Sowelu Avanzo

I am a PhD research fellow in Computer Science at the University of Torino with a background in Finance. My research focused on the development and formalization of specification languages for Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs) and their application to real-world case studies. I also work on Decentralized Finance (DeFi) protocol design and evaluation, focusing on Decentralized Exchanges and smart contract based derivatives. Part of my research also focused on the analysis the data of blockchain-enabled payment systems. This activity was conducted as part of my research internship at Circles UBI in Berlin and the FRIBIS Net-Fi research group, focused on network analysis of payment networks. I am Co-founder and CTO of Norta DeSyCo OU, an Estonian startup specialized in decentralized system consulting. Norta DeSyCo designs, verifies, and develops large-scale blockchain-enabled systems—ranging from DAOs and decentralized exchanges to DeFi protocols—leveraging advanced model-driven engineering. The company also provides consulting for the development of algorithmic and AI-powered trading systems in decentralized finance. I have contributed to several international research projects on DAOs, including applications in healthcare data management, participatory budgeting, and formal verification of their organizational structures. I was also involved in the MKM project led by Tallinn University, focused on modeling and implementing a DAO for governing and valorizing data related to Estonia’s economic and technological development.