Maria Lobanova Joins Naoris Protocol as CMO

Naoris Protocol, pioneer of decentralized post-quantum cybersecurity infrastructure, announces the appointment of Maria Lobanova as Chief Marketing Officer. This arrival, confirmed in September 2025, comes at a pivotal moment for the project, two months after the successful launch of its $NAORIS token in July 2025.

Maria Lobanova is no stranger to the blockchain industry. Founder and CEO of Interstellar Digital, a public relations agency specializing in Web3 projects, she brings nearly 10 years of experience in crypto communications since her start in 2016. Her journey illustrates the progressive professionalization of a sector long dominated by amateurism: a former journalist, she pivoted to crypto PR after helping to organize a private meetup with Vitalik Buterin in Moscow in 2017.

A Track Record of Major Events and High-Profile Collaborations

Lobanova’s resume stands out for her ability to create and orchestrate large-scale events within the crypto ecosystem:

• Cryptospace (2017): a conference she founded that became the largest crypto event in Eastern Europe, attracting over 3,500 participants and speakers like Ted Lin (Binance CGO at the time) and Yoni Assia (eToro founder).
• CryptoRunway (Art Basel 2021): an event merging art and blockchain during the most prestigious week of the contemporary art market, with the CEO of Rarible, Head of Marketing at Polygon, the CEO of Doodles NFTs as speakers.
• Gam3rs’ Choice Awards (2023): a ceremony rewarding the best Web3 gaming projects, during a sector boom before the 2024 bear market, including top-tier players such as Mythical Games, Immutable, Star Atlas.

Her agency Interstellar Digital has collaborated with notable projects like Ankr (blockchain infrastructure) and zkSync (zk-chain and infrastructure).

A regular contributor to media outlets like Bitcoin Magazine, HackerNoon, and AMBCrypto, she has built a reputation as an educator capable of simplifying complex technical concepts for non-initiated audiences.

Naoris Protocol: Decentralized Cybersecurity Ready for the Quantum Era

Naoris Protocol positions itself in an emerging niche: quantum-resistant decentralized security. While traditional cybersecurity players (Palo Alto Networks, CrowdStrike) operate through centralized architectures, Naoris transforms every connected device: computer, router, server, IoT object, into a trusted validator node.

The protocol relies on a consensus called dPoSec (Delegated Proof-of-Security), inspired by DPoS (Delegated Proof-of-Stake) but applied to system integrity validation rather than blockchain block production. The concept: instead of detecting threats after they’ve compromised a system, Naoris continuously validates the health status of devices before they interact with critical infrastructures (DEXs, bridges, RPC nodes, enterprise clouds).

The post-quantum dimension comes from integrating cryptographic primitives resistant to quantum computer attacks (lattice-based, hash-based algorithms). A precaution that may seem premature — commercial-scale quantum computers don’t yet threaten RSA or ECDSA — but deemed essential by some experts given migration timeframes (estimated 10-15 years to fully encrypt the Internet).

The protocol describes itself as operating at the Sub-Zero Layer, below L0, L1, L2, and L3 layers, to secure the entire Web3 and Web2 stack.

A Successful TGE and Ambitious Roadmap

Unlike many projects that chain private raises and launch delays, Naoris crossed a major milestone on July 31, 2025 with its Token Generation Event (TGE). The $NAORIS token began spot trading at 12pm UTC on several exchanges, marking the protocol’s transition from its testnet phase (launched January 31, 2025) to an operational tokenized economy.

The mainnet is scheduled for Q4 2025, with progressive deployment of post-quantum security products for testnet participants (who will benefit from free or heavily discounted access via token airdrops).

Why This Appointment Really Matters

Maria Lobanova’s arrival addresses three strategic challenges for Naoris:

1. Simplifying a Complex Technical Message

Decentralized post-quantum cybersecurity is a stack of obscure concepts for 99% of the crypto public. Lobanova has proven her ability to make topics like zk-rollups or sidechains digestible. Her mission: transform dPoSec into an understandable narrative, not only for developers but also for B2B decision-makers (CTOs, CISOs of enterprises).

2. Accelerating Ecosystem Partnerships

Naoris targets three segments: enterprises, infrastructure providers (cloud, telecom), and individual users. However, credibility in these sectors requires concrete integrations with established players. Lobanova, through her network built at Interstellar Digital and with clients (notably Ankr, RPC node provider for hundreds of projects), can open strategic doors.

3. Structuring Institutional Communication

As Naoris grows, it must professionalize its relations with regulators, mainstream media, and institutional investors. Lobanova will oversee the thought leadership positioning of founder David Carvalho, presence at major conferences (DevConnect, Consensus, Token2049), and targeted press relations.

Concretely, she will pilot:

• Content strategy (articles, simplified whitepapers, customer case studies);
• Community programs (ambassadors, developer grants);
• KOL coordination (Key Opinion Leaders, crypto influencers) to amplify protocol visibility.

Experienced Leadership Rooted in Cyberdefense

The Team: Undeniable Institutional Credibility

The composition of the team nevertheless lends the project remarkable institutional legitimacy :  

• David Carvalho: Founder, CEO, Chief Scientist 20+ years Ethical Hacker, youngest CISO in EU, advisor to nation-states on CyberWar, CyberTerrorism & CyberEspionage, data protection regulation and cyber-risk. 
• David Holtzman: CSO, former CTO & Chief Scientist at IBM, Designer of DNS System advisor to White House.
• Mick Mulvaney: former White House Chief of Staff, understands national security implications. 
• Inge Kampenes: former Chief of the Norwegian Armed Forces Cyber Defence.
• Youssef El Maddarsi: Chief Business Officer, CEO Naoris Consulting. Recognised by EMEA Entrepreneur as most influential entrepreneur from Morocco 2025. 10+ years strategic development. Graduated at Regent’s University, Wharton, INSEAD & Duke. Certified by Yale and École Polytechnique.

This concentration of governmental, military, and technological expertise suggests an ambition that goes beyond a mere blockchain project. Naoris Protocol appears to be aiming at a critical infrastructure capable of securing both smart contracts and national defense systems.

Market Context: Decentralized Cybersecurity in Full Bloom

Naoris’ timing is strategic. The DePIN sector (Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks) has raised $3.2 billion since 2023, according to Messari, with sub-categories like storage (Filecoin, Arweave), connectivity (Helium, Pollen Mobile), and now security.

Attacks against DeFi protocols caused $1.4 billion in losses in 2024 (Chainalysis), 60% linked to smart contract flaws or private key compromises. Existing solutions, punctual code audits, bug bounties, on-chain monitoring, are reactive. Naoris bets on proactive validation: preventing a compromised device from interacting with the blockchain.

Naoris distinguishes itself through its post-quantum focus, competitors still use classical cryptographic primitives (RSA, ECDSA), and its ambition to secure both Web3 and Web2 (enterprise clouds, industrial IoT).

Necessary Professionalization for an Emerging Sector

Maria Lobanova’s appointment at Naoris Protocol illustrates a fundamental trend: the growing maturity of the DePIN sector. After years of technological promises, projects must now demonstrate concrete use cases, build credible B2B partnerships, and communicate transparently with regulators.

Lobanova checks these boxes. Her experience with crises (bear markets, exchange scandals), her mastery of institutional codes, and her network in the crypto ecosystem make her a strategic recruit for Naoris as the protocol transitions from R&D to commercial deployment.

The central question remains: are enterprises ready to entrust their security to a decentralized network? The answer will likely come with the first industrial pilots expected in early 2026 and third-party security audits that must validate the protocol’s technical foundations. Until then, Naoris must convince not only through technology, but through clarity of discourse, exactly Lobanova’s mission.

Theia P.