Senior Investigator

At Coinbase, our mission is to increase economic freedom around the world, and we couldn’t do this without hiring the best people. We’re a group of hard-working overachievers who are deeply focused on building the future of finance and Web3 for our users across the globe, whether they’re trading, storing, staking or using crypto. Know those people who always lead the group project? That’s us.

There are a few things we look for across all hires we make at Coinbase, regardless of role or team. First, we look for candidates who will thrive in a culture like ours, where we default to trust, embrace feedback, and disrupt ourselves. Second, we expect all employees to commit to our mission-focused approach to our work. Most importantly, we seek people who are excited about crypto, because those are the folks who enjoy the intense moments in our sprint and recharge work culture. We’re a remote-first company looking to hire the absolute best talent all over the world.

Who You Are

• You’ve got positive energy. You’re optimistic about the future and determined to get there.
• You’re never tired of learning. You want to be a pro in bleeding edge tech like DeFi, NFTs, DAOs, and Web 3.0.
• You appreciate direct communication. You’re both an active communicator and an eager listener - because let’s face it, you can’t have one without the other. You’re cool with candid feedback and see every setback as an opportunity to grow.
• You can pivot on the fly. Crypto is constantly evolving, so our priorities do, too. What you worked on last month may not be what you work on today, and that excites you. You’re not looking for a boring job.
• You have a “can do” attitude. Our teams create high-quality work on quick timelines. Owning a problem doesn’t scare you, but rather empowers you to take 100% responsibility for achieving our mission.
• You want to be part of a winning team. We’re stronger together, and you’re a person who embraces being pushed out of your comfort zone.
  
  

The Global Intelligence team serves as advocates for the crypto-economy and guardians for Coinbase by combating crime. The Global Intelligence team acts as liaison between law enforcement and Coinbase, responsible for handling criminal matters on the platform by performing proactive and reactive investigations. We are looking for a seasoned investigator and blockchain analysis wizard to be a leader on the team and eager to share their expertise. The investigator will also help train law enforcement in crypto-crime investigation techniques and advise internal tool development.

We are looking for someone hungry for a challenge and to have a big impact on a small team. We want someone who can bring blockchain expertise to bear on getting victims back their money and helping law enforcement disrupt illicit activity in the crypto space. We want someone who enjoys conducting investigations and putting pieces of the puzzle together. You’d probably be a good fit if your favorite TV show is The Wire or True Detective (Season 1 only).

What You’ll Be Doing (ie. Job Duties)

• Independently conduct complex investigations into various cases such as account takeovers, investment scams, and other potential illegal activities on the platform. This includes identifying threat actors and working to recover funds for victims;
• Remain current with crypto industry developments and landscape, keeping up-to-date about new threat actor TTPs, network protocols, and applicable regulation;
• Prepare detailed written intelligence reports and briefing decks for law enforcement to communicate investigative findings;
• Handle highly sensitive cases with urgency and discretion;
• Master evolving investigative tools for blockchain analytics, social media platforms with emphasis on identity research, data extraction and analysis;
• Lead quarterly sprints on emerging threats and topical concerns;
• Occasionally respond to law enforcement requests and inquiries;
• Occasional domestic travel, providing trainings to law enforcement and representing the team at high-stakes conferences and meetings;
• Provide guidance, feedback and support to more junior investigators as they handle their own cases.
  
  

What We Look For In You (ie. Job Requirements)

• 4+ years of experience in the crypto industry working on blockchain analysis, with expertise in tracing complex obfuscation techniques;
• Experience investigating cybercrime/financial crimes, particularly for other financial institutions or tech companies;
• Extensive experience investigating account takeovers;
• Strong data analysis skills, knows your way around a pivot table and SQL queries;
• Committed team player eager to pitch in wherever necessary;
• Comfort with public records research and OSINT expertise;
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, ability to explain complex concepts succinctly;
• Excellent professional judgment, time management and organizational skills;
• The successful candidate should have the ability to obtain a government security clearance if/when needed.
  
  

Nice To Haves

• Foreign language skills;
• One or more of the following certifications: CRC, CISC, CEIC, TRM-CI, TRM-ACI or other relevant certifications;
• Experience working in or with law enforcement;
• Facility in Python or other languages;
• Dune wizard status;
• Existing government security clearance.
  
  

Job #: P61219

Pay Transparency Notice: Depending on your work location, the target annual salary for this position can range as detailed below. Full time offers from Coinbase also include target bonus + target equity + benefits (including medical, dental, vision and 401(k)).

Pay Range

$162,350—$191,000 USD

Commitment to Equal Opportunity

Coinbase is committed to diversity in its workforce and is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sex, gender expression or identity, sexual orientation or any other basis protected by applicable law. Coinbase will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with applicable federal, state and local law. For US applicants, you may view the Know Your Rights notice here. Additionally, Coinbase participates in the E-Verify program in certain locations, as required by law.

Coinbase is also committed to providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation because of a disability for any part of the employment process, please contact us at accommodations[at]coinbase.com to let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. For quick access to screen reading technology compatible with this site click here to download a free compatible screen reader (free step by step tutorial can be found here).

Global Data Privacy Notice for Job Candidates and Applicants

Depending on your location, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) may regulate the way we manage the data of job applicants. Our full notice outlining how data will be processed as part of the application procedure for applicable locations is available here. By submitting your application, you are agreeing to our use and processing of your data as required. For US applicants only, by submitting your application you are agreeing to arbitration of disputes as outlined here.