General Counsel (Blockchain, Bitcoin & Funds)

Mintlayer; United Arab Emirates; Hybrid; AED 300,000 - 600,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Wellness program

Crypto compensation option

Job summary

Mintlayer is seeking a General Counsel in the UAE to serve as the company’s top legal adviser at a pivotal stage of growth in the blockchain space.

The role involves shaping regulatory strategy, overseeing IP protection, and guiding the board through complex financing rounds and fund structures while coordinating with external law firms specializing in digital assets and funds law. The ideal candidate has blockchain expertise and strong leadership in ambiguous environments.

Qualifications

• Qualified lawyer with UAE/UK/US bar eligibility.
• Demonstrated blockchain and digital asset expertise.
• Experience advising on fund structures and regulatory strategy.

Responsibilities

• Advise the board and executive team on major legal matters.
• Lead legal strategy for pre-Series A financing: term sheets and disclosures.
• Own IP protection strategy with external IP counsel.
• Provide regulatory opinions across ADGM, MiCA, and US frameworks.
• Advise on fund structures: LP rights, side letters, carried interest, DIFC compliance.
• Escalate and mitigate significant legal risks with Head of Legal.
• Engage top-tier law firms specializing in blockchain and funds law.

Skills

Blockchain law

Bitcoin regulation

Board communication

Fund structuring

Education

Qualified solicitor or barrister (UAE/UK/US)

Job description

All open positions

General Counsel (Blockchain, Bitcoin & Funds)

About The Role

The General Counsel is the most senior legal voice in the room when the board makes consequential decisions about token issuance, protocol liability, fund structure, and regulatory strategy. This is a strategic advisory seat at a company raising $1.5 billion in institutional capital and building infrastructure that will process billions more. You will be advising on questions that courts have not yet answered, in a jurisdiction actively shaping the global framework for digital asset law. The lawyers who build their practices at this intersection now will define the field over the next decade.

What You Will Own

• Advise the board and executive team on all material legal matters
• Lead legal strategy for the Pre-Series A raise: term sheet review, investor rights framework, and disclosure standards
• Own IP protection strategy with external IP counsel
• Provide authoritative legal opinions on regulatory treatment of ML tokens across ADGM, MiCA, and US frameworks
• Advise on Interest.One fund structures: LP rights, side letters, carried interest, and DIFC compliance
• Serve as escalation point for all significant legal risks identified by the Head of Legal
• Build relationships with top-tier external law firms specializing in blockchain, digital assets, and funds law

What You Bring

• Qualified solicitor or barrister — UAE, UK, or US bar preferred
• Demonstrable blockchain and Bitcoin legal specialism
• Fund structuring experience: private equity, hedge funds, or digital asset funds
• Board-level communication skills and judgment under ambiguity

Benefits

• Health & Prevention: Comprehensive, high-tier medical insurance with a focus on preventative medicine, annual executive health screenings, and diagnostic check-ups.
• Fitness & Wellness Programs: Monthly fitness allowances for premier gyms and studios, plus internal wellness initiatives including yoga, ergonomics workshops, and stress management.
• Competitive Compensation: Salary paid in your choice of fiat, Bitcoin, or stablecoins. ML token allocation and vesting for senior roles.
• Relocation Support: Full assistance with UAE residency visas and relocation to Abu Dhabi for on-site roles. We handle the paperwork.
• Flexible Working: Structured flexibility across on-site, hybrid, and fully remote roles. Core overlap hours respected across time zones.
• Global Team Meetups: Periodic gatherings with the full team around the world. The remote team is never remote from the culture.