About EEI

The European Ethereum Institute (formerly EUCI) is a pan-European Ethereum and DeFi advocacy group. Our mission is to establish Ethereum as vital public infrastructure within Europe's digital and financial environment - on par with the internet - and to activate policy strategies that enable, rather than inhibit, its development. We engage directly with the European Commission, ECB, ESMA, EBA, AMLA, national central banks, and senior executives from European financial institutions.

The Role

We are looking for a rigorous, intellectually independent researcher to support EEI's evidence base. This is a part-time role (50% FTE), designed to be compatible with an active Master's or PhD program. You will produce research outputs - data sheets, infographics, and structured reports - that directly inform our policy positions and stakeholder communications.

Research Scope

You will work across the following subject areas:

• Stablecoin issuance - mapping the stablecoin landscape on Ethereum, with regulatory context (MiCA, ECB positions)
• DeFi models and taxonomy - mapping the existing DeFi models, taking into consideration their level of decentralisation and the latest developments; models of integration with the financial institutions
• Tokenisation - a research on the status of tokenised assets and projects in the EU & UK, the latest trends and challenges
• AI & blockchain - the research on the intersection of the agentic economy, payment & e-commerce and blockchain
• Ethereum-based economy - scoping the economic activity, value flows, and infrastructure dependencies within the Ethereum ecosystem
• Economic impact of Web3 / DAOs / Tokens - quantitative and qualitative assessments of economic contribution, job creation, capital formation
• DeFi founder migration from the EU - surveying and documenting regulatory-driven emigration of DeFi teams and talent from Europe
• Primary research - designing and conducting surveys of founders, companies, and individuals across DeFi, Fintech, traditional financial institutions, and regulators

Outputs

• Data sheets and structured briefs (policy-ready, concise)
• Infographics for stakeholder and public communication
• Long-form reports suitable for regulatory submission or public release
• Survey instruments and cleaned datasets

Profile We're Looking For

Required

• Finished or currently enrolled in a Master's or PhD program in a relevant field - economics, financial regulation, computer science, political economy, or a directly adjacent discipline
• Demonstrated understanding of Ethereum, DeFi mechanics, and EU crypto regulation (MiCA, DORA, eIDAS 2 awareness is a strong plus)
• Ability to work independently, hit deadlines, and produce publication-quality written output
• Comfortable conducting structured and semi-structured interviews/surveys with senior stakeholders
• Fluent in English; additional EU languages are an asset
• Europe based (while the work is mostly remote, it’s important to meet in person regularly)

Preferred

• Prior research output - thesis chapter, working paper, published piece, or equivalent
• Experience mapping or classifying DeFi protocols
• Familiarity with on-chain data tools (Dune Analytics, Nansen, Etherscan-level literacy minimum)
• Exposure to EU institutional processes or policy environments

AI Tools Disclosure (Required in Application)

We expect researchers to use AI tools competently. As part of your application, describe which AI tools you currently use for research workflows and how you combine them (e.g., literature review, data extraction, synthesis, drafting). This is not a filter - it is a signal of how you work.

How to Apply

Send the following to “josef@ethereum.institute” with subject: “Research associate position”: Note: Any other subject line won’t make it through the filter.

• Motivation letter - exactly 3 paragraphs, on the subject of European accelerationism. We are explicitly asking for your own voice and reasoning. AI-generated or heavily AI-edited letters will be disqualifying; we are screening for intellectual style and genuine conviction.
• AI tools disclosure - a short description of which tools you use and in what combination for research tasks.
• LinkedIn profile - a link to your public profile is sufficient; no CV required at this stage.

Send your application to “josef@ethereum.institute” with subject: “Research associate position”. Note: Any other subject line won’t make it through the filter.

What We Offer

• Direct exposure to EU-level policy processes and institutional stakeholders
• Work that materially shapes Ethereum advocacy across the ECB, ESMA, European Parliament, and national regulators
• Flexible, async-compatible working arrangement suited to academic schedule
• Compensation commensurate with part-time academic research roles (details on request)