
SmarterMarkets™
SmarterMarkets™ brings you the entrepreneurs, icons, and executives of commodities, capital markets, and technology to rant on the inadequacies of our systems and riff on ideas for how to improve them. Our weekly episodes explore how technology can be leveraged to redesign and improve markets to meet society’s biggest challenges, including climate change and the energy transition.
Latest episodes

12 snips
Jun 21, 2025 • 37min
Gold for the 21st Century Episode 12 | Dan McElduff, Siddiq Farid, David Gornall, and Steve Lowe from Abaxx Exchange and Abaxx Spot
In this engaging discussion, Dan McElduff, President of Abaxx Exchange, and Steve Lowe, Strategic Advisor for Precious Metals, share insights from the Asia-Pacific Precious Metals Conference. They unveil Abaxx’s groundbreaking gold infrastructure that promises to streamline trading with co-located spot and futures markets. The conversation covers Singapore's ambitions to become a gold trading hub, the importance of market liquidity, and the evolving dynamics of buyer-seller interactions in a changing landscape. Their vision for a collaborative future in gold trading shines through.

15 snips
Jun 14, 2025 • 41min
Gold for the 21st Century Episode 11 | Thomas McMahon, Co-Founder, Abaxx Technologies
This conversation features Thomas McMahon, Co-Founder of Abaxx Technologies, who brings a wealth of experience from the commodity markets. He dives into gold's historical role as a hedge against the US dollar and examines its evolving significance in today’s financial landscape. The discussion highlights the changing perceptions of gold across cultures and regions, particularly between the West and Asia, and explores the implications of new trading hubs. Listeners gain insights into the future of gold in global finance and its potential resurgence in investment strategies.

4 snips
Jun 7, 2025 • 38min
Gold for the 21st Century Episode 10 | Greg Sharenow, Managing Director & Portfolio Manager for Commodities and Real Assets, PIMCO
This week on Gold for the 21st Century, we welcome Greg Sharenow back into the SmarterMarkets™ studio. Greg is Managing Director & Portfolio Manager for Commodities and Real Assets at PIMCO. David Greely sits down with Greg to discuss how policy uncertainty and inflation are shaping the investing landscape and the role that commodities and real assets – including gold – are playing in helping investors grow and protect their wealth.

May 31, 2025 • 33min
Gold for the 21st Century Episode 9 | Sakhila Mirza, President, Responsible Gold
We continue Gold for the 21st Century this week with Sakhila Mirza, President of Responsible Gold. David Greely sits down with Sakhila to discuss the role of standards, data, and technology in building an ecosystem of trust for responsible and sustainable gold.

5 snips
May 24, 2025 • 1h 1min
Special Episode | A SmarterMarkets Remix: Ideas Worth Repeating
In this special edition, Ben Hunt, author and co-founder of Second Foundation Partners, discusses the evolving role of semantic structures in understanding data. Mark Lewis of Andurand Capital dives into the complexities of the EU emissions trading system and its global implications. Josh Crumb from Abaxx Technologies emphasizes the need for trust infrastructures in today's digital marketplace. Together, they explore the urgent transition to cleaner energy and the transformative impact of technology on market dynamics and sustainability.

May 17, 2025 • 46min
Gold for the 21st Century Episode 8 | Steve Lowe, Former Managing Director, Co-Head of Global Base and Precious Metals, Scotiabank
Steve Lowe, former Managing Director and Co-Head of Global Base and Precious Metals at Scotiabank, shares his wealth of experience in the gold markets. He discusses the urgent need for market infrastructure and technology to enhance accessibility and trust in gold investments. Lowe highlights the complexities of gold lease rates and their impact on risk management. The conversation also examines the role of gold as a stable asset amidst geopolitical uncertainties and the potential for innovative technologies to transform the gold supply chain.

May 10, 2025 • 32min
Gold for the 21st Century Episode 7 | Michael DiRienzo, President & CEO, The Silver Institute
Michael DiRienzo, President & CEO of The Silver Institute, delves into the critical role of silver in the green economy. He discusses its surging demand in industries like photovoltaics and how it’s evolving in investor portfolios. The conversation uncovers the dynamics between silver and gold markets and highlights current supply deficits. He also addresses the impact of geopolitical tensions and tariffs on the silver market, emphasizing silver's resilience and its potential both industrially and as an investment asset.

23 snips
May 3, 2025 • 42min
Gold for the 21st Century Episode 6 | Josh Crumb, Founder & CEO, Abaxx Technologies
In this engaging discussion, Josh Crumb, Founder & CEO of Abaxx Technologies, explores the evolving gold market and its essential role in today’s economy. He shares his journey from skepticism to advocating for gold as a stable asset amidst financial uncertainties. Crumb delves into the intersection of gold, cryptocurrency, and financial tech, while introducing innovative gold futures contracts in Singapore. He also discusses the future of gold ownership with 'full digital title,' set to revolutionize market efficiency and trust.

16 snips
Apr 26, 2025 • 55min
Gold for the 21st Century Episode 5 | Gregor Gregersen, Founder, Silver Bullion Group
Gregor Gregersen, the visionary Founder of Silver Bullion Group, dives into the crucial role of gold and precious metals for wealth protection in today's economy. He shares insights from his experiences during the 2008 financial crisis, highlighting the need for reliable physical infrastructure and trust in financial systems. Gregersen also discusses Singapore's emerging status as a business hub and explores the shifting dynamics in the gold market amid global tensions, showcasing innovative verification techniques to combat counterfeiting.

Apr 19, 2025 • 26min
Gold for the 21st Century Episode 4 | Don Casturo, Founding Partner & CIO, Quantix Commodities
We continue Gold for the 21st Century this week with Don Casturo, Founding Partner and Chief Investment Officer at Quantix Commodities. David Greely sits down with Don to discuss the role of gold in protecting investors' portfolios, the drivers of recent gold market performance, and how de-dollarization is changing the way gold trades relative to other assets.