Secure Trading, the payments and cyber security group, has announced that it has hired reformed hacktivist and renowned cyber security expert, Mustafa Al Bassam, as a security advisor on the company’s technology and services, including its new blockchain research project.

The blockchain research project ‘Trustery’ aims to commercialise blockchain technologies to improve the visibility and security of online payments.

“There are very few experts in blockchain technology, and we’re very lucky to have Mustafa on board. By developing this project we hope to use his skills and create technology to help make the world of ecommerce safer for thousands of customers”, said Kobus Paulsen, Chairman Secure Trading.

The press release said that Paulsen approached Mustafa to help the company develop and commercialise next generation payment innovations such as Bitcoin and blockchain. Mustafa will be working alongside Secure Trading’s senior management team including Paulsen, CTO Ian Hughes, and COO Gerald Kitchen.

“Working with Secure Trading I want to develop tools to make online payments safer,” said Mustafa. “The financial services industry has traditionally been a few years behind the curve when it comes to security practices. Secure Trading is trying to get ahead with blockchain technology and create modern, secure and fit for purpose services for its customers.”

Secure Trading said it is working with Mustafa to build a commercial platform to bring the security benefits of blockchain to its customers. In addition to the Trustery project, Mustafa will work closely with Secure Trading and its cyber security sister company Cognosec, as a security adviser.