Bitcoin.com News Interviews

Robinhood’s General Manager of Crypto, Johann Kerbrat, joins David Sencil at Consensus Hong Kong to discuss the launch of Robinhood Chain, the company’s public testnet, and its $1M global hackathon.They cover:Moving traditional financial assets fully on-chain24/7 trading and instant settlementPerpetuals and global expansionRobinhood’s Layer 2 strategyPrediction markets as one of its fastest-growing business linesAI integration through CortexThe future of on-chain financial infrastructureRecorded at Consensus Hong Kong 2026.

Terminal 3 CEO Gary Liu breaks down the four unsolved problems threatening agentic commerce — including the OpenClaw breach that proved your private data is never safe once it touches an agent's memory. Plus: why Singapore stepped back from retail crypto, and why Hong Kong leads Asia.00:00 The Importance of Data Privacy and Security04:07 Gary Liew's Journey to Terminal 308:10 Real-World Applications of ID Verification and Financial Credentials12:11 AI Credentials and the Future of Autonomous Agents15:48 Regulatory Challenges and Global Perspectives on Blockchain19:58 Hong Kong's Position as a Crypto Hub23:51 Talent Retention and the Future of Innovation in Hong Kong

Mahad Mohamed is a senior crypto tax and accounting specialist with over 25 years of experience in public accounting and tax advisory. His background includes work with Big Four firms and government tax authorities, giving him deep insight into regulatory review and enforcement.Mahad Mohamed is the CEO of Block3 Finance, a firm dedicated exclusively to cryptocurrency taxation, accounting, and advisory. He recently joined the Bitcoin.com News Podcast to talk how cryptocurrency is taxed, primarily in Canada and the U.S., and what traders, investors, and builders need to understand to stay compliant:Mahad advises crypto traders, investors, and builders on reporting, audits, and long-term tax structure, with deep expertise across Bitcoin, high- volume trading, DeFi, staking, NFTs, mining, and cross-border crypto activity. His work is focused on audit-ready reporting, clean records, and defensible tax positions that stand up under real regulatory scrutiny.Block3 Finance works with clients operating across centralized exchanges and on-chain protocols, delivering accurate reporting, audit support, and tax structures aligned with current regulatory expectations. The firm places strong emphasis on clean records, defensible positions, and practical decision-making that holds up under real scrutiny.

Mahad Mohamed is a senior crypto tax and accounting specialist with over 25 years of experience in public accounting and tax advisory. His background includes work with Big Four firms and government tax authorities, giving him deep insight into regulatory review and enforcement.Mahad Mohamed is the CEO of Block3 Finance, a firm dedicated exclusively to cryptocurrency taxation, accounting, and advisory. He recently joined the Bitcoin.com News Podcast to talk how cryptocurrency is taxed, primarily in Canada and the U.S., and what traders, investors, and builders need to understand to stay compliant.Mahad advises crypto traders, investors, and builders on reporting, audits, and long-term tax structure, with deep expertise across Bitcoin, high-volume trading, DeFi, staking, NFTs, mining, and cross-border crypto activity. His work is focused on audit-ready reporting, clean records, and defensible tax positions that stand up under real regulatory scrutiny.Block3 Finance works with clients operating across centralized exchanges and on-chain protocols, delivering accurate reporting, audit support, and tax structures aligned with current regulatory expectations. The firm places strong emphasis on clean records, defensible positions, and practical decision-making that holds up under real scrutiny.You can book a free 30-minute consultation at calendly.com/mahadblock3finance, tailored to your unique crypto activity, to understand your exposure, reporting obligations, and next steps before issues become costly.A major topic of discussion this episode was the misunderstanding that taxes only apply when cashing out to fiat; in reality, every crypto transaction, including selling, swapping, and spending, is a taxable event, with no minimum threshold for reporting gains. Tax authorities like the CRA, Revenue Quebec, and the IRS inquire about crypto use on tax returns, and the CRA recently sent 440,000 audit letters to inquire if recipients are crypto users. Tax agencies look closely at whether a user is an investor or a day trader, often using an eight-page questionnaire with about 30 questions to assess the user's involvement. A key distinction involves the volume of transactions; having more than 10 to 15 transactions a year, or more than 15 staking/reward transactions, can flag a user as a day trader. Automated trading is also a strong indicator of being a day trader.If classified as a day trader, income is taxed as business income at high personal marginal tax rates, versus a capital gain. Mahad strongly recommends that day traders incorporate, as a corporation's tax rate in Canada is only 12.2% on gains up to half a million, and personal assets can be transferred to the corporation using a Section 85 Rollover. Specific crypto activities are also addressed: staking rewards and airdrops are taxable at their fair market value upon receipt, and the daily nature of these payments can increase the risk of being classified as a day trader. Winnings from prediction markets are taxable, unlike lottery winnings in Canada, because they involve crypto as the medium of prediction. Losses from hacks or exchange failures are not automatic write-offs; they require proper documentation, such as filing a police report and obtaining a federal file number, which Block3 Finance uses to defend the loss claims if audited.Looking ahead, Mahad predicts an increase in audits, on-chain analysis, and less tolerance for errors from governments as education and awareness become more widespread. Global data sharing is also imminent, with the Common Reporting Standard on Crypto-Assets (CARF) set to begin in 2027, meaning tax authorities will have access to international wallet information. Finally, he emphasizes the importance of estate planning, urging crypto users to have an up-to-date will and proper documentation to ensure that beneficiaries and executives can access their crypto, wallets, and seed phrases, noting that "death and taxes are both guaranteed".

At Consensus Hong Kong 2026, David Sencil hosts a forward-looking discussion on how artificial intelligence is transforming finance and digital systems.Featuring:- Bryan Benson (CEO, Aurum)- Tobias Bauer (Co-Founder & GP, TBV)- Yat Siu (Chairman & Co-Founder, Animoca Brands)Topics include:- AI-native financial markets- The emergence of the agentic web- Stablecoins and global financial access- Digital identity and accountability- Centralization vs decentralization- Regulation and innovationAI is no longer optional for founders or financial institutions. It is becoming foundational infrastructure.Watch the full conversation to understand where finance is heading next.00:00 Introduction to AI and Finance02:50 The Underestimation of AI's Potential05:55 AI in Retail and Institutional Finance08:53 The Future of AI Finance12:02 Democratizing Financial Literacy through AI14:55 The Role of Blockchain in AI Finance18:13 The Evolution of the Internet of Value20:53 The Agentic Web and Its Implications23:47 Challenges and Concerns in AI and Finance28:43 Navigating AI Regulation and Its Challenges34:38 The Importance of Digital Identity in AI39:04 The Intersection of AI, Politics, and Regulation44:34 Integrating AI into Business Strategies51:57 The Future of AI: Opportunities and Challenges#Bitcoin #Crypto #ai

Jason Sheman, COO of Bitcoin.com, joins us at Bitcoin MENA to reflect on how the crypto industry has matured since 2017.We discuss the decline of marketing fluff, the rise of institutional adoption, self-custody versus custodians, regulation, privacy, and why Bitcoin’s long-term success may look boring — but is ultimately bullish.This conversation also covers global crypto hubs, conference culture, market cycles, and what to expect as Bitcoin continues integrating into a more digital world.

ComTech Gold is a digital asset platform enabling the tokenization of physical gold for the digital economy. Built on the XDC Network, ComTech Gold issues CGO — a 100% physical gold-backed token.Lim Say Cheong is an award-winning finance and digital assets leader and Chief Adviser for Digital Assets at ComTech Gold, with deep experience across global capital markets and sovereign advisory. He now focuses on advancing tokenized gold and real-world assets to enable transparent, accessible, and globally investable on-chain products. He recently joined the Bitcoin.com News Podcast to talk about the technology.To learn more about the project visit ComTechGold.com, and connect with Lim Say Cheong on LinkedIn.

Sats Terminal is the first native Bitcoin super app, bringing together Bitcoin loans, yield, and trading in a single interface and developer SDK. Sats Terminal is backed by YZi Labs (formerly Binance Labs), Coinbase Ventures, and Draper Associates.The founders of Sats Terminal recently joined the Bitcoin.com News Podcast to talk about the technology.Stan Havryliuk (CEO and Co-Founder) and Rishabh Java (CTO and Co-Founder) of Sats Terminal shared their journey, starting with their backgrounds in crypto and fintech. Stan had previous experience with Bitcoin.com and running a large Eastern European exchange, while Java had built and sold a fintech company, finding crypto to be a more open building environment. The inspiration for Sats Terminal stemmed from a highly problematic user experience Stan encountered while trading BRC20s, which resulted in him overpaying significantly for a single token. This incident highlighted a clear need for good, user-friendly interfaces in the growing Bitcoin DeFi market to encourage wider adoption. The two founders met online while working on a previous project and formalized their partnership after meeting in person in Buenos Aires.The company secured notable financial backing from major investors. Java's connection to Coinbase Ventures was established after winning an AI agent hackathon at their San Francisco office, which led to a successful pitch. Stan described how they were quickly accepted into the YZi Labs (aka Binance Labs) accelerator program after applying shortly before the deadline on a friend's recommendation, benefiting from a good product growth trajectory at the time. They also received early backing from the Draper family of VCs, including Draper Associates, Draper Dragon, and Boost VC. Stan's key advice for aspiring startups seeking funding is to "just keep building" and iterating fast, emphasizing that consistency compounds into success, alongside networking and participating in hackathons.Java elaborated on the evolution of native Bitcoin assets, moving from Ordinals to BRC20s and then to the improved Runes standard. He reported that Sats Terminal has already captured approximately 70% of the market share for trading Runes, showcasing their success in the ecosystem. They also acknowledged that the Bitcoin ecosystem's complexity, due to the lack of a central authority, means the market will ultimately decide which token standard becomes the long-term winner.The core of Sats Terminal's vision is encapsulated in their motto: "never sell your Bitcoin," but instead to make it work through products like trading, earning, and borrowing. Stan highlighted their belief that Bitcoin is the "only pristine collateral for loans," and their products are laying the groundwork for Bitcoin's transition from "digital gold" to a "productive asset." Java detailed their Borrow product as a self-custody, trust-minimized cross-chain loan solution where users can collateralize their Bitcoin for a loan without KYC. Stan announced that the first version of the Earn product, designed to simplify DeFi complexity for end-users, is being finalized and expected to go live in the next few weeks.Stan Havryliuk, CEO and Co-Founder of Sats Terminal, early Bitcoin investor and Web3 veteran with over eight years of experience scaling crypto businesses worldwide. Ex-Bitcoin.com and zondacrypto.com (BitBay.com).Rishabh Java, CTO and Co-Founder of Sats Terminal, serial entrepreneur, inventor, and Bitcoin builder with a proven track record of creating great technologies. Winner of 50 international hackathons, awarded by Steve Wozniak at 15 for BCI tech and exited Web2 startup at 21.To learn more about the project visit the website, and follow the team on X.

Bitcoin podcasters Stephan Livera and Robin Seyr discuss the true role of Bitcoin education, why podcasts don’t create initial interest but build long-term conviction, whether the four-year cycle is breaking down, OG whale selling, self-custody debates, privacy narratives, and why Bitcoin’s best advocates often aren’t Bitcoiners at all.From institutional adoption to echo chambers, debates, and the future of Bitcoin media, this conversation explores how Bitcoin actually grows.00:00 Introduction to Bitcoin Podcasting and Its Role02:47 The Role of Podcasters in Bitcoin Education06:12 Personality Traits of Bitcoiners09:02 Evolution of Bitcoin Guests and Perspectives11:51 Diverse Worldviews in the Bitcoin Community15:03 The Importance of Open Dialogue in Bitcoin18:01 Advocacy and Representation in Bitcoin20:46 The Need for Diverse Voices in Bitcoin23:06 Mainstream Adoption Through Influencers27:18 Podcasting Insights and Interview Preparation35:13 The Future of Bitcoin's Market Cycles43:52 Privacy Concerns in Bitcoin

George Mekhail, Managing Director of Bitcoin for Corporations at BTC Inc, explains why Bitcoin is no longer being ignored by institutions — it’s being actively challenged.In this interview from the Bitcoin MENA Conference, George breaks down why corporate Bitcoin treasury companies are being targeted, how global corporate adoption is accelerating, the role of advocacy in protecting Bitcoin companies, and whether the traditional four-year Bitcoin cycle still applies.Topics covered include: • Why institutions are pushing back against Bitcoin • Corporate Bitcoin adoption around the world • Regulatory friction in Europe vs the United States • The MSCI proposal targeting Bitcoin-heavy balance sheets • Whether Bitcoin’s four-year cycle is changing