Special Counsel, Digital Assets
Circle
full-time
Posted on:
Location Type: Remote
Location: Arizona • California • United States
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Salary
💰 $200,000 - $262,500 per year
About the role
- Advise on legal structures and regulatory considerations related to digital asset issuance, tokenized assets, custody frameworks, and on-chain settlement models.
- Partner with Product and Engineering to support the design and launch of new platform features, including AI-enabled tools that interact with digital assets or financial infrastructure.
- Assess legal and regulatory implications of incorporating artificial intelligence into asset lifecycle management, risk scoring, compliance automation, or customer-facing product experiences.
- Analyze global regulatory developments across crypto, AI governance, and financial services, and translate them into actionable guidance for internal stakeholders.
- Independently lead legal support for complex product initiatives, balancing innovation, risk mitigation, and time-to-market considerations.
- Draft and review product-related agreements, disclosures, policies, and terms of use related to digital asset issuance and distribution.
- Identify legal risks early in roadmap planning and propose practical mitigation strategies that preserve velocity while protecting the business.
Requirements
- 7+ years of legal experience, including experience at a leading law firm and/or in-house at a fintech, crypto, or financial services company.
- Deep experience advising on digital asset products, tokenized financial infrastructure, or blockchain-based systems.
- Demonstrated experience supporting the launch of complex financial or crypto products in regulated environments.
- Strong understanding of regulatory frameworks impacting digital assets and emerging AI-enabled financial technologies.
- Ability to independently scope and lead high-impact legal initiatives across cross-functional teams.
- Experience translating complex regulatory concepts into clear, practical product guidance.
- Strong business judgment and ability to navigate ambiguity in rapidly evolving technical environments.
- JD or equivalent with active membership in at least one U.S. state bar.
- Experience advising on cross-border product launches or global regulatory coordination (preferred).
- Experience supporting DeFi, smart contracts, or programmable asset architectures (preferred).
Benefits
- We consider a wide variety of elements when crafting our compensation ranges and total compensation packages.
- Should you require accommodations or assistance in our interview process because of a disability, please reach out to accommodations@circle.com for support.
Applicant Tracking System Keywords
Tip: use these terms in your resume and cover letter to boost ATS matches.
Hard Skills & Tools
legal experiencedigital asset productstokenized financial infrastructureblockchain-based systemsregulatory frameworksfinancial technologiescross-border product launchesDeFismart contractsprogrammable asset architectures
Soft Skills
business judgmentnavigating ambiguityindependent leadershipcross-functional collaborationrisk mitigationpractical guidanceinnovation balancecommunicationanalytical skillsproblem-solving
Certifications
JDactive membership in U.S. state bar