Senior Onchain Investigator

About the role

In this role at Coinbase, you will take ownership of complex investigations related to threat actors, scam networks, and exploits targeting Coinbase and Base. Your work will involve utilizing blockchain analytics and open-source intelligence to enhance security measures and operationalize findings.

You will collaborate with product, engineering, and risk teams to integrate threat and abuse mitigation strategies throughout the product development lifecycle. Success in this position will require not only technical expertise but also the ability to communicate complex analyses clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

The base salary ranges from $52,000 to $88,000, with potential additional compensation through equity and bonuses.

Skills that matter here

• Python: This role requires proficiency in Python for data analysis and automation of intelligence workflows.
• Go: Candidates should be skilled in Go for scripting and tooling development.
• SQL: SQL is essential for data analysis in support of investigative efforts.

Who this role suits

• A candidate who thrives in high-pressure environments and is driven to push their limits.
• Someone with a strong background in investigations, particularly in the crypto space.
• An individual who excels at translating complex technical information into actionable insights for diverse audiences.

From the employer

• Own complex onchain investigations into threat actor infrastructure, scam networks, exploits, and related abuse targeting Coinbase and Base.
• Drive clustering and attribution of illicit actors using blockchain analytics, OSINT, and internal data, then operationalize results into Vertex Synapse and downstream controls.
• Build OSINT and onchain analysis pipelines, queries, and dashboards that automate detections and scale investigative capacity across the team.
• Lead post-incident reviews and root cause analyses to identify gaps and recommend enhancements to controls, detection, and overall security posture.
• Partner with product, engineering, and risk teams to embed threat and abuse mitigation strategies into the product development lifecycle from ideation to launch.
• Lead new investigative techniques, teach them across Security, and brief executives with clear risk, impact, and recommended actions.

• 5+ years of investigations including 3+ years investigating onchain illicit activity, cryptocurrency abuse, or blockchain intelligence, with a track record of independently leading investigations from collection through stakeholder action.
• Deep knowledge of blockchain ecosystems and protocols, including tracing across chains, bridges, mixers, and laundering patterns.
• Proficient with Python or Go and SQL for data analysis, scripting, or tooling development in support of intelligence workflows and automation.
• Track record of creating investigation methods, dashboards, or pipelines that other investigators adopt.
• Proven ability to translate complex technical analysis into clear, actionable intelligence for both technical and non-technical stakeholders, including executive briefings.
• Skilled in conducting open-source intelligence (OSINT) research across a wide range of topics.
• Utilizes generative AI responsibly, maintaining human oversight to deliver business-ready outputs and drive measurable improvements in workflow efficiency, cost, and quality.

• Base salary varies by location (see range below). Total compensation may also include equity and bonus eligibility, and benefits (medical, dental, vision, 401(k)).
• Annual base salary range (excluding equity and bonus): $180,370 — $212,200 USD.