

The Future of Money
Henri Arslanian
Henri Arslanian brings you in-depth discussions and constructive analyses of the developments shaping the future of money and finance from Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies to CBDCs and DeFi
Episodes
Mentioned books

Apr 8, 2026 • 25min
Tokenized Treasuries, AI Agents & Crypto's Biggest Risk
Marcin Kaźmierczak, co-founder of RedStone, builds on-chain pricing and risk data. Teddy Pornprinya, co-founder of Plume, creates distribution and UX for tokenized assets. Sidney Powell, CEO of Maple Finance, runs on-chain institutional lending. They discuss tokenized treasuries' breakout, institutions reshaping RWA markets, 24/7 pricing and oracle needs, AI portfolio agents, UX hurdles, and tokenization-driven market risks.

Apr 3, 2026 • 15min
With Jonathan Wood of BVNK on Why Stablecoins Are Becoming the Backbone of Global Payments
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 volume today is actually stablecoins - How stablecoins could eventually become a global spending currency Stablecoins are increasingly becoming the blockchain version of the dollar, enabling faster payments, global payroll, and new financial services for businesses and individuals worldwide. Powered by Phoenix Group The full interview is also available on my YouTube channel: YouTube: https://bit.ly/4dsbDfv

Mar 30, 2026 • 7min
AI, Crypto Hacks and DeFi Security with Hypernative's Ulisse Dell'Orto
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

Mar 23, 2026 • 8min
With Mohammad Rajab on How the UAE Wants to Win the Stablecoin Race
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 YouTube channel: YouTube: https://bit.ly/4lQiCkM

Mar 17, 2026 • 6min
With Evgeny Gokhberg, Founder of Re7 Capital, on the Role of DeFi in a Diversified Portfolio
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

Mar 13, 2026 • 8min
With Bron's Dmitry Tokarev on The Future of Self-Custody, MPC Wallets, and Crypto Security
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

Mar 4, 2026 • 32min
What Is the Future of Crypto Prime Brokerage?
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 - Oracles, pricing, liquidation: the two hard problems in DeFi risk management - The crypto "risk-free rate": SOFR, Treasuries, staking — where does it converge? - Tokenized markets (RWA): why crypto-native prime brokers may have an edge As TradFi and DeFi collide, the winners will be the platforms that deliver capital efficiency + transparency + accountability — without blowing up. — 🎙 Featuring: • Sam MacPherson - CEO and co-founder at Spark • Serhii Tyshchenko - CEO and co-founder of Arkis • Oleksandr Proskurin - Co-founder/CPO at Arkis • Moderated by Henri Arslanian

Feb 27, 2026 • 7min
With KuCoin's Alicia Kao on Whether Crypto Exchanges Are the New Banks
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

Feb 23, 2026 • 43min
How Criminals Target Users via Love Scams and How to Stop The Pig Butchering Epidemic with Erin West
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 scammed This is one of the most important conversations happening in crypto today. Powered by ACX Compliance - the world's largest crypto compliance specialised managed services provider. The full interview is also available on my YouTube channel: YouTube: https://bit.ly/4kRnPIu

Feb 21, 2026 • 38min
Crypto Kidnappings Are Rising: How to Protect Yourself (Physical Security Expert Explains)
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


