Poor top down decision making - Director Chainalysis Employee Review

1.0
Oct 5, 2023
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

benefits, unlimited PTO in the US

Cons

I joined Chainalysis during their hyper growth period when they went from 200 to 800 people in just 1 year. I very much bought into the product, their mission, and their values. Shortly after I joined, there were layoffs and it was unsettling. I thought it was bizarre they would hire so many people then start letting people go. This happened 3 times during my stay there and the focus and priorities continuously changed. I suppose that is normal for a startup but too much changes for a company trying to IPO. They hired seasoned professionals to help with all this as I understand earlier on, there were a lot of employees that were originally there and this was their first job or very green. I was part of their most recent 15% staff reduction. We were all forewarned by the CEO through a very cold and impersonal message - change in direction (again), must reduce costs so letting people go, and the business will go on. I suppose it's business as usual but I have to wonder what kind of decisions, strategically, being made at the top. They went from a high valuation to just not that great within a year! I suppose the layoff is a bit of a blessing and it would have happened eventually. I think just hard to stomach when you are working your tail off and suddenly the team is eliminated. The notice and even the meeting with HR was impersonal (she read from a script) when they are impacting people's lives and families.

Explore other reviews about Chainalysis

5.0
Jun 24, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

-Genuinely mission-driven company doing important work; the product matters and you feel it -Strong earning potential as an AE if you perform - big deals are winnable and the brand carries real weight in the market -When teams rally around a deal, it's a powerful thing to be part of

Cons

-Operates in silos — product and GTM roadmaps and requirements are disjointed. -Roadmap and vision shift frequently, making it hard to sell a consistent story to customers or plan beyond a quarter

5.0
Jun 10, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

The product itself is impressive, it's the kind of work you can feel proud of. Beyond that, the company makes a real effort to keep the team connected. Even though we're fully remote, there are regular opportunities to get together in person, which goes a long way toward building real relationships with your colleagues.

Cons

Things can change quickly — priorities, processes, even team structures. It can be a lot to keep up with at times. That said, it's hard to hold it against the company given how fast the industry moves. It's really just the nature of operating in such a dynamic space and I think that it can be exciting honeslt .

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