Bitcoin, Fiat & Rock'n'Roll

We unpack October’s biggest crypto and blockchain news – market shocks, institutional adoption, and how China’s digital currency ambitions add a new geopolitical twist In this new BFRR news episode of Bitcoin, Fiat & Rock'n'Roll, Michael and Jonas break down what happened in October across crypto markets, institutional blockchain, and stablecoins — and why it matters for the future of digital finance. They start with the macro shock of the month: tariff threats between the U.S. and China triggered one of the largest crypto liquidations ever — roughly $20 billion in leveraged positions wiped out — and sent total crypto market cap swinging between $4.3T and $3.5T before settling near $3.75T. The hosts debate whether this proves that crypto is now a mature macro asset class that trades like equities… or just more proof that Bitcoin currently behaves more like tech stocks than “digital gold.” From there, they zoom in on Bitcoin and Ethereum. Bitcoin held around $112K after spiking to $125K, but the headline story is political: Luxembourg became the first EU member state to allocate part of its sovereign wealth fund (1%) to Bitcoin ETFs — a symbolic but important milestone for nation-state level adoption. On Ethereum, they unpack the upcoming “Fusuka” upgrade aimed at making the network faster and cheaper through more efficient data handling and rollup support. The core of the episode focuses on institutional blockchain infrastructure. Three developments stand out: the launch of “Regulated Layer 1,” a new European cooperative blockchain governed by major banks; Swift’s move to build a shared ledger with 30+ global banks for real-time cross-border settlement; and Deutsche Börse Group’s work with Chainlink to bring regulated market data on-chain. Michael and Jonas argue this is the shift from pilots to production — traditional finance is no longer experimenting with blockchain, it’s building and owning it. Finally, they dive into stablecoins: Deutsche Börse partnering with Circle, Société Générale pushing bank-issued stablecoins directly into DeFi, major global banks exploring a joint stablecoin initiative, and China’s strategic push into yuan- and even euro-linked stablecoins. The lines between TradFi, DeFi, and geopolitics are blurring — fast. BFRR episode with Ivica Aračić on DLT architecture Knowledge Bite Michael: Opinion piece “From bank wars to blockchain” Knowledge Bite Jonas: ECB digital euro cost note Bitcoin, Fiat & Rock'n'Roll Website Bitcoin, Fiat & Rock'n'Roll Telegram Channel Relai*: Buy Bitcoin with Relai – you can do a one-time purchase or savings plan: Click here. Use the referral code "ROCK" to reduce transaction fees by 0.1% while supporting Bitcoin, Fiat & Rock'n'Roll. Value4Value Podcast Streaming: Support our podcast by listening to our episodes on the Fountain Podcast App. This way, if you wish, you can support us "Value4Value" while listening to the podcast. You can find us on the Fountain Podcast App here: Click here Disclaimer: The content of this podcast reflects the private opinions of the hosts, serves exclusively for general information purposes and does not constitute investment advice. Always remember: Do your own research - inform yourself before making any investment decisions, such as buying Bitcoin. First try to understand what Bitcoin is and how to store it. This podcast does not provide financial advice. Note that the co-hosts might be invested in crypto assets. Read more on our website: Click here All links marked with "*" are affiliate links. If you use these links for purchase, the podcast receives a small share of the revenue without any additional costs to you. On the contrary, affiliate links often include discount promotions, so you can even save money. We would appreciate it if you use these links to support us. Thank you very much!

SWIAT’s CTO explains the architecture needed to move digital asset infrastructure from innovation to production In this episode of BFRR – Bitcoin, Fiat & Rock ’n’ Roll, co-host Michael Blaschke sits down with Ivica Aračić, CTO of Swiat and former IT architect at DekaBank, to map the real architecture of DLT-based financial market infrastructures—beyond pilots and press releases. With two decades in software engineering and hands-on work in TradFi since 2016, Ivica explains how the industry is shifting from “zero-to-one” experiments to “one-to-many” scale. We introduce and use the ASAP model (Access, Service, Asset, Platform) as a simple, powerful lens: Platform: permissioned Ethereum and other ledgers now run reliably, but governance and neutral coordination matter. Asset: tokenization is real (bonds, fund shares, money-like instruments), yet standards beyond ERC-20 remain fragmented. Service: the hard part—DvP/DvD, cross-ledger settlement, secondary markets, and payment legs (central bank money, tokenized deposits, stablecoins). Progress is tangible (e.g., Eurosystem trials, Pontus Track), but consolidation is key. Access: institutions want convenient, custody-driven access; UX should hide the blockchain while preserving its benefits. We discuss why convergence and consolidation are finally happening (industry coalitions, neutral shared utilities, and big-tent moves like ledger interoperability) and how Swiat’s Regulated Layer 1 aims to provide a credibly neutral meeting place for European finance—so competition can move to assets and services, not base infrastructure. Ivica shares a pragmatic roadmap: finish the payment leg across money types, enable liquid secondary markets under the Pilot Regime, and achieve eligibility so tokenized assets are first-class collateral. Long view? Success is when no one talks about wallets or chains—just better, safer markets. ASAP: A Conceptual Model for Digital Asset Platforms SWIAT Research Ivica Aračić’s Newsletter Ivica Aračić at LinkedIn Bitcoin, Fiat & Rock'n'Roll Website Bitcoin, Fiat & Rock'n'Roll Telegram Channel Relai*: Buy Bitcoin with Relai – you can do a one-time purchase or savings plan: Click here. Use the referral code "ROCK" to reduce transaction fees by 0.1% while supporting Bitcoin, Fiat & Rock'n'Roll. Value4Value Podcast Streaming: Support our podcast by listening to our episodes on the Fountain Podcast App. This way, if you wish, you can support us "Value4Value" while listening to the podcast. You can find us on the Fountain Podcast App here: Click here Disclaimer: The content of this podcast reflects the private opinions of the hosts, serves exclusively for general information purposes and does not constitute investment advice. Always remember: Do your own research - inform yourself before making any investment decisions, such as buying Bitcoin. First try to understand what Bitcoin is and how to store it. This podcast does not provide financial advice. Note that the co-hosts might be invested in crypto assets. Read more on our website: Click here All links marked with "*" are affiliate links. If you use these links for purchase, the podcast receives a small share of the revenue without any additional costs to you. On the contrary, affiliate links often include discount promotions, so you can even save money. We would appreciate it if you use these links to support us. Thank you very much!

What we can learn from global national digital currency initiatives from a leading practitioner In this compelling episode of Bitcoin, Fiat & Rock’n’Roll (BFRR), co-host Jonas welcomes Tristan Thoma, a digital currency expert who helped lead El Salvador’s historic move to adopt Bitcoin as legal tender. With a decade of hands-on experience across national digital currency projects and a lifestyle that embodies the borderless ethos of the crypto world, Tristan joins to discuss how digital money is reshaping economies — and why its real impact goes far beyond price charts. The conversation dives deep into the human and geopolitical dimensions of digital currencies. Tristan reflects on his work in El Salvador, explaining how the initiative wasn’t about “Bitcoin to the moon,” but about financial inclusion — bringing millions of unbanked citizens into the formal economy. He recounts how access to digital wallets doubled financial participation within months, boosting GDP and enabling a more transparent, data-driven view of the country’s economic health. From there, the discussion moves to Bolivia, where Tristan is now advising on new digital finance strategies amid a monetary crisis. He describes how blockchain and stablecoins could become lifelines in regions where access to money is as vital as oxygen — enabling people to safeguard savings, transact globally, and reclaim economic sovereignty. Beyond the technology, the episode explores freedom, education, and resilience: the right to self-custody, the balance between regulation and privacy, and the need to empower people with knowledge about how money truly works. Tristan’s insights bridge continents — connecting the lessons of the Global South with the policy debates unfolding in Europe and the U.S. Ultimately, this episode is about redesigning money for people. Whether you’re a policymaker, a crypto enthusiast, or simply curious about the future of finance, Tristan’s story is a masterclass in how digital currencies can empower nations — and individuals — to breathe new life into the global economy. LinkedIn Tristan Thoma Website Tristan Thoma / Impera Strategy Bitcoin, Fiat & Rock'n'Roll Website Bitcoin, Fiat & Rock'n'Roll Telegram Channel Relai*: Buy Bitcoin with Relai – you can do a one-time purchase or savings plan: Click here. Use the referral code "ROCK" to reduce transaction fees by 0.1% while supporting Bitcoin, Fiat & Rock'n'Roll. Value4Value Podcast Streaming: Support our podcast by listening to our episodes on the Fountain Podcast App. This way, if you wish, you can support us "Value4Value" while listening to the podcast. You can find us on the Fountain Podcast App here: Click here Disclaimer: The content of this podcast reflects the private opinions of the hosts, serves exclusively for general information purposes and does not constitute investment advice. Always remember: Do your own research - inform yourself before making any investment decisions, such as buying Bitcoin. First try to understand what Bitcoin is and how to store it. This podcast does not provide financial advice. Note that the co-hosts might be invested in crypto assets. Read more on our website: Click here All links marked with "*" are affiliate links. If you use these links for purchase, the podcast receives a small share of the revenue without any additional costs to you. On the contrary, affiliate links often include discount promotions, so you can even save money. We would appreciate it if you use these links to support us. Thank you very much!

From retail to wholesale CBDCs, tokenized deposits and Stablecoins In this episode, Manuel and Rod Garratt discuss the evolution of digital money, focusing on central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), stablecoins, and tokenized deposits. Rod shares his journey into the world of digital currencies, starting from his time at the New York Fed and his involvement in Project Jasper. The conversation delves into the distinctions between wholesale and retail CBDCs, the implications of privacy, and the political landscape surrounding these innovations. They also explore the future of tokenized deposits and deposit tokens, the role of stablecoins, and the potential for collaboration between different forms of payment systems – bearer-like money forms and account-based forms of money. LinkedIn Rod Garratt Website Rod Garratt Website BIS Publications of Rod Garratt Bitcoin, Fiat & Rock'n'Roll Website Bitcoin, Fiat & Rock'n'Roll Telegram Channel Relai*: Buy Bitcoin with Relai – you can do a one-time purchase or savings plan: Click here. Use the referral code "ROCK" to reduce transaction fees by 0.1% while supporting Bitcoin, Fiat & Rock'n'Roll. Value4Value Podcast Streaming: Support our podcast by listening to our episodes on the Fountain Podcast App. This way, if you wish, you can support us "Value4Value" while listening to the podcast. You can find us on the Fountain Podcast App here: Click here Disclaimer: The content of this podcast reflects the private opinions of the hosts, serves exclusively for general information purposes and does not constitute investment advice. Always remember: Do your own research - inform yourself before making any investment decisions, such as buying Bitcoin. First try to understand what Bitcoin is and how to store it. This podcast does not provide financial advice. Note that the co-hosts might be invested in crypto assets. Read more on our website: Click here All links marked with "*" are affiliate links. If you use these links for purchase, the podcast receives a small share of the revenue without any additional costs to you. On the contrary, affiliate links often include discount promotions, so you can even save money. We would appreciate it if you use these links to support us. Thank you very much!

From Plasma to ARK: September’s new rails, ETF tailwinds, and euro stablecoins September 2025 was nothing short of explosive for digital assets, stablecoins, and the broader crypto-finance ecosystem — and in this news-packed episode of Bitcoin, Fiat & Rock’n’Roll (BFRR), Manuel and Stefan take you through the whirlwind of developments that shaped the month. The episode kicks off with a market overview: crypto market cap reaching a fresh all-time high at $4.7 trillion, massive ETF inflows sparked by the Fed’s first rate cut of the year, and a landmark SEC decision to streamline spot crypto ETF approvals, reducing listing times from more than 200 days to just 75. These moves underline how deeply digital assets are embedding themselves into traditional finance. From there, the hosts dive into the infrastructure shake-up. Tether’s launch of the Plasma Chain stole headlines, debuting with $2 billion in total value locked and support from over 100 DeFi projects. Anchored to Bitcoin, EVM-compatible, and zero-fee for users, Plasma marks Tether’s bold attempt to merge payments use cases, DeFi traction, and emerging market adoption into a single ecosystem — complete with its own neobank, Plasma One. Circle is countering with its ARK blockchain, while Stripe’s Tempo and Fireblocks’ payment network illustrate how corporates and fintechs are redrawing the rails of stablecoin infrastructure. The stablecoin story doesn’t end there. Tether introduced USAT, a regulated, US-focused dollar stablecoin via Anchorage Digital. Meanwhile, Google unveiled its agent-to-agent payments protocol for AI-driven transactions, backed by a 60-member consortium including Mastercard, PayPal, and Coinbase. Cloudflare announced its Net Dollar stablecoin, while nine major European banks revealed plans for a euro-denominated alternative aimed at boosting “strategic autonomy” in payments. On the digital asset side, Nasdaq and the London Stock Exchange began tokenization efforts, while Deutsche Börse and challengers like 21X push competing models for on-chain securities trading. In tokenized deposits, JPMorgan’s Kinexis and the multi-bank Partior consortium are expanding intraday FX and programmable payments. Closing with Knowledge Bytes, the hosts explore ERC-8004 — a new Ethereum standard for agent reputation in AI-driven payments — alongside the latest BIS survey showing central banks tilting toward wholesale CBDCs under pressure from stablecoin adoption. From ETFs to Plasma chains, euro stablecoins to AI-native payments, September shows one clear trend: the convergence of crypto, TradFi, and technology is accelerating faster than ever. Powering AI commerce with the new Agent Payments Protocol (AP2) Knowledge Bite Manuel: BIS CBDC Survey 2024 Knowledge Bite Stefan: ERC 8004 Bitcoin, Fiat & Rock'n'Roll Website Bitcoin, Fiat & Rock'n'Roll Telegram Channel Relai*: Buy Bitcoin with Relai – you can do a one-time purchase or savings plan: Click here. Use the referral code "ROCK" to reduce transaction fees by 0.1% while supporting Bitcoin, Fiat & Rock'n'Roll. Value4Value Podcast Streaming: Support our podcast by listening to our episodes on the Fountain Podcast App. This way, if you wish, you can support us "Value4Value" while listening to the podcast. You can find us on the Fountain Podcast App here: Click here Disclaimer: The content of this podcast reflects the private opinions of the hosts, serves exclusively for general information purposes and does not constitute investment advice. Always remember: Do your own research - inform yourself before making any investment decisions, such as buying Bitcoin. First try to understand what Bitcoin is and how to store it. This podcast does not provide financial advice. Note that the co-hosts might be invested in crypto assets. Read more on our website: Click here All links marked with "*" are affiliate links. If you use these links for purchase, the podcast receives a small share of the revenue without any additional costs to you. On the contrary, affiliate links often include discount promotions, so you can even save money. We would appreciate it if you use these links to support us. Thank you very much!

What makes stablecoins special compared to other forms of money In this episode of BFRR – Bitcoin, Fiat & Rock’n’Roll, we welcome a very special guest: Rhys Bidder, Deputy Director of the Qatar Centre for Global Banking and Finance and lecturer at King’s Business School and the University of Cambridge. With a background at the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco and years of research at the intersection of monetary policy and digital assets, Rhys brings rare insight into one of the most pressing debates of modern finance: the role of stablecoins. Our conversation traces Rhys’s journey from monetary theory and stress testing banks after the global financial crisis to becoming a leading voice on central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), stablecoins, and blockchain infrastructure. He explains how stablecoins resemble “narrow banks,” why their settlement models differ radically from traditional banking systems, and why those differences matter for efficiency and global payments. We dive deep into the risks and opportunities: What counterparty risk and potential “run risks” mean in a stablecoin world. How deviations from the “singleness of money” raise fundamental questions for monetary stability. Why onboarding and offboarding between crypto and fiat is the hidden battleground for adoption. How stablecoins could both support and complicate monetary policy transmission. And whether regulators should explore central bank liquidity backstops for properly collateralized issuers. Rhys also challenges central banks’ often dismissive stance toward stablecoins, arguing that regulators should focus not only on risks but also on constructive frameworks that make them safer. From global lender-of-last-resort questions to the politics of dollarization, this conversation brings monetary economics back to first principles: what is money, how should it work, and who should control it? If you want to understand how stablecoins could reshape the financial system—and what role they should play alongside banks, CBDCs, and tokenized deposits—this is a must-listen. LinkedIn Rhys Google Scholar Rhys Bitcoin, Fiat & Rock'n'Roll Website Bitcoin, Fiat & Rock'n'Roll Telegram Channel Relai*: Buy Bitcoin with Relai – you can do a one-time purchase or savings plan: Click here. Use the referral code "ROCK" to reduce transaction fees by 0.1% while supporting Bitcoin, Fiat & Rock'n'Roll. Value4Value Podcast Streaming: Support our podcast by listening to our episodes on the Fountain Podcast App. This way, if you wish, you can support us "Value4Value" while listening to the podcast. You can find us on the Fountain Podcast App here: Click here Disclaimer: The content of this podcast reflects the private opinions of the hosts, serves exclusively for general information purposes and does not constitute investment advice. Always remember: Do your own research - inform yourself before making any investment decisions, such as buying Bitcoin. First try to understand what Bitcoin is and how to store it. This podcast does not provide financial advice. Note that the co-hosts might be invested in crypto assets. Read more on our website: Click here All links marked with "*" are affiliate links. If you use these links for purchase, the podcast receives a small share of the revenue without any additional costs to you. On the contrary, affiliate links often include discount promotions, so you can even save money. We would appreciate it if you use these links to support us. Thank you very much!

How architecture enables institutional-grade crypto banking Step inside the engine room of a “crypto bank.” In this episode of BFRR (Bitcoin, Fiat & Rock ’n’ Roll), co-host Michael Blaschke sits down with Myles Harrison, Chief Product Officer at AMINA Bank, to unpack what it really takes to bridge TradFi and Web3—far beyond “adding a Bitcoin button.” Why do crypto-specialist banks exist when big incumbents are rolling out crypto services? What’s the secret sauce that lets a bank actually move USDC at scale, operate 24/7, and stay regulator-grade compliant across jurisdictions? Myles charts AMINA’s six-year head start from Switzerland’s forward-leaning DLT framework to today’s growth: zero defaults in crypto-collateralized lending over 5+ years, \$4.5B AUM, and 69% revenue growth in 2024. Then we go deep on architecture. AMINA’s three-layer model—Core Banking, a Bridge/Translation layer, and Crypto Services—is built to be dual-world native, modular, API-first, and always-on. Hear how that design lets them plug in custody (HSM/MPC), staking, DeFi data feeds (e.g., Pyth), and new capabilities like off-exchange custody and stablecoin rewards—rolling from two to four supported stables within months. We “double-click” on modularity with the bank’s rewards engine, and on compliance-by-design: how product, ops, and risk embed rulesets that adapt across Switzerland, Abu Dhabi, and Hong Kong—without shipping three different banks. You’ll also get a practical, end-to-end walkthrough of a corporate USDC supplier payment, from wallet whitelisting and provenance checks to conversion, gas/settlement handling, and outbound transfer—plus how upcoming integrations (e.g., with Notabene) tighten travel-rule workflows. Whether you’re a TradFi leader eyeing tokenized markets, a crypto native needing bank-grade rails, or a fintech considering B2B2C white-labeling, this conversation maps the product and org design (squads, APIs, SLAs) behind institutional-grade crypto banking—right now, not “someday.” Links & next steps • Learn more: aminagroup.com • Connect with AMINA for partnerships and follow their thought leadership on crypto banking • Join the BFRR community on YouTube, LinkedIn, and Telegram (DE/EN) • Subscribe to BFRR and catch next week’s deep dive into another pillar of digital finance The latest research from the AMINA team Bitcoin, Fiat & Rock'n'Roll Website Bitcoin, Fiat & Rock'n'Roll Telegram Channel Relai*: Buy Bitcoin with Relai – you can do a one-time purchase or savings plan: Click here. Use the referral code "ROCK" to reduce transaction fees by 0.1% while supporting Bitcoin, Fiat & Rock'n'Roll. Value4Value Podcast Streaming: Support our podcast by listening to our episodes on the Fountain Podcast App. This way, if you wish, you can support us "Value4Value" while listening to the podcast. You can find us on the Fountain Podcast App here: Click here Disclaimer: The content of this podcast reflects the private opinions of the hosts, serves exclusively for general information purposes and does not constitute investment advice. Always remember: Do your own research - inform yourself before making any investment decisions, such as buying Bitcoin. First try to understand what Bitcoin is and how to store it. This podcast does not provide financial advice. Note that the co-hosts might be invested in crypto assets. Read more on our website: Click here All links marked with "*" are affiliate links. If you use these links for purchase, the podcast receives a small share of the revenue without any additional costs to you. On the contrary, affiliate links often include discount promotions, so you can even save money. We would appreciate it if you use these links to support us. Thank you very much!

What happens when regular people strike it rich in crypto? BFRR dives into one of the most unconventional crypto books of the year: A Thousand Times as Much Money as Now (German: Tausendmal so viel Geld wie jetzt). Co-host Michael Blaschke sits down with author and sociologist Juan Guse to explore why he chose a sociological—and partly literary—lens to study crypto wealth, and what that reveals about the people behind the portfolios. Instead of profiling headline-grabbing founders, Juan spent years interviewing under-the-radar retail investors who started with small stakes and, in some cases, ended up with life-changing money. Drawing on interviews and ethnographic notes, he condenses recurring patterns into four fictionalized archetypes—composites that protect anonymity while surfacing the truths of the data. We unpack: Why now: Research spanning the 2021 bull run into the bear market, capturing whiplash—from “number go up” euphoria to painful drawdowns and tax hangovers. How he found them: Quiet “sleepers,” discovered via Reddit trails and snowball intros—not the flashy Dubai set. Psychology of sudden wealth: Survivor bias vs. luck, risk appetite, the crisis that follows “you can do anything,” and the strain of watching charts daily. Archetypes & ideology: From libertarian reformers and techno-optimists to community believers and pop-financial emancipation—why one “maxi” label isn’t enough. Institutions, meet retail: What banks and asset managers miss when they treat “retail” as one blob. We discuss typologies, narratives, custody trust gaps, and why licenses, audits, and UX must map to values, not just returns. Cautionary notes: The difference between realizing gains and paper wealth; how conviction can block diversification—and how some fortunes vanished. Whether you’re an allocator, policy maker, or curious listener, this episode reframes crypto as a social phenomenon—a movement of stories, status, and searching for purpose—not just a spreadsheet of tokens. Subscribe to Bitcoin, Fiat & Rock’n’Roll, find the book link and show notes on our site, and join the discussion on YouTube, LinkedIn, and our DE/EN Telegram community. BFRR: Europe’s perspective on digital money, every week. Book “Tausendmal so viel Geld wie jetzt” Author Juan S. Guse Bitcoin, Fiat & Rock'n'Roll Website Bitcoin, Fiat & Rock'n'Roll Telegram Channel Relai*: Buy Bitcoin with Relai – you can do a one-time purchase or savings plan: Click here. Use the referral code "ROCK" to reduce transaction fees by 0.1% while supporting Bitcoin, Fiat & Rock'n'Roll. Value4Value Podcast Streaming: Support our podcast by listening to our episodes on the Fountain Podcast App. This way, if you wish, you can support us "Value4Value" while listening to the podcast. You can find us on the Fountain Podcast App here: Click here Disclaimer: The content of this podcast reflects the private opinions of the hosts, serves exclusively for general information purposes and does not constitute investment advice. Always remember: Do your own research - inform yourself before making any investment decisions, such as buying Bitcoin. First try to understand what Bitcoin is and how to store it. This podcast does not provide financial advice. Note that the co-hosts might be invested in crypto assets. Read more on our website: Click here All links marked with "*" are affiliate links. If you use these links for purchase, the podcast receives a small share of the revenue without any additional costs to you. On the contrary, affiliate links often include discount promotions, so you can even save money. We would appreciate it if you use these links to support us. Thank you very much!

US crypto bulishness – and state actors entering the stablecoin space August flew by—and so did crypto. In this BFRR news special, Michael and Jonas welcome Nadine from Particular for an institutional tour of markets, policy, and stablecoin surge. She sketches Particular’s “Moody’s for digital assets” approach—rating asset-backed tokens from fiat- and MMF-backed stablecoins to gold—then we dive into the month’s moves. Markets first: total crypto market cap hovered around \$4T and briefly set a \$4.2T ATH. Bitcoin hit a fresh high mid-August yet closed slightly lower—steady, dominant, “boring” in the best way. Ether rallied ~20% with an ATH, a comeback from sub-\$2k last year. In policy, the U.S. flipped the script. We unpack the White House’s 160-page roadmap urging pro-innovation, a larger CFTC role, and clearer taxes; Trump’s push to enable crypto in 401(k)s—and the fiduciary frictions that could still bottleneck adoption; Commissioner Hester Peirce’s privacy-first speech; and the Fed’s retreat from “novel activities” oversight as Vice Chair Bowman calls for hands-on learning. Then: 2025, the year of stablecoins. With MiCA live and U.S. rules taking shape, issuance is exploding—PSPs (Visa, Mastercard, PayPal, Stripe), commerce giants, and banks circling. We debate fragmentation versus consolidation: why network effects, distribution, and regulatory moats mean “winner takes most” by currency and region—even as new state actors (hello, Wyoming’s coin) and yield-bearing designs add complexity. Expect consolidation, not monoculture. On infrastructure, Circle’s ARK enters: a purpose-built, EVM-compatible L1 with USDC as native gas, integrated FX, sub-second finality, and opt-in privacy—vertical integration for institutional finance while staying multi-chain. Plus: Europe’s take, cash’s resilience, and three “knowledge bites” to keep you sharp. Subscribe to Bitcoin, Fiat & Rock’n’Roll, join our Telegram community, and get Europe’s perspective on digital money. Disclaimer: Views are personal, not financial advice. Do your own research! Knowledge Bite Jonas: ECB Paper on cash](https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/economic-bulletin/articles/2025/html/ecb.ebart202505_03~d74cb56069.en.html)) Knowledge Bite Nadine: a16z article on blockchain for Tradi Knowledge Bite Michael: New York Times article on US crypto report Bitcoin, Fiat & Rock'n'Roll Website Bitcoin, Fiat & Rock'n'Roll Telegram Channel Relai*: Buy Bitcoin with Relai – you can do a one-time purchase or savings plan: Click here. Use the referral code "ROCK" to reduce transaction fees by 0.1% while supporting Bitcoin, Fiat & Rock'n'Roll. Value4Value Podcast Streaming: Support our podcast by listening to our episodes on the Fountain Podcast App. This way, if you wish, you can support us "Value4Value" while listening to the podcast. You can find us on the Fountain Podcast App here: Click here Disclaimer: The content of this podcast reflects the private opinions of the hosts, serves exclusively for general information purposes and does not constitute investment advice. Always remember: Do your own research - inform yourself before making any investment decisions, such as buying Bitcoin. First try to understand what Bitcoin is and how to store it. This podcast does not provide financial advice. Note that the co-hosts might be invested in crypto assets. Read more on our website: Click here All links marked with "*" are affiliate links. If you use these links for purchase, the podcast receives a small share of the revenue without any additional costs to you. On the contrary, affiliate links often include discount promotions, so you can even save money. We would appreciate it if you use these links to support us. Thank you very much!

A deep dive into the first, German BaFin regulated Euro Stablecoin In this special episode of Bitcoin, Fiat & Rock’n’Roll (BFRR), we sit down with Alex Höptner, CEO of AllUnity, one of Europe’s most ambitious crypto ventures and the issuer of the first BaFin-regulated Euro stablecoin. Recorded in Frankfurt at AllUnity’s offices, this in-person conversation dives deep into the intersection of traditional finance, digital assets, and the future of European money on-chain. Alex takes us on a fascinating journey through his career: from a long tenure at Deutsche Börse, to leading Börse Stuttgart, pioneering retail crypto products like the Bison app, then becoming CEO of BitMEX, and now driving AllUnity’s mission to bring a regulated Euro stablecoin to market. He reflects on the evolution of crypto regulation, the lessons learned from bridging traditional finance with digital assets, and why solving the double-spending problem fundamentally reshapes the future of payments. Together, we explore the strategic vision behind AllUnity’s EuroAU: why the Euro stablecoin market is still in its infancy, why its real competition is not USDT or USDC but rather traditional fiat payments, and how a consortium of heavyweights like DWS, Flow Traders, and Galaxy Digital builds trust, scale, and credibility. We also unpack the geopolitics of stablecoins, the European response to US and Chinese initiatives, and why sovereignty in digital money is becoming a central issue for Europe. From cross-border payments to corporate treasury use cases, from regulatory clarity under MiCA to the role of DeFi, Alex shares why stablecoins are not just about crypto speculation but about powering the real economy. If you want to understand how the Euro can compete on a global scale in the digital asset era, this episode is for you. AllUnity Bitcoin, Fiat & Rock'n'Roll Website Bitcoin, Fiat & Rock'n'Roll Telegram Channel Relai*: Buy Bitcoin with Relai – you can do a one-time purchase or savings plan: Click here. Use the referral code "ROCK" to reduce transaction fees by 0.1% while supporting Bitcoin, Fiat & Rock'n'Roll. Value4Value Podcast Streaming: Support our podcast by listening to our episodes on the Fountain Podcast App. This way, if you wish, you can support us "Value4Value" while listening to the podcast. You can find us on the Fountain Podcast App here: Click here Disclaimer: The content of this podcast reflects the private opinions of the hosts, serves exclusively for general information purposes and does not constitute investment advice. Always remember: Do your own research - inform yourself before making any investment decisions, such as buying Bitcoin. First try to understand what Bitcoin is and how to store it. This podcast does not provide financial advice. Note that the co-hosts might be invested in crypto assets. Read more on our website: Click here All links marked with "*" are affiliate links. If you use these links for purchase, the podcast receives a small share of the revenue without any additional costs to you. On the contrary, affiliate links often include discount promotions, so you can even save money. We would appreciate it if you use these links to support us. Thank you very much!