Fintech Confidential

Unified commerce and European payments are under pressure as merchants juggle fragmented vendors, local debit schemes, and country-by-country compliance. Tedd Huff, CEO of fintech advisory firm Voalyre and founder of Fintech Confidential, sits down with Niv Liran, Chief Product and Technology Officer at Unzer, to break down how one platform serves over 85,000 merchants across Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Denmark.Niv explains how Unzer consolidated 13 acquired companies into a single system using a one-application-per-purpose rule, why local language sales and compliance expertise outperform global common-denominator approaches, and how open banking and the European Payments Initiative are creating new payment rails. The conversation gets specific on merchant migration tactics, daily workflow savings from eliminating multi-vendor reconciliation, and where AI-powered tools fit for small businesses within the next three to five years.FIND OUT MORE1️⃣ Gate your best features to the new platform so merchants have a reason to migrate without being forced.2️⃣ Ask prospects to walk through their daily actions before pitching; let the pain sell the solution.3️⃣ Set a one-app-per-purpose rule before consolidation starts to prevent political gridlock across acquired teams.4️⃣ Test every partnership against two filters: does it help the merchant, and will consumers actually adopt it.5️⃣ Connect directly to local accounting software in each market; it locks in retention and kills reconciliation overhead.GuestNiv Liran on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nivliranUnzer: https://www.unzer.comFintech ConfidentialPodcast: https://fintechconfidential.com/listenNotifications: https://fintechconfidential.com/accessLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fintechconfidentialX: https://x.com/FTconfidentialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/fintechconfidentialFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/fintechconfidentialSupporters of Fintech ConfidentialUnder.io: Streamlines application and underwriting by digitizing PDFs for e-signature. under.io/FTCSkyflow: A zero-trust data privacy vault delivered as an API covering PCI, CCPA, GDPR, SOC 2, and beyond. skyflowsecure.comDFNS: Wallets as a service, API first, multi-chain, secured with MPC across 50+ blockchains. fintechconfidential.com/dfnsHawk AI: Real-time payment screening, AML transaction monitoring, and dynamic customer risk rating. gethawk.comAbout the GuestNiv Liran is Chief Product and Technology Officer at Unzer. He entered fintech at Groupon in Berlin solving chargebacks on billions in monthly volume, then held leadership roles at Rocket Internet and AUTO1 Group, where he scaled the tech department from 5 to over 350 employees. He holds a B.Sc. in Computer Science and an MBA from INSEAD.About UnzerUnzer is a payments and commerce platform serving more than 85,000 merchants across Germany, Austria, Denmark, and Luxembourg with unified online, in-store, and back-office solutions through its UnzerOne platform.About the HostTedd Huff, CEO of fintech advisory firm Voalyre and founder of Fintech Confidential. Produced by DD3 Media, Fintech Confidential brings you the people, tech, and companies that change how you pay and get paid.Chapters00:00 Episode Highlights01:02 Welcome to Fintech Confidential01:10 DFNS: Wallets as a Service (sponsor)02:32 Meet Niv Inbar05:08 Why Unified Commerce Is Hard07:02 Falling Into Payments09:46 Unser vs Stripe Adyen11:30 Localizing Across Europe12:44 One Platform Consolidation15:12 Merchant Migration Playbook17:43 Merchant Day to Day Example20:21 Skyflow - Your Privacy API (sponsor)21:18 Taming Local Debit Schemes23:29 Selling ROI and Reducing Risk26:29 Partnerships Open Banking EPI29:20 EPI and Digital Wallet Future31:06 Market Consolidation Ahead32:27 Crystal Ball Unified Commerce35:26 AI Agents for Small Business37:32 One Sentence Founder Advice39:11 Wrap Up Key Takeaways41:03 Hawk AI - Realtime Fraud Monitoring (sponsor)41:47 Disclaimer

Crypto tax software flaws, IRS audit risk, and data manipulation are putting millions of investors in danger. Tedd Huff, CEO of fintech advisory firm Voalyre and founder of Fintech Confidential, sits down with Janna Scott, founder and CEO of DeFi Tax and an IRS Enrolled Agent, to break down why the tools crypto investors trust may fail them in an audit.Janna conducted forensic audits of 14 major crypto tax platforms and 53 firms claiming crypto tax expertise. The same 70 transactions produced a $99 gain on one platform, a $2,990 gain on another, and a $351 loss on a third. She explains how platforms allow users to edit immutable on-chain data like dates, currency types, and cost basis, making reports inadmissible in audits the same way the IRS rejects QuickBooks files. Her peer-reviewed research, published in Tax Notes, was shared with the IRS crypto division and SEC FinHub, and contributed to pausing IRS crypto audits. With enforcement expected to resume within months, this is a wake-up call for anyone holding or trading crypto.FIND OUT MORE1️⃣ Screenshot your crypto tax reports now; platforms have silently changed algorithms, producing 25-35% different results on the same historical data without notifying users.2️⃣ Never edit immutable transaction fields like dates, spot prices, fees, or cost basis; the IRS treats altered reports the same way it treats manipulated bank statements.3️⃣ Connect every wallet and exchange login you have ever used, including discontinued US exchanges, so transfers are not misclassified as taxable income.4️⃣ Run your transaction data through multiple products and compare results; if the numbers diverge significantly, get professional review before filing.5️⃣ Ask any firm claiming crypto tax expertise whether they can manually calculate your transactions and defend the work in front of the IRS before you pay them.Guest LinksJanna Scott | DeFi TaxWebsite: https://defitax.us/X: https://x.com/defitax_usFintech Confidential LinksPodcast: https://fintechconfidential.com/listenNotifications: https://fintechconfidential.com/accessLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fintechconfidentialX: https://x.com/FTconfidentialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/fintechconfidentialFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/fintechconfidentialSupportersDFNS provides wallets as a service that is API first, multi-chain by design, and secured with MPC so you can launch across over 50 blockchains without managing private keys. Request a demo at fintechconfidential.com/dfnsSkyflow is a zero trust data privacy vault delivered as an API that lets you collect, secure, and tokenize personal information with built-in features for PCI, CCPA, GDPR, and SOC 2 compliance. Visit skyflowsecure.comHawk AI provides AI tools for real-time payment screening, ML transaction monitoring, and dynamic customer risk rating to make compliance more effective and help fight fraud and financial crime. Visit gethawkai.comAbout the GuestJanna Scott is the founder and CEO of DeFi Tax, an IRS Enrolled Agent, and an MBA with over 20 years of experience in tax compliance, financial analysis, and government finance. Her forensic research across 14 platforms and 53 firms was peer reviewed, published in Tax Notes, and shared with the IRS and SEC.About the CompanyDeFi Tax is a crypto tax compliance platform that calculates obligations using direct blockchain data, locks immutable transaction fields, traces NFT basis through the chain of custody, and supports users through audit and tax court.About the HostTedd Huff, CEO of fintech advisory firm Voalyre and founder of Fintech Confidential. Produced by DD3 Media, Fintech Confidential brings you the people, tech, and companies that change how you pay and get paid.Chapters00:00 Episode Highlights01:07 Welcome to Fintech Confidential01:15 Dfns: Wallets as a Service (sponsor)02:37 Show Intro and Guest06:13 Jana Origin Story09:15 Inside Government View11:38 John Doe Summonses15:43 Forensic Platform Audits22:05 Transfers and 1099 Traps24:41 Variance and Real Costs29:04 Taking Findings to Regulators32:16 Terms Changes and Report Drift34:07 Building It Yourself34:59 Why Reports Fail Audits35:39 Sky Flow: Building Fast and Secure (sponsor)36:41 Cryto Tax and Quickbooks38:46 Editing Breaks Credibility40:27 Defi Tax Guardrails42:24 Validator Income Burn Fees43:25 NFT Basis Tracing45:08 Pricing Sources Averaging46:29 Self Transfer Verification48:53 Audit Packets Evidence49:41 Silent Algorithm Changes54:00 Enforcement Crystal Ball56:05 Middle Class Snowball59:08 Practical Wallet Tracking01:02:05 Recap And Next Steps01:05:09 Show Wrap01:06:18 Hawk AI (sponsor)01:07:04 Disclaimer

Banking as a service and embedded finance get a practical breakdown as Academy Bank's David Robinson explains how a family-owned Kansas City institution built a BaaS program from the ground up. Tedd Huff, CEO of fintech advisory firm Voalyre and founder of Fintech Confidential, and co-host Stephen Bishop sit down with David to unpack what it takes to launch, staff, and scale an embedded banking practice at a community bank.Find out more at fintechconfidential.comAcademy Bank, a subsidiary of Dickinson Financial Corporation, operates alongside Armed Forces Bank with roughly $4.8 billion in combined assets and a stated goal of reaching $6 billion. David walks through why the bank chose Treasury Prime as its middleware provider, how it integrated Lithic for card processing, and why keeping compliance and BSA functions in-house was a non-negotiable. The conversation gets specific about due diligence red flags, deals that fell apart mid-process, fee income versus deposit economics, and what changed internally when embedded banking finally showed up in every team's annual goals.1️⃣ Prepare for bank meetings like an earnings call; anticipate every compliance question before the first conversation.2️⃣ Build your AML, BSA, and fraud monitoring team before approaching a sponsor bank, not after.3️⃣ Bring your operations and compliance leads to early bank meetings, not just the founder.4️⃣ Treat banker feedback as a data point; show how you tested it and what you changed.5️⃣ Ask your bank partner if embedded work appears in the annual goals of their compliance, risk, and legal teams.GUESTDavid Robinson LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dmrembeddedbanking/COMPANYAcademy Bank: https://www.academybank.comAcademy Bank BaaS: https://www.academybank.com/business/banking-as-a-serviceFINTECH CONFIDENTIALPodcast: https://fintechconfidential.com/listenNotifications: https://fintechconfidential.com/accessLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fintechconfidentialX: https://x.com/FTconfidentialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/fintechconfidentialFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/fintechconfidentialSUPPORTERSSkyflow: Build fast without breaking privacy. A zero-trust data privacy vault delivered as an API. Visit https://skyflowsecure.com Under: Streamline your application and underwriting process by turning PDFs into smart, signable forms. Get started free at https://under.io/ftcHawk AI: Real-time payment screening, AML transaction monitoring, and dynamic customer risk rating to fight fraud and financial crime. Sign up for a demo at https://gethawkai.comABOUTGuest: David Robinson is Director of Fintech and Embedded Banking at Academy Bank. He brings over 20 years of financial services experience across State Street, UMB Bank, and now Academy Bank, where he built the embedded banking practice from the ground up starting in December 2022.Company: Academy Bank is a full-service community bank under Dickinson Financial Corporation, headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri. Named one of Fortune's Most Innovative Companies in 2023, it operates over 70 branches across Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, and Missouri.Host: Tedd Huff, CEO of fintech advisory firm Voalyre and founder of Fintech Confidential. The show is produced by DD3 Media and brings you the people, tech, and companies that change how you pay and get paid.CHAPTERS00:00 Episode Highlights01:24 Skyflow Sponsor Read02:26 Meet the Hosts03:39 Introducing David Robinson04:37 Defining BaaS and Embedded Finance05:29 Academy Bank Growth Strategy06:56 Rapid Fire: This or That08:11 Choosing Treasury Prime09:22 Future Programs and Segments09:53 What Stays In-House12:42 Managed vs. Bank-Owned Compliance14:35 Marketplace Shift and Multi-Platform16:53 Partnerships Are a People Business18:26 Under Sponsor Read18:56 How Banks Vet Fintech Fit19:25 Diligence and Fit20:21 Regulators and Scale21:30 When Deals Fall Apart23:23 Greenlights and Redlines24:23 Advice for Fintechs26:12 Why Academy Bank27:49 Top Tips and Misconceptions29:38 Fees vs. Deposits30:46 Internal Shift and Speed35:47 Crystal Ball and Closing36:54 Final Advice for Founders38:51 Wrap Up39:23 Hawk AI Sponsor Read40:09 Disclaimer

David Glaser, payments executive and CEO of Dwolla with 25+ years across Visa, Mastercard, Worldpay and CyberSource, discusses how JP Morgan’s move on open banking fees is forcing a rethink of bank data access. He explores real-time rails like RTP and FedNow, the role of stablecoins and regulation, and why AI-first design plus aggressive automation is reshaping payments infrastructure.

Mamta Rodrigues, Chief Client Officer for Banking, Financial Services and Insurance at TP with decades at American Express, MasterCard, Visa, and Synchrony. She dives into AI-driven customer experience, fraud prevention using device signals and ML, and modular tech stacks that unlock legacy data. Short takes include automation augmenting agents, cross-functional readiness for pilots, and practical AI blueprints for back-office wins.

Nik Milanović, founder of This Week in FinTech and StableCon, is a fintech builder, investor, and community leader. He explores why stablecoins moved from theory to practice, how banks are shifting to tech partnerships, and why mass adoption will feel boring and resemble familiar payment flows. The conversation highlights surprising corporate interest and the practical infrastructure changes now underway.

Banking as a service, community banks, and fintech partnerships are changing how small businesses access financial products. Tedd Huff, CEO of fintech advisory firm Voalyre and founder of Fintech Confidential, along with Stephen Bishop of amBaaSsador and Fintech Confidential, Confidential Informant, sits down with Lindsay Borgeson, President of Partner Banking at Core Bank, to unpack how a community bank in Omaha, Nebraska built a full BaaS platform from scratch without a top-five bank playbook to follow.The BaaS space has had its share of high-profile failures. Consent orders, compliance breakdowns, and program manager implosions have made headlines for all the wrong reasons. Core Bank took a different approach. They spent time reading every consent order before writing a single line of code. They went to their regulators, both the FDIC and the state, before building anything. They presented their strategic plan, invited regulators back multiple times outside of formal exams, and built a reputation for transparency before they ever onboarded a single fintech client."We are not the biggest name in BaaS," Lindsay admits. "Yet, we certainly aim to be a well-known, respected name, but for the right reasons."That mindset shaped everything about how CoreX, their BaaS brand, was built. They did not try to bolt new capabilities onto an existing tech stack with bubblegum and duct tape. When their initial technology partner did not work out, they stopped, went back to the board, and interviewed over ten vendors before selecting Core Bank as their Side core and Oscilar for transaction monitoring. They later added Cobalt Labs for AI-driven compliance workflows. Each decision was made with long-term strategic alignment in mind, not speed to market.The compliance model at CoreX offers two paths. Fintechs can choose managed compliance, where the bank handles transaction monitoring, KYB, and KYC. Or they can run customized compliance if they have the internal muscle to own those functions themselves. Either way, the expectation is the same: compliance is not a phase, it is a constant. Lindsay puts it simply: "Compliance first. I should probably consider removing it because it's compliance always."What makes CoreX different from other sponsor banks is the focus on who they want to serve. Their ideal customer profile centers on fintechs that support small businesses, particularly vertical SaaS platforms in industries Core Bank already understands. Construction, real estate, property management, unions, aviation, medical, and hospitality are all sectors where the bank already has deep expertise on the traditional side of the house. That knowledge transfers directly into how they evaluate fintech partnerships.The "dinner test" came up more than once. If you would not want to sit down for a meal with a potential partner, you should not get into a contract with them. When things go wrong, and they will, the quality of the relationship determines whether both sides can work through it or walk away bitter.For fintechs considering a community bank partnership, the advice is direct. Know what matters to you before you start talking to banks. Do not compromise on compliance or risk management just because someone promises speed or a lower price. And if a bank says they can have you live in three months and profitable in twelve, something is off. Building this correctly takes time.For community banks thinking about entering BaaS, the message is just as clear. Do not dabble. This is not a side-of-desk project. It requires dedicated people, a separate tech stack, a documented risk appetite, and full alignment from the board down. If your executive team is not excited about it, you will not have the patience to do it right."It's not for the faint of heart," Lindsay says. "But it is really a great avenue for community banks to thrive."Core Bank is now expanding into embedded lending, aiming to become a full-service partner for fintechs focused on serving the SMB market. They are hiring, growing their team, and preparing for what comes next in a regulatory environment that continues to shift.The episode covers how to build a BaaS program that lasts, how to evaluate tech stack partners, how to structure compliance models, and what separates the banks that survive from the ones that make headlines for the wrong reasons. If you are a fintech founder looking for a sponsor bank, or a community bank executive weighing whether to enter this space, this conversation offers a grounded, practical look at what it actually takes.Key HighlightsSilicon Prairie Is RealOmaha, Nebraska has earned the nickname Silicon Prairie for a reason. Community banks in the Midwest are building serious fintech infrastructure without the spotlight of coastal tech hubs. The talent is there, the regulatory relationships are strong, and the results speak for themselves.Bank Within A BankBuilding a BaaS platform means constructing an entirely separate operation inside your existing institution. Different people, different tech stack, different risk frameworks, different regulatory considerations. Most banks underestimate this scope until they are already in it.BaaS In A Box FailsAnyone promising to have you up and running in three months is selling a shortcut that will cost you later. If you are profitable in twelve months, something was built wrong. Speed to market is not the same as sustainability.Read Every Consent OrderBefore writing any code or signing any contracts, study what went wrong at other banks. Build a gap analysis. Make sure there is not a single stone you have not turned over. The failures in this space are public record for a reason.Regulators Want Transparency FirstGoing to the FDIC and state regulators before building anything changed the entire trajectory. Presenting the strategic plan, inviting them back outside of exams, and maintaining open communication built trust that pays off when questions arise later.Profitable Fast Means ProblemsIf someone tells you profitability comes quickly in BaaS, walk away. This is a long game that requires patience, investment, and a board that understands the timeline. Rushing leads to the same mistakes that made headlines.Your Legacy Vendor Is LyingWhen existing technology partners say they can handle BaaS requirements, verify it. Many banks learned the hard way that bubblegum and duct tape on old systems does not scale. Interview ten vendors if you have to.Skills Do Not Transfer AutomaticallyThe people who excel in traditional community banking may not thrive on the partner bank side. The mindset is different, the pace is different, and the technical demands are different. Evaluate talent honestly before assuming they can make the shift.Know Your Why Before StartingCore Bank got into BaaS to grow deposits. That clarity shaped every decision about which fintechs to partner with, which verticals to serve, and which opportunities to decline. Without a clear why, every shiny opportunity looks like the right one.Fed Skinny Charters Loom LargeThe rush to new charters and Fed master accounts is noise that could reshape the entire BaaS model. No one fully understands the impact yet, but smart banks are watching closely and preparing to pivot if the landscape shifts.Five Key Takeaways1️⃣ First Call Energy Tells AllIf you leave a 30-minute intro call feeling drained, that is your answer. Walk away. The right partnerships should energize both sides from the first conversation.2️⃣ Stop Overcomplicating BaaSIt is still banking. The same principles apply: risk management, customer experience, and caring about the businesses you serve. Remove the mysticism and treat it like what it is.3️⃣ Competitors Will Help YouBanks in this space are surprisingly collaborative. They share what works and what does not because everyone benefits when the industry does it correctly. Reach out and learn from them.4️⃣ Assess Cultural Readiness FirstBefore committing resources, evaluate whether your organization has the mindset to operate a partner bank. Naysayers and internal resistance will slow you down if leadership is not fully aligned.5️⃣ Community Banks Offer Leadership AccessFintechs get direct access to executive decision-makers at community banks. That level of high-touch partnership is harder to find at larger institutions. Do not assume smaller means less capable.TLDRBanking as a service does not require billions in assets or a top-five bank playbook. Tedd Huff and Stephen Bishop sit down with Lindsay Borgeson, President of Partner Banking at Core Bank, to break down how a community bank in Nebraska built a full BaaS platform from scratch. The focus is on what actually works: reading every consent order before writing code, going to regulators before building anything, and choosing tech partners based on long-term alignment instead of sales pitches. The compliance model offers two paths, managed or customized, but the expectation stays the same either way. Fintechs serving small businesses through vertical SaaS get priority. The dinner test matters more than most banks admit. Speed and price should never outweigh quality. And if someone promises profitability in twelve months, something is wrong. This is the practical breakdown for fintech founders and community bank executives who want to enter sponsor banking the right way.Links & ResourcesGuestLindsay Borgeson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindsay-lee-borgeson-162a4972/Core Bank: https://corebank.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/core-bankCo-HostStephen Bishop: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephenbishop1/amBaaSsador: https://ambaassador.comLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bankingambaassadorHostTedd Huff: https://www.linkedin.com/in/teddhuff/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fintechconfidentialFintech ConfidentialYoutube: https://youtube.com/@fintechconfidentialPodcast: https://fintechconfidential.com/listenNewsletter: https://fintechconfidential.com/accessLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fintechconfidentialX: https://x.com/FTconfidentialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/fintechconfidentialFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/fintechconfidentialSupportersUnder io - Streamline your application and underwriting process by digitizing PDFs for digital signature - under.io/ftcSkyflow - Zero trust data privacy vault delivered as an API; collect, secure, and tokenize personal information like card data and payment details with built-in PCI, CCPA, GDPR, and SOC 2 compliance - skyflowsecure.comHawk AI - Real-time payment screening, ML transaction monitoring, and dynamic customer risk rating tools designed to fight fraud and financial crime while reducing false positives - gethawkai.comTimestamped Chapters00:00 Episode Highlights01:22 Under.io: AI-Powered Onboarding & Risk Verification (Sponsor)01:52 Meet Lindsay Borgs: A FinTech Leader03:17 Building Corex: The Journey Begins06:28 Challenges and Lessons Learned08:44 Strategic Partnerships and AI Integration11:18 Compliance and Risk Management13:07 Success Stories and Ideal Customer Profiles14:29 Sky Flow: Building Fast and Secure (sponsor)21:31 Navigating Regulatory Landscapes28:36 Future of Core Bank and Corex30:10 Closing Thoughts and Advice33:32 Hawk.ai: AI-Driven Financial Crime Detection (Sponsor)34:18 DisclaimerAboutGUESTLindsay Borgeson is President of Partner Banking at Core Bank, where she leads the CoreX banking-as-a-service platform. She has been at Core Bank for 14 years, starting as a branch manager and working her way up through Vice President of Retail Banking, Chief Deposit Officer, and now President of Partner Banking. Lindsay was recognized as a Top Contributor by Alloy Labs and has been instrumental in building CoreX from the ground up, including developing strategic partnerships with Increased Technologies, Osler, and Cobalt Labs. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from Bellevue University.Core Bank is a full-service community bank headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, with six Midwest locations across the Omaha and Kansas City metros. The bank aspires to be a truly remarkable company that just happens to be a bank, delivering personal, business, real estate, healthcare banking, and wealth services. Through CoreX, their banking-as-a-service brand, Core Bank offers white-labeled solutions for deposits, money movement, and card issuance to fintech partners serving small businesses and vertical SaaS platforms.CO-HOSTConfidential Informant Stephen Bishop Stephen “Steve” Bishop is the President of amBaaSsador, an education and advisory platform focused on embedded finance and Banking-as-a-Service for both financial institutions and service providers. He previously led strategic growth and new initiatives at OMB Bank as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Innovation Officer, where he also helped create and build OMBX, the bank’s embedded finance brand. His background includes senior roles at Jack Henry & Associates, Citi, and AT&T, and he holds graduate degrees in operations, finance, strategy, and information management from Washington University in St. Louis.amBaaSsador is a strategic advisory and ecosystem platform dedicated to helping banks, fintechs, and service providers succeed in embedded finance and Banking-as-a-Service. The firm focuses on clear education, practical strategy, and curated connections, giving clients a neutral place to understand market shifts and choose a path that fits their goals. Its work spans consulting, community programs, training, events, and research, all designed to turn complex BaaS questions into practical, workable plans.HOSTTedd Huff is a long-time fintech leader with more than 25 years of experience across payments, banking, and software. He is the Founder and CEO of Voalyre and the creator of Fintech Confidential, a network of shows and newsletters focused on how money and payments really work. Over his career he has served as a founder, board member, and executive for multiple startups and has provided strategic direction to organizations such as Global Payments, OpenEdge, Heartland Payment Systems, Nuvei, and TSYS. His work centers on growth, clear strategy, and user experience, and has included collaborations with companies like Apple, Google, Amazon, Walmart, Cabela’s, and Restoration Hardware.Voalyre is a global fintech enablement firm that helps payments and financial technology companies grow with a mix of advisory services and hands-on execution. The firm works with banks, processors, and fintechs on issues such as go-to-market strategy, product and experience design, partner programs, and operational readiness. By combining deep industry experience with practical support, Voalyre helps clients reduce friction in their payments stack and move faster from idea to measurable results.DD3 MediaDiamond D3 Media is a multimedia and marketing agency founded by Tedd Huff that specializes in content creation and production for the fintech and payments industry. As the production company behind Fintech Confidential, DD3 Media produces podcasts, live streams, video content, and onsite interview events that deliver engaging, educational content to global audiences. The company focuses on creating professional-grade media that simplifies complex financial technology topics through storytelling and expert interviews, helping fintech companies and financial institutions build thought leadership and connect with their audiences across YouTube, podcast platforms, and social media.

Stablecoins hit $50 trillion in transaction volume, surpassing Visa and MasterCard combined. Tedd Huff, CEO of fintech advisory firm Voalyre and founder of Fintech Confidential, sits down with Keith VanderLeast, General Manager of Americas at BVNK, at FinTech Nerd Con in Miami to unpack what's really happening as blockchain-based payments reshape cross-border infrastructure.The numbers tell a story that's hard to ignore. By the end of October 2025, stablecoin transaction volumes hit somewhere between $46 trillion and $50 trillion. BVNK alone processes about $20 billion in total volume, with the Americas business making up roughly a third of that amount. This isn't about speculative crypto trading anymore. The conversation has shifted to real payment infrastructure that moves money across borders 24/7 without the friction that's plagued traditional rails for decades.Stablecoins offer instant settlement around the clock, transparency that traditional banking can't match, and costs that make high-ticket cross-border transactions actually viable. Banks and payment companies are moving from pilot programs to actual implementation.Payouts have gained more traction early on because companies prefer to test the waters by pushing payments out rather than accepting them in. The gig economy has become a major beneficiary. Companies can now pay workers anywhere in the world without routing through legacy banking systems that charge hefty fees and take days to settle.The compliance conversation gets interesting when you compare on-chain monitoring to traditional banking. With blockchain-based payments, every transaction leaves a permanent record. You can see where funds originated, every wallet they touched along the way, and where they end up.Visa and MasterCard have been testing stablecoin settlements for their issuers and acquirers, primarily in European markets where regulatory clarity arrived sooner. For companies doing high volumes of original credit transactions on weekends, the ability to pre-fund with stablecoins eliminates the need for expensive lines of credit.One surprise in the market comes from the reverse flow. Manufacturers in Latin America want to pay their US suppliers using stablecoins. BVNK converts those stablecoin payments to dollars and pays out through traditional rails.KEY TAKEAWAYS:1️⃣ Train compliance teams on blockchain monitoring tools before piloting stablecoin payments because BSA-AML frameworks work differently on-chain.2️⃣ Calculate what you spend on lines of credit just to pre-fund weekend settlement accounts and compare that against stablecoin settlement costs.3️⃣ Set up ongoing monitoring using tools that track transactions after they exit your custody to catch compliance issues before they become problems.4️⃣ Build infrastructure to accept payments from unexpected directions like Latin America to US and convert to traditional rails on the receiving end.5️⃣ Use smart contracts to handle escrow requirements in lending situations instead of relying on intermediaries.LINKSGuestKeith VanderLeastLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keithvanderleest/BVNK Profile: https://bvnk.com/about-usCompanyBVNKWebsite: https://bvnk.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bvnk/HostFintech ConfidentialPodcast: https://fintechconfidential.com/listenNotifications: https://fintechconfidential.com/accessLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fintechconfidentialX: https://x.com/FTconfidentialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/fintechconfidentialFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/fintechconfidentialSUPPORTERSDfns - Wallets as a service offering API-first, multi-chain infrastructure with security, compliance, and blockchain integration for fintech platforms - https://fintechconfidential.com/dfnsSky Flow - Zero trust data privacy vault for collecting, securing, and tokenizing personal information with PCI, CCPA, GDPR, and SOC 2 compliance - https://skyflowsecure.comHawk AI - Real-time payment screening, AML transaction monitoring, and dynamic customer risk rating tools for fighting fraud and financial crime - https://gethawkai.comABOUTKeith VanderLeast is General Manager of Americas at BVNK, leading strategy and customer success across the U.S. market for stablecoin-powered payment solutions. With over 20 years in payment infrastructure across Western Union, First Data, American Express, and Cross River Bank, Keith specializes in instant payments, compliance, and helping traditional institutions bridge fiat and blockchain-based payment systems.BVNK is a London-based stablecoin infrastructure platform founded in 2021 that provides enterprise-grade payment services bridging traditional banking and blockchain networks. With over 25 regulatory licenses and processing over $30 billion in annualized payment volume, BVNK offers managed and self-managed payment solutions supporting SWIFT, ACH, SEPA, and major blockchains for fintechs, payment providers, and financial institutions.Tedd Huff is CEO of fintech advisory firm Voalyre and host of Fintech Confidential. Fintech Confidential delivers insights, trends, and stories from fintech leaders.Diamond D3 Media is a multimedia agency founded by Tedd Huff specializing in content creation and production for the fintech industry, producing podcasts, live streams, and video content that simplify complex financial technology topics.CHAPTERS00:00 Episode Highlights01:08 Dfns: Wallets as a Service (sponsor)02:29 Interview with Keith: FinTech Journey04:41 Cross-Border Payments and Stable Coins09:23 Stable Coins in the Gig Economy10:40 Managed vs. Self-Managed Solutions13:41 Sky Flow: Building Fast and Secure (sponsor)21:21 Future of Stable Coins and Tokenized Deposits23:43 Conclusion and Final Thoughts24:19 Hawk AI (sponsor)

Small business cash flow solutions: Tedd Huff, CEO of fintech advisory firm Voalyre and host of Fintech Confidential, interviews Receives' Founder & CEO Ariel Blum and Lithics' Co-Founder & CEO Bo Jiang on earned revenue access for 34M American businesses. How fintech infrastructure provides instant access to sales revenue without loans, solving payment delays and working capital challenges.Legacy banking systems force business owners to wait days or weeks for funds from completed sales, creating cash flow crises that lead 82% of small businesses to struggle with basic operations. Modern fintech companies are solving this through real-time access to earned revenue, flexible payment infrastructure, and strategic partnerships that eliminate artificial delays built into outdated financial systems.This episode of Fintech Confidential, recorded live from the Money Pot at Money 2020 in Las Vegas, breaks down how small businesses can access working capital faster, why traditional lending models fail Main Street America, and what partnerships between fintech innovators actually look like when building compliant, scalable solutions.TAKEAWAYS1️⃣ Pick partners, not vendors.Look for teams that treat your success as their own.2️⃣ Build in parallel, not sequence.Run development and compliance at the same time to cut launch timelines.3️⃣ Get the full customer picture.Visibility into earnings, accounts, and spending drives smarter decisions.4️⃣ Test options before you scale.Come to partners with presets already tested to speed approvals.5️⃣ Prepare for what you cannot see.Stay flexible enough to respond when something unexpected hits.LINKSAriel Blum | Founder and CEO of ReceiveLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arielblum/Bo Jiang | Co-founder and CEO of LithicLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bolingReceiveWebsite: https://www.nowreceive.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/nowreceiveLithicWebsite: https://www.lithic.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lithicFintech ConfidentialPodcast: https://fintechconfidential.com/listenNotifications: https://fintechconfidential.com/accessLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fintechconfidentialX: https://x.com/FTconfidentialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/fintechconfidentialFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/fintechconfidentialSUPPORTERSUnder.io – Digitize your PDFs for applications and underwriting. Get started free: https://under.io/ftcDefense (Dfns) - Provides wallets as a service that's API first, multi-chain by design, and secured with MPC fintechconfidential.com/dfsHawk AI – Real-time payment screening, ML transaction monitoring, and dynamic risk rating for fraud prevention: https://gethawkai.comABOUTAriel Blum is the Founder and CEO of Receive. He previously held leadership roles at American Express, Green Dot, and Melio. He built Receive as the first earned revenue access platform for small businesses, helping them unlock cash they have already earned without borrowing.Bo Jiang is the Co-founder and CEO of Lithic. He and his co-founders started building together at age 14 and later founded Privacy.com before launching Lithic. He studied at MIT and leads the company from New York.Receive is a fintech platform that gives small businesses instant access to their earned revenue with no interest, no credit checks, and no traditional underwriting.Lithic is a card issuing infrastructure platform that empowers fintechs to build compliant, scalable payment products through developer-friendly APIs and direct network connections.Tedd Huff is the CEO of Voalyre and host of Fintech Confidential, bringing you the people, tech, and companies that change how you pay and get paid.CHAPTERS00:00 Highlights01:07 Welcome to Fintech Confidential01:16 Under.io: Streamline Applications & Underwriting (sponsor)02:06 Challenges Facing Small Businesses02:39 Meet Ariel Blum and Bo Jiang03:26 Breaking Down Barriers for SMBs04:19 Why the Financial System Is Broken05:39 Modern Infrastructure for Modern Businesses07:03 Adapting Fintech to Business Needs09:46 The Receive and Lithic Partnership11:40 Modern Businesses Need Modern Infrastructure14:19 The Democratization of Liquidity15:26 Compliance and Moving Fast16:37 DFNS: Wallets as a Service (sponsor)18:02 Balancing Speed with Regulation21:08 Lightning Round: Quick Takes24:27 Stablecoins and Real-Time Money Movement30:00 Advice for Fintech Founders30:36 Conclusion: Key Takeaways31:10 Closing Remarks and Call to Action32:02 Hawk AI: Fighting Fraud and Financial Crime (sponsor)32:47 Disclaimer

Robert Musiala, Partner at Baker Hostetler and Web3 legal lead, breaks down 2025’s regulatory turning points. He walks through the Genius Act, the SEC’s reversal on token classifications, the jump to $308B in stablecoins, Circle’s IPO, and how banks and NFTs found clarity. Fast-paced legal and market milestones are unpacked month by month.