Claim OwnershipThe Future of Money
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© Henri Arslanian
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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
163 Episodes
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My interview with Ben El-Baz, Managing Director of HashKey MENA. - The Asia–Middle East crypto corridor is expanding fast, driven by stablecoin-powered B2B payments. - Hong Kong’s regulatory clarity has fostered a “financial-grade” crypto ecosystem across banks, brokers, and asset managers. - Dubai and the UAE are emerging as key partners in bridging East–West crypto flows. - Real estate tokenisation and cross-border stablecoin use are transforming how individuals and corporates transact. - Southeast Asia is becoming a vital region for institutional crypto adoption, especially in stablecoin settlements. - Education and regulated infrastructure remain key challenges for scaling adoption securely. Powered by Phoenix Group The full interview is also available on my YouTube channel: YouTube: http://bit.ly/4n1z00D
My interview with Brett King, futurist and author of Branch Tomorrow. - How fintechs have overtaken traditional banks in customer reach - The rise of autonomous banking and tokenized assets - Why legacy systems can’t support real-time, AI-driven finance - The critical role of stablecoins and digital payments networks in this transformation - What bankers must do to stay relevant in the next decade Powered by Phoenix Group Powered by Phoenix Group The full interview is also available on my YouTube channel: YouTube: http://bit.ly/3WtDKRI
My interview with Robin Scott, General Manager of Middle East at AIFT. - Insurance for digital assets has grown rapidly, with coverage now exceeding $1 billion - Centralized exchanges and custodians are meeting higher technical standards, making policies viable - DeFi remains challenging due to frequent hacks, leading to high premiums - Legacy insurers and reinsurers are warming up to crypto as a diversifier from climate risk exposures - AI risk is following the same playbook as crypto, starting with cybersecurity and risk management tools - Smart contracts and AI can streamline the outdated insurance process, reducing paperwork and intermediaries - The future may bring customers closer to directly covering risks via blockchain-based pools Powered by Phoenix Group The full interview is also available on my YouTube channel: YouTube: http://bit.ly/4nvx01v
My interview with Sunny Lu, Co-Founder and CEO of VeChain, on enterprise blockchain, sustainability, and why adoption is accelerating. - VeChain has focused on enterprise blockchain since 2015, with use cases from anti-counterfeiting to sustainability - Regulation and better infrastructure are lowering barriers for corporate adoption of blockchain - Blockchain is not just about productivity but about relationships between enterprises and individuals - Enterprises are moving beyond track-and-trace to user engagement and shared sustainability missions - More than 90% of enterprise blockchain conversations now focus on public chains rather than private ones - ESG remains a key driver, with VeChain working on carbon credits, food safety, and sustainability management - Despite China’s cautious stance on crypto, blockchain development remains strong, with Hong Kong acting as a testing ground Powered by Phoenix Group The full interview is also available on my YouTube channel: YouTube: http://bit.ly/46RaXwk
My interview with Michael Bentley, CEO of Euler Labs. - DeFi adoption surged from zero to $3 billion on Euler in just nine months - Institutional players such as BlackRock and Apollo are tokenising money market funds on-chain - Stablecoin growth is driving new lending and borrowing markets in DeFi - Traditional fintechs are starting to use DeFi rails as back-end infrastructure - Retail adoption still faces UX and UI hurdles, but fintech integrations may bridge the gap - Michael predicts explosive growth if even a fraction of traditional finance moves on-chain - Despite risks like hacks and smart contract bugs, DeFi offers transparency and antifragility compared to traditional finance Powered by Phoenix Group The full interview is also available on my YouTube channel: YouTube: http://bit.ly/42iIc9r
- The UAE emerges as one of the world’s largest sovereign Bitcoin holders - How Phoenix Group built the first and largest mining firm in the Middle East and Africa - The intersection of Bitcoin mining, AI, and data infrastructure - Why sovereign Bitcoin reserves are legitimising the mining industry worldwide - The rise of Digital Asset Treasuries (DATs) and their role in corporate balance sheets - Why Asia–Middle East corridors and first-mover advantage matter in the next mining cycle Powered by Phoenix Group The full interview is also available on my YouTube channel: YouTube: http://bit.ly/46RaXwk
My interview with Sean McHugh, Head of Market Assurance at VARA. - VARA has grown from 14 to 36 licensed firms in just over a year - Biggest applicant mistakes: unclear business plans and shifting models - How VARA uses AI and blockchain analytics to supervise licensees - Four regulatory priorities: customer protection, AML/KYC, financial soundness, cybersecurity - Path toward global harmonisation and passporting of crypto regulation - The importance of marketing rules and enforcement in Dubai’s ecosystem - Sean’s personal reflections on moving from Wall Street to regulation Powered by Phoenix Group The full interview is also available on my YouTube channel: YouTube: http://bit.ly/3K9qM8W
Digital banking, supply chain, and tokenised finance are converging faster than expected Bitcoin, stablecoins, and tokenised instruments are here to stay Institutional adoption needs robust, trustworthy infrastructure From lonely beginnings to a maturing, bank-grade digital asset ecosystem Partnerships, patience, and discipline are key to building lasting ventures Powered by Phoenix Group The full interview is also available on my YouTube channel: YouTube: http://bit.ly/3ImJ71I
The next frontier of stablecoins: My interview with Zach Witkoff, CEO and Co-Founder of World Liberty Financial - Why World Liberty Financial believes it can rival Tether and Circle with USD1 - How a $2B transaction with Binance was settled in under two seconds, with zero fees - The Trump family’s direct involvement in the project and its focus on institutional markets - Why real-world asset tokenisation could be their edge in the coming wave of adoption - How compliance and governance are being positioned as core strengths Powered by Phoenix Group The full interview is also available on my YouTube channel: YouTube: http://bit.ly/4pk5oy1
Crypto is still in its early days, less than 10 years since Ethereum launched Regulation is finally opening the door for corporates to build in crypto Most value creation still comes from startups, not big banks or asset managers Adoption is global: built in the US, used across Asia, LATAM, and beyond Biggest founder mistake: chasing hype instead of solving real problems Stablecoins set for explosive growth with new regulation under Fed oversight Infrastructure scaling remains critical if crypto is to reach billions of users Powered by Phoenix Group The full interview is also available on my YouTube channel: YouTube: https://bit.ly/3YfcSX4
Why institutional and family office investors are driving demand in crypto asset management The rise of strategies beyond ETFs: altcoins, market-neutral plays, and venture capital How fundamental analysis and on-chain data are applied to evaluate crypto tokens Why venture funds still play a critical role in early-stage crypto projects The sectors to watch: DeFi, gaming, AI, and decentralised physical infrastructure Powered by Phoenix Group The full interview is also available on my YouTube channel: http://bit.ly/4fKk8Sn
Why Ripple launched its own US dollar stablecoin amid a rapidly growing market Stablecoins’ expanding role beyond speculative crypto trading How Ripple uses stablecoins to make cross-border payments faster and cheaper The two big challenges to global stablecoin adoption: blockchain-to-domestic system connections and liquidity Ripple’s focus on building liquidity across key currency pairs and innovating on its core ledger Powered by Phoenix Group The full interview is also available on my YouTube channel: YouTube: https://bit.ly/3YfcSX4
How Hedera’s journey moved from education to enablement to funding for startups Why understanding DLT vs blockchain is key to adoption The $100M venture fund driving Hedera’s startup ecosystem How “cross-pollination” between startups and enterprises accelerates solutions The biggest challenges for enterprise blockchain adoption—and how to overcome them Want your kids to learn about crypto? Order my latest kids book "Decoding Crypto with Henri and Hodler" here: https://bit.ly/44Ns69T Powered by Phoenix Group The full interview is also available on my YouTube channel: YouTube: https://bit.ly/3YfcSX4
Can Bitcoin finally generate yield without compromising self-custody? My interview with Fisher Yu, Co-Founder of Babylon, on unlocking Bitcoin staking. Babylon enables BTC holders to earn staking rewards by securing other networks. The future of Bitcoin DeFi could unlock trillions in idle value. Regulation and technology must align to ensure secure, yield-generating BTC protocols. Want your kids to learn about crypto? Order my latest kids book "Decoding Crypto with Henri and Hodler" here: https://bit.ly/44Ns69T Powered by Phoenix Group The full interview is also available on my YouTube channel: YouTube: https://bit.ly/3YfcSX4
My Interview with Haider Rafique, CMO, OKX at #token2049 Why the crypto industry must call out bad behaviour to move from the wild wild West to the middle mile West OKX’s pivot from centralised exchange to Web3 wallet and why product design and self-custody matter The role of storytelling in rebuilding crypto’s reputation after scandals like FTX Why brand building, trust, and user experience are now central to client acquisition in crypto How sports partnerships build distribution and reinforce values like perseverance and discipline The importance of taking risks in marketing and standing for something—even when it's controversial Powered by Phoenix Group The full interview is also available on my YouTube channel. YouTube: https://bit.ly/3YfcSX4
Powered by Phoenix Group The full interview is also available on my YouTube channel: YouTube: https://bit.ly/3YfcSX4
In this episode of the Future of Money podcast, I sat down with Luuk Strijers, CEO of Deribit, to discuss their landmark $2.9 billion acquisition by Coinbase. We explore what this means for crypto options, institutional adoption, the evolving landscape of collateral in crypto derivatives, and how regulatory clarity is reshaping the market. A must-watch for anyone tracking the future of digital asset infrastructure and institutional crypto growth. __ This episode is sponsored by Deribit – the #1 platform for trading crypto options. Trade crypto options with Deribit - a VARA regulated, centralized, and institutional-grade crypto derivatives exchange for options and futures. Experience low latency, deep liquidity, and advanced risk management tools at your fingertips. Start trading with Deribit today. Also, remember that Virtual Assets may lose their value in full or in part, and are subject to extreme volatility. __
Powered by Phoenix Group The full interview is also available on my YouTube channel: YouTube: https://bit.ly/3YfcSX4
Powered by Phoenix Group The full interview is also available on my YouTube channel: YouTube: https://bit.ly/3YfcSX4
Powered by Phoenix Group The full interview is also available on my YouTube channel: YouTube: https://bit.ly/3YfcSX4
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