Special Counsel, Digital Assets

About the role

This role involves providing legal counsel on the issuance and custody of digital assets, ensuring compliance with relevant legal structures and regulations. The Special Counsel will work closely with product and engineering teams, offering guidance from the initial design phase through to the launch of new platform features. A key aspect of the position is to support innovation while maintaining a robust legal framework.

A significant part of the work includes analyzing global regulatory changes impacting digital assets and translating these into practical advice for the company. The Special Counsel will also lead legal support for complex product initiatives, drafting and reviewing agreements and policies. This requires proactively identifying legal risks during the roadmap planning stages to ensure smooth development and deployment.

Success in this position means effectively integrating legal expertise into the development cycle of Circle's digital asset products. This involves assessing the legal and regulatory implications of incorporating advanced technologies like AI into asset lifecycle management. The role demands a proactive approach to legal strategy, enabling the company to innovate responsibly within a dynamic regulatory landscape.

The base salary for this position ranges from $200,000 to $262,500.

Skills that matter here

• digital asset products: This role requires extensive experience advising on the legal aspects of digital asset products and their development.
• blockchain-based systems: The Special Counsel will provide legal guidance related to systems built on blockchain technology.
• regulatory frameworks impacting digital assets: A deep understanding of these frameworks is necessary to ensure compliance and advise on legal risks.
• U.S. state bar: Active membership in at least one U.S. state bar is a requirement for this legal position.

Who this role suits

• A lawyer with 7 or more years of experience, either from a top law firm or an in-house legal team at a fintech or crypto company.
• Someone who thrives on leading high-impact legal initiatives and collaborating across different departments.
• An individual who can proactively identify legal risks and provide strategic advice in a fast-evolving regulatory environment.
• A professional who is adept at translating complex global regulatory developments into actionable legal guidance.

From the employer

• Advise on legal structures and regulatory considerations related to digital asset issuance and custody frameworks.
• Partner with Product and Engineering to support the design and launch of new platform features.
• Assess legal and regulatory implications of incorporating AI into asset lifecycle management.
• Analyze global regulatory developments and translate them into actionable guidance.
• Lead legal support for complex product initiatives.
• Draft and review product-related agreements and policies.
• Identify legal risks early in roadmap planning.

• 7+ years of legal experience, including at a leading law firm or in-house at a fintech or crypto company.
• Deep experience advising on digital asset products and blockchain-based systems.
• Strong understanding of regulatory frameworks impacting digital assets.
• Ability to lead high-impact legal initiatives across cross-functional teams.
• JD or equivalent with active membership in at least one U.S. state bar.

• Base pay range: $200,000 - $262,500.
• Equal opportunity employer.
• Flexible work environment with a focus on innovation and stakeholder engagement.