Talking Tokens

In this episode of Talking Tokens, host Jacquelyn Melinek sits down with Hong Kim, co-founder and CTO of Bitwise Asset Management, recorded live at Token2049 in Singapore. Hong shares his journey from an early interest in Ethereum and product development to building one of the first institutional crypto asset management firms. The conversation covers the evolution of crypto asset management from niche and speculative to a maturing industry gaining recognition among major institutions. Hong explains Bitwise’s product strategy focusing on ETFs, staking, and innovative yield strategies aimed at mainstream adoption. He sheds light on reaching global markets, evolving regulatory dynamics, and the vision for tokenized securities and on-chain asset management. Hong closes with timeless advice on maintaining perspective amidst crypto’s cycles and the profound growth still ahead.Sponsored by Fireblocks, the leading infrastructure for secure tokenized asset custody and settlements. Learn more at fireblocks.com.Timestamps(00:00) - Intro: Hong Kim at Token2049 Singapore (00:40) - Founding Bitwise in 2017 & spotting the early asset management gap (02:01) - How crypto evolved from “meme stock” to institutional asset class (03:13) - Why Bitcoin ETFs mirror gold’s adoption curve (05:11) - Building credibility & product-market fit in crypto asset management (06:32) - Inside Bitwise’s top-performing products: BTC, ETH & crypto equities (07:33) - Circle’s IPO & why stablecoins changed investor sentiment (09:06) - Global expansion & how Bitwise educates financial advisors (10:46) - Consistency through bear markets: why trust is built over time (11:52) - Hong’s perspective on Korea’s unique retail trading culture (13:50) - Stablecoins, regulation & Asia’s growing institutional appetite (15:25) - The future of tokenization & asset management onchain (17:21) - Bitwise’s staking, DeFi & yield strategies for institutions (20:01) - The SEC, tokenized equities & removing regulatory roadblocks (22:32) - What tokenized Wall Street could look like in 3 years (24:45) - Final advice from Hong KimYou can subscribe to the podcast on Spotify, Apple or YouTube. If you like the show, please let us know by leaving a review!Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0LOgWxIQ0NnNUD5eXsSuoZ Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/talking-tokens/id1743669141Follow us on X Jacquelyn: https://twitter.com/jacqmelinek Talking Tokens: https://twitter.com/_TalkingTokensFollow us on Instagram Talking Tokens: https://www.instagram.com/_talkingtokens/Note that this podcast is for informational purposes only and any views shared by anyone on the show are opinions, not financial advice. The host or guests may have a direct or indirect financial interest in content mentioned in this episode.

On this episode of Talking Tokens, we’re sharing Jacquelyn Melinek's fireside chat from Korea Blockchain Week with Zak Folkman, co-founder of World Liberty Financial, a crypto project backed by members of the Trump family. Zak shares his journey from early Ethereum adoption to co-founding World Liberty Financial and launching the USD1 stablecoin and WLFI token. They discuss how USD1 wants to integrate transparency by adopting Chainlink’s real-time proof of reserves, set new compliance standards with KYC and AML, and build community governance unlike other stablecoins. Zak explains the company’s chain-agnostic approach and global expansion efforts, including partnerships in Asia, and previews upcoming products like their retail wallet and debit card integration. The episode explores how World Liberty Financial aims to bridge traditional finance with web3 in a compliant and user-friendly way while targeting mass adoption.This episode is sponsored by Fireblocks, the leading stablecoin infrastructure for global enterprises. Learn more at fireblocks.com.⏱️ Timestamps(00:00) - Intro (01:03) - Zak Folkman’s background and why he started World Liberty Financial (02:00) - Early crypto journey: Ethereum, smart contracts & law school inspiration (03:47) - The mission: merging crypto and traditional finance (04:45) - Highlights from Mar-a-Lago Twitter Spaces with President Trump (05:37) - Its ICO & the importance of KYC and AML compliance (06:54) - Why regulation and guardrails are essential for mass adoption (07:50) - USD1 becomes one of the fastest-growing stablecoins (08:49) - WLFI governance token and community participation (10:07) - Protecting holders during volatility: reserves & bankruptcy-remote backing (12:55) - Proof of reserves with Chainlink and full transparency audits (14:58) - Upcoming partnerships, debit card & retail fintech app (17:45) - No plans for a WLFI chain (19:50) - Global expansion: growth across Asia, Korea & Singapore (22:02) - Governance rights, user voting & token holder influence (24:00) - Balancing regulation, security & decentralization (25:52) - Final thoughts: making USD1 the world’s most adopted stablecoin📢 Subscribe & Follow Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube. Support the show by leaving a review! Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0LOgWxIQ0NnNUD5eXsSuoZ Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/talking-tokens/id1743669141 Follow on X: Host Jacquelyn Melinek https://twitter.com/jacqmelinek | Podcast https://twitter.com/_TalkingTokens Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_talkingtokens/Note: This podcast is for informational purposes only. Guests may have financial interests in discussed entities or assets. Not investment advice.

In this episode of Talking Tokens, Jacquelyn Melinek sits down with Mike Ho, Matt Prusak, and Donald Trump Jr. from American Bitcoin. They discuss Bitcoin as the ultimate scarce asset and compare it to gold, underlining Bitcoin’s fixed supply and growing institutional adoption. The team shares their business model behind American Bitcoin, blending mining and treasury operations to maximize Bitcoin accumulation and shareholder value. They explore how institutions are finally embracing Bitcoin amid evolving regulatory clarity and rising market maturity, including major moves in the US. Don Jr. reflects on Bitcoin’s power for financial democratization and global influence. The conversation dives into the future opportunities and long-term strategies for crypto adoption across global markets like South Korea, and how Bitcoin is poised for a financial revolution beyond simple investment.This episode is sponsored by Fireblocks, the leading stablecoin infrastructure for global enterprises. Learn more at fireblocks.com.⏱️ Timestamps (00:01) - Introduction and host welcome (01:39) - Bitcoin as the world’s one true scarce asset vs gold (04:15) - Ownership and dormant supply insights (05:50) - American Bitcoin’s business model: combining mining and treasury (08:10) - Tools to increase Bitcoin ownership per share (10:00) - Institutional adoption trends and current owners (12:10) - Bitcoin regulatory advances and US policy impact (14:00) - Introduction of Donald Trump Jr. joining remotely (15:40) - Bitcoin as a global borderless value transfer and prosperity tool (18:20) - Democratization of finance with Bitcoin and crypto (21:30) - Bitcoin diplomacy and influence globally (24:00) - Market differences: US, South Korea, and global opportunity (26:00) - Future strategies for Bitcoin and crypto adoption (28:20) - Closing reflections from all guests📢 Subscribe & Follow Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube. Support the show by leaving a review! Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0LOgWxIQ0NnNUD5eXsSuoZ Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/talking-tokens/id1743669141 Follow on X: Host Jacquelyn Melinek https://twitter.com/jacqmelinek | Podcast https://twitter.com/_TalkingTokens Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_talkingtokens/Note: This podcast is for informational purposes only. Guests may have financial interests in discussed assets or companies. Not investment advice.

In this episode of Talking Tokenization, Jacquelyn Melinek interviews Vivek Raman, CEO of Etherealize and former Wall Street high yield credit trader. Vivek shares his journey from top-tier banks to pioneering Ethereum-based tokenization solutions. He explains why tokenizing existing financial assets on public blockchains is crucial for the future of finance and how Etherealize is tackling the challenges of institutional-grade privacy, compliance, and scalability. The episode covers the shift in institutional sentiment towards blockchains, the importance of public and layer-2 Ethereum networks, and the massive opportunity tokenizing the global capital markets presents. Vivek also highlights why privacy solutions onchain are mission-critical and shares his outlook on regulatory tailwinds and the urgent need for responsible innovation today.Sponsored by Securitize, the proven leader in tokenized funds, equities, and private markets. Discover more at ⁠securitize.io⁠.Sponsored by Fireblocks, the trusted stablecoin infrastructure for global enterprises. Learn more at fireblocks.com.⏱️ Timestamps(00:00) - Intro (01:08) - Why Vivek left banking? The lack of tech upgrades on Wall Street (03:22) - Discovering Ethereum in 2020 and seeing product-market fit (05:07) - Defining tokenization in simple terms (07:11) - Why Ethereum is the best back-end for financial assets (09:27) - Stablecoins as the first step in tokenization (12:03) - Regulatory clarity, bipartisan support & the Clarity Act (14:46) - Etherealize raises $40M to build tokenization infrastructure (18:25) - Privacy as table stakes for institutional adoption (20:11) - Future tokenized assets: treasuries, mortgages, car loans (23:01) - Global opportunity: emerging markets & democratized access (27:04) - The urgency of building responsibly before momentum fades (31:00) - Tokenization makes assets programmable and globally accessible (35:09) - Investing in private companies like OpenAI & regulatory issues (38:06) - Scaling Ethereum for institutions & risks of fragmentation (40:07) - Final thoughts📢 Subscribe & Follow Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube. Support the show by leaving a review! Spotify:⁠ https://open.spotify.com/show/0LOgWxIQ0NnNUD5eXsSuoZ⁠ Apple Podcast:⁠ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/talking-tokens/id1743669141⁠ Follow on X: Host Jacquelyn Melinek⁠ https://twitter.com/jacqmelinek⁠ | Podcast⁠ https://twitter.com/_TalkingTokens⁠ Instagram:⁠ https://www.instagram.com/_talkingtokens/⁠Note: This podcast is for informational purposes only. Guests may have financial interests in discussed entities or assets. Not investment advice.

Matthew Tabbiner, CEO of Stable, discusses the groundbreaking partnership with PayPal Ventures and the integration of PayPal USD. He emphasizes Stable's mission to enhance everyday utility of stablecoins, particularly for unbanked populations, and the importance of USDT as the native gas token for seamless transactions. Tabbiner shares insights on the explosive growth of B2B stablecoin payments, remittance use cases, and the need for improved payment infrastructure in emerging markets. He also highlights UX/UI challenges and how Stable's wallet aims to simplify P2P transfers.

Welcome to Talking Tokenization, a new podcast series unlocking how onchain assets are transforming finance, capital markets, and the way the world trades. Award-nominated journalist Jacquelyn Melinek leads conversations with the people and projects building the real world asset ecosystem, from tokenizing treasuries and private credit to launching the next wave of onchain funds and public equities. This series is supported by Securitize, the industry’s leading platform for tokenizing investments. In the debut episode, Carlos Domingo, co-founder and CEO of Securitize, explains what it takes to move from pilot projects to institutional mainstream, why BlackRock’s onchain fund is a true turning point, and how compliance-first infrastructure is powering the rise of a new financial industry. Dive in to hear what’s next as tokenization enters a new era of scale and impact. If you want to understand how global markets are being rebuilt for the next decade and how this movement will shape investing and access around the world, this is the conversation to follow.Sponsored by Securitize, the proven leader in tokenized funds, equities, and private markets. Discover more at securitize.io.This episode is sponsored by Fireblocks, the stablecoin infrastructure of choice for top global businesses, from Visa and Worldpay to Bridge and Revolut. Learn more at fireblocks.com.⏱️ Timestamps(00:00) - Introducing Talking Tokenization (01:40) - Why capital markets need tokenization (04:15) - Launching Securitize in 2017 and early challenges (07:20) - Why tokenization failed before and why it works now (10:05) - Stablecoins, regulation, and adoption momentum (13:15) - The KKR partnership: first tokenized fund (16:40) - BlackRock’s $2B tokenized treasury fund explained (20:30) - Ripple’s RLUSD stablecoin integration (23:50) - DeFi meets tokenization: lending, collateral & Aave (27:40) - Native tokenization vs wrappers: what investors must know (31:20) - Tokenized stocks and the path to mainstream adoption (35:00) - Market structure, regulation & investor protections (38:40) - What’s next for Securitize and RWAs (42:20) - Final thoughts from Carlos Domingo📢 Subscribe & Follow Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube. Support the show by leaving a review! Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0LOgWxIQ0NnNUD5eXsSuoZ Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/talking-tokens/id1743669141 Follow on X: Host Jacquelyn Melinek https://twitter.com/jacqmelinek | Podcast https://twitter.com/_TalkingTokens Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_talkingtokens/Note: This podcast is for informational purposes only. Guests may have a financial interest in discussed entities or assets. Not investment advice.

Neil Chopra, Head of Strategy at Fireblocks, and Jenn Senhaji, Head of Growth at Chronicle, tackle the emerging landscape of tokenized assets. They discuss how institutions are transitioning from curiosity to action, focusing on the growing demand for tokenized money market funds and stablecoins. The duo breaks down compliance challenges, the role of stablecoins in bridging TradFi and DeFi, and the critical need for unified market structures. They also delve into the potential of on-chain private assets and the timeline for enabling retail access to these innovations.

Armani Ferrante, co-founder and CEO of Backpack, dives into the innovative realm of regulated crypto exchanges. He discusses how Backpack EU has become a pioneer by refunding FTX EU users and emphasizing compliance. Armani highlights the surge in demand for regulated platforms in Europe as others exit. He explains the importance of daily proof of reserves for trust and navigates the complexities of launching perpetual futures. With a vision for expansion, he paints Backpack as a potential next-gen bank, all while stressing the need for long-term thinking in the crypto landscape.

Vidor Gencel, Co-Founder of Solflare, discusses his journey building one of the leading crypto wallets in the Solana ecosystem. He shares how the bear market has become a catalyst for innovation and user-focused design. Vidor highlights the importance of self-custody and the advanced security of their Seed Vault integration. He emphasizes Solflare's adaptability to user needs and the community's resilience during market fluctuations. Exciting plans for stablecoin yields and collaborations with Solana Mobile add to his optimistic outlook for the future.

On this episode of Talking Tokens, Jacquelyn welcomes Shiv Shankar, CEO of Boundless, a protocol for verifiable compute across any chain, powered by the RISC Zero zkVM technology. From software engineering at companies like Coinbase, Lyft, Ava Labs, and Microsoft, to becoming CEO of Boundless, Shiv is pioneering blockchain research, while bringing the world of zero-knowledge (ZK) proofs to everyone. He explains how ZK unlocks privacy, app scaling, and true interoperability. Tune in to learn why Boundless’ mainnet beta began on Base (with Ethereum Foundation support), how proof-of-verifiable-work compresses costs, and how ZK will make cross-chain apps and frictionless user experiences possible for the next billion users.This episode is sponsored by Fireblocks, the stablecoin infrastructure of choice for top global businesses, from Visa and Worldpay to Bridge and Revolut. Learn more at fireblocks.com.⏱️ Timestamps📢 Subscribe & Follow Subscribe on Spotify, Apple or YouTube. If you like the show, leave us a review! Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0LOgWxIQ0NnNUD5eXsSuoZ Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/talking-tokens/id1743669141 Follow on X: Jacquelyn: https://twitter.com/jacqmelinek | Talking Tokens: https://twitter.com/_TalkingTokens Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_talkingtokens/Note: This podcast is for informational purposes only. Guests may have a financial interest in discussed assets or companies. Not investment advice.