US Legal Counsel

Full time - NYC area (hybrid remote possible) -

Base salary $200-220k + 15% OKR bonus + Equity

Kiln is the leading staking and DeFi platform, enabling institutions to securely participate in blockchain networks. With operations across the US, Europe, and Asia, Kiln is at the forefront of shaping compliant, innovative solutions for the next generation of financial infrastructure.

We are seeking a US Counsel to lead our US legal function and support Kiln’s expansion in the United States. This role combines regulatory, commercial, and product advisory responsibilities, with a focus on ensuring that Kiln’s staking and DeFi offerings are developed and delivered in compliance with applicable US laws.

Responsibilities

The US Counsel will provide strategic legal guidance across Kiln’s US operations. You will work closely with Compliance, Product, and Business Development teams to ensure compliance with US federal and state regulations, and support Kiln’s engagement with regulators and industry groups. This role is ideal for a lawyer who thrives in fast-moving environments and is passionate about building the legal foundations of Web3.

• Product & Regulatory

  • Partner with the Product team to ensure new offerings are designed in compliance with relevant legal requirements.

  • Provide legal advice on US federal and state regulatory frameworks applicable to staking and DeFi, including securities, commodities, and money transmission laws.

  • Monitor and assess developments from the SEC, CFTC, FinCEN, state regulators, and other authorities, advising on their impact to Kiln’s US business.

  • Support the design of compliant product structures for institutional clients.

• Commercial

  • Draft, review, and negotiate commercial agreements with counterparties, including institutional clients, custodians, and technology providers.

• Risk Management & Compliance

  • Work closely with the Compliance team to ensure robust implementation of US AML, OFAC, and sanctions controls.

  • Advise on liability frameworks, risk disclosures, and contractual protections.

• Regulatory Engagement & Advocacy

  • Support Kiln’s engagement with US regulators and industry associations to advocate for clear and innovation-friendly frameworks.

  • Assist in preparing responses to regulatory inquiries and consultations.

Requirements

• Experience:

  • From 4 years of legal experience

    • ideally including 1 experience in a top law firm

    • must include at least 1 in-house experience at a fintech or crypto company.

  • Good understanding of US securities, commodities, and/or payments regulation.

• Knowledge:

  • Expertise in digital assets, staking, DeFi, and blockchain-related legal issues is highly preferred.

  • Familiarity with the regulatory positions and enforcement priorities of the SEC, CFTC, FinCEN, and state regulators.

• Skills:

  • Excellent communication skills; ability to convey complex legal issues in practical, business-friendly terms.

  • Comfort working cross-functionally with product, compliance, and business teams in a high-growth environment.

• Other:

  • JD and admission to practice in at least one US jurisdiction is required.

  • Experience with regulatory engagement, enforcement matters, or policy advocacy is a plus.

About Kiln:

Kiln is the leading enterprise-grade rewards platform that enables institutional customers to stake assets and integrate staking & DeFi functionality into their offerings. Our API-first platform provides fully automated validators, staking & DeFi protocols access, and comprehensive data and commission management.

With $15+ billion in crypto assets staked through our platform, Kiln has established a strong presence on Ethereum, managing over 5.4% of the network through 50,000+ validators — all with zero slashing events.

Kiln serves more than 140 leading customers, including Binance, Bitpanda, BitGo, Fireblocks, VanEck, and TrustWallet.

Our team of 110 ecosystem enthusiasts brings experience from industry leaders like Google, Circle, Ledger, Chainalysis, and other prominent technology and cryptocurrency companies.

We've raised $30M in total funding from prominent investors including 1kx, Crypto.com, Illuminate Financial, Consensys, Wintermute, Kraken Ventures...

Join Kiln and help us make the web more secure, stable, decentralized, and fair!

How Kiln will support you:

At Kiln, our values drive us: Technical Excellence ensures top security and usability; Innovation-Driven Meritocracy elevates groundbreaking ideas; Trust and Transparency build reliability through open communication; and People First keeps our team and clients at the heart of everything we do.

• A fast-paced, bureaucracy-free work environment

• Equity share options in the business: if Kiln succeeds, we all succeed!

• Competitive salary

• Flexible holiday

• Flexible remote working

• Choose your IT equipment

• Internet connection: €50/month

• Significant personal development budget (books, training)

• Overseas tech conferences budget

Kiln is an Equal Opportunity Employer

We are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace where everyone is valued and respected. We welcome applications from all backgrounds, including women or persons with disabilities.

Your interview process

Our thorough process ensures the best fit for both you and Kiln, and we strive to make each step valuable and efficient.

1. Recruiter Interview (45 min)

2. Short take-home case study

3. Interview with our legal team (50 min)

4. Core Values Interview (45 min)

5. Founders Interview (30 min)

6. Offer!

Your personal information will be securely stored in our Applicant Tracking System (ATS) and will not be shared with external parties. We comply fully with GDPR regulations to protect your data and privacy.

Please note that we do not sponsor visas for persons without work authorization in the USA. This role is for full-time employees only (no B2B or contractors). Thank you!