The Future of Money

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playbook as crypto, starting with cybersecurity and risk management tools - Smart contracts and AI can streamline the outdated insurance process, reducing paperwork and intermediaries - The future may bring customers closer to directly covering risks via blockchain-based pools Powered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