Sanctions Crypto Investigator

About the team + role

We are building an elite team, applying frontier technologies to the world’s biggest financial problems. We’re looking for bold thinkers. Sharp problem-solvers. Builders who are wired to make an impact. Robinhood isn’t a place for complacency, it’s where ambitious people do the best work of their careers. We’re a high-performing, fast-moving team with ethics at the center of everything we do. Expectations are high, and so are the rewards. 

The Financial Crimes (FinCrimes) Sanctions team plays a critical role in protecting Robinhood and its customers by identifying, investigating, and mitigating sanctions-related risks across our products and global operations. The team supports a rapidly evolving business, including cryptocurrency, brokerage, and money movement activities, while maintaining compliance with applicable U.S. and international sanctions requirements.

As a Sanctions Crypto Investigator you will be responsible for investigating potential sanctions exposure associated with cryptocurrency transactions, digital asset wallets, and customer activity. You will leverage blockchain analytics, investigative tools, and sound risk-based judgment to identify potential sanctions violations, assess complex transaction activity, and document defensible investigative conclusions.

This role is based in our Denver, CO, Westlake, TX, or New York NY office(s), with in-person attendance expected at least 3 days per week.

At Robinhood, we believe in the power of in-person work to accelerate progress, spark innovation, and strengthen community. Our office experience is intentional, energizing, and designed to fully support high-performing teams.

What you’ll do

• Conduct thorough investigations of cryptocurrency-related sanctions alerts, including customer screening matches, deposits, withdrawals, wallet addresses, and blockchain transactions.
• Leverage blockchain analytics tools, including TRM Labs or similar platforms, to evaluate direct and indirect sanctions exposure, trace transaction activity, and identify potential sanctions evasion typologies.
• Review and disposition potential matches against OFAC and other applicable sanctions lists, ensuring timely, accurate, and well-documented investigative decisions.
• Identify and escalate potential sanctions violations, including transactions or assets that may require blocking, rejecting, or additional regulatory review.
• Prepare clear, concise, and comprehensive investigative narratives, supporting documentation, and escalation recommendations.
• Monitor emerging cryptocurrency sanctions risks, regulatory developments, and illicit finance typologies to support ongoing risk identification and mitigation.
• Partner with Compliance, Legal, Engineering, Product, and other FinCrimes teams to resolve complex investigations and enhance sanctions screening capabilities.
• Identify opportunities to improve investigative workflows, screening effectiveness, operational efficiency, and automation.
• Assist with regulatory examinations, internal and external audits, quality assurance reviews, and management reporting.
• Maintain adherence to established procedures, regulatory requirements, and internal service-level expectations while managing investigative workloads.

What you bring

• 3+ years of experience in financial crimes, sanctions investigations, AML compliance, or a related field within financial services, fintech, cryptocurrency, or another regulated environment.
• Demonstrated experience investigating cryptocurrency transactions and assessing financial crimes or sanctions-related risks.
• Working knowledge of blockchain technology, digital asset transactions, wallet addresses, and cryptocurrency transaction flows.
• Experience using blockchain analytics tools such as TRM Labs, Chainalysis, Elliptic, or comparable platforms.
• Strong understanding of OFAC sanctions regulations, sanctions screening requirements, and common sanctions evasion methodologies.
• Experience conducting complex investigations, evaluating potential true positive matches, and preparing clear, defensible investigative documentation.
• Strong analytical and critical-thinking skills, with the ability to assess complex information and make sound, risk-based decisions.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate investigative findings and recommendations effectively.
• Ability to manage competing priorities, meet deadlines, and maintain a high degree of accuracy in a fast-paced environment.
• A collaborative mindset and willingness to partner across teams to solve problems and improve existing processes.
• High standards of integrity, professionalism, and discretion when handling confidential or sensitive information.

What we offer

• Challenging, high-impact work to grow your career.
• Performance driven compensation with multipliers for outsized impact, bonus programs, equity ownership, and 401(k) matching.
• Top Tier benefits to fuel your work, including 100% paid health insurance for employees with 90% coverage for dependents.
• Access to the Robinhood Employee Fund that gives eligible US employees the opportunity to invest in a private employee fund that provides exposure to Robinhood Ventures funds.
• Access to the best AI tools on the market and continuous AI skill-building for every employee, technical or not. 
• Lifestyle wallet - a highly flexible benefits spending account for wellness, learning, and more.
• Employer-paid life & disability insurance, fertility benefits, and mental health benefits.
• Time off to recharge including company holidays, paid time off, sick time, parental leave, and more!
• Exceptional office experience with catered meals, events, and comfortable workspaces.