Principal, Business Development - xStocks

About the Role

This role is crucial for driving the adoption and growth of xStocks by forging strategic partnerships across the crypto and blockchain ecosystem, positioning us at the forefront of tokenized asset innovation. You will be instrumental in expanding our footprint and accelerating the future of finance.

Responsibilities

• Identify and pursue strategic partnership opportunities within the cryptocurrency and blockchain ecosystem.
• Serve as the go-to lead for tokenized equities, representing xStocks with multiple exchanges, DeFi players, and institutional partners.
• Build and execute partnership strategies aligned with xStocks’ international growth roadmap, especially across APAC and other emerging markets.
• Act as a thought partner to our product, legal, marketing, and compliance teams, ensuring partner integrations are smooth, compliant, and value-driving.
• Educate and support internal and external stakeholders—especially those from TradFi backgrounds—on the distinctions and advantages of tokenized equities compared to traditional financial instruments.
• Maintain a pulse on evolving DeFi ecosystems, token standards, and on-chain protocols to inform partnership decisions.
• Represent xStocks at key industry events and conferences (occasional travel expected, ~1 week/month).
• Collaborate cross-functionally with team leads, including geo-expansion, international partnerships, and regional leads.

Requirements

• Minimum 5+ years in business development, strategic partnerships, or sales within crypto, DeFi, digital assets, or capital markets.
• Strong understanding of on-chain infrastructure, tokenized assets, and the DeFi ecosystem.
• Experience working with brokerages, trading desks, or capital markets infrastructure—must understand market structure and implications for tokenized assets.
• Proven success in negotiating and managing high-impact, cross-border partnerships.
• Entrepreneurial, collaborative, and comfortable navigating ambiguity in high-growth environments.
• Exposure to regulatory frameworks and compliance for tokenized securities or digital assets.
• Comfortable collaborating across time zones with occasional international travel.

Nice-to-Haves

• Existing networks and contacts within the crypto, DeFi, or digital assets space.

About the Team

This role sits within the equities team at Kraken, focused on the combined roadmap of traditional equities products and tokenized equities. We believe that the combination of traditional equities and tokenized equities will allow for new product types and forms never before seen, giving investors new ways to engage with the market and transforming how markets operate.