Facebook grows blockchain team as it looks to onboard 13 new staff

Startups • February 17, 2019, 11:16AM EST
UPDATED: February 18, 2019, 8:22AM EST
The Block

Facebook is now advertising for 13 blockchain-related jobs, its careers site shows; nearly double as many as in December. At the end of 2018, the social media empire's blockchain team stood at 32 personnel according to a LinkedIn search, having publicly launched in May.

THE SCOOP

Keep up with the latest news, trends, charts and views on crypto and DeFi with a new biweekly newsletter from The Block's Frank Chaparro

By signing-up you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
By signing-up you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Recent adverts for a technical 'Marketplace Payments Blockchain' role (which is no longer accepting applications) could add further weight to speculation that Facebook is creating a stablecoin for WhatsApp transfers in India. Another ongoing vacancy for a 'Brand Strategy' manager might also suggest that the company is ramping up for a pending launch date, with such hires typically corresponding with the end of a product’s technical development phase. Still, the company has been tight-lipped about the full nature of its blockchain tech ambitions for its two billion users, and its plans remain unconfirmed.

Several listings, including a Data Scientist role, that appeared in December are still open, although all positions, bar one, were removed from the site temporarily over Christmas.

About Author

Isabel is The Block's London and European reporter. She previously reported for Reuters in Madrid and London, following on from her time as a freelance journalist for the Guardian and the New York Times. She has a Bachelors in War Studies from King’s College London and a Master of Philosophy from the University of Oxford. Conflict of Interest: Edward Woodford, the CEO of SeedCX, is Isabel's brother. She does not report on any issues related to Seed or advise other authors in any regard.

More by Isabel Woodford