It's striking how many physics PhDs end up building careers in finance compared to those who stay in traditional physics research. The pull of the financial sector—especially in areas like quantitative trading, algorithmic modeling, and now blockchain technology—has become so strong that academic physics is losing top talent at a notable rate. The problem-solving mindset and mathematical rigor that physics cultivates translates remarkably well into high-frequency trading and DeFi protocol development, making the career pivot almost inevitable for many.