General Counsel for exciting blockchain project, part time, equity based

Overview

This part-time General Counsel role offers an equity cofounder opportunity with a pioneering blockchain technology organization focused on bridging Web3 with enterprise business adoption. The organization is developing an AI-enabled Layer-Zero operating system integrated with a Layer-1 blockchain and decentralized infrastructure including compute, storage, identity, and service marketplaces. The platform supports scalable enterprise adoption, developer innovation, and real-world blockchain integration.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development of global regulatory compliance frameworks for Layer-1 blockchain operations, decentralized physical infrastructure networks (DePIN), tokenomics, and decentralized identity systems.
• Provide expert legal counsel on US and international regulations including SEC, CFTC, FinCEN (AML/KYC/OFAC), GDPR, and emerging cryptocurrency legislation.
• Design licensing strategies such as VASP, MSB, and MTL and manage regulatory engagement across key jurisdictions.
• Draft, review, and negotiate complex agreements including strategic partnerships, vendor contracts, equity/token allocations, and developer ecosystem programs.
• Establish and maintain corporate governance structures supporting a large equity cofounder network.
• Protect intellectual property related to proprietary blockchain execution, fully homomorphic encryption, zero-knowledge proofs, and AI integration technologies.
• Identify, assess, and mitigate legal and regulatory risks across product development, token launches, and enterprise integrations.
• Oversee dispute resolution, litigation strategy, and insurance programs.
• Collaborate with engineering, product, and business teams to embed legal-by-design principles.
• Represent the organization in regulatory forums, industry associations, and policy discussions.
• Contribute to whitepapers and publications on blockchain governance and legal frameworks.
• Mentor team members on legal best practices and foster a culture of compliance excellence.

Qualifications

Required:

• Juris Doctor (JD) from a top-tier law school with active bar membership in at least one US jurisdiction; additional international qualifications are a plus.
• Minimum 8 years of progressive legal experience, including at least 4 years focused on cryptocurrency, blockchain, decentralized finance (DeFi), or Web3 technologies.
• Proven experience advising on token launches, securities law compliance (including Howey test, Regulation D, Regulation A+), and regulatory strategy for blockchain projects.
• Deep understanding of digital asset taxation, data privacy laws (GDPR, CCPA), and intellectual property law in technology.

Preferred:

• Prior in-house General Counsel or senior legal role at a blockchain, cryptocurrency, or fintech company.
• Experience with DePIN, Layer-1 protocols, or enterprise blockchain adoption.
• Established network with regulators, policymakers, or crypto legal specialists.
• Publications or speaking engagements in blockchain law.

Soft Skills:

• Strategic thinker capable of balancing innovation with risk management.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills across technical and business teams.
• High integrity and commitment to ethical practices in the evolving Web3 space.

Deliverables (First 90 Days)

• Develop a comprehensive global regulatory compliance roadmap and conduct gap analysis for current and planned platform features.
• Create standardized legal templates for partnerships, cofounder agreements, and developer terms.
• Implement a risk assessment framework integrated into product development processes.
• Formulate a regulatory engagement strategy and map initial relationships with regulators.
• Conduct an intellectual property protection audit and develop a strategy for core technologies including post-quantum cryptography, Layer-1 consensus, and AI agents.
• Present key legal priorities related to token launch and mainnet deployment to leadership.

Compensation & Growth

• This is a part-time equity and token-based cofounder position.
• Equity will be granted in the parent organization and associated projects, along with token allocations on the blockchain platform.
• Initial financing has been secured for infrastructure and marketing.
• Discussions with venture capital and crypto investors are ongoing to support expansion and salaried compensation.
• Salaried compensation is anticipated to begin within 4 to 5 months following node launches, token sales, or funding rounds.

Location

• This role is part-time and may offer flexibility regarding location.

Additional Information

The organization is building a high-performance blockchain platform designed to surpass existing solutions with billions of transactions per second, secure runtimes, and AI-driven decentralized infrastructure networks. The platform aims to empower developers with scalable infrastructure for sovereign decentralized finance, healthcare, and Internet of Things applications. The team includes professionals from top universities, Fortune 500 companies, and major blockchain platforms, including multiple PhDs and senior engineers.