TechCrunch Industry News SoftBank veteran hunts for profits in payments infrastructure plumbing
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Jan 16, 2025 
Akshay Naheta, a former SoftBank executive and founder of Distributed Technologies Research, shares insights into the future of payment systems. He discusses how his startup aims to bridge traditional banking with blockchain technology. The conversation dives into DTR's innovative platform, Amalgam OS, and Naheta's vision for tackling existing challenges in the payments landscape, emphasizing the potential for a revolution in how we transact globally.
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Naheta's New Venture
- Akshay Naheta, previously known for bold bets at SoftBank, is now focusing on revolutionizing payment infrastructure with DTR.
- DTR aims to bridge the gap between traditional banking and blockchain technology.
Payment Industry Scrutiny
- Visa and MasterCard's high swipe fees (2-3%) are under scrutiny.
- The proposed Credit Card Competition Act could require banks to offer alternative payment networks.
DTR's Speed
- Lord Philip used DTR's system to transfer money from his crypto wallet to a UK bank account on Christmas Day.
- This transfer took under 30 seconds, significantly faster than traditional methods.