CoinDesk Podcast Network BITCOIN SEASON 2: Bitcoin & Islamic Finance
Nov 19, 2025
Allen Farrington, a venture investor and Bitcoin-native company founder, joins Harris Irfan, a former investment banker specializing in Islamic finance. They explore the intriguing connection between Bitcoin and Islamic finance principles, arguing that Bitcoin aligns naturally with concepts like riba and fractional reserve banking. They discuss the potential of Bitcoin to reinforce Islamic economic systems, the flaws in traditional Islamic banking, and how Bitcoin mining is gaining traction in MENA nations. Their insights point towards a hopeful future for Islamic finance intertwined with Bitcoin.
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Bitcoin Encourages Islamic-Aligned Finance
- Bitcoin as sound money naturally aligns financial intermediation with Islamic principles like risk-sharing and avoidance of injustice.
- Harris Irfan and Allen Farrington argue a Bitcoin standard reduces incentives for money creation and riba-linked harm.
From Asset Manager To Bitcoin VC
- Allen left asset management to start Axiom and now invests in Bitcoin-native companies and Bitcoin-denominated financing.
- He co-founded Flux to provide financing where all capital is held and transacted in Bitcoin.
Career Rooted In Islamic Finance
- Harris trained in Islamic finance while at Deutsche Bank and helped found its Islamic finance team in Dubai.
- He later founded Cordoba Capital Markets to restore prophetic, trade-backed financial practices like true sukuk structures.
