US SEC seeks to hire crypto legal expert

The United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is looking to hire a “crypto specialist,” a recent job posting has revealed.

The job posting on an official government jobs portal, USAJobs, states that the SEC’s Division of Trading and Markets is seeking a legal expert who will provide expertise and coordinate the division’s activities regarding crypto and digital asset securities.

Key responsibilities include developing a “comprehensive plan” to address crypto and digital asset securities; serve as the division’s point of contact for regulators, market participants, and the public; and serve as the division’s lead representative in the SEC’s FinTech Working Group and as liaison with the Financial Stability Oversight Council’s (FSOC’s) Digital Assets Working Group.

Importantly, the crypto specialist will develop and maintain “expert-level industry knowledge of crypto and digital asset securities and products, as well as legal and policy developments occurring in domestic and foreign jurisdictions,” and

Apply “knowledge of federal securities laws to digital asset securities and crypto matters, i.e., broker-dealer, exchange, clearing agency and transfer registrations, exchange product applications, sales and trading practices, etc.”

Those interested to apply for this permanent position must possess a Juris Doctor (J.D.) or Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) degree, and have an active membership of the Federal Bar Association.

In addition, they must also have 4 years of post J.D. work experience as a practicing attorney in areas such as “interpreting and applying the provisions of the laws, rules, and regulations that govern the securities industry, in particular, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.”

The appointment could require completion of a two-year trial period. The last date to submit the applications is April 12.

Last June, the SEC appointed Valerie A. Szczepanik as a Senior Advisor for Digital Assets and Innovation for Division Director Bill Hinman. Szczepanik was tasked with coordinating efforts across all SEC Divisions and Offices regarding the application of U.S. securities laws to emerging digital asset technologies and innovations, including Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs) and cryptocurrencies.