General Counsel

About Us

Sei is the first parallelized layer 1 blockchain. By re-writing the most widely adopted execution environment in Web3, Sei is setting a new standard in blockchain performance and scalability. Apps on Sei benefit from both the performance of web2 and the decentralization and sovereignty of web3. For more detailed information visit Sei's official website.

About the Role

The Sei Development Foundation is seeking an experienced General Counsel to serve as the organization’s top legal officer. The GC will own all legal, regulatory, and compliance functions across the foundation’s global operations, providing strategic counsel to the Executive Director and leadership team on matters spanning corporate governance, token-related activities, partnerships, and regulatory engagement. This role requires someone who can operate as both a hands-on practitioner and a strategic advisor in a fast-moving crypto-native environment.

This is a high-impact, high-autonomy role. The ideal candidate combines deep expertise in digital assets regulation with the judgment and temperament to navigate ambiguity, move quickly, and build legal infrastructure from the ground up.

Responsibilities

Legal Strategy & Corporate Governance

Serve as the foundation’s chief legal advisor, providing counsel on corporate governance, entity structuring, and strategic transactions

Advise the Executive Director and leadership team on legal risk across all business activities, including partnerships, grants, incubations, and token operations

Oversee the foundation’s corporate entity structure across multiple jurisdictions and ensure ongoing compliance with formation documents and governance requirements

Draft, review, and negotiate key agreements including partnership deals, token grant agreements, service agreements, and vendor contracts

Regulatory & Compliance

Own and maintain the foundation’s compliance program, including AML/KYC, sanctions (OFAC), and insider trading policies

Monitor and advise on evolving regulatory frameworks across the US, EU, Asia, and emerging markets as they relate to digital assets, DeFi, and blockchain infrastructure

Manage regulatory relationships and represent the foundation in engagements with regulators and policymakers where appropriate

Ensure compliance with securities laws and token distribution regulations across all applicable jurisdictions

Oversee compliance infrastructure for exchange listings, custodian relationships, and on/off-ramp partnerships

Token & Digital Asset Matters

Provide legal guidance on tokenomics, token distributions, vesting structures, and treasury management activities

Advise on legal implications of on-chain governance, protocol upgrades, and ecosystem incentive programs

Structure and review token grant agreements and restricted token arrangements for partners, contributors, and ecosystem participants

Evaluate legal risks related to RWA tokenization, DeFi integrations, and new product launches

Team & External Counsel Management

Build and manage the internal legal function, hiring additional legal and compliance team members as needed

Select, manage, and coordinate outside counsel across jurisdictions for specialized matters (litigation, IP, tax, regulatory)

Establish legal processes, templates, and playbooks that enable the team to move fast while managing risk

Intellectual Property & Employment

Oversee the foundation’s IP portfolio, including trademarks, open-source licensing, and contributor agreements

Advise on employment and contractor matters across a globally distributed, EOR-structured workforce

What You’ll Bring

• J.D. from a top-tier law school and active bar membership in at least one US jurisdiction

  10+ years of legal experience, with significant time spent on digital assets, fintech, or blockchain-related matters

  Deep knowledge of US securities law, commodities regulation, AML/sanctions frameworks, and their application to digital assets

  Experience advising on token launches, token grant structures, and crypto-native corporate governance

  Track record of building legal and compliance functions at a high-growth startup or foundation

  Experience managing outside counsel and legal budgets across multiple jurisdictions

  Ability to operate with high autonomy, make judgment calls under ambiguity, and move at startup speed

  Excellent written and verbal communication; ability to translate complex legal concepts for non-legal stakeholders

Bonus Points

• Prior experience as General Counsel or Deputy GC at a crypto protocol, foundation, or exchange

  Familiarity with Cayman Islands, BVI, or Singapore foundation and entity structures

  Existing relationships with key regulators (SEC, CFTC, FinCEN, MAS, or equivalent)

  Experience with US policy engagement, lobbying, or industry association work (e.g., Blockchain Association, DeFi Education Fund)

  Background in capital markets, M&A, or structured finance prior to crypto