Digital Assets & Blockchain Security, Executive Director

Morgan Stanley•New York, NY

About The Position

Position Summary: We are seeking a forward-thinking executive director to lead the cybersecurity strategy for our digital asset ecosystem, including cryptocurrencies, blockchain infrastructure, and decentralized applications. This role is responsible for protecting digital wallets, smart contracts, custody solutions, and blockchain nodes, while ensuring compliance with evolving regulatory frameworks and maintaining trust in our digital asset operations. Key Responsibilities: Digital Asset Security Strategy Define and execute a comprehensive security strategy for digital assets, including hot/cold wallet infrastructure, key management systems (KMS), and blockchain nodes. Establish and enforce security policies for crypto custody, token issuance, staking, and DeFi integrations. Blockchain & Smart Contract Risk Management Oversee security audits of smart contracts and decentralized applications (dApps). Implement controls to mitigate risks such as private key compromise, double-spending, front-running, and flash loan attacks. Threat Intelligence & Incident Response Monitor emerging threats in the crypto ecosystem, including exchange hacks, protocol exploits, and insider threats. Lead incident response for blockchain-related breaches, including forensic investigations and regulatory reporting. Compliance & Regulatory Alignment Ensure adherence to global crypto regulations (e.g., MiCA, FATF Travel Rule, SEC/FinCEN guidance). Collaborate with legal and compliance teams to support AML/KYC, transaction monitoring, and audit readiness. Security Architecture & Infrastructure Design secure architectures for blockchain nodes, validator infrastructure, and cross-chain bridges. Partner with engineering teams to embed security into blockchain development lifecycles and DevSecOps pipelines. Leadership & Collaboration Build and lead a specialized digital asset security team. Serve as a strategic advisor to executive leadership on crypto risk, resilience, and innovation. Preferred Qualifications: 10+ years in cybersecurity leadership, with 3+ years in blockchain, crypto, or digital asset environments. Deep understanding of blockchain protocols (e.g., Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana), cryptographic primitives, and smart contract security. Experience with digital asset custody solutions, MPC (multi-party computation), and HSMs. Familiarity with DeFi, NFTs, Layer 1/2 networks, and tokenomics. Strong knowledge of regulatory and compliance frameworks in the digital asset space. WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT FROM MORGAN STANLEY: At Morgan Stanley, we raise, manage and allocate capital for our clients – helping them reach their goals. We do it in a way that’s differentiated – and we’ve done that for 90 years. Our values - putting clients first, doing the right thing, leading with exceptional ideas, committing to diversity and inclusion, and giving back - aren’t just beliefs, they guide the decisions we make every day to do what's best for our clients, communities and more than 80,000 employees in 1,200 offices across 42 countries. At Morgan Stanley, you’ll find an opportunity to work alongside the best and the brightest, in an environment where you are supported and empowered. Our teams are relentless collaborators and creative thinkers, fueled by their diverse backgrounds and experiences. We are proud to support our employees and their families at every point along their work-life journey, offering some of the most attractive and comprehensive employee benefits and perks in the industry. There’s also ample opportunity to move about the business for those who show passion and grit in their work. To learn more about our offices across the globe, please copy and paste https://www.morganstanley.com/about-us/global-offices into your browser. Morgan Stanley's goal is to build and maintain a workforce that is diverse in experience and background but uniform in reflecting our standards of integrity and excellence. Consequently, our recruiting efforts reflect our desire to attract and retain the best and brightest from all talent pools. We want to be the first choice for prospective employees. It is the policy of the Firm to ensure equal employment opportunity without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, age, sex, sex stereotype, gender, gender identity or expression, transgender, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship, disability, marital and civil partnership/union status, pregnancy, veteran or military service status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law. Morgan Stanley is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversifying its workforce (M/F/Disability/Vet). At Morgan Stanley, we advise, originate, trade, manage and distribute capital for people, governments and institutions, always with a standard of excellence and guided by our core values. Morgan Stanley is dedicated to providing first-class service to our clients, in a way that reflects our commitment to creating a more sustainable future and fostering stronger communities around the world. In each line of business, we strive to demonstrate our belief in the power of transformative thinking, innovative strategies and leading-edge solutions—and in the ability of capital to work for the benefit of all society. What We Do

Requirements

10+ years in cybersecurity leadership, with 3+ years in blockchain, crypto, or digital asset environments.
Deep understanding of blockchain protocols (e.g., Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana), cryptographic primitives, and smart contract security.
Strong knowledge of regulatory and compliance frameworks in the digital asset space.

Nice To Haves

Experience with digital asset custody solutions, MPC (multi-party computation), and HSMs.
Familiarity with DeFi, NFTs, Layer 1/2 networks, and tokenomics.

Responsibilities

Digital Asset Security Strategy Define and execute a comprehensive security strategy for digital assets, including hot/cold wallet infrastructure, key management systems (KMS), and blockchain nodes.
Establish and enforce security policies for crypto custody, token issuance, staking, and DeFi integrations.
Blockchain & Smart Contract Risk Management Oversee security audits of smart contracts and decentralized applications (dApps).
Implement controls to mitigate risks such as private key compromise, double-spending, front-running, and flash loan attacks.
Threat Intelligence & Incident Response Monitor emerging threats in the crypto ecosystem, including exchange hacks, protocol exploits, and insider threats.
Lead incident response for blockchain-related breaches, including forensic investigations and regulatory reporting.
Compliance & Regulatory Alignment Ensure adherence to global crypto regulations (e.g., MiCA, FATF Travel Rule, SEC/FinCEN guidance).
Collaborate with legal and compliance teams to support AML/KYC, transaction monitoring, and audit readiness.
Security Architecture & Infrastructure Design secure architectures for blockchain nodes, validator infrastructure, and cross-chain bridges.
Partner with engineering teams to embed security into blockchain development lifecycles and DevSecOps pipelines.
Leadership & Collaboration Build and lead a specialized digital asset security team.
Serve as a strategic advisor to executive leadership on crypto risk, resilience, and innovation.