Michael J. Toutonghi is the founder and lead developer of Verus, a privacy-focused blockchain project that utilizes zero-knowledge proofs to enable decentralized blockchain-as-a-service solutions. The project aims to provide applications such as voting, polls, and identity management with secure and scalable blockchain technology. Toutonghi's career spans over three decades, during which he has held key roles in major technology companies, including Microsoft, where he was a founding architect of the .NET platform. Additionally, his work has extended to machine learning, advertising technologies, and blockchain development. ^{[3] [4]}

Career

Michael Toutonghi’s career spans over three decades, with experience in both established corporations and entrepreneurial ventures. His professional journey began in the 1980s when he founded Sunny Hill Software in 1983. At Sunny Hill, Toutonghi developed Taskview, a multitasking program for PCs, which later became Omniview. This software gained attention for its competitive features in comparison to other multitasking systems of the time, such as Windows and Desqview. Over the years, Toutonghi’s career expanded to include work in emerging technologies, including blockchain, where he is currently involved with privacy-focused solutions.

In the late 1980s, Toutonghi joined SOTA Technology, where he served as Director of Research and Development from 1986 to 1989. During this time, he contributed to software development efforts that focused on enhancing IBM PCs, as well as creating BIOS modules and graphics card software.

Toutonghi’s next role was at Gibson Research Corporation, where he worked from 1989 to 1992 as Director of Research and Development. There, he led software development initiatives that contributed to advancements in software and systems architecture.

In 1992, Toutonghi joined Microsoft, where he would spend over a decade shaping the company's software development efforts. He started as a developer working on Windows 95, eventually rising to the position of Vice President and Distinguished Engineer. During this time, he played a role in the development of multiple Microsoft products, and was promoted to Vice President in 2001, overseeing key projects across the company. His contributions were instrumental in many of Microsoft’s major releases during this period.

From 2003 to 2007, Toutonghi founded and served as CEO of Vizrea, a mobile-centric service for sharing photos, videos, and messages. The company was later acquired by Microsoft and became WebFives, further contributing to the expansion of Microsoft’s cloud services.

In 2007, Toutonghi left Microsoft to take on the role of Technical Fellow and Vice President at Parallels Corporation, where he worked until 2014. As CTO of Parallels, he was responsible for leading the development of virtualization and cloud technologies that improved performance and accessibility for both businesses and consumers.

From 2013 to the present, Toutonghi has been the CEO and Chief Scientist at Functionalize, Inc., based in Seattle. The company is known for creating F-Electric, a highly conductive 3D printing filament that enables the printing of electrical circuits directly within objects. This development opened new possibilities for 3D printing, combining the process with electrical components.

In 2018, Toutonghi became the lead developer for Verus Coin, a blockchain project focused on privacy and decentralized applications using zero-knowledge proofs. Verus Coin aims to provide secure, scalable blockchain technology for a variety of applications, including voting, identity management, and more. ^{[3] [2] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8]}

Interviews

Michael Toutonghi on Verus DeFi

In an interview aired on the YouTube channel "Digital Notice (Crypto & Blockchain Media)" on July 15, 2022, Michael Toutonghi shared insights into the vision and technology behind Verus DeFi, a decentralized blockchain project focused on building a community-driven infrastructure. According to Toutonghi, the Verus protocol represents an innovative approach in the blockchain space by combining Layer 0 and Layer 1 blockchain protocols with cross-chain capabilities.

Toutonghi emphasized that Verus DeFi is built around the idea of a decentralized and community-driven ecosystem, which operates without a central company or hierarchical structure. He highlighted the project's aim to enable seamless cross-chain transactions, liquidity conversion, and the promotion of rent-free public infrastructure for global use. According to him, the ability for users to transact across multiple blockchains without needing native currencies simplifies the user experience and facilitates the adoption of blockchain technology.

The interview also touched on the security aspect of the protocol. Toutonghi explained that Verus uses a "Proof-of-Power" protocol to protect the network from potential 51% attacks, ensuring transaction integrity and stability.

Furthermore, Toutonghi shared his belief in the long-term vision of a truly decentralized world, achieved through inclusive participation. He outlined how the Verus project strives to create a public blockchain infrastructure that allows businesses and communities to operate without profit-driven motives, offering a decentralized platform that supports diverse economic models.

In summary, the interview provided an overview of the key innovations behind Verus DeFi, emphasizing its potential to reshape the decentralized finance ecosystem with a focus on cross-chain functionality, community involvement, and robust security measures. According to Toutonghi, Verus DeFi represents a step forward in achieving a more decentralized, inclusive blockchain ecosystem. ^[1]

Michael Toutonghi on the Verus Project

In an interview on the "TKYOLabs" channel on September 28, 2022, Michael Toutonghi discussed the Verus project, a community-driven blockchain protocol focused on scalability, security, and decentralized finance. According to Toutonghi, Verus is designed to be a global, decentralized project that operates without a central company or investors. This structure, he explained, promotes a more resilient and collaborative ecosystem compared to traditional top-down corporate models.

Toutonghi highlighted several key features of the Verus protocol, including its high scalability, with the ability to process around 150 transactions per second and support an unlimited number of interoperable blockchains. The protocol also emphasizes security, offering unique recovery options for private keys, thereby enhancing asset protection for users. In addition, Verus provides decentralized finance solutions, such as customizable liquidity baskets that are fully decentralized, ensuring increased security against common risks in the DeFi space.

The interview also covered Verus's flexible KYC (Know Your Customer) process, which enables identity verification without exposing personal information. Toutonghi explained that Verus’s governance model, which uses its own coin as part of its security system, enables community-driven decision-making, further promoting decentralization.

Another important theme of the interview was Verus’s commitment to inclusivity, encouraging participation and collaboration from a wide range of contributors, regardless of their status or tier. Toutonghi expressed his belief that the future of blockchain would be shaped by decentralized economic models, with community and loyalty-driven currencies becoming increasingly important for business transactions.

Toutonghi concluded by emphasizing Verus’s open-source philosophy, which allows anyone to join and contribute to the project, fostering innovation driven by community needs rather than corporate interests. ^[2]