Senior Cryptocurrency Intelligence Scientist

About the role

Join Elliptic's Intelligence team to apply your data science skills to blockchain analytics. This role focuses on identifying complex criminal activity patterns within cryptocurrency transactions. You will become a leading expert in on-chain attribution and threat characterization, directly enhancing the intelligence data that powers Elliptic's products.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Develop deep knowledge of identity and non-identity signals to characterize on-chain threats, including behavioral patterns, transaction timing, routing, bridge use, and smart contract interactions.
• Lead complex research and investigations from start to finish, presenting findings clearly to clients, partners, and internal teams.
• Assess Elliptic's attribution coverage for various threats and guide intelligence collection efforts to address critical gaps.
• Create processes and tools that enable analysts and data scientists to build simple heuristics, including documentation, peer review, and monitoring for changes.
• Formulate and support a well-researched perspective on the future of cryptocurrency, criminal methods, and obfuscation techniques, translating this into intelligence priorities.
• Condense research findings into reports, briefings, and marketing materials, adjusting the detail and framing for different audiences.
• Collaborate with the Principal Cryptocurrency Intelligence Scientist and Professional Services to provide actionable intelligence to government partners and the crypto industry.
• Build strong internal relationships across Elliptic and external connections within the blockchain intelligence and financial crime research community.
• Coach and mentor junior colleagues, sharing technical and analytical expertise to maintain high intelligence standards.

Requirements

• Strong understanding of data science fundamentals, with proficiency in SQL and Python for independent analytical workflows.
• Expert, verifiable skill across various blockchains, including layer 1 and layer 2 networks, with direct personal experience in cross-chain cryptocurrency transfers and self-custody.
• Competence as an intelligence professional, understanding cognitive bias, applying structured analytic techniques, and communicating uncertainty accurately.
• Excellent communication skills to explain complex technical topics to diverse audiences.
• Ability to obtain security clearance in the UK or US.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively use AI tools and methods for intelligence analysis, including accelerating data processing, pattern identification, heuristic development, and drafting written content.

Nice to have

• Postgraduate qualification in a technical or intelligence-related field.
• Experience in a formal intelligence setting such as law enforcement, government, or academic research.
• Commercial or research experience with cryptocurrencies, including complex transaction tracing, demixing, and cross-chain attribution.
• Experience working with public-sector entities like law enforcement or regulatory bodies.
• Familiarity with key threat typologies, including thefts, scams, ransomware, nation-state activity, terrorism financing, and sanctions evasion.

Skills & tools

• SQL
• Python
• AI tools for intelligence analysis

Practical notes

• Hybrid work model with up to 90 days per year working remotely from almost anywhere.
• $650 budget for home office setup.
• $1,000 annual learning and development budget.
• 25 days of annual leave plus 8 US public holidays, and an extra day off for your birthday.
• 16 weeks of fully paid parental leave for eligible employees, regardless of gender or type of parenthood.
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage with generous company contributions for you and your dependents (Tufts, Kaiser, Aetna, UHC, Blue Shield of CA).
• Company match for 401k.
• Access to Spill mental health support.