ConsenSys has added a new decentralized application (Dapp) to its Ethereum blockchain-as-a-service toolkit available on Microsoft’s cloud computing platform Azure. Called the Ethereum Total Return Swap (eTRS), the application aims to serve as both a functional and an example use case that will allow internal tech teams at Microsoft Azure clients to better understand and utilize the toolkit, first announced in October . Marley Gray, Microsoft’s director of technology strategy for financial services explained that the offering part of the tech giant’s ongoing partnership with ConsenSys , noting that eTRS aims to "demonstrate the power" of the Ethereum blockchain through a step-by-step guide for how a swap agreement can be facilitated on the platform. Gray told CoinDesk: ”This solution allows our customers to stand up a complex reference implementation on the blockchain that can fundamentally change how the swaps market functions. […] The ability to rapidly develop and express existing financial products using this platform can help ignite innovation in the industry. Gray said that eTRS will allow clients to create swap agreements as well as monitor the risk valuations, funding and pricing of the swap in real time. The offering was previewed as part of Microsoft Connect 2015, a conference held from 18th to 19th November in New York. In statements, ConsenSys said that the offering will illustrate how the Ethereum blockchain can complement bitcoin by expanding the capabilities of blockchains beyond value transfer to “next-generation applications”. Founded in 2014, ConsenSys describes itself as a distributed Dapp “production studio” focused on offering a developer sandbox for the Ethereum network that enables those using its tools to build without working with the core protocol. The startup, which claims 60 members worldwide, also works to create second-level applications built on Ethereum that showcase how it can be leveraged for use […]