Decentralized technology evolves at a lightning pace. To keep up, companies need specialists that combine blockchain expertise with practical experience in building secure, scalable systems. When Pi Network, a crypto-native platform aiming to make blockchain accessible to everyday users, needed a fast, pinpointed hiring push, they turned to DevsData LLC. What started as a search for a few key roles quickly grew into a strategic partnership that shaped the core of their technical team.
Despite rapid growth in the blockchain space, accessibility and real-world utility remain major hurdles to mainstream adoption. Pi Network is a mobile-first blockchain project that enables users to mine the Pi cryptocurrency, verify transactions, and interact with decentralized applications directly from their smartphones, without requiring significant device power or advanced technical knowledge. The goal is to bring everyday people into the crypto economy, removing the complexity that traditionally gates blockchain participation.
Founded by a team of Stanford PhDs and engineers, Pi Network operates at the intersection of academic rigor and large-scale usability. Its vision includes building a scalable and regulation-aware blockchain infrastructure that prioritizes real human utility. The project emphasizes community, decentralization, and long-term sustainability, with a growing network of contributors and developers building applications on top of the Pi ecosystem.
With a team of about 500 people, Pi Network boasts over 60+ million engaged members across over 200 countries and continues to expand globally. With this scale comes the need for highly specialized talent – professionals with deep experience in crypto-native development, distributed systems, security protocols, and scalable IT operations. The hiring standards are rigorous, and each role plays a direct part in shaping a platform that could define the next wave of blockchain adoption.
Highlights:
Pi Network operates in an industry where security, uptime, and scalability are non-negotiable, as even minor failures can expose funds to risk or disrupt services relied on by millions. As they prepared to expand their engineering capabilities and internal IT infrastructure, the leadership team was clear: they needed crypto-native developers and IT support specialists who could hit the ground running. These hires weren’t just filling roles – they were shaping the core architecture of a decentralized platform relied upon by over 60 million users. A single misstep in the hiring process could compromise both trust and functionality at scale.
The company’s accelerated roadmap further raised the stakes. Several high-impact product initiatives were already underway, and delays in recruitment resulted in delays in delivery, potentially jeopardizing partnerships, community engagement, and technical milestones. Pi Network required not only highly specialized candidates but also a partner capable of sourcing them at a rapid pace.
Key requirements included:
To achieve this, candidates had to demonstrate fluency across a demanding technical stack, covering blockchain, full stack development, IT operations, and security:
| Role | Core tech stack and skills |
|---|---|
| Blockchain / Backend Developer | Solidity, Rust, Go, Node.js, smart contract design, blockchain protocol implementation, distributed ledger technology |
| Full Stack Developer | React, Next.js, Node.js, REST APIs, GraphQL, cloud deployment (AWS, GCP), database systems (PostgreSQL, MongoDB) |
| Security Engineer | Cryptographic protocols, PKI, SSL/TLS, penetration testing, incident response, blockchain security audits |
Balancing these nuanced requirements, while maintaining speed and accuracy, was the core challenge that DevsData LLC had to solve.
Pi Network’s primary objective was to rapidly onboard a team of three crypto-native engineers and IT support professionals to support upcoming product launches and internal scaling. The hires needed to possess deep expertise in blockchain technologies, cybersecurity, and distributed systems, along with the adaptability to work in a fully remote, fast-moving startup environment.
Beyond technical credentials, the client prioritized independent problem-solving and experience with high-stakes infrastructure. Cultural fit was critical: candidates had to navigate ambiguity, collaborate asynchronously across time zones, and stay aligned with the company’s mission of decentralizing digital access. DevsData LLC was brought in to streamline the recruitment cycle, reduce time-to-hire, and ensure only the top 5-10% of candidates reached the final stages of evaluation.
We launched the project with a kickoff call within 24 hours of the initial request, quickly aligning with Pi Network’s hiring goals and culture expectations. Recognizing the niche nature of the roles, our team conducted a market analysis to identify regions with strong pools of blockchain-focused talent. Based on these insights, we advised the client to expand their candidate search across Asia, Eastern Europe, and select Western European markets, significantly increasing the pipeline of qualified individuals.
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The current candidate pipeline reflects a diverse geographic distribution, highlighting regions with strong technical expertise, competitive cost structures, and specialized talent pools. The breakdown below illustrates where the majority of sourced professionals are located and the advantages each region offers.
| Region / market | % of pipeline | Key advantages / additional info |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern Europe (e.g., Poland, Romania, Ukraine) | 30% | Strong developer supply, lower cost base |
| Western Europe (e.g., Germany, Spain, Belgium) | 25% | High technical quality, fluent English |
| Asia (e.g., India, Vietnam) | 20% | Large pool of crypto talent, competitive rates |
| Southern Europe (e.g., Portugal, Greece) | 15% | Emerging crypto hubs |
| Other / Remote global | 10% | Suitable for time-zone coverage or niche skills |
We moved quickly to align with Pi Network’s goals, expanded the talent search globally, and built a high-quality candidate pipeline within days.
Our experience with technically demanding projects for clients such as Kroll, Inc., where we recruited vetted engineers and delivered secure backend and big data solutions for sensitive financial environments, informed our approach to Pi Network. That long-term collaboration demonstrated our ability to vet candidates for both technical depth and compliance-critical roles, a capability we adapted to the crypto-native space where security and resilience are equally uncompromising.
A dedicated team of three senior technical recruiters was assigned to the project. Within the first 48 hours, we initiated a multichannel sourcing campaign that included targeted outreach via LinkedIn, job boards, developer forums, and our proprietary talent pool of over 65,000 vetted IT professionals. Personalized messaging emphasized the uniqueness of the project and Pi Network’s long-term impact, which significantly improved engagement rates among passive candidates. A follow-up strategy, including weekly syncs and structured reporting, kept communication transparent and response times fast.
Candidates underwent an initial screening call focusing on blockchain experience, remote readiness, and soft skills. Those who passed were invited to participate in a structured technical assessment developed by DevsData LLC’s engineering team. These assessments covered blockchain fundamentals, cryptographic protocols, and infrastructure challenges, simulating realistic problems that engineers would face at Pi Network.
Following the technical evaluation, shortlisted candidates progressed to a two-stage interview: a behavioral round and a live technical deep-dive. Our close collaboration with Pi Network’s internal team allowed for near real-time feedback and rapid decision-making. Within five business days, the client received their first curated shortlist, each profile backed by detailed notes on technical performance, cultural alignment, and employment history. This was a significant acceleration compared to the industry average of 30-45 days for similar shortlists.
Ultimately, we successfully placed three professionals across backend development, IT operations, and full stack roles. The hires quickly integrated into Pi Network’s remote teams and contributed to key product milestones within the first month. The collaboration has since evolved into a long-term partnership, with DevsData LLC continuing to support the company’s ongoing recruitment needs as it scales globally.
Within the first month of engagement, DevsData LLC successfully delivered two highly specialized hires for Pi Network. Each candidate was crypto-native, technically rigorous, and aligned with the company’s decentralized-first ethos, enabling seamless onboarding into Pi Network’s distributed teams. Candidates were sourced from 12+ countries across Europe and Asia, enabling real-time collaboration and broad time-zone coverage. In total, three hires were secured within the first five months, including a developer and IT support engineer, providing around-the-clock coverage across multiple time zones.
The project was defined by swift execution, transparent communication, and precision in technical matching. Feedback loops between our recruitment team and the client were near-instant, allowing for continuous refinement of candidate profiles and interview focus. The streamlined four-step vetting process resulted in a near-zero drop-off rate post-offer, helping Pi Network quickly scale without losing momentum. As a result, our placements directly contributed to accelerated product timelines, improved internal tooling, and increased engineering stability in the lead-up to several critical product rollouts.
Throughout the engagement, over 120 candidates were screened to identify the right match for Pi Network’s unique requirements. The average time-to-hire was just 18 days from initial profile submission to signed contract, significantly faster than industry averages, estimated at 44 days. The offer acceptance rate exceeded 95%, reflecting strong alignment between candidates and the client’s mission, driven by careful cultural matching and an emphasis on mission-driven motivation. This data-driven approach ensured efficient scaling and minimized recruitment risk, laying a foundation for a longer-term partnership model.
Highlights:
As Pi Network gears up to scale its infrastructure and roll out new features for its growing global user base, the need for niche, technically versatile talent continues to grow. The company has begun laying the groundwork for further decentralization initiatives and Layer-1 blockchain optimizations, creating demand for even more specialized engineering and infrastructure roles.
DevsData LLC remains a strategic partner in this next phase, already preparing to support hiring across DevOps, mobile, and cryptographic R&D. The collaboration is shifting toward proactive pipeline building, leadership recruitment, and broader workforce planning, with a shared goal of building resilient teams that can sustain innovation at scale.
The partnership now goes beyond just hiring: it has become a critical part of Pi Network’s long-term talent strategy.
Building a blockchain platform that serves millions requires more than generic hiring; it demands crypto-native expertise. Pi Network secured three specialized engineers and IT professionals with DevsData LLC, accelerating product milestones without compromising security or scalability.
Scale your blockchain or Web3 engineering teams with precision by tapping into DevsData LLC’s global talent network and expertise in recruiting crypto-native developers. Reach out at general@devsdata.com or visit www.devsdata.com to discuss how we can source crypto-native talent for your next initiative.
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DevsData LLC is truly exceptional – their backend developers are some of the best I’ve ever worked with.”
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