Licensing Counsel

Position Overview

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the end-to-end licensing process for new market entries globally, including application preparation, submission, and regulatory engagement
• Conduct jurisdictional assessments to evaluate licensing requirements, timelines and strategic feasibility for target markets and to support the expansion requirements of the company
• Prepare, draft, and coordinate licensing applications, supporting documentation, business plans, and regulatory questionnaires
• Liaise directly with regulators, external counsel, and government authorities across jurisdictions to advance licensing matters
• Monitor global regulatory developments that may create new licensing obligations or opportunities for the exchange
• Maintain and manage a global licensing tracker covering application status, renewal deadlines, conditions, and ongoing obligations
• Coordinate with internal stakeholders (Legal, Compliance, Finance, Operations, Product) to gather information and align on licensing requirements
• Support post-licensing compliance, including condition monitoring, variation applications, and periodic reporting to regulators (where applicable)
• Prepare internal briefings and status reports on licensing progress for senior leadership
• Build and maintain relationships with external legal advisors across jurisdictions to support licensing activities

Requirements

• Law degree (LLB, JD, or equivalent); admission to practice in at least one jurisdiction is preferred
• 2-5 years of experience in regulatory law, licensing, or compliance — with meaningful exposure to financial services, fintech, or cryptocurrency (preference)
• Demonstrated experience with licence applications or regulatory approvals (e.g., VASP, MPI, EMI, broker-dealer, or equivalent authorisations)
• Understanding of global licensing frameworks for virtual asset service providers and/or financial institutions
• Strong legal research, drafting, and analytical skills with the ability to distil complex regulatory requirements into actionable advice
• Excellent project management skills — ability to manage multiple licensing workstreams across jurisdictions simultaneously
• Strong written and verbal communication in English; additional languages relevant to target jurisdictions are a plus
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, decentralised, and globally distributed team
• Collaborative mindset and a good team player with the ability to work closely with internal teams as well as independently
• Fast learner, able to hit the ground running. takes ownership of projects, has pride in the work

Preferred Qualifications

• Direct experience with cryptocurrency or digital asset licensing preferred but not an absolute must (VASP registrations, MAS MPI, VARA licences, EU MiCA authorisations, ADGM licences etc.)
• Familiarity with key licensing regimes in APAC, MENA, Europe, or Latin America
• Experience working with regulators across multiple jurisdictions concurrently
• Understanding of AML/CFT requirements as they relate to licensing conditions and ongoing obligations
• Prior in-house experience at a crypto exchange, fintech, or global financial services firm would be seen favourably but candidates with law firm experience will not be discounted

What We Offer

• Own the global licensing function at one of the world's largest crypto exchanges
• Direct exposure to regulators and licensing regimes across dozens of jurisdictions
• High-impact role with clear visibility to senior leadership and the board
• Competitive compensation, benefits, and professional development support
• Dynamic, global team at the cutting edge of crypto market access strategy