Ex-NATO Chief, Danish PM Now Advises Blockchain Firm Concordium

Ers Fogh Rasmussen, previously both prime minister of Denmark and secretary-general of NATO, has joined blockchain identity startup Concordium as a strategic advisor.

In an announcement Wednesday, the Switzerland-based firm's chairman, Lars Seier Christensen, said Rasmussen will play a "Pivotal" role in the firm's global expansion plans.

Concordium was founded by Christensen, who also founded Saxo Bank and was formerly its CEO. The startup is building what it describes as an identity and know-your-customer-validating, regulatorily compliant blockchain network.

The firm launched a proof-of-concept of the service back in January, with a beta release expected.

Christensen said Concordium plans to move into areas that would require a blockchain solution for "Secure and private communications, as well as liaising with governmental departments."

The network will support "Tamper-proof" voting systems to "Protect the institutions of civil society, which are fundamental to the functioning of democracy," he added.

"We are only beginning to see the benefits that blockchain technology will bring to our societies, including in our democratic processes. Concordium's blockchain-based voting solution offers a means of voting that is trustworthy, quick, and cost-effective. I am pleased to be working with Concordium to make sure that every vote is counted."

Concordium aims to combine a built-in anti-money-laundering and KYC function with zero-knowledge proof privacy tech and compliance with the EU's General Data Protection Regulation.

Back in January, former vice chairman of NASDAQ Europe, Hans-Ole Jochumsen, also joined.

The firm's advisory board to guide the firm on its compliance efforts with his expertise in taxation, know-your-customer practices and transaction provenance.