Counsel, Institutional (Crypto Assets)

At Coinbase, our mission is to increase economic freedom around the world, and we couldn’t do this without hiring the best people. We’re a group of hard-working overachievers who are deeply focused on building the future of finance and Web3 for our users across the globe, whether they’re trading, storing, staking or using crypto. Know those people who always lead the group project? That’s us.

There are a few things we look for across all hires we make at Coinbase, regardless of role or team. First, we look for candidates who will thrive in a culture like ours, where we default to trust, embrace feedback, and disrupt ourselves. Second, we expect all employees to commit to our mission-focused approach to our work. Finally, we seek people who are excited to learn about and live crypto, because those are the folks who enjoy the intense moments in our sprint and recharge work culture. We’re a remote-first company looking to hire the absolute best talent all over the world.

Ready to #LiveCrypto? Who you are:

You’ve got positive energy. You’re optimistic about the future and determined to get there.
You’re never tired of learning. You want to be a pro in bleeding edge tech like DeFi, NFTs, DAOs, and Web 3.0.
You appreciate direct communication. You’re both an active communicator and an eager listener - because let’s face it, you can’t have one without the other. You’re cool with candid feedback and see every setback as an opportunity to grow.
You can pivot on the fly. Crypto is constantly evolving, so our priorities do, too. What you worked on last month may not be what you work on today, and that excites you. You’re not looking for a boring job.
You have a “can do” attitude. Our teams create high-quality work on quick timelines. Owning a problem doesn’t scare you, but rather empowers you to take 100% responsibility for achieving our mission.
You want to be part of a winning team. We’re stronger together, and you’re a person who embraces being pushed out of your comfort zone.

We are looking for a lawyer with a deep understanding of capital markets regulations and digital assets. You’ll work on our legal team focused on supporting digital assets across multiple Coinbase products and services (custody, trading, etc.), in various jurisdictions, while developing expertise in individual crypto tokens and broad classes of crypto assets.

This is a highly visible role throughout the company. You’ll need strong team and business-partner relationships and the ability to execute efficiently in a fast-evolving operational and regulatory environment. You’ll collaborate closely with product managers, engineers, UI/UX, and cross-department colleagues including Business Development, International Legal, Product Legal, Compliance and Risk Management, and engage with outside legal counsel.

What you’ll be doing (ie. job duties):

You’ll join our highly collaborative team to advise on US and global legal and regulatory compliance issues related to digital asset support across various products and services offered by Coinbase. You’ll also manage operations and drive efficiencies in a rigorous work flow related to asset support, and provide legal support for a variety of related business initiatives.
We are builders–as a product-focused lawyer, you help enable the business with proactive strategic legal advice on all aspects of our business–from product ideation, to developing policies and procedures, and conducting legal research to ensure products maintain compliance with relevant laws and regulations. Quick thinking, creativity and familiarity with the law is key.
Your position will require active and regular communication–in writing and verbally–with a range of audiences (legal, outside counsel, regulators, clients, etc.) and in a number of forums (executive presentations, informal client development meetings, regulatory presentations, etc.). The ability to navigate inter-departmental and interpersonal professional relationships will be critical.

What we look for in you (ie. job requirements):

Deep knowledge of and experience (at a law firm or relevant regulator) with US-federal regulation of financial services and technology.
A baseline knowledge of digital assets and blockchain technology, including existing and proposed regulatory regimes pertaining to digital assets.
Exceptional communication skills in a remote-first environment, including the ability to relay often nuanced legal concepts to all levels of the company: from corporate executives to business associates. A high degree of emotional intelligence and commercial awareness in navigating interactions with legal team members and cross-functional partners.
Licensed to practice law in the United States.

Nice to haves:

Experience with state-level digital asset regulatory regimes including, among others, the New York BitLicense regime.
Knowledge of ex-US regulatory regimes surrounding digital assets and/or capital markets (e.g., MiCA, MiFID,).
Experience advising early-stage companies on legal and regulatory concerns regarding capital raising.

Job ID: P57666

Pay Transparency Notice: Depending on your work location, the target annual salary for this position can range as detailed below. Full time offers from Coinbase also include target bonus + target equity + benefits (including medical, dental, vision and 401(k)).

Pay Range:

$178,500—$210,000 USD

Commitment to Equal Opportunity

Coinbase is committed to diversity in its workforce and is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sex, gender expression or identity, sexual orientation or any other basis protected by applicable law. Coinbase will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with applicable federal, state and local law. For US applicants, you may view the Know Your Rights notice here. Additionally, Coinbase participates in the E-Verify program in certain locations, as required by law.

Coinbase is also committed to providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation because of a disability for any part of the employment process, please complete this intake form to let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. For quick access to screen reading technology compatible with this site click here to download a free compatible screen reader (free step by step tutorial can be found here).

Global Data Privacy Notice for Job Candidates and Applicants

Depending on your location, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) may regulate the way we manage the data of job applicants. Our full notice outlining how data will be processed as part of the application procedure for applicable locations is available here. By submitting your application, you are agreeing to our use and processing of your data as required. For US applicants only, by submitting your application you are agreeing to arbitration of disputes as outlined here.

Benefits at Coinbase