Dune’s CEO introduced Thursday that the crypto knowledge firm is chopping 1 / 4 of its employees as a part of a broader push to construct out knowledge instruments for institutional traders — a phase the corporate sees as a significant development alternative as extra conventional monetary property transfer onto blockchain networks.
Betting On Institutional Demand
Fredrik Haga, Dune’s co-founder and chief govt, stated the corporate plans to speculate closely in services and products aimed toward establishments, pointing to what he described as a rising shift of currencies, shares, bonds, and commodities onto blockchain infrastructure.
Haga additionally stated Dune goes all-in on synthetic intelligence, highlighting the corporate’s Mannequin Context Protocol — a software that lets AI techniques work together instantly with Dune’s platform.
In accordance with Haga, the know-how now permits groups and automatic brokers to construct dashboards and knowledge workflows with none data of SQL or knowledge infrastructure.
We’re restructuring Dune to sharpen our focus across the core knowledge merchandise 1000’s of consumers throughout the crypto trade depend on. That sadly means we’ve let 25% of the staff go this week. These are distinctive folks I can wholeheartedly advocate — ping me when you’re…
— hagaetc (@hagaetc) Might 14, 2026
Haga didn’t say how many individuals have been affected. Dune’s LinkedIn web page lists round 150 workers, which might put the variety of departures someplace round 37 to 38 folks. The corporate stays nicely capitalized, Haga stated.
One Reduce Amongst Many
Dune’s announcement lands in the midst of a broader wave of job cuts hitting each crypto and tech firms this yr.
Coinbase eradicated about 700 positions earlier this month — roughly 14% of its workforce — additionally citing a shift towards AI-driven operations.
Crypto information outlet DL Information shut down totally on Friday, with management pointing to declining internet visitors as AI instruments more and more reply questions that customers as soon as looked for instantly.
Block Inc., the funds and crypto firm led by Jack Dorsey, carried out the biggest single spherical of layoffs in crypto to date in 2026, chopping round 4,000 staff — practically half its employees — again in February.
Exchanges Gemini and Crypto.com every decreased their headcounts earlier this yr as nicely, with each firms citing effectivity good points from AI adoption.
Throughout the broader US tech sector, the dimensions of cuts has been important. Information from Layoffs.fyi exhibits 137 firms have shed near 109,000 jobs in 2026 to date.
A Narrower Focus Going Ahead
Haga framed the layoffs not as a monetary retreat however as a deliberate sharpening of the corporate’s route.
Dune’s core knowledge merchandise are utilized by 1000’s of consumers throughout the crypto trade, he stated, and the restructuring is supposed to guard and construct on that basis.
The corporate’s whole job losses add to what reviews point out is now greater than 5,000 positions lower throughout main crypto companies this yr alone.
Featured picture from Unsplash, chart from TradingView
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