Trading Associate, Coinbase Asset Management (12 month assignment to the Cayman Islands)

Coinbase; United States; Remote; USD 80,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job description

Ready to be pushed beyond what you think you’re capable of?

At Coinbase, our mission is to increase economic freedom in the world. It’s a massive, ambitious opportunity that demands the best of us, every day, as we build the emerging onchain platform — and with it, the future global financial system.

To achieve our mission, we’re seeking a very specific candidate. We want someone who is passionate about our mission and who believes in the power of crypto and blockchain technology to update the financial system. We want someone who is eager to leave their mark on the world, who relishes the pressure and privilege of working with high caliber colleagues, and who actively seeks feedback to keep leveling up. We want someone who will run towards, not away from, solving the company’s hardest problems.

Our work culture is intense and isn’t for everyone. But if you want to build the future alongside others who excel in their disciplines and expect the same from you, there’s no better place to be.

This role is a 12 month assignment to the Cayman Islands with possibility of extension.

The Trading Associate will lead the execution of cryptocurrency and digital asset trades within an institutional asset management environment. This role is central to the strategic deployment of capital and requires close collaboration with portfolio managers, the COO/CRO, and the operations team. Beyond trade execution, the Associate will play a key role in optimizing trading workflows and enhancing execution strategies through data-driven research, market analysis, and implementation of systematic improvements. A deep understanding of both the digital asset landscape and traditional markets is critical to driving performance across active and passive strategies.

What you’ll be doing (ie. job duties):

1. Trade Execution:
   • Lead and execute digital asset trades (e.g., Bitcoin, Ethereum, altcoins) across various strategies and portfolios.
   • Own and continuously optimize execution methodologies to minimize slippage, latency, and transaction costs.
   • Manage liquidity access across centralized exchanges, prime brokers, and OTC counterparties to ensure efficient capital deployment.
2. Market Analysis:
   • Independently monitor and interpret market conditions to drive high-quality trade decisions in real time.
   • Synthesize macro, technical, and on-chain data to inform portfolio positioning and tactical trades.
   • Develop and maintain dashboards or tools to track liquidity, volatility, and spread dynamics.
3. Risk Management:
   • Ensure execution aligns with portfolio mandates and firmwide risk controls.
   • Proactively assess and address exposures to slippage, concentration, and volatility.
   • Partner with the CRO to refine trading risk frameworks and monitor real-time P&L and exposures.
4. Strategy Development:
   • Drive the development and refinement of systematic and discretionary trading strategies.
   • Collaborate with portfolio managers and quant researchers to integrate execution signals and feedback loops.
   • Lead efforts to evaluate performance attribution and iteratively enhance trading logic.
5. Technology & Tools:
   • Utilize advanced trading platforms, quantitative analysis tools, and automated trading systems.
   • Stay current with developments in trading technology, blockchain infrastructure, and new financial products within the crypto space.
6. Compliance & Regulation:
   • Ensure end-to-end compliance of execution processes with regulatory standards and internal policies.
   • Collaborate with compliance teams to stay informed about emerging regulations affecting the cryptocurrency market.

What we look for in you (ie. job requirements):

1. Education:
   • Bachelor’s Degree
2. Experience:
   • 5 - 7 years of experience in crypto trading, institutional asset management, or relevant financial trading roles.
   • Proven track record in executing trades, including experience with spot and derivatives (futures, options).
   • Strong understanding of blockchain technology and cryptocurrency protocols.
   • Strong coding skills to develop and support current backend and frontend infrastructure.
3. Skills:
   • Expert understanding of derivatives pricing (swaps, inverse swaps, options).
   • Proficiency in financial modeling and quantitative analysis.
   • Keen to work in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment with tight deadlines.
   • Strong communication skills and ability to collaborate across teams.
   • Hands-on experience with programming languages such as Python, C++ to create robust trading platforms or tools.
   • Bonus: Proven expertise in coding for trading environments, such as high-performance algorithms for automated trading.

Nice to haves:

• Direct experience in Cayman.
• Ability to research and design trading ideas or strategies.
• Keen interest in Defi and smart contracts.