Blockchain Startup Symbiont Adds Ex-Morgan Stanley Director

Former Morgan Stanley managing director Caitlin Long has joined blockchain startup

Symbiont as president and chairman of the board.

The New York-based blockchain firm, which is seeking to advance capital markets blockchain applications in syndicated loans and OTC derivatives, announced the hiring today. With the move, Long brings expertise honed during tenures at bothMorgan Stanley and Credit Suisse, including time spent on the former firm's distributed ledger working group.

In statements, Long revealed she has also completed an undisclosed invested in Symbiont as part of its still-ongoing Series A first rumored in early 2016. Further, she used the platform to promote what she believes are the strengths of the company's technology.

Long wrote:

"Ours is the only smart contracts platform that was purpose­built for institutional financial markets. We’re ahead of our peers in the race to build production-­ready software, because it’s already going into production."

Overall, Long sought to position the company as one that is currently able to offer a working smart contracts platform, scalable blockchain technology and a team that is capable of executing on strategies in line with those of enterprise firms.

Founded in 2014 by CEO Mark Smith and Counterparty creators Adam Krellenstein and Evan Wagner, Symbiont has so far raised more than $1.25m in funding and boasts more than 10 employees.

Its most notable announcement came in May of this year, when it revealed it was working on a pilot project with the state of Delaware.

Desk image via Shutterstock

Children's Aid Organization UNICEF Seeks Blockchain Lead

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) is seeking a software developer and consultant who can help it lead its blockchain efforts.

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A terms of reference sheet published last week outlines in detail how the international aid organization is seeking to leverage the technology in accordance with its goals to improve child welfare around the world.
Specifically, the prospective developer and consultant would aid in "research, consulting and prototyping applications for humanitarian purposes".
UNICEF goes on to highlight existing projects focused on identity and remittances – two areas the organization has said in the past represent key use cases.
UNICEF representative Dana Zucker told CoinDesk:

"We want to grow our knowledge and thinking, so we want to bring someone on who can help lead the charge on thinking, researching and creating use cases for how blockchain will play a role in UNICEF's work."

The role will likely form one aspect of the agency’s overall strategy toward blockchain applications, which includes a commitment to funding startups through its innovation arm.
Image Credit: Lucky Team Studio / Shutterstock.com