Summary
Bybit is hiring a Principal Legal Counsel to advise on traditional finance, asset and fund management, and derivative products. The role will support product structuring, regulatory risk assessments, licensing analysis, and the drafting and negotiation of agreements and product terms across group entities. It will work closely with business, product, and AML teams and advise on products involving securities, payments, crypto, and AI. Applicants need to be qualified lawyers with 12+ years of experience, including significant in-house experience in financial services, fintech, brokerage, or digital assets. The posting lists Abu Dhabi, UAE as the location.
The posting
As published on bybit.com. Pulled from the employer's site and shown as they wrote it.
About Us
Established in 2018, Bybit is one of the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchanges and digital financial platforms, serving over 80 million users across more than 200 countries and regions. Powered by world-class technology and a user-first mindset, Bybit delivers a seamless ecosystem across trading, payments, wealth management, custody, institutional services, and Web3 — connecting users to the future of digital finance.
Our core values define how we build. We listen, care and improve to create products and experiences that put users first. Backed by a global team of ambitious builders, problem-solvers, and innovators, we foster a high-performance and fast-moving environment where talent is empowered to drive real impact at the global scale. Supported by 24/7 multilingual customer service and a strong commitment to innovation, we are shaping the future of finance through technology, collaboration, and bold execution.
Today, Bybit is recognized as one of the most trusted and transparent platforms in the digital asset industry, continuing to expand its global presence while building the infrastructure for the next generation of financial services.
Role Summary
Senior in-house counsel serving as the primary legal advisor for the launch of traditional finance (TradFi) and asset & fund management and derivative products. The role provides regulatory risk advisory and product structuring support for the launch of new financial products spanning crypto, securities, asset management, derivatives, AI, and payments, as well as lead in the drafting and negotiation of all associated agreements and product-facing terms and conditions across the relevant entities within the group.
Key Responsibilities
Advise on product and payment flow structuring, including card-issuing "fronting" structures with banking and payment-processing partners in emerging markets, central bank regulatory sandbox arrangements, and compliance review of third-party payment service providers.
Assess yield-generating savings products against securities-law fund characteristics, advise on regulatory scrutiny in relevant jurisdictions, and coordinate compliance review against comparable pooled-asset product precedents.
Advise on asset management and fund licensing implications of products that pool user assets.
Prepare jurisdiction restriction matrices for tokenized/fractional equities and equity-linked product lines.
Serve as primary lead counsel to internal business, product and AML teams
Scope entity placement for TradFi products across group entities, and assess license uplift requirements.
Assess license feasibility for group entities and identify the steps required to remain exempt from crypto licensing where applicable.
Draft and launch product terms for new services, including AI-driven product initiatives including revising all existing terms in line with industry standards
Qualifications
Qualified lawyer (JD/LLB or equivalent) with 12+ years' experience, including significant in-house experience at a financial services, fintech, brokerage, or crypto/digital-asset firm.
Demonstrated expertise in securities law, brokerage/clearing structures, asset and fund management regulation, and cross-border payments licensing.
Experience negotiating institutional brokerage, clearing, and outsourcing agreements.
Familiarity with virtual asset/crypto regulatory frameworks and multi-jurisdictional licensing analysis.
Strong drafting skills for consumer-facing product terms and conditions at scale, across multiple legal entities and jurisdictions.
Profile
Commercially minded and comfortable with detailed product and structuring discussions.
Strong legal drafter who can translate commercial concepts into workable structures.
Practical problem solver who proposes solutions rather than only identifying risks.
Credible when advising and challenging senior Product and Business stakeholders.
Comfortable taking ownership from initial concept through negotiation, launch and ongoing operation.
Why Join Us
At Bybit, we are committed to fostering a supportive and enriching work environment.
Our benefits include:
- Study Growth Fund: We support your professional development and continuous learning.
- Internal Events: Participate in regular team-building activities, workshops, and events designed to promote collaboration and innovation.
- Global Collaboration: Be part of a diverse, international team, working alongside colleagues from around the world.
- Career Advancement: Access opportunities for growth and advancement within a rapidly expanding global company.
- Internal Mobility: Grow with us- Your long-term development is important to us. We offer internal job opportunities to help build your career path.