The Future of Money

Here is the latest episode of my Crypto Capsule commentary series.

With Albert Castellana, Co-Founder and CEO of GenLayer, we explore how GenLayer offers a scalable, cost-effective way to resolve complex disputes between AI agents, overcoming the limitations of traditional legal systems. In this episode, we discuss: What Problem Does GenLayer Solve, and What Inspired Its Creation? How Does GenLayer Build Trust Between AI Models? How Do Intelligent Contracts Handle Subjective Decisions and Prevent Manipulation? How Is GenLayer Different From UMA and Kalshi, and How Are Decisions Enforced? Will AI Agents Replace Human Lawyers in Business Transactions?

In this short video (recorded from the airport lounge in New York) I share my point of view on the what/when/who/how of the hack and most importantly what is the practical impact based on the information available.

with Vanessa Savino, Chief Legal Officer at tZERO, sharing insights on how tokenization is shifting from early experiments with illiquid assets toward highly liquid instruments like treasuries and equities. How has tZERO shifted its core business model to provide end-to-end "infrastructure as a service" for tokenized securities Why did early tokenization efforts fail to make illiquid assets like real estate liquid, and how did treasuries become the true "killer app"? What are the key structural differences between native on-chain tokens, security entitlements, and synthetic wrappers How are updated SEC guidance and single-license regulatory permissions shaping institutional adoption and compliance How is tZERO expanding beyond securities into CFTC-regulated derivatives, event contracts, and global partnerships?

With Keith Vander Leest, US General Manager at BVNK, to discuss crypto payments, stablecoins, AI-driven compliance, and how traditional finance is adapting to blockchain technology. How does BVNK function as a stablecoin payment infrastructure provider? Will tokenized deposits replace stablecoins in global financial flows? Why is market consolidation expected among on-chain digital assets? How is artificial intelligence transforming on-chain transaction monitoring? What compliance complexities do traditional financial institutions face on-chain?

With Kevin Carr, Chief Risk and Compliance Officer at Rain, explains where card networks like Visa and Mastercard meet stablecoin settlement, how Rain manages risk on-chain, and how it handles diverging global regulations and AI in compliance without losing human oversight. In this episode, we discuss: How does Rain connect card networks like Visa and Mastercard with stablecoin settlement, and what does that give cardholders? What can you see in a customer's on-chain data that you can't in traditional fiat, and where does that get harder to analyze? How does Rain keep one global compliance standard while adapting to different rules in each country? How is the compliance job changing as it starts to demand crypto data skills? Where does AI help most in investigations, and why do you still need a human in the loop?

With Josh Gordon-Blake of MoneyGram, on how a company with nearly 500,000 retail locations is putting stablecoins to work, and what the future looks like for institutions built on moving money across borders. In this episode, we discuss: • How going private freed MoneyGram to invest on a horizon of decades rather than quarterly results • Why stablecoins already run through the treasury function, replacing billions pre-funded around the world • Why hiring crypto native people onto the dev and treasury side was the move he underestimated the importance of • Why the market does not need 100 or 1,000 different USD backed stablecoins • Why crypto volatility simply does not apply to a company that is not in the trading business • Looking back at Libra, what its mistake was, and whether Meta and others will do what MoneyGram is doing with MG USD

With Jared Der-Yeghiayan, Director of Investigations at OKX and the former Homeland Security special agent who led the investigation that brought down the Silk Road. In this episode, we discuss: • How one pill in the letter mail opened the Silk Road investigation • Tracing Bitcoin transactions years before blockchain analytics tools existed • What it took to go undercover as a Silk Road administrator • How interagency rivalry almost collapsed the case • Why the defense argument that Silk Road was a victimless crime did not hold • The Ross Ulbricht pardon, and how the lead investigator responded to it • What the case set in motion for crypto compliance and investigations today

With Amar Kuchinad, Group CEO of Copper, on how Copper's Clearloop platform can be the future of collateral mobility for digital assets and automate the reconciliation of margin between counterparties. In this episode, we discuss: How Copper ClearLoop pioneered off-exchange custody. The Lehman weekend, when collateral could only move once a day and never on weekends. Why the biggest win in collateral is not faster settlement but the ability to move on weekends. How smart contracts, oracles and API calls automate what once took 200 people reconciling spreadsheets. Why he believes custody has always been the foundation you build higher-margin businesses on, not a commodity. The term "real world assets" that he hates, and why. Why 20% of crypto conversations make no sense while 80% sound exactly like TradFi.

With Yuval Rooz, co-founder and CEO of Digital Asset, on Canton, tokenized real world assets, and why privacy sits at the core of institutional infrastructure. ​Why RWAs are a bigger opportunity than Bitcoin ​Why the biggest players in crypto today are already institutional players ​How zero-knowledge proofs can radically improve compliance ​Why Canton's biggest competitor is a CTO or CIO who simply will not adopt technology

With Dmitry Tokarev, Founder of BRON, on why the seed phrase is on its way out and what self custody looks like when institutional-grade security finally reaches everyone. In this episode, we discuss: Why the private key is never assembled in one place, so there is nothing to steal and nothing to keep in cold storage Why security technology follows the same path as GPS, from governments and militaries to institutions to everyone Guardians and approval rules, including requiring sign-off from an accountant or assistant on transactions over a set amount What protects your assets if you are physically threatened or kidnapped The hidden-account feature that lets you pin a balance so it disappears from your own interface Why physical security has quietly become one of the biggest topics in crypto Why no security model can rest on the promise that you will not get hacked, especially against Lazarus and North Korean operations Where DeFi goes next, and why its real value is orchestration and risk management, not…

Prediction markets have gone mainstream. And the regulatory frameworks and compliance considerations are developing very quickly. In this episode, we discuss: Why prediction markets are about information, not always gambling The difference between traders and watchers, and why both matter Whether insider trading should be allowed in prediction markets How blockchain transparency makes market surveillance a shared effort Why sports are a smaller share of the market than most people assume Why event-based markets may attract far more institutional players How regulatory clarity from the CFTC could reshape the sector Why prediction markets may be an antidote to online misinformation How existing derivatives rules can regulate prediction markets What the industry needs to prove to earn long-term staying power Sponsored by ACX Compliance - the largest and most specialized digital assets compliance firm globally. Learn more at www.acxcompliance.com

I have spoken on hundreds of panels over the years. In this video, I share my 5 tips. 1. Share the energy 2. Always stay present (no phones!) 3. Body posture and language (especially for men) 4. Don't ask the audience (I show you how to do it instead) 5. Prepare, prepare and prepare I will be releasing more educational videos like this in the coming weeks so make sure to subscribe to my YouTube page not to miss them!

Stablecoins are reshaping how credit is created, priced and distributed. As balances grow, holders are looking for yield, and a new generation of on-chain asset managers is stepping into territory that once belonged exclusively to banks and private credit giants. In this episode, we discuss: 🔹 Why the history of money shapes the future of on-chain finance 🔹 How stablecoin growth sets the ceiling for on-chain lending 🔹 Why banks are structurally unfit for most business lending 🔹 How private credit giants like Apollo and Blackstone are responding to tokenization 🔹 Why Bitcoin-backed lending offers liquidity that traditional collateral cannot 🔹 How fintech platforms and neobanks are becoming a major distribution channel 🔹 Why the two and twenty fee model may be permanently disrupted 🔹 The expansion into real-world assets, securitizations and secured credit 🔹 Why hacks and hidden leverage remain the biggest risks to the ecosystem 🔹 The future of KYC and permissionless finance coexisting This episode is powered…

Want to be a content creator? Want to build your personal brand? Here are my 5 tips. I have been creating educational content on social media for the past 10 years. Whilst I am now ranked as one of the top content creators globally, it was not always the case. Here are my 5 most important tips on how you can become a content creator: 1. Find your niche and your micro-community. 2. Consistency, consistency, and consistency. 3. Always add value. 4. Choose your platform wisely. 5. Be authentic (i.e., no ChatGPT). I will be releasing more educational videos like this in the coming weeks, so make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel.

With Robin Hanson, the pioneer of modern prediction markets and Associate Professor of Economics at George Mason University. Robin first proposed the idea of modern prediction markets in 1988, long before crypto and blockchain made them accessible to millions. We discuss why prediction markets may become one of the world's most powerful tools for aggregating information, making better decisions, and challenging traditional institutions. - Why prediction markets are about information and not gambling - Why markets can outperform polls and traditional forecasting - Should insider trading be allowed in prediction markets? - How companies could use prediction markets to make better decisions - The future of corporate governance powered by markets - Why prediction markets may reshape politics and public policy - The tension between privacy, transparency, and regulation - Why incumbents often resist prediction markets - How crypto is accelerating the adoption of prediction markets - Robin Hanson's vision for the…

Crypto markets may be slowing down, but billions of dollars are still flowing into private crypto companies, AI infrastructure and prediction markets. In this episode, we discuss why major crypto firms are delaying IPOs, how private market investors are gaining exposure to companies like Kraken, Ripple and Consensys, and why institutional adoption of crypto continues to grow despite market uncertainty. We also discuss the growing intersection between crypto and AI, the future of prediction markets, and why traditional financial institutions are increasingly entering the digital asset space. In this episode, we discuss: - Why crypto companies like Consensys and Ledger are delaying IPOs - How firms like Kraken and Ripple may shape the next wave of public crypto companies - Why crypto VC firms continue to raise billions of dollars - The growing role of AI in crypto platforms and infrastructure - Why prediction markets may become a major sector in crypto - Institutional adoption of Bitcoin, Ethereum and digital…

As crypto adoption grows, security threats are becoming more sophisticated than ever. From North Korean cyber operations and social engineering attacks to AI-powered fraud and automated scams, the industry is facing a new generation of risks that cannot be addressed through traditional approaches alone. In this episode, we discuss: - Why social engineering is becoming the biggest security threat in crypto - How North Korean groups operate and target crypto companies - The growing sophistication of phishing and malware attacks - The rise of fraud-as-a-service in the crypto ecosystem - How AI is changing both attacks and defense mechanisms - Why compliance and fraud detection often happen too late - How proactive security can help prevent hacks before they occur - The future of crypto security, risk management and fraud prevention Gal also shares insights from building Hypernative, one of the leading platforms focused on detecting and preventing risks across the digital asset ecosystem. Powered by ACX…

Impact investing has become one of the fastest-growing areas in finance, but the industry still faces major challenges around transparency, accountability and measurable outcomes. In this episode, we discuss how decentralized technologies and blockchain infrastructure could reshape the future of social impact investing. Kula is building a decentralized impact investment model focused on bringing transparency and measurable results to sectors that have traditionally struggled with inefficiencies and administrative waste. We also discuss how blockchain and smart contracts can improve trust and visibility in industries like natural resources and community-driven investments. In this episode, we discuss: - The difference between impact investing and traditional charity - Why Kula focuses on investments that generate both returns and local impact - How blockchain and DLT improve transparency in social impact ecosystems - The role of smart contracts in historically opaque industries - Why accountability and…

Crypto compliance is entering a new era driven by AI, automation, DeFi and autonomous systems. As crypto exchanges evolve into full financial infrastructure platforms, compliance teams are being forced to rethink everything from suspicious activity reporting and fraud detection to deepfakes, AI agents and unhosted wallets. In this episode, we discuss: - Why crypto compliance is moving toward "Compliance 2.0" - How AI may replace large parts of manual compliance work - Why Kraken is heavily investing in automation and regtech - The future role of compliance officers in an AI-driven world - How AI systems are improving fraud detection and investigations - Why explainability and auditability remain critical for regulators - The growing compliance challenges around DeFi and unhosted wallets - Why AI agents and autonomous trading systems create new risks - The impact of deepfakes and identity fraud on financial crime - Why compliance teams must better understand blockchain technology - How crypto firms are…

Crypto markets are becoming faster, more fragmented and increasingly automated. But as AI agents, prediction markets and autonomous trading systems grow, a major question is emerging: Who is watching the market manipulators? From spoofing and wash trading to insider trading in prediction markets, the next generation of financial crime may look very different from what regulators and compliance teams are used to. In this episode, we discuss: - Why market manipulation in crypto is becoming harder to detect - How spoofing and layering evolved across exchanges and blockchains - Why prediction markets create entirely new compliance risks - The growing role of AI agents in autonomous trading - How bad actors coordinate across platforms, wallets and social networks - Why regulators are focusing heavily on insider trading in prediction markets - The challenge of monitoring cross-chain and cross-platform activity - Why legacy compliance systems are struggling with alert fatigue - How AI-powered compliance agents may…

Featuring Gary Liu, Co-Founder and CEO of Terminal 3, former CEO of the South China Morning Post, and a leader with experience across Google and Spotify. AI agents are no longer a future concept. They are already here, acting, transacting and making decisions. But there is a fundamental problem. We do not fully understand how they operate. And yet, we are rapidly integrating them into financial systems, enterprise workflows and digital infrastructure. This is not just a technology shift. It is a trust, identity and compliance challenge in the making. In this episode, we discuss: - Why identity is the biggest unsolved problem in an AI agent world - How agents can impersonate and misuse credentials - Why current fraud and compliance frameworks are not designed for AI behavior - The role of cryptography, decentralized identity and verifiable credentials - Why stablecoins and blockchain may become the backbone of agent commerce - The risks of data leakage and privacy breaches - Why enterprises need guardrails…

In this Consensus Hong Kong 2026 panel discussion, we break down what's really driving the rise of Real World Assets (RWA) in crypto — and whether everything is about to be tokenized. From tokenized T-Bills and private credit to AI portfolio agents and DeFi looping risks, this conversation explores the next evolution of on-chain finance. - Why tokenized Treasuries became the breakthrough moment - How institutional adoption is changing DeFi dynamics - Will RWA yields become crypto's new risk-free rate? - AI agents managing portfolios on-chain - The UX challenge holding crypto back - The biggest risk facing crypto right now - Are institutions preparing to dump on retail? As TradFi and DeFi converge, we may be entering a new era where markets never sleep, liquidity is 24/7, and volatility moves faster than ever. The future of finance is being built in real time. — Featuring: • Sidney Powell – CEO, Maple Finance • Teddy Pornprinya – Co-Founder, Plume • Marcin Kaźmierczak – Co-Founder, RedStone • Moderated by…

Stablecoins are rapidly moving from a crypto niche to global financial infrastructure. In this conversation, Jonathan Wood explains why stablecoins are increasingly used by payment companies, global businesses, and international workforces, and how regulation is accelerating adoption across regions. We discuss how stablecoins are transforming cross-border payments, payroll, treasury management, and global commerce. - Why stablecoin adoption is accelerating with new regulation in Europe, the UAE, and the US - The industries already using stablecoins including payments, trading platforms, and e-commerce - Why stablecoins solve major problems in regions with unstable or depreciating currencies - How global workers are increasingly getting paid in stablecoins - Why cross-border payments are the strongest early use case - How companies are building wallets, cards, and spending layers on top of stablecoins - Why Visa and major payment networks are integrating stablecoin settlement - Why most crypto transaction…

We discuss how crypto security is evolving as attacks become more sophisticated—and why the next generation of defense will be driven by AI, automation, and machine-led monitoring. - Why DeFi hacks are shifting from smart contract exploits to operational infiltration - How attackers are targeting Web2 infrastructure like developer laptops and company networks - What really happened during the Bybit hack and why it was so difficult to prevent - The growing role of state-backed cyber groups in crypto attacks - Why the human element remains one of the biggest security vulnerabilities - How automated risk matrices and circuit breakers can protect crypto platforms - Why AI is becoming essential for detecting malicious on-chain patterns - The concept of a "digital immune system" for DeFi protocols - How machine-led defense could help prevent billions in future crypto losses Powered by Phoenix Group The full interview is also available on my YouTube channel: YouTube: https://bit.ly/4cdr4qN

My interview with the CMO of the ADI Foundation, on how the UAE and the broader GCC region are accelerating stablecoin adoption. We discuss how central banks and regulators in the region are moving fast, why banks are now actively exploring stablecoins, and whether "cash, card, or crypto" could soon become reality. - Why stablecoin adoption in the UAE and GCC is accelerating - How government-led regulation is shaping the ecosystem - Why major crypto firms are setting up in Abu Dhabi and Dubai - Will banks launch their own stablecoins or form consortiums? - Payments, remittances, and retail adoption in the region - Could users hold multiple ecosystem-based stablecoins in one wallet? - The balance between transparency and privacy in stablecoin transactions - How data sovereignty and regulatory clarity are driving institutional adoption A sharp look at how stablecoins are moving from theory to real-world infrastructure across the Middle East. Powered by Phoenix Group The full interview is also available on my…

We discuss how decentralised finance is evolving from a crypto-native experiment into an infrastructure layer for institutional finance—and why the convergence between DeFi and traditional finance is accelerating. - Why investors see DeFi as an uncorrelated portfolio strategy - The massive liquidity opportunity created by thousands of new DeFi protocols - Why liquidity providers are becoming the "banks" of the DeFi ecosystem - The biggest challenge for new protocols: distribution and market access - How institutions evaluate DeFi risk similarly to credit risk in traditional finance - Why tokenized funds, real-world assets, and blockchain settlement are accelerating institutional adoption - How traditional asset managers and banks are entering DeFi - Why the future may involve two parallel systems: regulated blockchain finance and open DeFi innovation Powered by Phoenix Group

We explore how institutional-grade MPC technology is finally migrating to retail, why seed phrases are a massive vulnerability, and whether self-custody can evolve to meet the realities of security, privacy, and regulation. - Why institutional custody standards never reached retail — until now - The real risks of seed phrases, wrench attacks, and physical crime - How MPC (multi-party computation) changes self-custody forever - Inheritance, recoverability, and protecting users from themselves - Privacy in crypto: is blockchain too transparent? - Full homomorphic encryption and the future of on-chain privacy - Should self-custody wallets face regulatory oversight? - How AI + blockchain could reshape compliance frameworks

In this Consensus Hong Kong 2026 panel, we dive into the next chapter of on-chain finance: the convergence of DeFi and CeFi — and why crypto prime brokerage may become the infrastructure layer for institutional trading. From portfolio margin across venues and capital efficiency, to stablecoin balance sheets, oracle risk, and the one threat everyone keeps coming back to… counterparty risk. We break down how prime brokers are bridging siloed liquidity pools, enabling cross-collateral, and rethinking risk management for a world of 24/7 markets. - DeFi vs CeFi: why convergence is accelerating now - Prime brokerage in crypto: the "missing layer" for hedge funds - Portfolio margin across exchanges + on-chain venues (cross-venue risk engines) - Capital efficiency: moving beyond over-collateralization in DeFi - Counterparty risk vs smart contract risk — what institutions actually fear - Off-exchange settlement & custody: what works, what doesn't - Interest rate models & "dynamic spread": sharing upside with lenders…

Alicia Kao, Managing Director at KuCoin — one of the most globally active crypto exchanges. We explore how centralised exchanges are evolving in a post-DeFi world, KuCoin's global regulatory strategy, and why payment products may lead crypto's next wave. - Why centralised exchanges are no longer just for trading - KuCoin's licensing moves in Europe, Australia, and beyond - Will CEXs and TradFi converge over the next 5–10 years? - How KuCoin is adapting to new institutional and retail demands - Payment products, stablecoins, and the $14T market ahead - What differentiates KuCoin in an increasingly competitive exchange space - The biggest challenge for crypto exchanges in 2026 A sharp look at how the infrastructure of crypto is maturing across global markets. Powered by Phoenix Group The full interview is also available on my YouTube channel: YouTube: https://bit.ly/4ryTSzi

With Erin West, former prosecutor (26+ years) and founder of Operation Shamrock, one of the leading global initiatives fighting pig butchering scams and the organized crime networks behind them. Pig butchering is no longer a niche fraud story. We are living in a scam-demic. These scams are industrial-scale operations run out of compounds across Southeast Asia, and they are targeting everyday people — not just crypto natives. Doctors. Students. Professionals. Families. People are losing everything… and often being pushed into debt. In this episode, we discuss: - What pig butchering scams really are - Why they are so effective psychologically - How organized crime is using crypto as the main payment rail - The role of exchanges, stablecoins, and compliance gaps - Why crypto ATMs are "theft machines" - How AI and deepfakes are making scams harder to detect - The disturbing link between scams and human trafficking - Why shame prevents victims from reporting - What to do immediately if you suspect you are being…

With Romain Bordenave, a physical security expert with years of experience operating in high-risk environments including Colombia and Mexico. We discuss why crypto entrepreneurs are increasingly being targeted — and what practical steps individuals can take to reduce risk. - Why crypto founders are becoming high-value targets - Why criminals believe crypto is anonymous (and why they're wrong) - The role of social media and "showing wealth" in victim selection - Why kidnappings are often underreported globally - How kidnapping tactics differ across regions (France vs Latin America) - What to do if someone is kidnapped - Why contacting law enforcement is often the right move - How to think about personal security as crypto goes mainstream This podcast is sponsored by BRON Learn more through the link: https://go.bron.org/henriarslanian09

Andrej Majcen, Co-Founder and Group CEO of Bitcoin Suisse — one of the world's oldest crypto firms. We discuss market volatility, institutional trends, regulation, and the long game of building in crypto. - How Bitcoin Suisse evolved from retail clients to sovereign wealth funds - The biggest challenge for crypto firms in 2026 - Why regulatory clarity unlocks institutional adoption - The impact of ETFs, elections, and geopolitics on market sentiment - Strategic advice for crypto founders facing volatility Powered by Phoenix Group The full interview is also available on my YouTube channel: YouTube: https://bit.ly/46gzkTF

With Janet Adams, COO, SingularityNET and one of the leading voices at the intersection of AI and crypto. We discuss why decentralised artificial general intelligence (AGI) is the next frontier—and why it must not be left in the hands of Big Tech. - Why decentralised AGI may beat centralised Big Tech AI - How open-source tools are accelerating global AI collaboration - The ethical argument for community-led AI governance - What role the Middle East—especially the UAE—can play in global AI and crypto leadership - Why world models could unlock superhuman capabilities - The birth of Zaka and AGI use cases from the region Powered by Phoenix Group Powered by Phoenix Group The full interview is also available on my YouTube channel: YouTube: https://bit.ly/4cpGCbs

My interview with Saqr Ereiqat, Secretary General, Dubai Digital Asset Association and a key voice in the UAE's digital asset evolution. We explore how the UAE became one of the world's most crypto-friendly jurisdictions and what other governments can learn from its approach. - Why the #UAE became a global magnet for crypto firms - The importance of regulatory clarity in attracting digital asset companies - How #Dubai is building a thriving blockchain ecosystem from the ground up - The role of Crypto Oasis in education, infrastructure, and policy - What's next for tokenisation, DeFi, and real-world asset adoption in the region - Lessons for policymakers from the UAE's proactive crypto stance Powered by Phoenix Group The full interview is also available on my YouTube channel: YouTube: https://bit.ly/4rP31DP

With BitGo CEO Mike Belshe following the company's IPO. We unpack what this milestone means for the crypto industry, the future of digital asset banking, and what's next for BitGo. 🔹 What going public means for BitGo and its clients 🔹 Why BitGo is more than just a custodian 🔹 The debate over stablecoin yield: crypto vs traditional banks 🔹 Why 100% reserve banks could redefine the future of finance 🔹 BitGo's global regulatory strategy and product roadmap 🔹 Advice from Mike Belshe to crypto founders on going public Powered by Phoenix Group The full interview is also available on my YouTube channel: YouTube: https://bit.ly/45WfsoH

My interview with Jason Brett, Managing Director at Key Bridge Advisors and Policy Advisor at the Wall Street Blockchain Alliance. We unpack the political and regulatory gridlock unfolding around stablecoin yield, tokenized securities, and DeFi in Washington. - Why the Genius Act's pro-stablecoin stance is now being re-litigated - The growing divide between the crypto lobby and banking lobby - Why regulators are stuck applying old laws to new tech - The SEC's innovation exemption—and hedge fund pushback - DeFi's AML dilemma: Is there a third way beyond front-end KYC? - What real compromise could look like for stablecoin yields Powered by Phoenix Group The full interview is also available on my YouTube channel: YouTube: https://bit.ly/3ZliLSE

Oliver Tonkin joins us to discuss how stablecoins are quietly replacing traditional cross-border payment rails. - Why emerging markets are leading stablecoin adoption for global payments - How stablecoins reduce settlement times and costs for corporates - The rise of stablecoin-powered settlement networks beyond SWIFT - Why regulated stablecoins are helping ease banking concerns - The growing role of Circle, Ripple, and others in cross-border transactions - The challenges of on-ramps and off-ramps—and how they're being solved - Why regulatory clarity is a major catalyst for corporate adoption - Who stands to lose in the shift to blockchain payments: legacy banks or card networks? Powered by Phoenix Group The full interview is also available on my YouTube channel: YouTube: https://bit.ly/4q877FD

We discuss how blockchain is bringing radical transparency to the impact investing sector. - Why on-chain governance gives real voice to underserved communities - How DAOs and token-based voting are reshaping village-level decision-making - Using blockchain to prove and quantify measurable impact - The challenges of device access, education, and infrastructure on the ground - How Kula is designing blockchain tools tailored to developing markets - Why measured impact will soon be mandated by investors—and tracked on-chain - How real-world assets are creating price stability for impact tokens - Why regions like Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia are leading in blockchain adoption Powered by Phoenix Group The full interview is also available on my YouTube channel: YouTube: https://bit.ly/4t5BAH7

This interview was recorded during Abu Dhabi Finance Week. We explore the rise of Bitcoin treasury firms, why the future of global finance may rest on Bitcoin rails, and how central banks are quietly accumulating BTC behind the scenes. - Why Bitcoin on corporate balance sheets is just getting started - The explosion of Bitcoin treasury companies and why half may disappear - What makes a sustainable treasury model in crypto markets - Whether stablecoins or Bitcoin will underpin the future financial system - Why central banks are embracing Bitcoin—publicly and privately - How Abu Dhabi is becoming a Bitcoin superpower in the Middle East Powered by Phoenix Group The full interview is also available on my YouTube channel: YouTube: https://bit.ly/3ZyVNHH

The interview was recorded during Abu Dhabi Finance Week. We discuss the future of stablecoins like USDC, how Circle is positioning itself in global finance, and whether traditional banks are prepared for what's coming. - Why Circle chose the UAE for its regional expansion - What the GENIUS Act means for USDC and stablecoin adoption - The growing tension between crypto yield and traditional banks - How Circle's new Ark network could reshape financial infrastructure - Why emerging markets may lead stablecoin usage - What challenges banks face in adopting digital assets Powered by Phoenix Group The full interview is also available on my YouTube channel: YouTube: https://bit.ly/4pUY0Ik

We explore how Coinbase is partnering with global banks and sovereign wealth funds to drive institutional crypto adoption and transform capital markets. - Why Coinbase's UAE expansion is central to its global strategy - How partnerships with Standard Chartered and PNC enable "crypto as a service" for banks - Why the Genius Act is a regulatory game changer for stablecoins in the US - Inside JPMorgan's tokenisation pilot on Solana using USDC and Coinbase infrastructure - The role of Coinbase Treasury in supporting real-world asset issuance - How Mubadala's tokenised credit fund signals a new era for sovereign wealth and investor access Powered by Phoenix Group The full interview is also available on my YouTube channel: YouTube: https://bit.ly/3NVnt70

We unpack the evolution of crypto infrastructure for institutions and how Copper is enabling secure, compliant innovation in digital asset trading. - Why the UAE is emerging as a global hub for regulated digital asset services - How Copper is evolving beyond custody into tokenisation, staking, and stablecoin services - The ClearLoop network and its role in reducing counterparty risk for institutional trading - Why traditional finance players need to rethink technology, workflows, and security - How incumbents are approaching crypto: build, partner, or acquire - The tech and regulatory shifts needed for 24/7 tokenised markets to become a reality Powered by Phoenix Group The full interview is also available on my YouTube channel: YouTube: https://bit.ly/3Zp779e

My interview with Vincent Chok, Founder and CEO of First Digital. In this episode of The Future of Money, we explore how stablecoins are evolving beyond crypto markets and into real-world payments. From AI agents making payments on our behalf, to the role of regulation, compliance, and emerging markets, this conversation looks at what the next 5 to 10 years of payments could actually look like. We discuss: - Where stablecoins are likely to see their biggest real-world use cases - How AI agents could automate payments without human involvement - The biggest bottlenecks holding back agent-to-agent payments today - Why compliance, AML, and identity matter even more in an AI-driven world - How stablecoins could unlock financial access in emerging markets - What going public means for legitimacy in the stablecoin industry - The future of yield, regulation, and the risks the crypto industry may be overlooking Powered Powered by Phoenix Group The full interview is also available on my YouTube channel: YouTube:…

My interview with Nic Roberts-Huntley, CEO and Co-Founder of Blueprint Finance. We explore whether DeFi infrastructure is mature enough for institutional adoption, where the biggest gaps still exist, and what needs to change for sustainable, institutional-grade returns in digital assets. - How close DeFi infrastructure really is to being institution-ready - The biggest gaps holding back adoption, from accounting to custody and NAV management - Why ETFs are not the same as true on-chain asset deployment - Whether regulation creates clarity or risks stifling innovation - Why capital efficiency, risk management, and insurance markets are critical for DeFi's next phase - What recent market volatility revealed about leverage, risk, and long-term sustainability Powered by Phoenix Group The full interview is also available on my YouTube channel: YouTube: https://bit.ly/44NPxPt

My interview with Babylon co-founder, Fischer Yu. We dive into how Bitcoin can finally enter DeFi without wrapping, enabling trustless yield and cross-chain settlement with native BTC. - Why wrapping Bitcoin is risky and unpopular - How Babylon enables DeFi on native Bitcoin - The role of oracles, risk, and regulation in yield - Making Bitcoin programmable without changing Bitcoin - Why low-risk yield could be the next wave in crypto Powered by Phoenix Group The full interview is also available on my YouTube channel: YouTube: https://bit.ly/48U36iS

Interview with Sidrah Fariq, Global Head of Retail at Deribit. We explore why crypto options remain a niche, what is holding back retail adoption, and how regulation, education, and access will shape the next phase of crypto markets. - Why crypto options attract sophisticated traders, not mass retail - How regulation and licensing determine who can be marketed to and where - Why customer acquisition is far more expensive for derivatives platforms - The role of education in driving real adoption beyond hype - How institutional dominance and better infrastructure are reshaping crypto derivatives

My interview with NBA Champion and founder of Basketball.fun Tristan Thompson. We explore how Web3 and AI are transforming fan engagement, player empowerment, and the future of professional sports. - How Web3 could give fans a real voice in sports decisions - Why athletes like Tristan are backing decentralised fan platforms - Making DeFi accessible for players and fans alike - Why the UAE is becoming a hub for Web3 innovation - How AI is being used to prevent athlete injuries Powered by Phoenix Group The full interview is also available on my YouTube channel: YouTube: https://bit.ly/3KErw6M

My interview with Reeve Collins, Co-Founder and Chairman of STBL. - Why Reeve believes the current stablecoin model must evolve - How Stablecoin 2.0 addresses transparency and user yield - What splitting principal and yield means for compliance - The impact of the GENIUS Act on stablecoin innovation - How global regulations may create regional stablecoin models - Why AI could revolutionise how we interact with money - What Reeve learned from co-founding Tether over a decade ago - Why stablecoins might not stay boring for long Powered by Phoenix Group The full interview is also available on my YouTube channel: YouTube: https://bit.ly/44x416g