Meta cuts 8,000 jobs in AI shift as Kraken, Coinbase and Crypto.com follow with their own layoffs

Meta has begun cutting up to 8,000 jobs globally as part of a restructuring that redirects workers into AI agent and automation teams, a move that mirrors layoff strategies already under way at Kraken, Coinbase, and Crypto.com as the broader technology sector scales back headcount in favour of AI-driven operations.

According to a Bloomberg report, Meta has begun notifying workers in Singapore about fresh job cuts tied to its AI-driven restructuring efforts. Employees reportedly received layoff notices as early as 4 a.m. local time, while staff across Europe and the United States were also expected to receive similar emails.

The development has added momentum to growing concerns over Crypto layoffs, particularly as digital asset firms increasingly adopt the same AI-first operating models now dominating the broader technology sector.

Meta pushes workers toward AI-centered teams

Meta’s restructuring goes beyond simple cost-cutting. The company is actively redirecting workers into divisions focused on AI agents, automation systems, and cloud infrastructure.

Reports from The Guardian indicated that more than 7,000 Meta employees are being reassigned into AI-related teams, with some transitions reportedly mandatory rather than voluntary.

In an internal memo, Meta’s head of people, Janelle Gale, defended the company’s restructuring strategy, arguing that smaller and more agile teams would improve execution speed.

“We believe this will make us more productive and make the work more rewarding,” Gale wrote.

The aggressive restructuring has become another signal that AI is no longer viewed as an experimental business segment but as the central engine driving future corporate growth.

That same mindset is increasingly influencing the digital asset industry, where Crypto layoffs are becoming more common as firms seek leaner operations and greater automation.

Several executives across the crypto sector have argued that AI tools can reduce operational inefficiencies, shrink management layers, and replace repetitive workflows previously handled by large employee teams.

Industry analysts say the overlap between AI adoption and Crypto layoffs is becoming difficult to ignore.

Kraken and Coinbase mirror Silicon Valley’s AI strategy

Major crypto companies are now embracing similar restructuring plans.

Kraken recently cut around 150 jobs while simultaneously expanding AI integration across its business operations. Reports surrounding the move suggested the exchange is attempting to streamline expenses ahead of a potential U.S. public listing that may now be delayed until 2027.

The exchange is not alone.

Coinbase has also moved aggressively toward a slimmer corporate structure. Earlier reports indicated the company plans to reduce its workforce by 14% as CEO Brian Armstrong pushes for what he has described as “AI-native” workflows.

Armstrong has repeatedly argued that companies must remove unnecessary bureaucracy and operate with smaller, highly productive teams.

That philosophy is rapidly becoming standard across the sector, further fueling Crypto layoffs as firms race to remain competitive in a volatile market environment.

For many companies, the pressure comes from multiple directions at once. Trading activity remains inconsistent, crypto prices have struggled to maintain strong momentum, and investors continue demanding tighter cost discipline after the excesses of the previous bull cycle.

As a result, Crypto layoffs are increasingly being framed not only as a response to weak market conditions but also as part of a long-term technological transformation.

Smaller teams become the new corporate blueprint

The list of crypto companies reducing staff continues to grow.

Earlier this year, reports showed that Algorand, Gemini, Crypto.com, Messari, OP Labs, and PIP Labs had all reduced staff in 2026.

Crypto.com reportedly eliminated approximately 180 positions, while Gemini expanded its workforce reductions to roughly 30% by mid-March.

Some firms directly cited deteriorating market conditions and reduced trading revenue. Others pointed toward the growing efficiency of AI-powered tools and automation systems.

The combination of weak revenues and rapid technological advancement has intensified the pace of Crypto layoffs across the industry.

At the same time, economists say the pattern extends far beyond crypto.

According to data published by CFO Dive, U.S. employers linked 49,135 planned layoffs to AI-related restructuring between January and April alone. AI-related cuts represented nearly 16% of all announced layoffs during that period.

The figures reinforce the idea that Crypto layoffs are part of a much broader labor market transformation now reshaping corporate America.

For crypto companies in particular, the shift could permanently alter how exchanges, blockchain firms, and Web3 startups are built. Instead of prioritizing rapid hiring during bull markets, executives are now emphasizing automation, lean operations, and AI-enhanced productivity.

The result is a new industry reality where Crypto layoffs may no longer be viewed as temporary responses to downturns, but as a structural feature of the AI era itself.

As Meta’s restructuring ripples across global tech, crypto firms appear to be following the same blueprint: fewer employees, more automation, and an increasingly aggressive bet on artificial intelligence.