Riot Blockchain (RIOT) +2.7% PM, has appointed Hubert Marleau to its board of directors, effective today, to fill in the earlier announced vacancy.Mr. Marleau is a veteran capital markets professional, corporate director, and Chair of the Marleau Lecture Series on Economic and Monetary Policy at the University of Ottawa.Currently, he serves as Chief Economist at Canada-based Palos Management, a boutique investment management firm.Riot is one of the blockchain plays moving higher in early hours trade today with the Bitcoin (BTC-USD) currently trading 5.7% higher; Marathon Patent Group (MARA) is up 6.1% in early hours trade today.