Bitcoin debit card provider Coinkite has announced that bitcoin core developer Peter Todd and forex trading veteran Nooshin Mohtashami will join the company in key advisory roles.

Todd will serve as Coinkite’s ‘Chief Naysayer’, helping the company review its infrastructure and business practices, while Mohtashami will join the company’s advisory board.

Noted for his work as a bitcoin developer, Todd is perhaps best known for his involvement with so-called ‘Bitcoin 2.0’ projects like Counterparty, Mastercoin and Colored Coins.

He told CoinDesk that he was drawn to the project, in part, because its focus on product development gives him a ‘balance’ to his other work, saying:

“They’re very production focused and are implementing relatively simple technology and doing the job perfectly. My other clients are pushing fundamental theory forward – they’re much more experimental.”

Empowering users

As Chief Naysayer, Todd will act as a key advisor as the company grows and evolves.

He remarked that, for him, empowering bitcoin users through decentralisation is central to providing more secure and efficient tools to the ecosystem.

Todd said:

“My goals at Coinkite are ultimately about decentralisation. We have to give users the tools they need to use bitcoin securely so the underlying system can remain free of onerous regulation. Coinkite’s model of professional security as a service is a good option for some users.”

Todd added that he won’t actually code or contribute directly to Coinkite’s projects; rather, he will serve as a guiding voice for the company.

Pivotal role

Mohtashami’s role at the company will no doubt draw from her background in currency services, having previously served as chief operating officer for OANDA, a forex trading and currency data service.

According to Coinkite CEO Rodolfo Novak, Mohtashami will play a pivotal role in the company’s transformation into an “international crypto bank”:

“Nooshin has been exploring the bitcoin space over the last year and we’re very excited to welcome her to our growing team. Her background as a computer engineer and her in-the-trenches business leadership experience will serve her well.”

Steady growth

The advisor appointments are an indication that Coinkite is seriously pushing for a bigger spot in the bitcoin business ecosystem.

The company began testing its point-of-sale (POS) technology last year, including a chip-and-pin card reader designed to accept Coinkite’s bitcoin debit card. At the time, Novak told CoinDesk that this approach relies on the notion that “people will start to adopt the tools that they are already used to”.

Coinkite has since expanded on its initial business model, offering secure storage for bitcoin companies as well as more advanced POS technology.

The hiring of Todd and Mohtashami suggests that Coinkite plans to further develop in this direction.

Image via Coinkite