The efficiency of crypto: how small teams earn billions

In the traditional economy, profits and size often go hand in hand. Large banks and stock exchanges generate billions in revenue but employ tens of thousands of people, maintain vast office networks, and operate through complex structures. Nasdaq, for example, is one of the largest stock exchanges in the world and relies on thousands of employees to keep trading running smoothly. In crypto, the opposite is happening: small teams with minimal resources are generating billions in profit.

The secret lies in scalability. Crypto companies build products that can be used worldwide from day one. Whether there are a hundred or a hundred million users, the core technology stays the same. There is no need for office networks, no thousands of employees processing orders, and no expensive physical infrastructure. Everything runs digitally and 24/7, often largely automated. This allows these companies to operate with extremely low fixed costs and convert each dollar of revenue into profit far more efficiently.

The numbers speak for themselves. Tether, issuer of the world’s largest stablecoin, has a relatively small team yet generates billions in profit each quarter. On average, that comes down to about 93 million dollars in revenue per employee. Hyperliquid shows the same pattern. This new exchange has only eleven employees and already generates more net income than Nasdaq. Its revenue per employee is around 106 million dollars, making it the most profitable company per headcount in the world. Such ratios are unheard of in the traditional financial industry.

A new way of doing business

This extreme efficiency highlights how differently crypto operates from the old economy. Where traditional firms are tied down by high fixed costs, crypto companies are light, digital, and global all at once. That makes them not only innovative but also financially robust. For investors, it is a signal that the sector is much more than technology or hype: it creates businesses that structurally add value.

Crypto shows that the rules of business are changing. With small teams you can have massive global impact, making this sector one of the most efficient and profitable in today’s economy.