Bitcoin, Fiat & Rock'n'Roll Stablecoins Reshape Global Finance: Circle IPO, PYUSD Rewards & ECB Panic | News
In this special May edition of Bitcoin, Fiat & Rock’n’Roll (BFRR), we dive deep into April’s most explosive developments in crypto — from Bitcoin dominance and Ethereum’s narrative struggles to the evolving global stablecoin landscape. Hosts Alex and Michael are joined by Simon Seiter, CFO & CPO of AllUnity, one of Europe’s most ambitious euro stablecoin projects, for a timely conversation about the latest market dynamics, policy shifts, and business models shaping the digital currency ecosystem.
The episode kicks off with a sharp analysis of Bitcoin and Ethereum's price action throughout April. Bitcoin showed strength amid traditional market turbulence, outperforming equities and absorbing institutional capital through record-breaking ETF inflows. Meanwhile, Ethereum lagged behind, raising new questions about its long-term value proposition — especially compared to emerging alternatives like Solana.
Our focus then shifts to the rapidly evolving stablecoin sector. The team breaks down Circle’s newly filed IPO and uncovers key financial figures — revealing a growing, but heavily subsidized business model with distribution costs exceeding 60% of revenue. Simon offers behind-the-scenes insight into the economics of issuing regulated stablecoins in Europe and how the market is shaped by both U.S. dominance and European regulatory uncertainty.
We also discuss PayPal’s attempt to pay interest on stablecoin holdings, the SEC’s formal declaration that USDC and USDT are not securities, and growing signs of institutional engagement — including Bank of America’s hint at entering the stablecoin space. The episode also covers Circle’s new global payment network, Revolut’s record crypto profits, Ripple’s acquisition of prime broker Hidden Road, and the birth of 21.co — a Bitcoin-native company backed by Bitfinex, Tether, and SoftBank.
Finally, the episode touches on widening policy gaps between the U.S. and Europe, as U.S. regulators embrace stablecoins as a geopolitical tool, while the ECB warns against them in defense of the digital euro. We unpack what this divergence means for the future of payments, monetary sovereignty, and innovation.
🎧 Tune in for sharp takes, honest analysis, and an uncensored look into crypto’s most important financial and political battlegrounds.
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