

Gen C
CoinDesk
Generation Crypto is focused on how brands and marketers are exploring and building in the Web3 ecosystem to experiment in and potentially transform their businesses. Each week, our hosts Avery Akkineni of Vayner 3 and Sam Ewen from CoinDesk, will dive into how Fortune 500 brands and new start-ups alike are coming to the blockchain and utilizing new technologies, the creator economy and rewriting fandom/ownership to generate attention, gain customers and create value for their bottom line and those of their communities.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Dec 1, 2025 • 35min
From Cash App to Coinbase: Cat Ferdon on Marketing the Crypto Frontier
Coinbase's CMO, Cat Ferdon, shares the strategy for moving beyond crypto natives, normalizing "internet money," and defining the future of finance through culturally resonant campaigns.
Joining Gen C, Coinbase CMO, Cat Ferdon shares the strategy behind marketing one of the world's most powerful crypto brands. Cat discusses why economic freedom is Coinbase's core mission, how the company is moving beyond the "crypto native" audience to onboard the next generation, and her plan to normalize "internet money" by delivering culturally resonant campaigns that define the next decade of global adoption.
- Links mentioned from the podcast:
Cat's Twitter
Coinbase Website
Coinbase Brand Campaign - Everything Is Fine
- Follow us on Twitter
Sam Ewen, CoinDesk
- From our sponsors:
Break the cycle of exploitation.
Break down the barriers to truth.
Break into the next generation of privacy.
Break Free.
Free to scroll without being monetized.
Free from censorship.
Freedom without fear.
We deserve more when it comes to privacy. Experience the next generation of blockchain that is private and inclusive by design. Break free with Midnight, visit midnight.network/break-free
Need liquidity without selling your crypto? Take out a Figure Crypto-Backed Loan, allowing you to borrow against your BTC, ETH, or SOL with 12-month terms and no prepayment penalties. They have the lowest rates in the industry at 8.91%, allowing you to access instant cash or buy more Bitcoin without triggering a tax event. Unlock your crypto’s potential today at Figure! https://figuremarkets.co/coindesk
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"Gen C" features host Sam Ewen. Executive produced by Uyen Truong.

Nov 17, 2025 • 40min
Circle's Vision for Programmable Money with Tim Queenan
Circle's SVP of Marketing, Tim Queenan, shares why stablecoins and the new Arc blockchain are creating the ‘Economic OS for the internet.
Tim Queenan, SVP of Marketing, Circle, joins Gen C this week to share that stablecoins and programmable money represent a foundational shift in the global financial system, similar to the early internet. He discusses how Circle is spearheading this transformation with USDC and its new blockchain Arc, creating the ‘Economic OS for the internet
- Links mentioned from the podcast:
Tim's Twitter
Circle's Twitter
Circle Website
- Follow us on Twitter:
Sam Ewen, CoinDesk
-From our sponsors:
Break the cycle of exploitation.
Break down the barriers to truth.
Break into the next generation of privacy.
Break Free.
Free to scroll without being monetized.
Free from censorship.
Freedom without fear.
We deserve more when it comes to privacy. Experience the next generation of blockchain that is private and inclusive by design. Break free with Midnight, visit midnight.network/break-free
Genius Group has partnered with CoinDesk for Bitcoin Treasury Month, launching the Genius x CoinDesk Quest. Participants can join the Bitcoin Academy, complete free microcourses from experts like Natalie Brunell and Saifedean Ammous, and enter to win 1,000,000 GEMs (worth 1 BTC) promoting bitcoin education and adoption. CTA: geniusgroup.ai/coindesk-bitcoin-treasury-month/
Need liquidity without selling your crypto? Take out a Figure Crypto-Backed Loan, allowing you to borrow against your BTC, ETH, or SOL with 12-month terms and no prepayment penalties. They have the lowest rates in the industry at 8.91%, allowing you to access instant cash or buy more Bitcoin without triggering a tax event. Unlock your crypto’s potential today at Figure! https://figuremarkets.co/coindesk
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"Gen C" features host Sam Ewen. Executive produced by Uyen Truong.

Nov 11, 2025 • 32min
Robinhood's Blueprint for a New Financial System
Johann Kerbrat, SVP and GM of Crypto at Robinhood, shares the company's vision for democratizing finance by prioritizing customer access and education.
In this episode of Gen C, Johann Kerbrat, SVP and GM of Crypto at Robinhood, discusses how the platform approaches the digital asset space, prioritizing access and education over institutional control. Robinhood’s investment in stablecoins, tokenization, and Layer 2 technology represents a clear bet on the next generation of decentralized financial infrastructure.
- Links mentioned from the podcast:
Johann's Twitter
Robinhood Website
- Follow us on Twitter:
Sam Ewen, CoinDesk
-From our sponsors:
Break the cycle of exploitation.
Break down the barriers to truth.
Break into the next generation of privacy.
Break Free.
Free to scroll without being monetized.
Free from censorship.
Freedom without fear.
We deserve more when it comes to privacy. Experience the next generation of blockchain that is private and inclusive by design. Break free with Midnight, visit midnight.network/break-free
OwlTing (Nasdaq: OWLS) is building invisible rails for global payments. With OwlPay, businesses and users can bridge fiat and stablecoins, send money instantly across borders, and access stablecoin checkout at lower costs. Licensed worldwide, OwlTing delivers secure, compliant, and regulated infrastructure for the digital economy. Learn more at https://www.owlting.com/portal/?lang=en&utm_source=CoinDesk&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=CoinDesk_Banner
Genius Group has partnered with CoinDesk for Bitcoin Treasury Month, launching the Genius x CoinDesk Quest. Participants can join the Bitcoin Academy, complete free microcourses from experts like Natalie Brunell and Saifedean Ammous, and enter to win 1,000,000 GEMs (worth 1 BTC) promoting bitcoin education and adoption. CTA: geniusgroup.ai/coindesk-bitcoin-treasury-month/
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"Gen C" features host Sam Ewen. Executive produced by Uyen Truong.

Nov 3, 2025 • 20min
MoneyGram's Bold Prediction to Onboard "Hundreds of Millions"
MoneyGram’s Anthony Soohoo, discusses how stablecoins are the critical financial innovation that will simplify cross-border payments and drive massive-scale digital adoption for hundreds of millions of users in the coming year.
Are we at the precipice of a true revolution in finance? This week's Gen C episode, recorded at Stellar Meridian, features MoneyGram's CEO, Anthony Soohoo, who shares his bold prediction: hundreds of millions of users leveraging crypto for real-world problems in just one year. Revealing the key to this shift, the discussion highlights the global push to use stablecoins and financial innovation for massive-scale digital adoption.
- Links mentioned in the podcast:
Anthony'sTwitter
MoneyGram Website
- Follow us on Twitter:
Sam Ewen, CoinDesk
-
Break the cycle of exploitation.
Break down the barriers to truth.
Break into the next generation of privacy.
Break Free.
Free to scroll without being monetized.
Free from censorship.
Freedom without fear.
We deserve more when it comes to privacy. Experience the next generation of blockchain that is private and inclusive by design.
Break free with Midnight, visit midnight.network/break-free
-
OwlTing (Nasdaq: OWLS) is building invisible rails for global payments. With OwlPay, businesses and users can bridge fiat and stablecoins, send money instantly across borders, and access stablecoin checkout at lower costs. Licensed worldwide, OwlTing delivers secure, compliant, and regulated infrastructure for the digital economy. Learn more at owlting.com.
-
Genius Group has partnered with CoinDesk for Bitcoin Treasury Month, launching the Genius x CoinDesk Quest. Participants can join the Bitcoin Academy, complete free microcourses from experts like Natalie Brunell and Saifedean Ammous, and enter to win 1,000,000 GEMs (worth 1 BTC) promoting bitcoin education and adoption.Learn more at: geniusgroup.ai/coindesk-bitcoin-treasury-month/
-
"Gen C" features host Sam Ewen. Executive produced by Uyen Truong.

Oct 27, 2025 • 41min
In The Middle of The Before and After with Ariel Wengroff
Ariel Wengroff, EVP, Marketing & Communications, Ledger, explores how media and crypto are converging around transparency, trust, and digital ownership in today’s evolving digital landscape.
In this episode of Gen C, Ariel Wengroff, EVP of Marketing & Communications, Ledger, reflects on her time at VICE and discusses the changing landscape of the media industry and the growing demand for truth and authenticity in the age of AI. In running marketing for the unicorn hardware company, Ledger, Ariel connects these shifts to Ledger’s vision of digital ownership—giving individuals control over their privacy, identity, and assets through secure signing and self-sovereign technology.
Links mentioned from the podcast:
Ariel's Twitter
Ledger Website
Follow us on Twitter:
Sam Ewen, CoinDesk
From our sponsors:
Break the cycle of exploitation.
Break down the barriers to truth.
Break into the next generation of privacy.
Break Free.
Free to scroll without being monetized.
Free from censorship.
Freedom without fear.
We deserve more when it comes to privacy. Experience the next generation of blockchain that is private and inclusive by design.
Break free with Midnight, visit midnight.network/break-free
Bridge simplifies global money movement. As the leading stablecoin issuance and orchestration platform, Bridge abstracts away blockchain complexity so businesses can seamlessly move between fiat and stablecoins. From payroll providers and remittance companies to neobanks and treasury teams, Bridge powers payments, savings, and stablecoin issuance for thousands – like Shopify, Metamask, Remitly, and more. Visit https://hubs.ly/Q03KGbRK0.
OwlTing (Nasdaq: OWLS) is building invisible rails for global payments. With OwlPay, businesses and users can bridge fiat and stablecoins, send money instantly across borders, and access stablecoin checkout at lower costs. Licensed worldwide, OwlTing delivers secure, compliant, and regulated infrastructure for the digital economy. Learn more at https://www.owlting.com/portal/?lang=en&utm_source=CoinDesk&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=CoinDesk_Banner
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"Gen C" features host Sam Ewen. Executive produced by Uyen Truong.

Oct 20, 2025 • 28min
PayPal’s Path to On-Chain Payments and Financial Inclusion
May Zabaneh, Head of Crypto at PayPal, shares how PYUSD, stablecoins, and AI are powering the next wave of global payments—and why the future of money is happening on-chain.
In this episode of Gen C, May Zabaneh, Head of Crypto at PayPal, shares how PYUSD, stablecoins, and AI are powering the next wave of global payments—and why the future of money is happening on-chain. From scaling mobile payments to championing blockchain, May shares what it takes to drive change within a global payment leader.
Links mentioned from the podcast:
Paypal Twitter
PayPal Website
Follow us on Twitter:
Sam Ewen
CoinDesk
From our sponsors:
Break the cycle of exploitation.
Break down the barriers to truth.
Break into the next generation of privacy.
Break Free.
Free to scroll without being monetized.
Free from censorship.
Freedom without fear.
We deserve more when it comes to privacy. Experience the next generation of blockchain that is private and inclusive by design.
Break free with Midnight, visit midnight.network/break-free
Bridge simplifies global money movement. As the leading stablecoin issuance and orchestration platform, Bridge abstracts away blockchain complexity so businesses can seamlessly move between fiat and stablecoins. From payroll providers and remittance companies to neobanks and treasury teams, Bridge powers payments, savings, and stablecoin issuance for thousands – like Shopify, Metamask, Remitly, and more. Visit https://hubs.ly/Q03KGbRK0.
OwlTing (Nasdaq: OWLS) is building invisible rails for global payments. With OwlPay, businesses and users can bridge fiat and stablecoins, send money instantly across borders, and access stablecoin checkout at lower costs. Licensed worldwide, OwlTing delivers secure, compliant, and regulated infrastructure for the digital economy. Learn more at owlting.com.
-
"Gen C" features host Sam Ewen. Executive produced by Uyen Truong.

Oct 13, 2025 • 33min
The Future of Toys is Digital
Will Weinraub, CEO and Co-Founder of OnChain Studios, is redefining play by merging toys, gaming, and blockchain to create immersive, collectible experiences with iconic brands like Disney and Star Wars.
In this episode of Gen C, Will Weinraub, CEO and Co-Founder of OnChain Studios and creator of Cryptoys, shares how his daughter’s passion for toys inspired him to build digital collectibles on the blockchain. Weinraub explores the declining traditional toy industry, the rise of digital play through Fortnite and Roblox, and why he believes blockchain-based digital ownership represents the future of how people of all ages will collect and interact with their favorite characters.
Links mentioned from the podcast:
Will's Twitter
OnChain Studios Twitter
Cryptoys Website
Follow us on Twitter:
Sam Ewen, CoinDesk
From our sponsors:
Break the cycle of exploitation.
Break down the barriers to truth.
Break into the next generation of privacy.
Break Free.
Free to scroll without being monetized.
Free from censorship.
Freedom without fear.
We deserve more when it comes to privacy. Experience the next generation of blockchain that is private and inclusive by design.
Break free with Midnight, visit midnight.network/break-free
Bridge simplifies global money movement. As the leading stablecoin issuance and orchestration platform, Bridge abstracts away blockchain complexity so businesses can seamlessly move between fiat and stablecoins. From payroll providers and remittance companies to neobanks and treasury teams, Bridge powers payments, savings, and stablecoin issuance for thousands – like Shopify, Metamask, Remitly, and more. Visit https://hubs.ly/Q03KGbRK0.
-
"Gen C" features host Sam Ewen. Executive produced by Uyen Truong.

Sep 16, 2025 • 1h 2min
Algorithmic Sameness and the Future of Creativity with Kyle Chayka
Kyle Chayka, Staff Writer at The New Yorker and author of Filterworld, breaks down how algorithmic sameness is reshaping global culture—and what it means for creativity, identity, and authenticity online. He explores how creators are challenging traditional media, why crypto could become the internet’s native currency, and how digital identity is evolving in a world shaped by metrics, machines, and media. Joining him is Keith Soljacich of Publicis Media, as they explore opportunities to create deeper meaning amid these cultural shifts.
Links mentioned from the podcast:
Kyle's Twitter
The New Yorker Articles
Filterworld: How Algorithms Flattened Culture
Keith's Twitter
Follow us on Twitter:
Samwen, CoinDesk
From our sponsor:
Midnight is a privacy-enhancing blockchain introducing vital, programmable privacy and selective disclosure capabilities. It means dApps can allow users to control what information is revealed without putting sensitive data on-chain, allowing you to break free from the limitation of choosing between utility or privacy. We deserve more when it comes to privacy. Experience the next generation of blockchain that is private and inclusive by design. Break free with Midnight, visit midnight.network/break-free.

Sep 11, 2025 • 37min
Jack Butcher's Blueprint for Modern Value Visualization
Jack Butcher, Artist and Founder of Visualize Value, shares how he turned a decade-long career in corporate design into one of the internet’s most recognizable creative brands. He explains how simplifying ideas into bold, viral visuals led to a new kind of artistic practice—one rooted in transparency, leverage, and working in public. Jack dives into how crypto unlocks new layers of creative ownership and why the most valuable assets today are driven by community.
Links mentioned from the podcast:
Jack's Twitter
Jack’s Instagram
Visualize Value Twitter
Visualize Value Website
Follow us on Twitter:
Sam Ewen, CoinDesk
From our sponsor:
Midnight is a privacy-enhancing blockchain introducing vital, programmable privacy and selective disclosure capabilities. It means dApps can allow users to control what information is revealed without putting sensitive data on-chain, allowing you to break free from the limitation of choosing between utility or privacy. We deserve more when it comes to privacy. Experience the next generation of blockchain that is private and inclusive by design. Break free with Midnight, visit midnight.network/break-free.
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"Gen C" features host Sam Ewen. Executive produced by Uyen Truong.

Sep 10, 2025 • 30min
The Future of Money Is Stable
Chris Maurice, CEO and Co-Founder of Yellow Card, reveals how stablecoins are shaking up global payments. From discovering Bitcoin at college parties to a chance encounter at a Wells Fargo, Maurice shows how stablecoins tackle real problems by making cross-border transfers faster, cheaper, and easier. With rapid expansion into new markets and game-changing partnerships, Yellow Card is driving the mainstream adoption of stablecoins and reshaping the future of digital payments.
Links mentioned from the podcast:
Chris's Twitter
Yellow Card Website
Follow us on Twitter:
Sam Ewen, CoinDesk
From our sponsor:
Midnight is introducing a novel approach to token distribution. The Midnight Glacier Drop is a multi-phase distribution of the NIGHT token, aimed at empowering a broad, diverse community to build the future of the Midnight network. Holders of ADA, BTC, ETH, SOL, XRP, BNB, AVAX and BAT are eligible to participate in the first phase.
Help usher in the next generation of blockchain with rational privacy and cooperative tokenomics on the Midnight network. To learn more, visit https://www.midnight.gd/ and prepare for the Midnight Glacier Drop.
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"Gen C" features host Sam Ewen. Executive produced by Uyen Truong.


