Bitcoin Daily: Blockchain Startup Hires PayPal Co-Founder, Ripple Adds Oman Bank To Blockchain Network

Origin Protocol, a blockchain-based sharing economy startup, has brought a PayPal co-founder on board as a research and development engineer, CoinDesk reported. Yu Pan will spearhead the startup’s research team, according co-founder Josh Fraser.

Prior to his new role, Pan was also an early YouTube employee and an employee of Google. He also co-founded a subscription service geared toward children called Kiwi Crate, but his latest job taps into his interest in finance.

“For financial startups, I’ve always looked for something that can create a seismic shift in the way commerce is done – I believe Origin Protocol can be one of those,” Pan told CoinDesk via e-mail.

In other news, Ripple has added a new member to its RippleNet blockchain network, CoinDesk reported. BankDhofar, a bank based in Oman, joined the network in an effort to tap into Ripple’s blockchain technology for cross-border payments. But the bank did not detail which Ripple products it would like to use, or if it wanted to use XRP ledger.

Even so, the move comes as the bank seeks to lead in the Gulf region with its “Together 2020” effort. “This initiative is part of BankDhofar’s continuous transformation plan, which is putting digital technology and innovation at the core of its strategy to improve the experience of its customers,” the bank said in a press release.

And those that happened to be looking at the Swiss National Bank in Zurich witnessed quite the spectacle on Saturday (April 28), NewsBTC reported: A giant 15-foot bitcoin logo was projected onto the building.

While it’s unclear who exactly made the projection, NewsBTC said that a new blockchain hub across the street from the bank may be behind the endeavor. The emblem might be fitting, though, as Switzerland is becoming home to more than 200 crypto-focused companies – and the town of Zug has earned the nickname of “crypto valley.”