There is no denying that with the Great Resignation, workers are more empowered to seek what they want from their jobs.

In addition to flexibility and better advantages, the new advantage in the workplace is gaining popularity – possibility to pay in digital currency.

According to a global study by the financial advisory group deVere Group, cryptocurrencies may become more common in wage negotiations with younger workers.

More than a third of millennials (aged between 26 and 42) and half of Generation Z (25 and under) would be happy to receive half of their salary in bitcoin or other forms of cryptocurrency, the study found.

Cryptocurrency is a digital asset that uses computer code and blockchain technology to operate somewhat independently, without the need for a central person to manage the system.

Another survey conducted by SoFi and Workplace Intelligence among 800 employees in the United States found that 42% of them would like to receive irreplaceable tokens as performance rewards.

Irreplaceable tokens or NFT are unique assets that are verified and stored using blockchain technology – a digital register similar to the networks that underlie cryptocurrencies.

Receiving payment in digital currency is undoubtedly “modern,” said Tony Jarvis, director of enterprise security in the Asia-Pacific region and Japan at startup cybersecurity company Darktrace.

“Offering to pay your employees with bitcoin can be a way to attract what we might call ‘future-minded workers,’ especially if you’re in certain industries like FinTech,” he added.

In fact, SharpRank is one of the companies offering to pay in cryptocurrency in an attempt to lure younger workers. It is an independent rating agency that works with students who act as ambassadors of the brand.

Chris Adam, its founder and CEO, compared the appeal of the cryptocurrency among young people to “when Starbucks first became popular, it was important to be seen with a glass of Starbucks.”

“It’s very similar in terms of being able to have some kind of cryptocurrency, because that’s what all their friends are talking about.”

Although offering cryptocurrency as a salary has enabled companies to attract young talent, it comes with both rewards and risks for employees. CNBC Make It looks at both.

Forget the waiting time, exchange fees and extra costs that come with traditional banking transactions – Getting paid in cryptocurrency can be really quick and it gives employees a level of security, Jarvis said.

“When your employer makes you a payment through [digital currency], as soon as your employer makes this payment, the next second it is in your account. You don’t have to wait until the next day. “

Given the growing interest in cryptocurrency among younger investors, it is “no surprise” that they would prefer to receive payment in this way, said Sumit Gupta, CEO and co-founder of CoinDCX, a cryptocurrency exchange platform.

“They would have immediate access and hold cryptocurrency in their wallets without having to convert from Fiat, which is a factor in the additional transaction fee.” Fiat money refers to physical money supported by government.

When it comes to cryptocurrency tax laws, the country in which you work matters. Some countries are “very lenient” in this regard, Jarvis said.

For example, Portugal is known as a crypto tax haven because of its 0% tax on bitcoin.

“When you consider how much these assets increase over time, they are significant gains that you have to make if you save on this tax side of the equation,” Jarvis added.

However, more and more countries may tighten their grip on digital assets in the near future “in an effort to improve consumer confidence and safety,” Gupta said.

Later this month, on April 18, individuals in the United States will have to report cryptocurrency transactions to the Internal Revenue Service.

Gupta added that similar measures have been implemented in India, where a 30% tax on cryptocurrency income is required.

“It is important for cryptocurrency payers to be aware of how such changes affect the ownership and use of cryptocurrencies… Constantly informing about policy changes can allow users to react quickly to events,” he said.

It is no secret that the crypto market is unstable.

Even bitcoin, one of the most popular cryptocurrencies, is not immune to wild price fluctuations – it has fallen sharply since November, falling more than 40 percent from a record high of about $ 69,000.

However, the rise in the value of bitcoin over the last decade cannot be ignored, given that its value starts at “a few dollars”, Jarvis said.

“If you receive your salary for a week or a month, today it enters as a certain value in dollars and increases automatically over time – there are some serious returns.”

As for SharpRank’s Adam, navigating the ups and downs of the digital currency “can be a very positive experience.”

“We see a number of children going through such cycles… let’s say overnight, I wake up and [cryptocurrency] has devalued by 500%. The first thing I will do is ask why and then I will come up with ways to make sure that this may not happen again, “Adam added.

“I think this is an applicable skill for asset allocation and investment.”

However, owning or receiving payments in cryptocurrency may not be for the faint of heart.

“We’ve found that younger demographics, who may have a higher risk appetite, tend to see a risk reward through a different lens than someone who really ever knew they only get paid in cash,” Adam said. .

Although cybersecurity threats are not unique to cryptocurrency, CNBC Make It industry experts say the violations will “continue as long as cryptocurrency remains popular.”

“Many fraudsters and attackers target crypto wallets – they use social engineering in the same way we receive phishing emails, ”said Jarvis.

“And if you’re not a security expert, knowing exactly how to protect those assets can be really, really hard. You store assets on a third-party platform, so there’s a risk.”