The Rundown 10/2/25: Tokenizing the Future: How Blockchain is Disrupting Finance and AI

In this episode of Tank Talks, host Matt Cohen is joined by John Ruffolo to dive deep into the rapidly evolving AI landscape, its economic ramifications, and Canada’s growing potential as a global tech leader. They discuss pivotal topics, such as energy challenges in AI infrastructure, the rise of AI tokenization, and the impact of government policies on the sector. With a focus on the future of tech, investments, and the role of Canada, this episode offers an insightful look at where the industry is headed.

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For more information, visit fasken.com/emergingtech and follow us on LinkedIn.

AI Energy Demands & Canada’s Opportunity (00:04:39)

John and Matt discuss the massive demand for compute power in AI and Canada’s potential to lead by meeting these energy needs. They highlight the importance of matching energy capacity with data center development to become a global tech leader.

The AI CapEx Boom and the Trillion-Dollar Question (00:07:05)

The discussion shifts to the booming capital expenditures in AI, with a particular focus on the rising costs of building AI infrastructure and whether this growth is sustainable in the long term.

Canada’s AI Strategy and Sovereign Identity (00:14:21)

The conversation turns to Canada’s AI strategy, with a task force focusing on innovation, research, and talent retention. John shares his thoughts on the potential challenges and opportunities for Canada in becoming a key player in the AI space.

The SEC’s Push for Tokenization in the U.S. (00:19:33)

The episode also delves into the SEC’s efforts to allow the tokenization of stocks and what this could mean for the financial industry and blockchain adoption.

Connect with John Ruffolo on LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/joruffolo

Connect with Matt Cohen on LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/matt-cohen1

Visit the Ripple Ventures website: https://www.rippleventures.com/

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