10 Ways to Find the Best Crypto Trader Jobs in the USA

Written by
Catherine Andrea Gerdez
Published on

December 5, 2025

Updated on

December 5, 2025

The United States is one of the most competitive markets for crypto traders, and a big part of that comes from how the country regulates digital assets. 

In the U.S., several institutions shape the rules you need to follow:

  • The SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission): regulates digital assets that function like securities and protects investors. 
  • The CFTC (Commodity Futures Trading Commission): supervises commodities and derivatives, including trading activity involving Bitcoin and Ethereum.
  • The FinCEN (Financial Crimes Enforcement Network): enforces AML and KYC rules so exchanges verify identities and monitor transactions.
  • The IRS (Internal Revenue Service): decides how crypto is taxed, since the U.S. treats digital assets as property.

Employers expect you to know why these rules exist and how they affect your day-to-day work; things like record-keeping, AML checks, reporting obligations, and how your trading activity is classified. The American system is strict, but it gives you something extremely valuable: clarity. When you understand the structure, you can operate with confidence.

If you want a deeper understanding of how the IRS taxes crypto, short-term vs. long-term gains, the meaning of “taxable events,” and why every transaction matters, read our full guide on Crypto Tax Rates in the U.S. It will help you speak the same language as institutional funds, prop firms, and regulated exchanges, and it prepares you for the hiring process in one of the world’s most sophisticated crypto markets.

What Employers Look For

U.S. employers prioritize verifiable skill, risk awareness, and regulatory understanding.

This includes:

  • A transparent trading methodology (not intuition-based claims).
  • A public track record: backtests, paper trading, or live-account performance.
  • Understanding how U.S. regulations work (SEC, CFTC, IRS obligations).
  • Ability to manage risk under strict compliance rules.
  • Familiarity with institutional execution tools, not just retail platforms.
  • Basic programming or data-analysis skills for systematic or semi-systematic roles.

The U.S. does not reward vague “I’m a good trader” statements.

It rewards professionals who can show their skill, not describe it.

How to Verify a Crypto Employer’s Legitimacy

The U.S. crypto market is heavily regulated, a legitimate firm will always demonstrate:

  • Registration with the SEC, CFTC, or FinCEN (depending on activity).
  • Clear descriptions of risk policies and order-execution rules.
  • Compliance staff or published compliance standards.
  • No pressure for deposits, trading “challenges,” or unverifiable returns.

When evaluating U.S. opportunities, avoid anything that:

  • Promises guaranteed profit
  • Uses vague language about licenses
  • Cannot explain its execution infrastructure
  • Avoids discussing regulation

Legitimate firms operating in the U.S. welcome due diligence.

Understanding Compensation Structures

Compensation for crypto traders in the U.S. varies widely. Depending on the firm, you may see:

  • Salary + performance bonus (common at proprietary trading firms, quant shops, and hedge funds).
  • Profit share only (common at prop firms, market-making desks, and remote trading groups).
  • Base retainer + variable compensation (used by Web3 startups).

Before accepting any offer, understand the firm’s expectations regarding:

  • Capital allocation
  • Drawdowns
  • Monthly quotas
  • Allowed strategies
  • Required trading hours
  • Whether the role is W-2 or 1099: this tells you if you’ll be hired as an employee (W-2) or as an independent contractor (1099), which affects taxes, benefits, and how you report your income.

U.S. compensation can be extremely rewarding, but it requires clarity.

10 Ways To Find The Best Crypto Trader Jobs in the USA

Below are the most effective strategies to position yourself in the U.S. market and connect with reputable trading firms, crypto institutions, and Web3 companies.

1. Target Proprietary Trading Firms & Quant Funds

Prop firms and quant funds are among the strongest employers for crypto traders in the U.S.

These firms look for:

  • Data-driven decision making
  • Strong risk control
  • A repeatable strategy

Many now include crypto desks. Look for firms that openly publish their regulatory registrations and trading frameworks.

2. Apply to Institutional Crypto Funds & Hedge Funds

Traditional Hedge funds have been expanding into Bitcoin and digital-asset markets.

They hire:

  • Execution traders
  • Quant researchers
  • Derivatives specialists
  • Risk analysts

These roles prioritize discipline over subjective “intuition-based trading.”

3. Scout Opportunities at Regulated Crypto Exchanges & Market Makers

U.S.-registered exchanges must comply with SEC, CFTC, and AML requirements.

Because of this, they often hire traders for:

  • Liquidity management
  • Market-making operations
  • Institutional client execution

These roles require strong operational discipline and regulatory familiarity.

4. List on Niche Crypto Job Boards & Marketplaces

As in every other region, the most relevant Web3 boards include:

  • CryptoJobsList
  • Web3.career
  • CryptoRecruit
  • eFinancialCareers (crypto/fintech sections)
  • AngelList (for early-stage Web3 startups)

These platforms frequently list U.S.-based roles from funds, trading desks, and exchanges.

5. Network via Trading Communities, Discords, and Telegram Groups

U.S. trading culture is heavily community-driven.

Participating in reputable groups helps employers verify:

  • How you think
  • How you communicate
  • Whether you understand risk and compliance

Be selective. Follow communities that emphasize learning and transparency, not speculation.

6. Showcase a Public Track Record (Paper/Live Trading, GitHub, Trading Journals)

In the U.S., a trader without a verified record is rarely considered.

Show your skills through:

  • TradingView charts
  • Backtests
  • Public trading journals
  • GitHub repositories (for quants)
  • Case studies of strategy logic

The goal is simple: visibility and credibility.

7. Use Recruiters & Headhunters Specialised in Crypto / FinTech

Specialized recruitment agencies can connect you directly with:

  • Prop firms
  • Web3 companies
  • Hedge funds
  • Institutional trading desks

U.S. recruiters will select candidates who can demonstrate discipline and compliance knowledge.

8. Attend Crypto Conferences, Meetups, and Trading Competitions

The U.S. calendar is busy, there are events happening  in New York, Miami, Austin, Los Angeles, and San Francisco regularly. You will meet fellow traders, founders, and investors.

These include:

  • Consensus
  • Bitcoin Miami
  • ETHDenver
  • Mainnet by Messari

Bring a QR-coded business card and a short pitch about your trading approach.

9. Upskill with Relevant Certifications & Technical Tooling

Employers in the U.S. appreciate credentials that demonstrate analytical rigor, such as:

  • Python for finance
  • Quantitative-trading courses
  • Blockchain analytics certificates
  • FINRA-related knowledge (SIE, Series 57 context)
  • Market-microstructure training

You don’t need to over-credential yourself, just show discipline and technical depth.

10. Pursue Internships, Fellowships, or Contract Trading Gigs to Get a Foot in the Door

Many traders start through:

  • Fellowship programs by Web3 foundations
  • Short-term contract roles at crypto startups
  • Execution-assistant positions in quant firms
  • Trading competitions hosted by exchanges

These help you build a portfolio employers can trust.

11. Understanding Compensation Structures

U.S. roles may combine:

  • Salary
  • Performance fees
  • Signing bonuses
  • Equity or token allocations
  • Remote-work incentives

Understand how the employer manages risk, assigns capital, and evaluates performance before accepting any offer.

12. Due Diligence Checklist Before Accepting a Crypto Trading Offer

Verify:

  • Licensing status (SEC, CFTC, FinCEN)
  • Risk rules and capital-allocation structure
  • Stability of the firm’s funding
  • Compliance expectations
  • Withdrawal and payout policies

If a firm avoids these questions, walk away.

13. Resources & Organisations to Follow for Regulatory Updates

You must keep updated with:

  • SEC announcements
  • CFTC enforcement notices
  • IRS digital-asset tax guidance
  • FINRA updates
  • OFAC sanction lists
  • State-level regulations (e.g., NYDFS for New York)

This is essential for operating safely in the U.S. market.

Final Thoughts

Finding a crypto-trader job in the United States is a strategic process. The U.S. rewards clarity, verifiable skill, and regulatory awareness. Focus on building a public portfolio, understanding compliance expectations, and positioning yourself in the right networks, both institutional and Web3-native.

At CoinTerminal, we believe early-stage Web3 participation should be simple and transparent.

No presale KYC.

No token gating.

No staking.

Just connect your wallet and participate.

We also run a monthly crypto lottery for users contributing 250+ USDT to any refundable IDO.

Explore our active sales and start your journey with a platform designed for accessibility and clarity.

Disclaimer

This article is for educational purposes only. It is a general guide for founders and users navigating the Web3 space. It does not constitute financial advice. Always do your own research before making any investment decisions.If you want to learn more about raising funds or which IDOs to look into, our team is here to help. Feel free to reach out to us on Telegram at any time.

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