Blockchain startup XYO partners with Microsoft to offer geospatial blockchain apps and services in Azure

A lot has changed since we last covered XYO, a blockchain startup developing the world’s first people-powered cryptographic location network built on blockchain technology. Today, the company announced a new partnership with software giant Microsoft to make its applications and services available on Microsoft Corp.’s Azure cloud.  XYO operates a comprehensive location network that’s enabled by data from devices such as smartphones, tablets, smart appliances and connected cars. The network is meant to provide “high accuracy, real-time location data” that’s validated by those devices, and provides a way to execute so-called “smart contracts” based on that data.

With this announcement, XYO joins current partners Ernst & Young, Accenture, Consensys, and other leading organizations. Microsoft’s Partner Network is designed to make resources available to a wide variety of technology companies so they can create business value directly related to the Microsoft technology ecosystem.

As part of the agreement, XYO will make available a future-ready resource for development, testing and production of decentralized blockchain apps. XYO will also make its Internet of Things (IoT) beacons and blockchain-based network available on Microsoft Azure, and also will create push-button smart contract services for Microsoft Azure. Additionally, XYO will have access to Microsoft’s “Go-To-Market Services” and technical advisors to further drive sales and visibility of the integrated solutions, to Microsoft customers and partners, globally.

XYO aims to offer its developers libraries and tools that work seamlessly with Microsoft’s wide array of services (Compute Services, Data Services, IoT and more). XYO’s geospatial blockchain apps and services, once deployed, will be offered in Microsoft Azure’s Marketplace, enabling a global community of developers to build and deploy their own geospatial blockchain applications, all powered by XYO.

Founded in 2012 by Arie Trouw, Markus Levin, and Scott Scheper,  XYO is a cryptonetwork of smartphones, computers, smart-home devices and more (aka “Things”). These Things observe and archive data from the physical world using a special cryptographic protocol. This process, called “Geomining”, is powered by the digital oil of tomorrow: a cryptocurrency called XYO. With over 1 million location-verifying beacons already in the world, and more added to our network every day, the XYO Network is blockchain’s first decentralized, trustless & secure Proof of Location network.

“We’re very excited to announce our partnership with Microsoft,” commented Arie Trouw, Architect and Co-Founder of XYO. “Microsoft’s network will enable us to make our blockchain-based IoT nodes integrate seamlessly with Microsoft Azure-based applications, ensuring that our solutions reach one of the largest customer bases and marketplaces in the industry.”

Since its inception in 2012, XYO has developed trusted IoT technology that connects the digital world with the physical one. In 2018, we unveiled the XYO Network, the world’s first geospatial blockchain network backed with cryptography. With more than 1 million location-verifying beacons around the planet, our technology rivals the GPS network, and radically transforms the world’s leading industries. Partners include mapping giant Esri, FedEx Research Institute, Re/Max Mexico and Spaceflight Industries. XYO Advisors come from leading organizations including National Geographic and the World Economic Forum.