Tech news: Armanino expands blockchain assurance platform

The Top 100 Firm continues as a pioneer in distributed ledger solutions; Damien Greathead moves to practice ignition; Xero launches a global ad campaign, and more stories from technology.

More blockchain assurance tools from Armanino

Armanino's offices
Top 100 Firm Armanino has expanded its TrustExplorer blockchain assurance platform with its new "Trusted Node" data service, which will provide reliable transaction and account data to a blockchain's users and their auditors.

The firm rolled out Trusted Node's first implementation in a partnership with public distributed ledger platform Hedera Hashgraph. The Armanino Trusted Hedera Mirror Node will provide information for balance sheet accounts with material activity in Hedera's native token, the HBAR.

“Putting data on blockchains and distributed ledgers offers great promise; however, making that data usable is hard. We believe there can be no mainstream adoption without enterprise-grade trust mechanisms. Today, we are building more trust and transparency with key partners and providing real tools to facilitate adoption,” said Andries Verschelden, Armanino's partner-in-charge of blockchain.

KPMG invests in sales and use tax tech

KPMG logo on wall
The offices of KPMG in Chicago
Big Four firm KPMG has taken a minority interest in LumaTax, a sales and use tax technology company with a platform of tools designed to help accountants deliver sales and use tax advisory services. (See our story.)

Damien Greathead joins Practice Ignition

Greathead-Damien-Practice Ignition
Damien Greathead has joined client engagement solution provider Practice Ignition as head of marketing. Previously a vice president at Receipt Bank, Greathead is a well-known speaker on technology, change management and pricing. For his new role he will be returning to Australia from the U.S.

Sovos acquires educational company

Tax compliance solution provider Sovos has acquired Booke, a provider of educational seminars to employees of insurance companies and the IRS. The purchase also comes with Booke's software for federal income tax filing, boosting Sovos' stable of statutory reporting solutions and educational services.

Xero launches global ad campaign

Xero TV screen.jpg
Online accounting solution provider Xero launched a global brand campaign that highlights the struggles small businesses face in trying to do their accounting. The campaign will run across a variety of platforms, including digital, outdoor, podcast networks and radio.
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