About the position
PayPal has been revolutionizing commerce globally for more than 25 years. Creating innovative experiences that make moving money, selling, and shopping simple, personalized, and secure, PayPal empowers consumers and businesses in approximately 200 markets to join and thrive in the global economy. We operate a global, two-sided network at scale that connects hundreds of millions of merchants and consumers. We help merchants and consumers connect, transact, and complete payments, whether they are online or in person. PayPal is more than a connection to third-party payment networks. We provide proprietary payment solutions accepted by merchants that enable the completion of payments on our platform on behalf of our customers. We offer our customers the flexibility to use their accounts to purchase and receive payments for goods and services, as well as the ability to transfer and withdraw funds. We enable consumers to exchange funds more safely with merchants using a variety of funding sources, which may include a bank account, a PayPal or Venmo account balance, PayPal and Venmo branded credit products, a credit card, a debit card, certain cryptocurrencies, or other stored value products such as gift cards, and eligible credit card rewards. Our PayPal, Venmo, and Xoom products also make it safer and simpler for friends and family to transfer funds to each other. We offer merchants an end-to-end payments solution that provides authorization and settlement capabilities, as well as instant access to funds and payouts. We also help merchants connect with their customers, process exchanges and returns, and manage risk. We enable consumers to engage in cross-border shopping and merchants to extend their global reach while reducing the complexity and friction involved in enabling cross-border trade. Our beliefs are the foundation for how we conduct business every day. We live each day guided by our core values of Inclusion, Innovation, Collaboration, and Wellness. Together, our values ensure that we work together as one global team with our customers at the center of everything we do – and they push us to ensure we take care of ourselves, each other, and our communities. Job Summary: PayPal’s Legal team is looking for an experienced, highly engaged and dynamic lawyer to serve as our Head of Crypto Legal. The Head of Crypto Legal will serve on the leadership team for PayPal’s blockchain and cryptocurrency business initiatives and be the central point of contact on all legal and strategic decisions for this business. This role will report into the Vice President, Legal - Risk & Platforms, Regulatory, Privacy & Antitrust at PayPal. PayPal’s Blockchain, Crypto and Digital Currencies (BCDC) business unit is focused on ensuring end-to-end management of PayPal’s underlying product, technology infrastructure, partnerships and regulatory foundations for digital assets to help enable our support existing capabilities and markets, as well as drive continued growth in the space.
Responsibilities
• Manage, mentor, and develop a team of attorneys and legal professionals across multiple jurisdictions.
• Act as a trusted advisor to senior executives, influencing business strategy and decision-making.
• Anticipate regulatory and legal risks, and proactively design strategies to manage them.
• Influence long-term success strategy of the function, driving innovation and continuous improvement in legal practices.
• Ensure compliance with relevant laws and regulations, leading the adoption of cutting-edge legal technologies and best practices.
• Manage legal risks and safeguard PayPal's legal interests, developing forward-looking risk management strategies.
• Collaborate with other legal and compliance teams, and other cross-functional groups to support initiatives globally.
• Provide key inputs as an industry leader and expert, staying ahead of legal trends and influencing industry standards.
• Serve as the first point of contact for all issues related to PayPal’s blockchain and cryptocurrency business.
• Advise on threshold regulatory questions regarding cryptocurrency business initiatives, including applicability of federal securities laws, commodities laws, and laws regarding illicit finance.
• Evaluate U.S. and international licensing requirements that affect crypto business strategy.
• Advise senior PayPal leadership and business clients.
• Create and manage teams with other PayPal in-house attorneys, PayPal personnel, and outside advisors for sophisticated matters.
• Work closely with variety of key stakeholders, including Corporate Development, Global Regulatory Relations, Government Relations, Finance, Treasury, Tax, and Human Resources functions.
• Manage internal team members and constituents and outside advisors, including active management of outside counsel.
Requirements
• 12+ years relevant experience and a Juris doctorate degree OR Any equivalent combination of education and experience.
• JD degree with excellent academic credentials.
• 15+ years of experience in financial technology, payment systems, digital assets, financial regulation, including securities law, commodities law, banking law, or illicit finance.
• Proven track record in building, attracting and developing talent to their fullest potential.
• Strong ability to inspire and foster an inclusive and diverse culture.
• Flexibility and creativity in dealing with complex legal issues on a domestic and cross-border basis.
• Excellent interpersonal, written and oral communications skills.
• Excellent project management skills, well organized, with the ability to thrive in a fast paced work environment and manage numerous projects simultaneously under deadline pressure.
• A high-level of intellectual, professional and interpersonal agility and flexibility, combined with strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively and effectively with business clients and other legal department members.
• Team oriented, with a strong sense of humor, unquestioned ethics and integrity, sound judgment and high tolerance for ambiguity.
• Ability to cherish innovation, embrace change, and believe that there is always room for improvement.
Nice-to-haves
• Understanding of the technological variants of digital asset ecosystems and frameworks, particularly those for stablecoins, strongly preferred.
Benefits
• At PayPal, we’re committed to building an equitable and inclusive global economy. And we can’t do this without our most important asset-you. That’s why we offer comprehensive, choice-based programs, to support all aspects of personal wellbeing—physical, emotional, and financial—delivering meaningful value where it matters most. We strive to create a flexible, balanced work culture with a holistic approach to benefits, including generous paid time off, healthcare coverage for you and your family, and resources to create financial security and support your mental health.