Ophelia Snyder, CEO of 21Shares, discusses the Global Crypto Classification Standard and its potential to bridge the gap between traditional finance and crypto-assets. She also shares insights on the birth and growth of 21Shares, their sustainability initiatives, and their vision for tackling upcoming environmental challenges.

Excerpt from the episode published on Sunday. During an insightful discussion, Ophelia explores the nuances of the rapidly growing crypto space, shedding light on the critical role her company, 21Shares, plays in its development. Our discussion also covers the Global Crypto Classification Standard (GCCS). She shares valuable insights on why the GCCS was formed, emphasising its potential to bridge the gap between traditional finance and the intricate realm of crypto-assets. We also delve into the challenges it took to get this off the ground. Ophelia shares many engaging stories about the birth and growth of 21Shares – its inception, key milestones, value proposition, and geographic expansion. During the episode, we speak about the company's diverse product offerings and the vital role its partners play, including market makers and custodians. Sustainability is a fundamental value of 21Shares, and we find out it was brought to the forefront due to their pledge to offset carbon emissions, particularly from on-chain crypto transactions. Our conversation ends with a discussion on 21Shares' green initiatives, their strategy for choosing such projects, and their vision for tackling upcoming environmental challenges.

A fantastic episode with one of the founders of Truelayer, the solution that drives almost 40% of the YoY growth in open banking payments in the UK. I loved this interview with Francesco as he shared insights about their experiences and achievements in the open banking sector over the past seven years, including their diverse range of solutions such as signup+, payments, payouts, and VRP, as well as their wide-ranging client base. This includes tech giants in the iGaming, e-commerce, and cryptocurrency sectors, such as Coinbase, as well as more traditional merchants like the UK retailer Topps Tiles. We explored their competitive positioning and their recent announcement regarding the launch of their Payments platform programme. We also delved into the potential avenues for growth, both in terms of geographical expansion and the diversification of their product offerings. It's a market that continues to expand exponentially

This is an excerpt from the episode published on Sunday. A fantastic episode with one of the founders of Truelayer, the solution that drives almost 40% of the YoY growth in open banking payments in the UK. I loved this interview with Francesco as he shared insights about their experiences and achievements in the open banking sector over the past seven years, including their diverse range of solutions such as signup+, payments, payouts, and VRP, as well as their wide-ranging client base. This includes tech giants in the iGaming, e-commerce, and cryptocurrency sectors, such as Coinbase, as well as more traditional merchants like the UK retailer Topps Tiles. We explored their competitive positioning and their recent announcement regarding the launch of their Payments platform programme. We also delved into the potential avenues for growth, both in terms of geographical expansion and the diversification of their product offerings. It's a market that continues to expand exponentially

This week, I invite you to explore a multitude of topics with my guest, the unmissable Simon Taylor. He generously shares insights on the future of the financial industry and emerging FinTech categories like embedded finance, which he believes are true game-changers for the finance world. We also discuss his journey, from his years in banking to founding 11:FS.  What intrigued me the most during our discussion is Sardine, the RegTech where he leads strategy and growth. It's evident that the team excels in AI and fraud-related areas. Additionally, you'll discover their cutting-edge solution designed to truly solve pain points for players across the industry.  It's worth noting that the likes of Refinitiv are already working with them. We also delve into their ambitions, recent fundraising efforts, and explore practical use cases.

This is an excerpt from the episode published on Sunday.  This week, I invite you to explore a multitude of topics with my guest, the unmissable Simon Taylor. He generously shares insights on the future of the financial industry and emerging FinTech categories like embedded finance, which he believes are true game-changers for the finance world. We also discuss his journey, from his years in banking to founding 11:FS.  What intrigued me the most during our discussion is Sardine, the RegTech where he leads strategy and growth. It's evident that the team excels in AI and fraud-related areas. Additionally, you'll discover their cutting-edge solution designed to truly solve pain points for players across the industry.  It's worth noting that the likes of Refinitiv are already working with them. We also delve into their ambitions, recent fundraising efforts, and explore practical use cases.

In a time when many are returning to work after summer holidays, it was an honour to interview Chris Skinner, the founder of The Finanser, who has been a preeminent voice in the finance and tech world for the past two decades. In this insightful episode, Chris sheds light on the intricacies of digital transformation in banking, reflecting on its imminent future amidst game-changers like blockchain.  He emphasises the pivotal role of digitisation in fostering financial inclusion, especially in underbanked regions, and discusses how technology can proactively address environmental and societal challenges, a theme central to his book 'Digital for Good'.  He also shares pearls of wisdom from his journey with 'The Finanser,' his influential blog brimming with advice, sharp humor, and a wealth of innovative ideas. A discussion truly worth its weight in gold.

This is an excerpt from the episode published on Sunday. In a time when many are returning to work after summer holidays, it was an honour to interview Chris Skinner, the founder of The Finanser, who has been a preeminent voice in the finance and tech world for the past two decades. In this insightful episode, Chris sheds light on the intricacies of digital transformation in banking, reflecting on its imminent future amidst game-changers like blockchain.  He emphasises the pivotal role of digitisation in fostering financial inclusion, especially in underbanked regions, and discusses how technology can proactively address environmental and societal challenges, a theme central to his book 'Digital for Good'.  He also shares pearls of wisdom from his journey with 'The Finanser,' his influential blog brimming with advice, sharp humor, and a wealth of innovative ideas. A discussion truly worth its weight in gold.

Lending is one of the major pain points in finance, both from the perspective of lenders and borrowers. I have been following Teylor for a while, and it was high time for me to have a discussion with its CEO, Patrick. Starting as a solution to lending SMEs in Germany, Teylor cleverly diversified by developing a lending-as-a-service solution and a feature-rich SaaS platform for banks. Taylor aims to support SMEs while helping financial institutions streamline their lending operations. We also talked with Patrick about the financing aspect and the reasons that led this Switzerland-based startup to structure itself around a securitization vehicle in Luxembourg, enabling various types of lenders to participate in the financing process: junior, senior, and mezzanine tranches. This approach has allowed them to handle substantial volumes and rapidly expand their business. It is an episode I thoroughly enjoy, combining technicality and European structuring.

This is an excerpt from the episode published on Sunday. Lending is one of the major pain points in finance, both from the perspective of lenders and borrowers. I have been following Teylor for a while, and it was high time for me to have a discussion with its CEO, Patrick. Starting as a solution to lending SMEs in Germany, Teylor cleverly diversified by developing a lending-as-a-service solution and a feature-rich SaaS platform for banks. Taylor aims to support SMEs while helping financial institutions streamline their lending operations. We also talked with Patrick about the financing aspect and the reasons that led this Switzerland-based startup to structure itself around a securitization vehicle in Luxembourg, enabling various types of lenders to participate in the financing process: junior, senior, and mezzanine tranches. This approach has allowed them to handle substantial volumes and rapidly expand their business. It is an episode I thoroughly enjoy, combining technicality and European structuring.