crypto business developer actually does

The crypto industry can often feel mysterious, with stories of overnight millionaires and scams circulating widely. But what does the reality look like for those working behind the scenes?

In a recent interview, The Crypto Radio got an inside look at the life of a crypto business developer (BD) - the person responsible for forging key partnerships between exchanges and influencers.

"In short, I go to your favorite crypto influencer and I make a partnership between him and our exchange," says Ali Ali, who has been in the crypto industry for the past two years. 

His journey into the world of crypto was far from the typical tale of chasing quick riches. It all started with a chance meeting. “I had a family friend come to visit Dubai, and my mom asked me to meet up with him since he was into crypto.

"I didn’t know much about it at the time, but that first crypto event I attended completely changed my perspective.”

The role of a business developer

As he explains, the role of a crypto BD is a unique blend of sales and relationship management. "There's more than one word for it - business developer, manager, BD. The work itself is quite broad."

Daily activities include helping new tokens get listed on exchanges to organizing revenue-sharing agreements with futures traders. 

When Ali first entered the space, he didn’t have formal crypto qualifications. Instead, he took a hands-on approach, dedicating himself to learning as much as he could.

“For the first six to eight months, I didn’t look for work. All I did was just learn about the industry, by attending every single crypto event I could.” This commitment paid off, allowing him to transition from selling mining equipment to his current role as a business developer.

Like any job, the role of a business developer in crypto comes with its own set of challenges. Ali explained: “The worst part is that you’re judged on the quality of the exchange or product you’re representing. If there are any issues, it falls on your head – you become the punching bag.”

Another challenge is working with unresponsive product teams, which can make it difficult to act on feedback from influencers.

Despite these hurdles, Ali finds that the positives far outweigh the difficulties. “You get to travel quite a bit, meeting with influencers in different countries. And you have this sense of working in a small company, even if it’s a big organization.

"You get to see and learn so much more than you would in a traditional job.” The flexibility of the role is another perk: “I can go wherever I want, whenever I want.”

Key advice for breaking into crypto

For those looking to enter the crypto industry, Ali offers some valuable advice: “Just stay curious. The whole industry is constantly expanding, so look for where you fit in and which side of the world you can contribute to.”

He also emphasized the importance of building a crypto portfolio early on. “Your gains compound, and you really start to notice it even a few years in.”

Although the crypto world can feel intimidating at first, Ali’s experience shows that there are plenty of opportunities for those who are willing to put in the work.

By staying curious, building relationships, and maintaining a long-term perspective, you too can carve out a successful career in this rapidly evolving space.

 

Listen to the whole interview on The Crypto Radio's live player or in the Bigger Picture podcast.