Symbiont taps Gemalto to offer high-assurance security for blockchain-based services

AMSTERDAM, The Netherlands, Jan. 28, 2016 -- Gemalto (Euronext NL0000400653 GTO), the world leader in digital security, and Symbiont, a pioneer in the use of blockchain and distributed ledger technology in capital markets, today announced they are working together to enable financial services organizations to securely execute smart contracts and other blockchain-based transactions. Under the partnership, Symbiont will use Gemalto's SafeNet long-proven Hardware Security Modules (HSMs) to protect blockchain identities and transactions, helping to prevent theft, forgery, and other types of malfeasance.

Blockchain is a disruptive new technology that allows transactions to be carried out over peer-to-peer financial networks and acts as a distributed ledger that gives transactional authority directly to each counterparty involved. Symbiont's platform uses blockchain to allow institutions and investors to issue, manage and trade a range of financial instruments more efficiently over an encrypted peer-to-peer network. These instruments, also known as Smart Securities™, are self-enforcing, self-executing contracts that offer cost and time efficiencies compared with traditionally brokered transactions. Symbiont's integration of Gemalto's SafeNet HSMs ensures the highest levels of regulatory compliance and trust for cryptographic identities authorizing these transactions.

"Bringing Gemalto's market-leading HSM security modules assurance to Symbiont's Smart Contract Blockchain solution is not only an exciting offering, but a clear step towards securing Blockchain-based transactions," said Mark Yakabuski, Vice President of Business Development Strategy at Gemalto. "We look forward to helping customers add trust to the emerging smart contracts space."

"No corners can be cut in securing information in the 'distributed trust' environment enabled by blockchain technology," said Louis Stone, Managing Director at Symbiont. "To seize the opportunity in capital markets, each facet has to be best-of-breed. The combination of Gemalto's industry-leading HSMs and Symbiont's Smart Securities^TM delivers just that."

Blockchain-based smart contracts save time and increase efficiencies in the execution of transactions, which can include anything from bond issuance to coupon payments to restrictions on trade. Once a security is issued onto the ledger powered by the Symbiont Smart Securities™ platform, it acts autonomously, eliminating traditionally manual mid- and back-office functions. These transactions and identities will be secured by Gemalto's SafeNet HSMs which will protect the cryptographic keys and provide encryption, decryption, authentication and digital signing services for the smart contract transactions.

Gemalto's SafeNet HSMs are dedicated cryptographic processors specifically designed for protection of the lifecycle of cryptographic keys that secures transactions, identities and applications. SafeNet HSMs are trust anchors that protect the cryptographic infrastructure of the most security-conscious organizations in the world, by securely managing, processing, and storing cryptographic keys inside a hardened, tamper-resistant device. SafeNet HSMs provide the broadest ecosystem of integrated technology partners. They are trusted by many of the world's largest financial institutions to protect more than $1 trillion dollars in financial transactions every day.

About Symbiont

Symbiont is bridging the gap between the emerging blockchain ecosystem and Wall Street. They are developing a platform that allows financial market participants to create programmable versions of traditional securities that take the form of Smart Securities™: self-executing digital contracts that are stored in a distributed ledger called a "blockchain." The platform will allow users to issue, manage, locate, and trade smart securities™ efficiently in a single, global, peer-to-peer financial network. www.symbiont.io

About Gemalto

Gemalto (Euronext NL0000400653 GTO) is the world leader in digital security, with 2014 annual revenues of €2.5 billion and blue-chip customers in over 180 countries.

Gemalto helps people trust one another in an increasingly connected digital world. Billions of people want better lifestyles, smarter living environments, and the freedom to communicate, shop, travel, bank, entertain and work – anytime, everywhere – in ways that are enjoyable and safe. In this fast moving mobile and digital environment, we enable companies and administrations to offer a wide range of trusted and convenient services by securing financial transactions, mobile services, public and private clouds, eHealthcare systems, access to eGovernment services, the Internet and internet-of-things and transport ticketing systems.

Gemalto's unique technology portfolio - from advanced cryptographic software embedded in a variety of familiar objects, to highly robust and scalable back-office platforms for authentication, encryption and digital credential management - is delivered by our world-class service teams. Our 14,000 employees operate out of 99 offices, 34 personalization and data centers, and 24 research and software development centers located in 46 countries.

For more information visit www.gemalto.com, www.justaskgemalto.com, blog.gemalto.com, or follow @gemalto on Twitter.

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