Legal Intern, Payments Product

Circle (NYSE: CRCL) is one of the world’s leading internet financial platform companies, building the foundation of a more open, global economy through digital assets, payment applications, and programmable blockchain infrastructure. Circle’s platform includes the world’s largest regulated stablecoin network anchored by USDC, Circle Payments Network for global money movement, and Arc, an enterprise-grade blockchain designed to become the Economic OS for the internet. Enterprises, financial institutions, and developers use Circle to power trusted, internet-scale financial innovation. Learn more at circle.com.

What you’ll be part of:

Circle is committed to visibility and stability in everything we do. As we grow as an organization, we're expanding into some of the world's strongest jurisdictions. Speed and efficiency are motivators for our success and our employees live by our company values: High Integrity, Future Forward, Multistakeholder, Mindful, and Driven by Excellence. We have built a flexible work environment where new ideas are encouraged and everyone is a stakeholder.

About the Program:

The Circle Internship Program is a 12-week, remote-first experience running from May 26 to August 14, 2026, designed to give interns hands-on experience building the future of global finance. Interns work on meaningful, real-world projects that support Circle’s mission to enable the frictionless exchange of value.

The program includes three in-person experiences designed to deepen learning and connection: 

• Circle Forward Week in Miami

• Development Week in the San Francisco 

• Final Showcase Week at Circle’s New York City HQ in One World Trade Center

Throughout the summer, interns are supported by managers, mentors, and a close-knit cohort, with opportunities for learning, growth, and exposure to leaders across the company.

What you’ll be responsible for:
Supporting the Product Legal Team in advancing the Circle Payments Network (CPN) and payments related initiatives. You will partner cross-functionally with product, engineering, compliance, and legal teams to identify and address legal, regulatory, and operational considerations as new blockchain and payments products move from design to execution. This role provides meaningful ownership, structured mentorship, and visible deliverables that contribute to responsible product innovation.
 

What you'll work on: .

• Identifying and addressing legal, regulatory, and operational risks related to Circle payment product launches.

• Contributing to the development of compliance and operational controls for CPN’s modular platform and marketplace.

• Reviewing and analyzing product and technical documentation to ensure alignment with legal requirements and industry standards.

• Conducting regulatory research and producing clear, concise written legal analysis to support product decisions.

• Collaborating with cross-functional stakeholders across product, engineering, compliance, and legal to align technology design with regulatory boundaries.

• Preparing written briefings and summaries for senior product counsel and cross-functional partners.

What you’ll bring to Circle:
Core Requirements:

• Enrollment at a top law school (T-14 preferred) with strong academic performance.

• Demonstrated intellectual curiosity about stablecoins, payments systems, and blockchain fundamentals (e.g., consensus models, staking, tokenomics).

• Comfort reviewing and analyzing product and technical documentation with rigorous attention to detail.

• Strong legal research skills with the ability to produce clear, concise written legal analysis.

• Interest in regulatory research and commercial drafting in emerging financial technology environments.

• Ability to work collaboratively in a cross-functional, team-oriented environment.
   

Preferred Requirements:

• Prior coursework or experience in financial regulation, fintech, payments, or digital assets.

• Experience drafting legal memoranda, commercial agreements, or policy documents.

• Experience/familia