METACO has formed a partnership with the Frankfurt School Blockchain Center (FSBC). The former is a provider of security-critical infrastructure focused on enabling financial institutions to enter the digital asset ecosystem. The latter is a think tank and research centre which investigates the implications of the blockchain technology, crypto assets for enterprises and their business models.
Prof Dr Philipp Sandner, the Head of FSBC, concluded: “The new partnership between METACO and ourselves brings numerous benefits and synergies for both sides. Whilst METACO benefits from our network and research, especially in the area of custody, we also profit from the fact that we have gained another high-caliber partner from the field of digital finance.”
The METACO / FSBC partnership
The partnership will see the FSBC support research and development, and technical infrastructure. It will leverage the FSBC’s extensive network to:
- strengthen METACO’s service offerings
- expand METACO’s position as a leading security-critical infrastructure provider in the market.
In this context, METACO claims to be at the forefront in building the type of digital asset infrastructure, which is transforming the financial services industry. For example, Tier 1 and Tier 2 BaFin, Finma and MAS regulated banks, exchanges and infrastructure partners and implementing its SILO solution. It is an institutional operating system for digital assets which delivers a full-stack solution. It has attracted support from a diverse range of partners, including those involved with:
- integrated core banking software partners
- security solutions
- compliance
- trading
- tokenisation.
Commenting on the partnership, Seamus Donoghue, VP Sales & Business Development at METACO: “METACO is proud to be a partner of the leading organization in Germany and Europe that is transforming the financial services industry through its thought leadership, research, education, and joint industry initiatives.
“As the leading digital asset infrastructure partner to regulated banks and exchanges, both in Germany and internationally, we see significant synergies through this new partnership to further accelerate the institutional understanding, adoption, and use of crypto assets in Germany and Europe more broadly.”
FSBC
Founded in 2017, the Frankfurt School Blockchain Center is a think tank and research centre. Besides the development of prototypes, it serves as a platform for managers, startups, technology and industry experts to share knowledge and best practices. It enjoys an extensive network of industry ‘experts’, including:
- PwC
- eToro
- Consensys
- the International Token Standardization Association (ITSA).
The FSBC also stimulates new research impulses as well as developing training for both executives and students and executives. It has a focus on banking, finance, mobility and ‘Industrie 4.0. In this partnership, the FSBC will support METACO on research and development in the specific areas of custody and enterprise blockchain. The objective is to enhance METACO’s capabilities for transforming the financial services industry.
Enterprise Times: what does this mean
Strategic partnerships between industry and thinktanks/academic institutions and focused on blockchain make sense. This one, between METACO SA and the FSBC, is not the first and Enterprise Times does not expect it to be the last.
That said, Enterprise Times is of the view there is more likely to be more enthusiasm than results. Success demands greater focus than what the two partners describe above – more like what Commerzbank and Fraunhofer-Institute for Material Flow and Logistics (IML) sought.