Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Couchonomics with Arjun
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How Alan Built an €840 Million Health Insurance Business From Scratch
01 Sep 2026
00:46:06
Health insurance is one of the few products people pay for while hoping they never have to use it. Alan is trying to change that.
In this episode, Jean-Charles Samuelian, Co-founder and CEO of Alan, shares how the company built a full-stack health insurance platform designed around prevention, personalization, and everyday engagement rather than simply paying claims when something goes wrong.
They discuss why Alan chose to become a regulated insurer instead of a broker or technology provider, how owning the entire insurance stack changed the customer experience and economics, and why the company believes prevention can become central to the future of health insurance.
Jean-Charles also explains how Alan is using AI across customer service, operations, and healthcare through its AI companion Mo, why personalization should improve care rather than determine who can afford insurance, and how the company is building one technology platform across France, Spain, Belgium, and Canada.
🎙️ IN THIS EPISODE:
Why Alan chose to become a full-stack insurance company How prevention changes the traditional health insurance model Why owning the entire value chain creates better economics How Alan processes around 70% of claims within five minutes How AI is changing healthcare and insurance Why personalized healthcare shouldn’t mean personalized pricing How Alan built one platform across four countries Why hyper-personalization could define the future of health insurance
⏱️ CHAPTERS
01:55 What is Alan and “prevention insurance”? 05:04 Why build in a market customers traditionally dislike? 07:49 Why Alan became an insurer instead of a broker 10:21 Why combining insurance and healthcare changes the economics 15:57 How Alan is using AI across the business 21:12 Why AI shouldn’t determine your insurance premium 32:07 Building one health platform across multiple countries 41:40 The future of hyper-personalized health insurance
How Creditas Built a $3.3 Billion Fintech by Taking on the Hard Loans
25 Aug 2026
00:41:36
Latin America has a massive consumer credit market, but high interest rates and short loan maturities continue to put pressure on borrowers.
In this episode, Sergio Furio, Founder and CEO of Creditas, shares how the company built an asset-backed lending model around cars and homes, giving customers access to longer-term credit at better rates.
They discuss why Creditas moved away from partnering with banks, how securitization became central to the business, why complexity created a stronger moat, and how the company reduced production costs from more than 20% of loan value to below 9%.
Sergio also explains how Creditas built a base of 20 million registered users, what its valuation reset changed, why the company remains focused on Brazil, and where tokenization could change lending next.
🎙️ In this episode:
✔️ Why Sergio chose Brazil to build Creditas ✔️ How Creditas moved from a marketplace to asset-backed lending ✔️ Why securitization became central to the business model ✔️ How operational complexity became a competitive moat ✔️ Why profitability depends on lowering production costs ✔️ How Creditas reduced production costs to below 9% ✔️ What its valuation reset changed about how Sergio thinks about growth ✔️ Why tokenization could reshape lending and fixed income
⏱️ CHAPTERS
02:59 Why Sergio left New York to build Creditas in Brazil 05:28 The $225 billion lending opportunity Creditas saw 13:43 Why Creditas stopped relying on banks 17:46 Why complexity became Creditas’ competitive moat 22:27 Can cheaper credit and profitability coexist? 28:37 How Creditas cut the cost of producing a loan 32:31 From a $4.8B valuation to a $3.3B reset 40:33 Why tokenization could change lending
Islamic finance is growing globally, but the companies pushing it forward are not always the ones talking about it the loudest.
In this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, Abdullo Kurbanov, CEO and Co-founder of Ayan Capital, shares how he helped build Alif from a $200,000 start in Tajikistan into a profitable fintech processing $1.2 billion in transactions every month, and why he is now building again from scratch in the UK.
They unpack what Islamic finance actually changes for customers, why Sharia-compliant fintechs still need to compete on speed, pricing and experience, how building technology in-house became a major advantage, and why Abdullo believes the next big Islamic fintech opportunity could come from Central Asia or the UK.
🎙️ In this episode: Why successful Islamic fintechs do not need to lead with the Islamic label How Alif grew from $200,000 in capital to $1.2 billion in monthly transactions Why expanding into Pakistan required years of perseverance How building technology in-house became a competitive advantage What actually separates Islamic finance from conventional finance Why Sharia compliance can become a moat Why Ayan chose UK car finance as its starting point What Islamic fintech needs to reach its global potential
⏱️ CHAPTERS
02:29 Why successful Islamic fintechs do not lead with the Islamic label 08:23 Building Alif in a cash-first banking market 13:54 Why Alif expanded into Pakistan 19:06 Why Alif built its technology stack in-house 22:57 What actually makes Islamic finance different? 30:08 Is Islamic finance only relevant to Muslims? 35:02 Why Abdullo started again in the UK 40:43 Why Ayan started with car finance 46:28 The vision for a global digital Islamic bank 48:32 What Islamic fintech needs to reach its potential
The $80 Billion SME Lending Opportunity Banks Keep Missing
11 Aug 2026
00:51:44
SMEs are central to the UAE economy, yet access to credit remains one of their biggest challenges.
In this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, Hassan Reda, Co-Founder & CPO of CredibleX, and Anand Nagaraj, Co-Founder & CEO of CredibleX, unpack why SME lending has remained difficult for banks and fintechs, and what needs to change to close the financing gap.
They explain how embedded lending can solve the distribution problem, why working-capital finance requires a different approach to traditional business loans, and how better underwriting, alternative capital and AI could reshape SME financing in the UAE.
🎙️ In this episode: Why banks still struggle to serve SMEs effectively How CredibleX embeds lending into platforms SMEs already use Why working-capital finance needs a different approach to traditional business loans Why payments data alone is not enough to underwrite larger SMEs How fintech lenders can build the balance sheet needed to scale Which players could win as competition in SME lending increases Where AI is creating practical value in lending and KYC How alternative capital could unlock the next phase of SME financing
⏱️ CHAPTERS
01:59 Why SME credit remains difficult to solve 07:52 How CredibleX approaches embedded SME lending 13:53 The three working-capital products CredibleX offers 17:25 Why payments data alone cannot solve SME lending 23:23 Building the balance sheet to scale lending 32:49 Who will win the race for SME lending? 36:26 Where AI is actually creating value in lending 48:19 The untapped future of SME financing
Digital banks have spent years chasing customer growth. But scale alone does not create profitability.
In this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, Simon Loong, Founder and Group CEO of WeLab, explains what it takes to build a successful digital bank across Asia.
He shares why lending remains central to profitability, why standalone fintechs face a harder path, and how banking licences, AI, stablecoins and regional expansion are shaping the next phase of digital banking.
🎙️ In this episode: • Why customer numbers are the wrong measure of scale • What separates profitable digital banks from the rest • Why lending remains central to digital banking economics • The advantages and costs of obtaining a banking licence • Why ecosystems improve a digital bank’s chances of success • How digital banking strategies change across Asian markets • Where AI is actually creating value inside banks • How stablecoins and digital assets may connect with traditional finance • Why profitability deserves more attention than growth
⏱️ CHAPTERS 01:43 Building one of Asia’s largest fintech companies 08:22 Leaving banking to become a fintech founder 10:31 Why fintechs pursue banking licences 19:33 The playbook behind profitable digital banks 27:19 Serving mature and underbanked markets 39:40 Can a pan-Asian digital bank succeed? 45:32 Where AI is actually delivering value in banking 49:16 Stablecoins, tokenisation and digital assets
Every day we create data, but almost none of us know who really owns it.
In this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, André Vellozo, Founder and CEO of DrumWave, joins the show to explore one of the biggest questions facing the digital economy: what if people could own their data the same way they own money?
André explains why privacy is only the beginning of the conversation, why AI is accelerating the need for data ownership, and why he believes the world needs entirely new infrastructure that allows people, businesses, and governments to exchange data securely while creating value for everyone involved.
🎙️ In this episode: • Why owning your data is different from protecting your privacy • The idea behind data wallets and how they could work • Why AI is changing the value of personal data • How people could eventually earn from the data they create every day • Why governments, banks and technology companies are all competing around digital identity • Brazil's national experiment with data wallets • Whether data could become a new asset class • What it will take to build a global data economy
⏱️ CHAPTERS 01:51 What DrumWave is building 09:01 Why data behaves more like money than information 17:12 How data wallets could work 24:00 Turning everyday data into an asset 31:49 Who should issue data wallets? 38:24 Can people really earn from their data? 43:19 Building the infrastructure for a data economy 50:22 Why governments are paying attention to data ownership
Can Europe build the next generation of global fintech leaders?
In this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, Stefan Klestil, General Partner Fintech EMEA, joins the show to discuss venture capital, fintech investing, AI, digital assets, founder psychology, and why the Middle East and Africa have become one of the world's most compelling investment opportunities.
Stefan explains why Speedinvest launched its dedicated EMEA fund, what separates exceptional founders from everyone else, and why venture investors are increasingly looking beyond Europe for the next wave of global fintech success.
The conversation explores the rise of AI-driven fintech, stablecoins, tokenization, venture capital, cross-border financial infrastructure, regulation, and why governance often determines whether startups become lasting businesses.
🎙️ In this episode:
• Why Speedinvest launched a dedicated Middle East and Africa fund • What makes founders capable of building regional and global companies • Why AI could dramatically reduce the time needed to build fintech leaders • The future of stablecoins, tokenization, and on-chain financial services • Why venture capital is shifting toward growth markets • How governance determines long-term startup success • Why Europe still struggles to retain growth capital • The fintech opportunities investors believe are still being overlooked
⏱️ CHAPTERS
01:51 Why the next fintech giants may come from emerging markets 09:13 Investing across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa 17:12 What investors really look for in founders 24:31 Stablecoins, tokenization, and on-chain finance 28:28 Is European fintech losing momentum? 36:05 Meta Reality: AI, MENA, and the future of fintech 41:31 The hardest lessons from backing founders 46:08 The fintech opportunities investors still underestimate
Is digital banking really about technology anymore?
It is becoming a battle for customer relationships, trust, data, and who owns the financial experience.
In this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, Raheel Ahmed, Group CEO of RAKBANK, returns to discuss open finance, AI, stablecoins, SME banking, regulation, and the future of financial services in the UAE.
Raheel explains why open finance is being built for customers rather than banks, why products and pricing are becoming increasingly commoditized, and how financial institutions must rethink where they create value in a more transparent and competitive market.
The conversation explores how AI is already being deployed inside banks, the opportunities around stablecoins and tokenization, the future of SME financing, and why customer relationships may become the most important asset banks have.
From digital transformation and regulation to competition and emerging technologies, this episode examines how banking is evolving and what it will take to stay relevant in the years ahead.
🎙️ In this episode:
• Why open finance is a bigger disruption than many banks realize • How AI is already transforming banking operations • Why customer relationships matter more than products • The future of stablecoins and tokenized deposits • How RAKBANK approaches partnerships and innovation • The evolution of SME banking and financing in the UAE • Why regulation is accelerating change rather than slowing it down • What banks must do to remain competitive in the next decade
⏱️ CHAPTERS
00:00 The future of banking, AI, and open finance 01:59 How UAE banks handled recent uncertainty 06:27 Regulation and the changing banking landscape 08:48 Why digital banking still needs a human touch 12:24 Payments, partnerships, and customer data 15:35 Stablecoins and tokenized deposits 22:11 Why open finance is a major disruption 27:13 The future of SME banking and lending
Why Uzbekistan May Be Digital Banking’s Next Big Story
26 May 2026
00:49:17
Digital finance is no longer only about banking apps and payments.
It is becoming a question of infrastructure, trust, customer behaviour, and how financial systems evolve in emerging markets.
In this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, Nika Kurdiani, CEO of TBC Uzbekistan, joins the show for a sharp conversation on digital banking, AI, open banking, and why Uzbekistan is becoming one of the most interesting financial markets to watch.
Nika explains how TBC built one of the largest digital financial ecosystems in Central Asia, why customer experience matters more than legacy banking scale, and how AI is bringing the relationship manager back into the app.
From cash economies and digital adoption to regulation, ecosystem strategy, and the future of financial services, this episode explores what happens when fast-growing markets leapfrog traditional banking models.
🎙️ In this episode:
• Why Uzbekistan became a major opportunity for digital finance • How TBC scaled to millions of users in under six years • Why “cash is not a competitor, it is an opportunity” • How open banking evolved differently in Uzbekistan • The strategy behind building a digital financial ecosystem • Why AI is changing customer relationships in banking • How TBC built its own AI and language models • Why trust is the most important currency in finance
⏱️ CHAPTERS
00:00 Trust, AI, and the future of banking 02:37 Why Uzbekistan is attracting investor attention 09:22 Lessons from Kaspi and digital banking growth 11:41 Open banking and interoperability in Uzbekistan 18:18 Building a digital financial ecosystem 25:05 Why AI became a major bet for TBC 33:46 Competition and the financial services flywheel 43:50 Regulation, agility, and emerging markets
When Hackers Understand Banks Better Than Banks Understand Hackers
14 May 2026
00:54:31
Cybersecurity is no longer just a technical issue, it is now a human, business, and financial system challenge.
In this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, Arjun is joined by Ralph Echemendia, Ethical Hacker and Cyber Security Expert, for a sharp conversation on hacking psychology, cybercrime, AI-driven fraud, and why financial institutions need to rethink security.
Ralph explains why some of the most dangerous attacks are not built on complex code, but on human vulnerability, trust, and social engineering.
From banks and insider threats to AI, quantum computing, and the myths Hollywood created around hackers, this episode looks at the real risks sitting behind digital finance today.
🎙️ In this episode:
• How Ralph first entered the world of hacking • What hackers really feel when they gain system access • Why banks still underestimate human vulnerability • How social engineering bypasses expensive security systems • What Hollywood gets wrong about hackers • Why cybercrime is becoming more organised and commercial • How AI is changing the speed and scale of attacks • Why trust, vulnerability, and security are deeply connected
⏱️ CHAPTERS
00:00 Inside the mind of a hacker 00:54 Meet Ralph Echemendia, The Ethical Hacker 02:34 How hacking started for Ralph 16:43 Why banks struggle with human vulnerability 23:05 The penetration test that exposed a data centre 31:32 Cybersecurity myths and realities 35:07 AI, quantum computing, and the widening security gap 44:07 Trust, vulnerability, and the future of cybersecurity
What Happens When Trading Infrastructure Starts Changing the System
14 Apr 2026
00:47:27
Before a trading app reaches a user, there is an entire system underneath it doing the real heavy lifting.
In this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, Arjun is joined by Yoshi Yokokawa, Co-Founder and CEO of Alpaca, for a sharp and wide-ranging conversation on brokerage infrastructure, on-chain finance, market access, and what it really takes to build financial products at global scale.
It is a grounded look at how trading has shifted from web to mobile to on-chain, why financial access still needs to be designed around culture and local behaviour, and what happens when traditional markets and digital assets begin moving closer together.
From tokenised stocks and stablecoins to prediction markets and infrastructure complexity, this conversation explores the less visible layer of finance, the one powering the apps, products, and experiences users see on the surface.
They also discuss why infrastructure should behave like a utility, what responsibilities licensed platforms carry around investor protection and market integrity, and why the long-term shift toward on-chain finance may be less about ideology and more about real product-market fit.
🎙️ In this episode:
• What Alpaca actually does and why brokerage infrastructure matters now • How trading behaviour has evolved from desktop to mobile-first experiences • Why financial products cannot be copied globally without cultural context • The difference between building apps and building the infrastructure beneath them • Why Yoshi believes everything will eventually move on-chain • Stablecoins, tokenised stocks, and where real adoption is already happening • Why bridging fiat and on-chain systems is harder than it looks • The role of infrastructure in investor protection, compliance, and market safety • Whether finance is heading toward super apps or continued specialisation • Why Yoshi thinks access matters more than the language of “democratisation” • Building globally across 45 countries and operating financial infrastructure at scale • Yoshi’s view on Japanese founders, risk-taking, and what may change next
If you are trying to understand where financial infrastructure is heading, and how brokerage, stablecoins, tokenisation, and digital assets are starting to connect, this episode gives you a practical lens into the layer most people never see.
⏱️ CHAPTERS
00:00 Why infrastructure matters more than people think 01:00 Meet Yoshi Yokokawa and what Alpaca does 02:14 Why this is a big moment for brokerage infrastructure 04:54 How trading behaviour has changed over time 07:28 Why financial products need cultural context 09:30 Trading, gambling, and the role of infrastructure 12:19 Why Yoshi believes everything will move on-chain 15:14 Investor protection, fraud, and market integrity 18:05 Tokenised stocks and infrastructure complexity 20:51 Bridging fiat and on-chain finance 23:46 Bundling, unbundling, and where finance is going 27:04 Access vs democratisation in financial services 29:02 Building globally across 45 countries 33:40 Stablecoins, tokenisation, and real product-market fit 36:36 Why Alpaca stays focused on infrastructure 39:37 Yoshi on Japanese founders and startup culture
What Happens When Stablecoins Start Competing With Banks?
07 Apr 2026
00:47:17
Money is no longer just held. It is moving, earning, and quietly reshaping the system around it.
In this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, Arjun is joined by Anton Golub, Founding Member of RWA Labs, for a sharp, grounded conversation on what is actually happening beneath the surface of crypto, stablecoins, and tokenization.
It is a clear breakdown of how liquidity, leverage, and market structure are shaping Bitcoin cycles, why stablecoins are becoming impossible to ignore, and what happens when financial systems built for control collide with technologies built for movement.
From retail dominance in crypto markets to the real risks behind products like Strategy, and from yield-bearing stablecoins to the tension they create with traditional banks, this conversation stays rooted in what actually matters.
They also explore tokenization beyond the buzz, why most real-world asset experiments are still early, and how infrastructure gaps like liquidity, regulation, and market access continue to limit adoption.
🎙️ In this episode:
• What really caused recent Bitcoin volatility and liquidity drops • Why retail still dominates crypto ownership more than we think • Strategy, leverage, and the idea of “too big to fail” in crypto • The reality behind stablecoin yield and why regulators are cautious • How stablecoins could pressure smaller economies and currencies • Tokenized deposits vs stablecoins and where each fits • Why most tokenization use cases are still early or incomplete • Real estate tokenization, liquidity gaps, and market readiness • The future of Layer 1 blockchains and why many won’t survive • Where crypto infrastructure still falls short today
If you are trying to understand where crypto meets real financial systems, and what actually drives adoption beyond narratives, this episode gives you a practical lens to think through it.
⏱️ CHAPTERS
00:00 Bitcoin, yield, and why stablecoins are everywhere 03:00 What broke the crypto market and liquidity after October 07:00 Who really owns Bitcoin today 11:00 Strategy, leverage, and systemic risk 14:00 Stablecoin yield and regulatory pressure 20:00 Stablecoins vs monetary policy in emerging markets 23:00 Tokenized deposits vs stablecoins explained 29:00 Cross-border payments and real-world use cases 33:00 Tokenization of real-world assets, reality vs hype 40:00 Layer 1 blockchains and future consolidation
Can Stablecoins Scale Without Expanding Systemic Risk?
31 Mar 2026
00:59:11
Fraud is not new. But the scale, speed, and sophistication have changed.
In this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, Arjun is joined by Navin Gupta, CEO of Crystal Intelligence, and Nick Smart, Chief Intelligence Officer at Crystal Intelligence, to unpack the evolving world of crypto-related fraud, institutional risk, and the uncomfortable truth about financial crime in a 24/7 digital economy.
From the Lazarus Group and the Bybit hack to scam compounds operating at industrial scale, this conversation moves beyond headlines and into how crypto crime actually works, why velocity of money matters, and whether regulation is finally catching up.
They explore the intersection of traditional finance and digital assets, stablecoins, tokenization, AI-driven fraud, and the systemic risks emerging as crypto integrates deeper into the global financial system.
🎙️ In this episode:
• Why crypto fraud is industrialized, not amateur • The Lazarus Group and lessons from the Bybit incident • How blockchain transparency changes crime investigation • AI as a multiplier for scams and financial crime • Why 24/7 markets clash with 9–5 regulatory systems • Stablecoins, velocity of money, and systemic risk • Tokenization: real utility vs liquidity illusion • Regulatory arbitrage and geopolitical blind spots • Financial inclusion vs vulnerability in emerging markets • Scam Alert and how reporting fraud protects the ecosystem
If you care about the future of finance, financial inclusion, stablecoins, or institutional crypto adoption, this episode offers a clear-eyed view of where risk really sits.
⏱️ CHAPTERS
00:00 Fraud in the digital era and why crypto attracts it 01:00 What Crystal Intelligence actually does 05:00 Is crypto more opaque than traditional finance? 12:00 Industrial-scale scam compounds and modern fraud 16:30 The Lazarus Group and the Bybit hack 21:00 Velocity of money vs cost of fraud 26:00 Regulation catching up to digital assets 30:00 Stablecoins, custody, and institutional adoption 35:00 Exchanges, compliance, and global licensing gaps 38:00 Layer 1s, liquidity, and criminal behavior 44:00 AI, 24/7 markets, and systemic vulnerabilities 49:00 Tokenization, real world assets, and risk 52:00 Informal value transfer systems and financial inclusion 56:00 Scam Alert and collective responsibility
How AI Agents and Stablecoins Are Reshaping Modern Banking
26 Feb 2026
00:57:27
Is banking really changing at the core, or are we just putting better apps on old rails?
In this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, Arjun is joined in studio by Jayesh Patel, CEO of Wio Bank PJSC, to unpack what real transformation inside a bank actually looks like, how AI is reshaping operating models, and why stablecoins may compress time in money movement far more than most people realize.
They break down the difference between digitizing processes and restructuring around the customer, why SME banking still has structural gaps, and how Wio is building with micro AI agents, smart offices, and long term product bets like family banking. They also dive into crypto as an investment class, regulated stablecoins in the UAE, and whether banks should issue, distribute, or build on top of digital currencies.
🎙️ In this episode: • Are banks truly transforming or just digitizing bureaucracy • What customer obsession looks like beyond marketing language • Why SMEs still struggle with onboarding and credit access • AI micro agents and the shift toward a smart office model • Crypto as an investment class and real user behavior on platform • Stablecoins, regulation, and where real utility begins • Payments strategy and building in house vs partnering • Embedded banking through TAMM and platform distribution • Competition in the UAE and what the next five years could look like
👉 Watch the full episode if you want a grounded view of how digital banks evolve from the inside, what stablecoins could mean for liquidity and payments, and where the real structural shifts in banking are happening.
PARTNERS Couchonomics with Arjun Season 04 is brought to you by: Adyen → https://www.adyen.com/ Thunes → https://thunes.com/ Mastercard → https://mastercard.com/ e& → https://www.eand.com/ Digit9 → https://www.digitnine.com/ SC Ventures → https://scventures.io/
CHAPTERS: 00:00 Is banking really changing or just digitizing old rails 01:10 Jayesh Patel on building Wio and scaling a digital bank 05:30 Customer obsession vs legacy operating models 11:40 The SME banking gap and structural constraints 18:20 AI micro agents and the smart office model 27:30 Crypto as an investment class and user behavior 35:00 Stablecoins, regulation, and real world use cases 43:20 Payments strategy and in house build vs partnership 49:30 Embedded banking and the TAMM collaboration 54:30 Competition in the UAE and what the next five years look like
How Tokenization and Stablecoins Will Change Money Movement
17 Feb 2026
00:53:27
Technology is changing what people expect from money, and stablecoins are turning that into reality.
In this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, Arjun is joined from New York by Stephen Richardson (CSO and Head of Banking at Fireblocks) to break down why digital assets are back at the center of banking strategy, what stablecoins are really unlocking, and where banks are at risk of getting disintermediated if they treat this like “just another rails upgrade.”
They unpack the on-chain vs off-chain convergence, why stablecoins became the real “killer app” for blockchain UX, and why the next wave isn’t just crypto trading, but new product models: stablecoin acceptance, payouts, FX orchestration, stablecoin clearing, tokenized deposits, and tokenized assets that can move and settle with fewer constraints.
🎙️ In this episode: • Why digital assets momentum is rising again in 2026 • Stablecoins as the “money on-chain” unlock (and why that changed everything) • TradFi + DeFi convergence: where the customer actually feels it • Real-time payments vs 24/7 money movement: what banks still miss • What banks should do first: acceptance, payouts, FX, clearing, interoperability • Why “40 stablecoins” is a UX problem (and who solves it) • Stablecoin-as-a-Service vs Banking-as-a-Service: what gets leapfrogged • Tokenization explained: native on-chain assets vs digital twins • What’s next to tokenize: gold, treasuries, and trade foundations • What Fireblocks is building towards: commercially viable use cases, not demos
👉 Watch the full episode if you want a clear, non-hype view of how stablecoins and tokenization can reshape banking operating models, and what banks and fintechs should do before the new rails become the default.
SOCIAL LINKS Arjun’s LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjunvirsingh/
PARTNERS Couchonomics with Arjun Season 04 is brought to you by: Adyen → https://www.adyen.com/ Thunes → https://thunes.com/ Mastercard → https://mastercard.com/ e& → https://www.eand.com/ Digit9 → https://www.digitnine.com/ SC Ventures → https://scventures.io/
CHAPTERS: 00:00 Stablecoins, fintech platforms, and “money on-chain” 01:00 Who Stephen Richardson is + what Fireblocks does 02:10 Why digital assets now: what changed since the last cycle 05:00 Stablecoins as the killer UX unlock for blockchain 08:05 On-chain + off-chain convergence: where it’s heading 14:40 Real-time payments vs 24/7 money: visibility, trust, orchestration 17:30 What banks must shift to: platform mindset + on-chain products 25:05 First moves banks can make: accept, convert, payout, FX 33:45 What holds stablecoins back: regulation, dollarization, identity/KYC 44:15 Tokenization explained + what’s ready next (gold, treasuries, trade)
Japan is often seen as a “mature” financial market. But the real story is in what’s quietly shifting underneath.
In this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, Arjun is joined from Tokyo by Pieter Franken (Co-Founder & CEO at GFTN Japan) to unpack what’s actually changing in Japan’s fintech and digital assets landscape and what it means for founders, investors, and global players looking at the Japan opportunity.
They go deep on stablecoins and why Japan may be ahead on regulation, the upcoming move to classify crypto and digital assets as financial instruments, and why payments remain fragmented despite Japan’s innovation legacy. The conversation also explores what could unlock faster adoption (from interoperability to cost structures), how Japan’s national digital ID rollout could become a foundational layer, and why Japan–MENA collaboration is still early but strategically important.
🎙️ In this episode: • What’s really changed in Japan fintech over the last 12 months • Stablecoins in Japan: regulation, launches, and why it matters now • The big shift: crypto moving from “non-financial” to “financial instrument” • Why Japan’s payments ecosystem is still fragmented (and what could fix it) • Open banking, consumer adoption, and the cost problem for merchants • The digital ID layer Japan is finally accelerating (MyNumber) • Japan–MENA corridors: where collaboration is real vs. where it’s early • What to expect at GFTN Forum Japan 2026: AI, tokenization, and cross-border corridors
👉 Watch the full conversation to understand what’s brewing in Japan, why regulation is setting up the next phase of digital assets and payments, and where the real opportunities could emerge next.
SOCIAL LINKS Arjun’s LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjunvirsingh/
CHAPTERS 00:00 Japan fintech beyond the stereotypes 01:05 Who Peter Franken is + what GFTN Japan does 02:20 What shifted in Japan over the last 12 months 03:10 Stablecoins: why Japan is moving early 05:00 Crypto reclassification: what changes when it becomes a financial instrument 08:10 Open banking reality check + what’s still missing 10:10 Cash vs digital payments: Tokyo vs the rest of Japan 12:20 Interoperability problem: too many silos, too many rails 14:10 What could unlock faster adoption (cost, standards, stablecoins, points) 16:30 Digital ID (MyNumber) as Japan’s DPI foundation 22:10 Japan–MENA corridor: what’s real today, what could grow next 28:40 What to expect at GFTN Forum Japan 2026 (AI, tokenization, corridors)
How Deep Payments Infrastructure Creates Real Fintech Advantage
05 Feb 2026
00:32:42
Payments in emerging markets are often discussed as infrastructure. But the real differentiation happens in how deeply payments are embedded into business operations.
In the final episode of this special Qatar Development Bank series of Couchonomics with Arjun, Arjun sits down in Doha with Saad Ishfaq, CEO of TESS Payments, to unpack how a payments company built for Qatar is scaling by solving real operational pain, not just processing transactions.
TESS Payments is a QCB-licensed payment service provider designed specifically for the Qatari market. Rather than chasing regional expansion, Saad explains why the company chose to go deep instead of wide, focusing on enterprise-grade flexibility, managed services, and bespoke integrations for large organisations across real estate, government, and critical infrastructure.
The conversation explores how payments sit at the centre of SME enablement, why micro and small businesses remain underserved across the GCC, and how fintechs and banks must collaborate rather than compete. Saad also shares how TESS evolved beyond payments into CFO tooling and digital lending, including a new sandboxed lending platform addressing Qatar’s blue-collar workforce.
From owning core infrastructure to navigating bank partnerships, regulatory sandboxes, and product adjacencies, this episode offers a grounded look at how fintech scale is built inside regulated markets.
🎙️ In this episode: • Why TESS Payments is built for Qatar, not regional expansion • Payments as an embedded operational layer, not a commodity • Solving CFO and CTO pain through deep integrations • SME and micro-SME challenges in the GCC • Why banks and fintechs must work together to scale impact • Building proprietary payments infrastructure in a crowded market • Regulatory sandboxes as a growth enabler • Expanding from payments into digital lending • Addressing financial access for blue-collar workers • Qatar’s role as a fintech launchpad • Founder lessons from Pakistan to Qatar • Grit, resilience, and building through constraint
👉 Watch the full conversation to understand how payments, regulation, and fintech innovation come together when products are built with local reality in mind.
00:00 Qatar Development Bank series wrap-up 01:30 Introducing TESS Payments and Saad Ishfaq 04:00 Key global and regional payment trends 07:00 SME and micro-SME challenges in the GCC 10:30 Embedding payments into enterprise operations 13:30 Proprietary infrastructure and differentiation 16:00 Working with banks as acquiring partners 18:30 Payments post-FIFA and infrastructure realities 20:00 Expanding beyond payments into CFO tooling 22:00 Digital lending and sandbox experimentation 25:00 Regulation as an enabler, not a blocker 27:30 Scaling depth versus geographic expansion 29:00 Founder journey from Pakistan to Qatar 31:30 Lessons on resilience, impact, and fintech scale
Financial innovation in the GCC is often framed around payments, licenses, and launch timelines. But the harder work happens long before a product goes live.
In this special Qatar Development Bank series of Couchonomics with Arjun, Arjun sits down in Doha with Mohammed Suleiman, Co-Founder and CEO of Karty, to unpack what it really takes to build a regulated fintech company from the ground up in Qatar.
Karty is not trying to out-bank banks or outscale telco wallets. Instead, it is being designed as a financial management layer that sits between spending and understanding money. A digital wallet built around insights, behaviour, and literacy rather than just transactions.
Mohammed explains why Qatar’s wallet landscape still leaves a gap for mass-affluent users, how Karty is approaching savings and financial awareness as a bundled experience, and why monetisation in fintech only works when usage comes first.
A grounded discussion on fintech realism, ecosystem maturity, and why building the right foundations matters more than rushing to market.
🎙️ In this episode: • Why Qatar still needs independent digital wallets • The gap between telco wallets and traditional banking • Financial literacy as a bundled product, not a standalone feature • How wallets monetise without pushing lending too early • Multi-rail payments and the future of wallet infrastructure • Round-ups, savings nudges, and behaviour-led product design • Building fintech under evolving regulation in Qatar • Talent, infrastructure, and the realities of building in-house • AI in fintech, where it works and where it is overhyped • Scaling through partnerships vs direct market expansion • Why Karty sees itself as a layer after banking, not a replacement
👉 Watch the full conversation to understand how fintech is actually being built in Qatar, before the headlines, before the hype, and before launch.
00:00 Qatar Development Bank series and context 02:00 Why Qatar needs another digital wallet 05:30 The gap between telco wallets and banks 09:00 Financial literacy as a product, not content 13:30 Monetisation, margins, and wallet realities 17:00 Multi-rail payments and infrastructure thinking 21:00 Regulation, licensing, and ecosystem support 25:00 Talent, tech, and building in-house in Qatar 29:00 AI in fintech and practical constraints 33:00 Expansion strategies and infrastructure plays 37:00 Launch readiness and what comes nex
What It Takes to Scale a Tech Company Like Snoonu From Qatar
03 Feb 2026
00:32:12
Most startup stories focus on what companies become. This one focuses on how they are built.
In this special Qatar Development Bank series of Couchonomics with Arjun, Arjun sits down in Doha with Hamad Al-Hajri, Founder and CEO of Snoonu, to explore how one of Qatar’s most successful tech companies was built and why its journey matters for the region.
Hamad explains why Snoonu was never meant to be just a delivery app, but a speed-led business designed for small, fragmented markets. From brand identity and culture to engineering excellence and profitability, the conversation unpacks what it really takes to scale from Qatar.
The episode also covers Snoonu’s acquisition by Jahez, the role of AI in product discovery, and how platform-led expansion could shape the next phase of growth.
An honest discussion on super apps, culture as infrastructure, and building globally relevant companies from the Middle East.
🎙️ In this episode: • Why Snoonu was built as a speed-first business, not a delivery app • The real meaning behind the Snoonu name and brand identity • Why super apps work in smaller, fragmented markets • How Snoonu achieved profitability while others struggled • Engineering excellence and product craftsmanship as a moat • AI-powered discovery and real-world use cases • The Jahez acquisition and lessons from consolidation • Platform-as-a-service versus direct market expansion • Qatar’s evolving startup ecosystem and founder flywheel • What it takes to build global tech companies from the GCC
👉 Watch the full conversation to understand how culture, technology, and long-term vision are shaping the next chapter of Middle Eastern innovation.
00:00 QDB series and setting the context 02:00 The story behind Snoonu’s name 06:30 Why super apps work in the GCC 11:00 Profitability and engineering culture 16:00 AI, discovery, and product excellence 22:00 The Jahez acquisition 27:00 Platform-led expansion strategy 33:00 Qatar’s startup ecosystem evolution 39:00 Building globally from the Middle East
Why Ecosystem Design Matters More Than Funding in Startup Growth
02 Feb 2026
00:38:34
Innovation ecosystems in the GCC are often judged by funding numbers and startup announcements. But the real work happens in how institutions, capital, and regulation move together.
In this special Qatar Development Bank series of Couchonomics with Arjun, Arjun sits down in Doha with Mohammed Al-Emadi, Executive Director of Incubation and VC Investment at QDB, to unpack how Qatar is intentionally building its startup and venture capital ecosystem.
Rather than operating as a single funding body, QDB plays a lifecycle role across incubation, acceleration, venture capital, regulation readiness, and market access. Mohammed explains how founders are supported from idea stage through to regional and global expansion, with each layer designed to reduce friction rather than add complexity.
The conversation explores how Qatar’s ecosystem players collaborate closely, why talent and pilot access matter more than market size, and how capital, regulation, and infrastructure are aligned to support long-term innovation.
🎙️ In this episode: • How QDB supports startups from idea to international markets • Why ecosystem coordination matters more than isolated programs • The role of incubation, acceleration, and venture capital working together • Preparing startups for regulation before entering licensing • Venture studios and fund-of-funds as ecosystem building blocks • Talent attraction, education, and retention as infrastructure • Market pilots and testing as a growth advantage • Fintech beyond payments, including insurance and Islamic finance • The role of exits in validating the ecosystem • Positioning Qatar as a regional launchpad, not just a local market
👉 Watch the full conversation to understand how Qatar is building its startup and venture ecosystem quietly, deliberately, and with long-term intent.
00:00 Qatar Development Bank series and context 02:00 QDB’s role in the startup ecosystem 05:00 Supporting founders from idea to scale 08:30 Ecosystem coordination and institutional alignment 12:30 Talent, education, and capability building 16:30 Regulation readiness and sandbox pathways 20:30 Venture capital, fund-of-funds, and studios 24:30 Market pilots and testing environments 28:30 Fintech focus areas beyond payments 32:30 Exits, maturity, and long-term ecosystem goals
What the Data Actually Says About Venture Capital in MENA
27 Jan 2026
00:54:48
Venture capital is often discussed through funding totals and headline deals. But the real signal sits underneath the numbers.
In this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, Arjun is joined by Philip Bahoshy, Founder and CEO of MAGNiTT, to break down what the latest venture data actually says about emerging markets and where capital is really moving.
Drawing from MAGNiTT’s newest annual report, Philip unpacks the divergence across emerging markets, the growing dominance of the GCC in venture funding, and why Saudi Arabia and the UAE are increasingly shaping the region’s venture outcomes. The conversation goes beyond raw numbers to explore liquidity, exits, fund cycles, and what maturity really looks like for venture ecosystems.
The episode dives deep into FinTech’s continued dominance, the realities behind mega rounds, why exits remain the biggest unlock for founders and investors, and how AI, private credit, and digital assets are reshaping capital allocation.
🎙️ In this episode: • Why venture funding in emerging markets is diverging • How Saudi Arabia and the UAE came to dominate MENA venture capital • What the data reveals about deal volume versus deal quality • Why exits, not funding rounds, define ecosystem maturity • The real state of FinTech, digital assets, and venture debt • How AI is changing venture economics beyond the hype • What founders should understand about liquidity and long-term outcomes • Where emerging markets could see the next wave of growth
👉 Watch the full conversation to understand how venture capital in the Middle East is evolving, what the data is really saying beneath the headlines, and why the next phase of growth will be defined by exits, not valuations.
CHAPTERS 00:00 Venture capital beyond the headlines 02:00 What MAGNiTT tracks and why the data matters 05:30 The divergence across emerging markets 09:30 Why the GCC now dominates MENA venture funding 14:30 Saudi Arabia vs UAE. Scale, capital, and strategy 20:30 Mega rounds, outliers, and what they really signal 26:30 The exit problem and why liquidity matters 33:00 FinTech’s continued dominance and where it is evolving 39:00 Digital assets, regulation, and investor risk appetite 44:30 Venture debt and the rise of private credit 49:30 AI investment trends and what is real versus hype 55:00 What founders should prepare for in 2026 1:00:30 The future of emerging venture ecosystems
What It Really Takes to Build World-Class Startups Outside Silicon Valley
20 Jan 2026
00:57:19
Startup success is often explained through geography, capital, or timing.
But the real story is about people, resilience, and long-term commitment.
In this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, Arjun is joined by Allen Taylor, Managing Partner at Endeavor Catalyst, to unpack how world-class companies are being built far beyond Silicon Valley.
Allen shares how Endeavor identifies and backs the top 1% of founders across emerging and underserved markets, why venture outcomes are shaped over decades not fund cycles, and how resilience and ambition matter more than location. From Latin America and Eastern Europe to the Middle East and frontier markets like Nigeria and Pakistan, the conversation explores what it really takes to build billion-dollar companies from anywhere.
The episode also dives into how venture capital is evolving, why the traditional 10-year fund model no longer reflects reality, how AI is changing both startups and investing, and what creates durable entrepreneurial ecosystems over time.
🎙️ In this episode:
• Why billion-dollar companies can now be built from anywhere
• How Endeavor identifies and supports the top 1% of founders globally
• The power of role models, second-generation founders, and ecosystem flywheels
• Why resilience matters more than ideas in long-term company building
• How frontier markets create asymmetric venture returns
• The limits of the traditional VC model and what needs to change
• Where AI truly adds value in startups and venture investing
• Why ambition should move from regional champions to global companies
👉 Watch the full conversation to understand how global entrepreneurship is shifting, why emerging markets matter, and what the next decade of venture creation could look like.
00:00 Building billion-dollar companies from anywhere 02:10 What Endeavor really does and why it exists
05:30 How Endeavor Catalyst invests differently 09:00 The globalisation of startups beyond Silicon Valley 13:30 Latin America’s rise and why it matters 18:00 Europe’s overlooked innovation markets 22:40 The Endeavor network and founder flywheels 27:30 Frontier markets, geopolitics, and long-term bets 33:00 How co-investment and trust actually work 38:30 Is the VC model outdated 43:20 Fund life cycles, liquidity, and LP–GP dynamics 48:30 AI’s real impact on startups and investing 53:00 What the Middle East needs to do next 58:00 Role models, exits, and ecosystem maturity 1:03:30 Resilience, ambition, and what defines great founders
How Allica Bank Is Rebuilding SME Banking From Scratch
13 Jan 2026
00:53:00
Banking innovation usually gets reduced to apps and features.
But the real changes are happening underneath.
In this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, Richard Davies, CEO of Allica Bank, joins the couch to talk about how challenger banks are actually rebuilding SME banking in the UK.
Richard breaks down why established SMEs need a very different banking model, why go-to-market is harder than building the technology, and how value, trust, and low cost structures become the real advantage over time.
The conversation moves through how digital banking has matured in the UK, what open banking really delivers today, how AI is being used inside regulated banks, and where stablecoins and tokenised money actually make sense and where they do not.
An honest discussion on SME credit gaps, the limits of the super-app idea, the role of humans in an AI-led bank, and what the next decade of challenger banking could realistically look like.
🎙️ In this episode:
• Why challenger banks are replacing major banks for SMEs, not just competing with them • The hidden problem of fragmentation in SME finance • How Allica is building an all-in-one bank for established businesses • What open banking gets right and where it still falls short • AI inside banks: productivity, agents, and the limits of automation • Why SMEs are not ready for complexity in digital assets • The real use cases for stablecoins and cross-border payments • What creates a defensible moat in modern digital banking • How regulation helps and hinders SME lending in the UK • What the next 3 to 5 years of SME banking could look like
👉 Watch the full conversation to understand how challenger banks are scaling trust, profitability, and relevance in a post-hype fintech world.
00:00 Why SME banking is being rebuilt 02:40 The maturity of UK challenger banks 06:30 The real SME credit gap problem 10:20 Fragmentation vs all-in-one banking 15:00 Go-to-market challenges in SME banking 19:30 Open banking realities for SMEs 24:30 AI inside regulated banks 30:10 Human banking in an AI-first world 36:00 Stablecoins, tokenisation, and real use cases 42:00 What creates a defensible banking moat 47:30 Regulation, growth, and the road to 2030
What It Really Takes for Banks to Innovate Without Breaking Trust
16 Dec 2025
00:57:37
Innovation in banking is often talked about, but rarely understood.
In this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, Giovanni Everduin, Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer and Head of Ventures at Commercial Bank International, joins the couch to unpack what innovation really looks like inside a regulated bank.
From legacy systems and institutional mindsets to AI, digital assets, and on-chain finance, this conversation goes beyond buzzwords to explore where real value is being created and where the industry may be getting ahead of itself.
Giovanni shares why regulation can act as a catalyst for innovation, how banks and fintechs are moving from competition to partnership, and why the future of finance will be hybrid rather than fully on-chain or off-chain.
A candid discussion on tokenization, stablecoins, privacy, and why understanding the problem always matters more than chasing the latest technology.
🎙️ In this episode: • What innovation actually means inside a regulated bank • Why legacy systems, data, and mindsets slow transformation • How fintechs shifted from challengers to infrastructure partners • The real opportunities and misconceptions around tokenization and stablecoins • Why privacy will be critical for institutions moving finance on-chain • How banks can experiment safely without breaking trust • Why partnership-driven innovation is becoming the dominant model • What the next 3 to 5 years of banking could realistically look like
👉 Watch the full conversation to understand how banks are navigating innovation without losing trust, stability, or relevance.
CHAPTERS 00:00 What innovation really means in banking 02:30 Why regulation shapes how banks operate 05:30 Legacy systems, data, and mindset challenges 09:00 Fintechs shifting from disruption to partnership 13:30 AI, hype vs real impact inside banks 18:00 Tokenization and stablecoins explained clearly 24:00 Why privacy matters for institutions on-chain 30:00 CBIX and experimenting safely outside the bank 36:00 The hybrid future of finance 41:00 What the next 3 to 5 years could look like
Banking in the UAE is entering a phase where digital expectations, AI, and trust are forcing banks to rethink everything from processes to culture.
Arjun sits down with Dr. Bernd van Linder, CEO of Commercial Bank of Dubai, to unpack how customer experience, technology and trust are reshaping the future of banking.
🎙️ In this episode:
Why customer experience has become the only real competitive advantage in banking
How digitization moved from a COVID era surprise to a baseline expectation
Why the UAE banking sector keeps evolving faster than global peers
How banks can rewire legacy systems without breaking what works
Why fintechs are now partners, not threats, and how the best banks use them
The real impact of AI on productivity, governance and the workforce
How trust, safety and regulation shape decision making in a digital-first world
What the next five years of banking will look like in the region
👉 Watch now to understand how customer experience, fintech partnerships, AI and trust will define the next era of banking.
How One Platform Went From 5,000 Cards to Powering Global Banks
03 Dec 2025
00:42:52
Core banking is no longer a back-office topic.
Cloud, payments, AI and digital assets are forcing banks to rethink the foundations of how money moves.
In this episode, Arjun sits down with Vishal Dalal, Global CEO of Pismo, to unpack the evolution of modern core banking, the rise of cloud-native architectures, and why migration, resilience and payments complexity are the real bottlenecks shaping the future.
From a startup getting thrown out of buildings in Brazil to powering global banks across 70 plus countries, Vishal breaks down the hard truths of building critical infrastructure in a world that expects zero downtime, instant scalability and absolute safety.
In this episode:
• How Pismo went from a 5,000-card pilot to powering tens of millions of accounts
• Why resilience, recovery and disaster readiness are now core banking table stakes
• The real challenges of migrating 200 million accounts from legacy systems
• Why every country building its own payment rails increases global complexity
• How stablecoins, tokenized deposits and CBDCs force a rethink of the entire backend
• Why digital assets and real-time settlement are pulling core banking into a new era
• How AI is reshaping migrations, operations, debugging and developer speed
• Why being cloud-only opens some markets and immediately disqualifies others
• How leaders should balance velocity with safety in a geopolitical environment full of risk
👉 Watch now to understand the next chapter of core banking.
How AI and Stablecoins Are Rewiring the Future of Fintech
25 Nov 2025
00:46:48
Fintech is entering a new phase where technology, regulation and global markets are reshaping value at a deeper level.
Arjun sits down with Sandeep Patil, Partner and Head of Asia at QED Investors, to break down how fintech is evolving beneath the surface.
🎙️ In this episode: -Why the global fintech reset isn’t over - How stablecoins are becoming the quiet rails of global trade - How AI will reshape underwriting and distribution - Why regulatory fluency is now essential for founders - Where real value creation will happen over the next 3–5 years
👉 Watch now to understand how AI, stablecoins, global flows and regulation are writing the next chapter of fintech.
Couchonomics with Arjun Season 04 is brought to you by our partners: Adyen → https://www.adyen.com/ Thunes → https://thunes.com/ Mastercard → https://mastercard.com/ E& → https://www.eand.com/ Digit9 → https://www.digitnine.com/ SC Ventures → https://scventures.io/ Hala → https://hala.com/
Chapters 00:00 Episode Teaser 01:00 How global volatility is shaping fintech 03:10 Are we through the fintech reset or not 05:00 Where real value will emerge in the next 3 to 5 years 06:30 Stablecoins and the rewiring of global trade 09:00 How AI is reshaping underwriting, distribution and trust 12:20 What categories are losing momentum 17:00 AI washing vs real AI-led companies 20:10 Why founders must understand regulation deeply 31:00 The Middle East and Saudi. Rising themes and opportunities
Why Stablecoins Could Redefine Global Trade and Banking
11 Nov 2025
00:51:08
What if the future of money isn’t about new currencies, but about rebuilding how value moves?
Arjun sits down with Keith Grose, Senior Country Director at Coinbase UK, to explore how crypto is moving from hype to real infrastructure. They talk about the UK’s second-mover advantage in regulation, the role of stablecoins in global trade, and how Coinbase is building the bridge between traditional finance and the on-chain world.
🎙️ In this episode: → Why Coinbase’s mission is to increase economic freedom for a billion people → How crypto complements, not replaces, real-time payment systems → Why stablecoins are becoming the settlement layer for global trade → What the UK’s second-mover advantage means for innovation → How regulation can balance control with growth → Why private stablecoins may move faster than CBDCs → What it takes to make crypto secure, compliant, and trusted → How on-chain transparency is reshaping user protection
👉 Watch now to understand how crypto, regulation, and finance are converging into the next chapter of global money movement.
Couchonomics with Arjun Season 04 is brought to you by our partners: Adyen → https://www.adyen.com/ Thunes → https://thunes.com/ Mastercard → https://mastercard.com/ E& → https://www.eand.com/ Digit9 → https://www.digitnine.com/ SC Ventures → https://scventures.io/ Hala → https://hala.com/
Chapters 00:00 Episode Teaser 01:02 Introducing Keith Gross and Coinbase 02:07 Coinbase's Mission and Crypto's Promise 03:55 The Role of Regulation in Crypto 04:14 Global Payment Systems and Crypto's Potential 11:11 The Promise and Growth of Stablecoins 13:48 Institutional Adoption and Tokenized Deposits 18:50 The Future of Crypto Regulation in the UK 25:18 Understanding Wholesale CBDC and Stable Coins 25:39 The Role of Stablecoins in Government Bonds 26:27 Yield and Regulatory Challenges of Stablecoins 27:58 Coinbase's Offerings for Retail and Institutional Customers 29:49 Defi Lending and Borrowing Innovations 34:10 Security and Custody in Crypto Trading 41:06 Regulatory Collaboration and Industry Standards 46:53 Balancing Growth and Risk in Crypto 48:57 Future Metrics and Tokenization Trends 50:13 Conclusion and Future Discussions
The End of Bank Accounts: How Money Is Moving On-Chain
04 Nov 2025
00:55:43
What if the future of money isn’t about creating new currencies, but redefining what money really is?
In this episode, Arjun sits down with Tony McLaughlin, CEO and Founder of Ubyx Inc, to talk about why he believes the bank account is dead and how the next version of money could live on public blockchains.
They break down what stablecoins, tokenized deposits, and CBDCs really mean, and how they could quietly replace the systems we’ve used for decades.
🎙️ In this episode: → Why blockchain is simply a “who owns what” machine → How stablecoins could become the new form of fiat → Why tokenization could replace ACH, SWIFT, and cards → How Ubyx is building a clearing system for the age of digital money → How stablecoins could transform global trade and cross-border payments → The balance between privacy, regulation, and innovation
👉 Watch now to understand how the next phase of finance will be built on tokens, trust, and interoperability.
Couchonomics with Arjun Season 04 is brought to you by our partners: Adyen → https://www.adyen.com/ Thunes → https://thunes.com/ Mastercard → https://mastercard.com/ E& → https://www.eand.com/ Digit9 → https://www.digitnine.com/ SC Ventures → https://scventures.io/ Hala → https://hala.com/
Chapters 00:00 Episode Teaser 02:45 What Fintech Really Built: Layers on Legacy Rails 05:30 Blockchain as the “Who Owns What” Machine 09:15 Regulation, Policy, and the Shift to Public Blockchains 11:20 Stablecoins and the Irony of Perfecting Fiat Currency 15:00 The Death of the Bank Account and Rise of Tokens 17:10 CBDCs, Tokenized Deposits, and the Ancient IOU 23:00 How Ubyx Fits into the Global Clearing Puzzle 26:20 Why Banks Will Love Stablecoins for FX Revenue 32:00 The $300B E-commerce Stablecoin Opportunity 37:00 CBDCs vs. Stablecoins: Parallel Systems, Not Rivals 39:10 How Europe Should Respond to USD Stablecoins 41:00 Turning Regulation Fear into Opportunity 45:00 Privacy, Surveillance, and Life on the Ledger 47:40 Ubyx’s Journey from White Paper to Product 50:00 Building the Mastercard of Stablecoins 53:00 Lessons from an Older Founder and What Comes Next
The Next Decade of FinTech: AI, Tokenization & Quantum Finance
28 Oct 2025
00:47:06
What if the next decade of finance isn’t about disruption, but inclusion?
In this episode, Arjun sits down with Sopnendu Mohanty, Group CEO of GFTN and Advisor to the Monetary Authority of Singapore, to explore how technology, policy, and people are shaping the future of global finance.
🎙️ In this episode: → The three pillars that defined the first wave of fintech: APIs, DPIs, and cloud → Why inclusion remains the biggest unfinished story in finance → How AI and tokenization could rebuild finance from the inside out → Why collaboration, not disruption, will shape the next decade → How the Middle East is emerging as a major hub for innovation and investment → The growing role of regulators and public infrastructure in driving progress → How the Global South can leapfrog through digital infrastructure
👉 Watch now and see how the next chapter of finance is being built.
Couchonomics with Arjun Season 04 is brought to you by our partners: Adyen → https://www.adyen.com/ Thunes → https://thunes.com/ Mastercard → https://mastercard.com/ E& → https://www.eand.com/ Digit9 → https://www.digitnine.com/ SC Ventures → https://scventures.io/ Hala → https://hala.com/
Chapters 00:00 Episode Highlights 02:45 The Last Decade of Fintech: APIs, DPIs, and Cloud 05:30 How Banks and Regulators Learned to Collaborate 09:15 Why Inclusion Remains the Biggest Unsolved Problem 13:40 The Next Wave: AI, Tokenization, and Quantum Security 17:20 Stablecoins, Networks, and the Future of Money Movement 22:05 Consumer Awareness and the Fight Against Scams 26:10 Building the Global South’s Digital Infrastructure 30:25 The Middle East and the New Role of the GCC 35:10 GFTN’s Vision and the Future of Responsible Finance
When money moves faster than ever, who really controls it?
In this episode, Arjun sits down with Arik Shtilman, Founder and CEO of Rapyd, to explore how AI and stablecoins are rewriting the rules of global payments. From powering transactions across 100+ countries to building an AI-first infrastructure, Rapyd is proving that the next financial revolution is already underway.
🎙️ In this episode: - Why payments companies that aren’t AI-first may not survive the next three years - How stablecoins are reshaping liquidity, cross-border trade, and working capital - Why banks and SWIFT are in a race to stay relevant - How Rapyd embedded stablecoins into every layer of its platform - The real battle between AI-powered fraud and AI-driven fraud prevention - What the rise of CBDCs means for the future of money movement
This isn’t a discussion about what’s coming. It’s a look at how the foundations of finance are being rebuilt in real time.
👉 Watch now and discover how Rapyd is shaping the future of payments.
Couchonomics with Arjun Season 04 is brought to you by our partners: Adyen https://www.adyen.com/ Thunes https://thunes.com/ Mastercard https://mastercard.com/ E& https://www.eand.com/ Digit9 https://www.digitnine.com/ SC Ventures https://scventures.io/ Hala https://hala.com/
Chapters: 00:00 Episode Highlights 03:00 AI and Stablecoins: The Twin Shifts 05:00 How Regulation and Politics Changed Crypto 08:00 Cross-Border Trade in Stablecoins 12:00 Swift’s Future and Bank Partnerships 16:00 Rapyd’s Stablecoin Strategy and Revenue Impact 18:00 Compliance, Regulation, and Market Readiness 25:00 CBDCs and the New Monetary Order 30:00 Inside Rapyd’s AI Engine 39:00 The Rapyd Story and Its Evolution
When AI Becomes the Banker: Inside Vietnam’s Cake Digital Bank
14 Oct 2025
00:42:28
What if AI ran your bank? 🤯
In this episode, Arjun sits down with Quang Nguyen, CEO of Cake Digital Bank, Vietnam’s AI-first bank that’s redefining what digital finance looks like.
With only 300 employees serving 6 million customers, Cake has become one of Southeast Asia’s most efficient and innovative financial institutions — proving that the future of banking is lean, intelligent, and fully automated.
🎙️ In this episode: - How Cake uses AI to power 70% of its operations - Building trust through technology in a young, digital-first market - Why Vietnam is leading the next fintech wave - How Cake achieved profitability in just 3 years - What AI-first banking really means beyond the buzz
This isn’t a story about the future of banking - it’s a look at what’s already here.
👉 Watch now and see how AI is transforming finance from the inside out.
Couchonomics with Arjun Season 04 is brought to you by our partners: Adyen https://www.adyen.com/ Thunes https://thunes.com/ Mastercard https://mastercard.com/ E& https://www.eand.com/ Digit9 https://www.digitnine.com/ SC Ventures https://scventures.io/ Hala https://hala.com/
Chapters: 00:00 Episode Highlights 02:22 Vietnam's Digital Transformation 06:19 Building Trust in Digital Banking 09:06 The Playful Brand: Cake 11:46 Regulatory Landscape in Vietnam 19:20 AI Integration in Banking 23:26 Staffing and AI Integration 24:21 Embracing AI in Operations 25:22 Approach to Small Loans 28:21 Deposit Strategies and Competitive Pricing 29:42 Building Ecosystems and Partnerships 33:16 Challenges and Opportunities in Embedded Banking 36:34 Regulatory Compliance and AI 39:03 The Story Behind the Name 'Cake' 41:10 Future Plans and Regional Expansion 43:18 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
The Future of Wealth: AI, Trust & the Great $80 Trillion Shift
07 Oct 2025
00:51:26
Over $80 trillion in global wealth is moving to a younger, more digital generation. But who will manage it—and how will AI, trust, and technology reshape investing?
In this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, Caesar Sengupta, Co-Founder and CEO of Arta Finance (backed by Eric Schmidt, Peak XV, and Ribbit Capital), shares how his company is democratizing wealth management—bringing institutional-grade investing to millions worldwide.
Discover how AI is redefining advice, why trust matters more than ever, and how digital platforms like Arta x Wio are changing the game for banks, advisors, and investors alike.
🎧 Listen now on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts.
Couchonomics with Arjun Season 04 is brought to you by our partners: Adyen https://www.adyen.com/ Thunes https://thunes.com/ Mastercard https://mastercard.com/ E& https://www.eand.com/ Digit9 https://www.digitnine.com/ SC Ventures https://scventures.io/ Hala https://hala.com/
Chapters: 00:00 Episode Highlights 01:10 Introducing Caesar Sengupta 02:00 The Great Wealth Transfer 03:07 Secular Forces in Wealth Creation 05:38 The Myth of Democratization 10:13 Retail Trading: Speculation or Wealth Building? 13:33 Building Trust in Wealth Management 17:25 The Role of Technology in Wealth Management 24:42 Family Offices and Digital Capabilities 27:57 Regulatory Challenges and Partner Expertise 28:13 Designing and Offering Structured Products 30:13 AI's Role in Fintech and Wealth Management 33:41 AI's Impact on Wealth Strategies 35:46 AI in Customer Experience and Wealth Planning 42:26 Concerns and Future of AI in Wealth Management 45:39 Business Strategy and Future Directions 49:29 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
Latin America’s Fintech Giant: The Rise of PicPay with 60M Users
30 Sep 2025
00:54:56
Episode 150 of Couchonomics with Arjun is here — and it’s a milestone.
For the very first time, we go to Latin America. My guest: Eduardo Chedid, CEO of PicPay — Brazil’s biggest super app and one of the fastest-scaling fintechs in the world.
With 60M+ customers, $1B+ in revenues, profits up 7× YoY, and 4,500 employees, PicPay is rewriting the rules of digital banking in one of the most competitive markets on earth.
We cover: - Brazil’s fintech revolution and the role of regulation - How PicPay scaled from wallet → super app → full-service bank - Why AI and open finance are core to growth - The future of tokenized money and cross-border payments
This isn’t just a Brazil story — it’s a blueprint for the future of finance.
Couchonomics with Arjun Season 04 is brought to you by our partners: Adyen https://www.adyen.com/ Thunes https://thunes.com/ Mastercard https://mastercard.com/ E& https://www.eand.com/ Digit9 https://www.digitnine.com/ SC Ventures https://scventures.io/ Hala https://hala.com/
Chapters: 00:00 Episode Highlights 01:11 Welcoming Eduardo Chedd 03:29 Brazilian FinTech Landscape 11:22 PicPay's Growth and Strategy 23:52 AI Integration and Innovations 28:25 Organizational Structure and Product Velocity 29:23 Ownership and Cross-Functional Integration 31:13 Driving Governance and Agile Practices 32:36 The Role of Data in Financial Services 36:55 The Evolution and Importance of Digital Wallets 38:46 Tokenized Money and Future Trends 41:59 Competition and Market Focus 45:21 Global Insights and Future Plans 50:44 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
From Crowdfunded Startup to Europe’s Fastest-Growing Wealth Platform
23 Sep 2025
00:57:10
Turning Savings into Wealth — Inside Chip’s Fintech Playbook
UK fintech is entering a new chapter. While funding slows, savers poured £103bn into ISAs — proving that trust, not downloads, is the real currency.
In this episode, Arjun speaks with Alex Latham, Co-Founder & CMO of Chip, one of Europe’s fastest-growing fintechs, on: - The future of UK fintech beyond banking apps - How Chip grew from a crowdfunded startup to a wealth platform managing billions - Why trust, community, and AI will shape wealth management
📺 Watch now and see how Chip is redefining the future of savings and investing.
Couchonomics with Arjun Season 04 is brought to you by our partners: Adyen https://www.adyen.com/ Thunes https://thunes.com/ Mastercard https://mastercard.com/ E& https://www.eand.com/ Digit9 https://www.digitnine.com/ SC Ventures https://scventures.io/ Hala https://hala.com/
Find us on our social media platforms: Arjun's LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjunvirsingh/ Couchonomics LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/couchonomics-with-arjun-singh/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/couchonomics/ Twitter https://twitter.com/Arjun_Vir_Singh?s=20 TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@couchonomics
Subscribe to Arjun's LinkedIn newsletter, Couchonomics Crunch: https://bit.ly/3WI4A6E
Chapters: 00:00 Episode Highlights 00:56 Introduction 02:09 State of UK FinTech 02:34 The Rise of British FinTech 04:05 Challenges and Opportunities in FinTech 09:00 Chip: A Digital Wealth Manager 18:12 Building Trust and Authenticity 26:35 Consumer Behavior Trends 29:38 Stabilizing Interest Rates and Long-Term Financial Planning 30:19 Exploring Alternative Investments: Crypto and ETFs 31:55 The British Saving Culture and Investment Challenges 34:01 The Role of Education in Financial Literacy 38:05 Marketing Strategies in FinTech 43:20 Building and Engaging a Community 47:43 Future Plans and Financial Advice Innovations 56:17 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
Build Cashflow, Not Hype: Abhi’s Liquidity Playbook
09 Sep 2025
00:53:50
Most fintechs chased hype. Abhi chased cash flow.
In this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, we sit down with Omair Ansari, Co-Founder & CEO of Abhi, one of Pakistan’s fastest-growing fintechs.
Abhi began with earned wage access, giving workers instant liquidity. Today, it has scaled into payroll financing, SME lending, and invoice factoring — and even acquired a licensed microfinance bank in Pakistan to materially lower its cost of funds.
We explore: - Why profitability and cost of capital decide who survives fintech’s winter - How Abhi scaled from earned wage access into a full-stack working capital platform - Pakistan as the anchor, GCC as the growth frontier - The real potential (and limits) of tokenization & private credit - Why licences and compliance, not glossy apps, are the true moat in fintech - How embedded finance at payroll and receivables lowers costs and expands inclusion
This is more than a growth story — it’s a blueprint for building durable fintech in emerging markets.
🎧 Full episode now streaming on YouTube, Spotify & Apple Podcasts.
Couchonomics with Arjun Season 04 is brought to you by our partners: Adyen https://www.adyen.com/ Thunes https://thunes.com/ Mastercard https://mastercard.com/ E& https://www.eand.com/ Digit9 https://www.digitnine.com/ SC Ventures https://scventures.io/ Hala https://hala.com/
chapters: 00:00 Episode Highlights 00:59 Welcome to Couchonomics 02:19 FinTech Evolution and Market Dynamics 06:28 Business Model Adaptations 12:21 Manual Operations and Testing 14:34 Credit Models and Market Realities 17:24 Funding and Capital Challenges 23:54 Regulatory Landscape and Innovations 27:38 Navigating Regulatory Challenges 29:14 The Debate on Fintech Regulation 32:07 Embedded Finance: Progress and Challenges 35:24 The Future of Banking and Fintech 38:44 Crypto and Digital Assets in Emerging Markets 43:27 Expanding into Pakistan: Opportunities and Risks 46:52 Strategic Focus and Future Vision 51:41 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
Digital Wealth Platforms vs Robo-Advisors: What Investors Need to Know
02 Sep 2025
00:51:42
Wealth management is no longer just champagne perks and 2% fees. The new generation of investors demands digital, transparent, and affordable solutions.
In this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, we’re joined by Dhruv Arora, Founder & CEO of Syfe, a digital wealth management platform managing over US$10B. We cover: - Why trust is the biggest competition in digital wealth - The difference between robo-advisors & true digital wealth platforms - How Syfe is scaling across Singapore, Hong Kong & Australia - Why inclusivity without affordability doesn’t work - The merging of saving + investing into one continuum
A sharp look into the future of wealth management, fintech, and investing. 🎧 Full episode now on YouTube, Spotify & Apple Podcasts.
Couchonomics with Arjun Season 04 is brought to you by our partners: Adyen https://www.adyen.com/ Thunes https://thunes.com/ Mastercard https://mastercard.com/ E& https://www.eand.com/ Digit9 https://www.digitnine.com/ SC Ventures https://scventures.io/ Hala https://hala.com/
chapters: 00:00 Episode Highlights 00:55 Introduction 01:38 Defining Digital Wealth Management 02:28 The Future of Wealth Management 07:07 Challenges for Traditional Banks 16:07 Trust and Transparency in Wealth Management 19:56 Expansion and Growth Strategies 24:42 Localization and Personalization in Wealth 26:42 Exploring Syfe's Offerings 27:28 Model Portfolios and Cash Management 28:15 Holistic Wealth Management 29:33 Deep Integration and Proprietary Technology 31:49 Rule-Based Investing vs. Robo-Advisors 35:08 Democratizing Access to Wealth Management 41:06 Future of Wealth Management and Crypto Integration 48:47 Syfe's Expansion Plans and Final Thoughts
Africa’s Fintech Boom: From Mobile Money to Purpose-Driven Lending
26 Aug 2025
00:55:48
💡 Africa’s fintech story is no longer a local experiment — it’s a global test case for the future of inclusion, innovation, and capital flows.
In this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, we’re joined by Yustus Aribariho, Co-Founder of Furaha Financial (part of SC Ventures by Standard Chartered). Yustus is now on a mission to unlock education financing and opportunity across Sub-Saharan Africa.
We unpack: 💸 Why capital inflows into African fintech lag behind the opportunity 📱 How mobile money became the blueprint for financial inclusion worldwide 🛠 The frictions of regulation, repatriation, and cross-border flows 👥 Why human capital and local talent could be Africa’s ultimate advantage
Furaha isn’t just another fintech — it’s building infrastructure that bridges capital and impact in one of the world’s fastest-growing regions.
🎧 Watch the full episode now on YouTube, Spotify & Apple Podcasts.
Couchonomics with Arjun Season 04 is brought to you by our partners: Adyen https://www.adyen.com/ Thunes https://thunes.com/ Mastercard https://mastercard.com/ E& https://www.eand.com/ Digit9 https://www.digitnine.com/ SC Ventures https://scventures.io/ Hala https://hala.com/
Chapters: 00:00 Episode Highlights 02:40 State of FinTech in Sub-Saharan Africa 08:11 Challenges and Opportunities in African FinTech 10:48 The Role of Mobile Money and Digital Banks 15:00 Investment Dynamics and Regulatory Challenges 17:57 Affordability and Financial Inclusion 21:46 Alternative Financial Services in Africa 27:46 High Cost of Borrowing and Risk-Based Pricing 28:36 Purpose-Driven Financing 33:37 Addressing the Education Financing Gap 35:43 Building an Ecosystem for Education Loans 37:42 Why Uganda? 45:29 Future Expansion and Challenges 48:04 Business Model and Partnerships 52:25 Vision for the Future 55:26 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
The New Rails of Money: Stablecoins, CBDCs & Tokenisation
19 Aug 2025
00:55:21
Stablecoins are no longer on the sidelines — they’re stepping into the core of global finance.
In this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, we're joined by Dante Disparte, Chief Strategy Officer & Head of Global Policy at Circle, for his second appearance on the show. Speaking from Washington, DC, Dante brings a timely perspective on how digital finance is evolving — and why it matters now more than ever.
We unpack: - Stablecoins as real financial infrastructure for payments, remittances, and cross-border flows - How smart regulation acts as a catalyst for trust, adoption, and institutional capital - CBDCs and tokenisation — separating hype from substance, and where they’ll truly reshape markets and inclusion - Why MENA is emerging as a global hub for digital assets, with the UAE leading from the front
If you want to understand how money itself is being rebuilt — not just the apps we use, but the foundations beneath the system — this conversation with Dante is essential listening.
🎧 Watch and listen now on YouTube, Spotify & Apple Podcasts.
Couchonomics with Arjun Season 04 is brought to you by our partners: Adyen https://www.adyen.com/ Thunes https://thunes.com/ Mastercard https://mastercard.com/ E& https://www.eand.com/ Digit9 https://www.digitnine.com/ SC Ventures https://scventures.io/ Hala https://hala.com/
Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Digital Assets and Policy 00:54 Welcoming the Guest: Dante Disparte 02:35 Stablecoins: Current State and Future Prospects 03:05 Regulatory Changes and Their Impact 06:21 Exploring Use Cases for Digital Assets 16:29 The Role of Banks and Stablecoins 24:46 Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) 28:15 The Genius Act: Opportunities and Risks 29:59 The Resilience of Digital Assets 30:37 The Genius Act: A Legislative Proposal 31:20 Stablecoins and Market Stability 31:55 The Role of Stablecoins in the Banking System 32:54 Guardrails and Systemic Risk 33:45 Tokenized Treasuries vs. Stablecoins 35:48 Concerns About Tether 38:05 The Genius Act and Global Regulatory Harmonization 40:41 Corporate Stablecoins and Market Adoption 49:00 Circle's IPO and Long-Term Vision 53:03 Circle Payment Network (CPN) and Financial Inclusion
Fraud-as-a-Service, Stablecoins & the Future of Financial Crime
12 Aug 2025
00:43:25
Fraud just had its AI upgrade. It’s faster than your payments and industrialised at a global scale.
Welcome to the Scamdemic — a global wave of scams and financial crime growing faster than almost any asset class. We’re joined by Simon Taylor, Head of Strategy at Sardine and Co-Founder of 11:FS. Together, we unpack how fraud has evolved, why it’s so hard to stop, and what financial institutions, fintechs, and regulators must do now.
Inside the episode: - Why faster payments = faster fraud - Deepfakes, fraud-as-a-service, and industrialised scam call centres - Why liability shifts and reimbursements can fuel crime instead of stopping it - The missed open banking opportunity: building a global “fraud utility” - Stablecoins, AI agents, and the next wave of attack surfaces - How to protect customers without killing innovation
Whether you work in banking, fintech, payments, or policy, this episode will change how you think about fraud prevention in the age of AI and real-time payments.
🎧 Listen now and stay ahead of the Scamdemic.
Couchonomics with Arjun Season 04 is brought to you by our partners: Adyen https://www.adyen.com/ Thunes https://thunes.com/ Mastercard https://mastercard.com/ E& https://www.eand.com/ Digit9 https://www.digitnine.com/ SC Ventures https://scventures.io/ Hala https://hala.com/
Chapters: 00:00 Episode Highlights 02:04 The Scam Epidemic: An Overview 06:33 The Impact of Fraud on Financial Institutions 14:14 Introducing Sardine: AI-Powered Financial Crime Platform 19:17 Global Fraud Typologies and Real-Time Payments 22:47 Global Reactions to the Pandemic 23:46 The Impact on Wealthy Individuals and Businesses 24:43 The Need for Transparency and Best Practices 25:23 Regulatory Responses and Fraud Prevention 26:34 The Role of Social Media in Fraud 27:38 Challenges in Fraud Prevention and Coordination 29:42 Opportunities in Open Banking and Data Sharing 34:31 Digital Assets and Stablecoins 39:08 The Role of AI in Fraud Prevention 42:10 Future of Financial Crime and Conclusion
How Finternet Labs Is Building the Internet Layer for Finance
05 Aug 2025
00:54:16
Is today’s financial system fit for a digital-first world? Not quite — and Siddharth Shetty is here to tell us why. In this episode of Couchonomics, Arjun speaks with Finternet Labs CEO Siddharth Shetty, one of the architects behind India’s UPI and Account Aggregator framework, to unpack the vision for Finternet — a universal financial infrastructure layer designed to empower users, build trust, and unlock global interoperability.
We explore how fragmented rails, legacy systems, and a lack of verifiability are holding back progress, and how Finternet could be the solution that brings it all together.
👉 What you’ll learn: - Why identity, credentials & asset control need to shift back to users - How Finternet coexists with CBDCs, stablecoins & real-time payment systems - The role of governments vs private sector in future infrastructure - Middle East leapfrogging, tokenization & AI-driven transactions
🔗 Watch, learn, and join the conversation about the future of digital finance.
Couchonomics with Arjun Season 04 is brought to you by our partners: Adyen https://www.adyen.com/ Thunes https://thunes.com/ Mastercard https://mastercard.com/ E& https://www.eand.com/ Digit9 https://www.digitnine.com/ SC Ventures https://scventures.io/ Hala https://hala.com/
Discover how the Finternet is reimagining finance for a connected world. Tap the link in the show notes to learn more. 👇 https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qIw8wSbw26mw8uLXIK8SohmGvvJobcPX/view?usp=sharing
Explore Finternet Labs: https://finternetlab.io/
Chapters: 00:00 Episode Highlights 01:58 Exploring Finternet Labs 03:01 Understanding Financial Infrastructure 05:33 The Vision of Finternet Labs 13:19 Governance and Dispute Resolution 25:02 Future of Financial Systems 27:07 Web3 and Coexistence with Traditional Financial Systems 29:15 Interoperability Challenges and Solutions 31:42 Cross-Border Transactions and Emerging Technologies 36:12 The Role of Digital Identity in Financial Ecosystems 40:45 Centralization vs. Decentralization in Digital Identity 44:13 Introduction to Finnet and Its Objectives 46:34 The Finternet Labs: Structure and Goals 50:21 Opportunities for the Middle East in Digital Finance 53:01 Conclusion and Future Events
Stablecoins, Wallets, and the Rise of Embedded Cross-Border Payments
29 Jul 2025
00:43:44
The future of payments won’t be card-swiped or cash-counted — it’ll be fast, digital, and deeply integrated.
In this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, Floris de Kort, CEO of Thunes, joins to unpack what it really takes to build a global payments network across 130+ markets, from wallets to banks to mobile rails.
What’s inside: - Why real-time payments still face real-world friction - How Thunes is turning compliance into a competitive edge - The rise of B2B payouts — and why corporates are driving the volume - Why MENA is now a proving ground for wallet innovation - The growing role of stablecoins in global finance
If you're building in fintech, infrastructure, or cross-border payments, this one’s essential listening. 🎧 Watch or listen on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.
Couchonomics with Arjun Season 04 is brought to you by our partners: Adyen https://www.adyen.com/ Thunes https://thunes.com/ Mastercard https://mastercard.com/ E& https://www.eand.com/ Digit9 https://www.digitnine.com/ SC Ventures https://scventures.io/ Hala https://hala.com/
Chapters: 00:00 Episode Highlights 00:48 Introduction 01:34 State of the Payments Industry 03:39 The Rise of B2B Payments 05:33 Real-Time Payments and Global Trends 11:26 The Role of Stablecoins in Modern Payments 20:34 Regulation and the Future of Stablecoins 23:27 Cost and Efficiency of Modern Payment Systems 23:52 Regulatory Evolution and Market Disruption 24:17 Thunes' Recent Milestones and Future Plans 24:50 Challenges and Strategies in the US Market 25:30 Investment and Growth Focus 26:29 AI Integration in Financial Services 29:41 Navigating Complex Regulatory Environments 38:37 Middle East Expansion and Local Strategies 42:23 Conclusion and Future Outlook
Stablecoins, Tokenization & Regulation: Crypto’s Next Chapter
22 Jul 2025
00:58:31
Crypto isn’t dead, it’s going institutional.
In this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, Rifad Mahasneh, CEO of OKX MENA, joins the show to unpack what real digital asset adoption looks like beyond the headlines.
We explore how OKX is building for scale, trust, and regulation - especially in the UAE, where crypto is becoming infrastructure, not just innovation.
🎯 What’s inside: • Post-FTX trust rebuild: custody, compliance & proof-of-reserves • Stablecoins, CBDCs & the future of programmable money • Tokenization with real-world utility • Why the UAE is leading the global charge in crypto regulation
Full episode out now on YouTube, Spotify & Apple Podcasts.
Couchonomics with Arjun Season 04 is brought to you by our partners: Adyen https://www.adyen.com/ Thunes https://thunes.com/ Mastercard https://mastercard.com/ E& https://www.eand.com/ Digit9 https://www.digitnine.com/ SC Ventures https://scventures.io/ Hala https://hala.com/
💸 What’s the real fintech miracle? Lending to SMEs — and staying alive 9 years later.
In this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, we’re joined by Nikhilesh Goel, Co-Founder & CEO of Validus, Southeast Asia’s largest SME financing platform. We unpack how Validus scaled to $5B+ in credit across the region by avoiding the hype and building disciplined, anchor-based lending models that actually work.
💡 Why SME lending is a graveyard for most fintechs 💡 Why 90% of Validus' capital comes from banks, not VCs 💡 AI that serves the ops, not the pitch 💡 How they scaled across SEA without shortcuts
🎧 Full episode now live on YouTube, Spotify & Apple Podcasts. Watch if you're building real fintech — not just noise.
Couchonomics with Arjun Season 04 is brought to you by our partners: Adyen https://www.adyen.com/ Thunes https://thunes.com/ Mastercard https://mastercard.com/ E& https://www.eand.com/ Digit9 https://www.digitnine.com/ SC Ventures https://scventures.io/ Hala https://hala.com/
chapters: 00:00 Episode Highlights 01:05 Meet Nikhilesh, CEO of Validus 01:56 The Genesis of Validus 03:05 Navigating the SME Financing Landscape 06:08 Challenges and Solutions in SME Lending 09:00 The Role of Technology in SME Financing 11:32 Supply Chain Financing Model 18:57 The Future of SME Financing 29:05 Building Relationships with SMEs 31:13 Anchor-Based Lending 32:07 Regulatory Challenges in Indonesia and Thailand 37:04 Ethical Lending Practices 42:57 Competition in the FinTech Space 49:40 Exportability and Future Plans 51:42 Impact of Global Supply Chain Disruptions 52:31 Adopting AI and Frontier Technologies 56:24 Final Thoughts and Future Directions
Neo Ventures, Tokenized Assets & the Future of Wholesale Banking
08 Jul 2025
00:49:12
AI isn’t a campaign. It’s a core banking reset.
In this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, we’re joined by Amith Rajan, CEO of Neo Ventures and Head of Digital Wholesale Banking at Mashreq, for a candid conversation on how AI, tokenization, and infrastructure transformation are reshaping the banking stack from the inside out.
We unpack: - Why "rip and replace" is a myth and what real legacy evolution looks like -How Mashreq is deploying AI across KYC, onboarding, and customer insights -The role of tokenized assets, CBDCs, and smart contracts in wholesale banking - How Neo Ventures is exporting IP and scaling infrastructure beyond capital - Why culture, not technology, is the biggest barrier to digital transformation
🎧 Full episode now streaming on YouTube, Spotify & Apple Podcasts. 🎧 Watch now and subscribe for more conversations on the future of finance.
Couchonomics with Arjun Season 04 is brought to you by our partners: Adyen https://www.adyen.com/ Thunes https://thunes.com/ Mastercard https://mastercard.com/ E& https://www.eand.com/ Digit9 https://www.digitnine.com/ SC Ventures https://scventures.io/ Hala https://hala.com/
Chapters: 00:00 Episode Highlights 00:43 Welcome to Couchonomics 01:48 Aligning Dual Roles in Banking 04:11 Challenges in Wholesale Banking 06:51 The Role of AI in Banking 11:14 FinTech and Digital Assets 25:14 The Future of Tokenization 27:04 CBDCs and Stablecoins: A Comparative Analysis 29:14 Exploring Digital Assets in the Lab 29:47 Introduction to New Ventures 30:49 Venture Building and Investment Strategies 35:45 Scouting and Partnerships with Fintechs 39:08 Challenges and Opportunities in the VC Landscape 46:17 Advice for Institutions Entering the CVC Space 48:34 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
Fixing the Core: Why Legacy Banking Infrastructure Can’t Be Patched
01 Jul 2025
00:52:43
The core of banking is broken, and duct-taping legacy systems won’t fix it. This week on Couchonomics with Arjun, I’m joined by Myles Bertrand, CEO of Tuum, the modular core banking platform built in Estonia and now scaling across Europe and the GCC. Tuum isn’t selling digital lipstick. They’re rebuilding the real plumbing of modern banking — one composable, cloud-native layer at a time. 💡 In this episode: - Why full core replacement is a myth — and composability is the real unlock - How to modernize without breaking everything (or everyone) - What it takes to scale infra platforms into the GCC - Where AI fits in — and where it doesn’t - Why institutional banking might be the biggest opportunity for transformation
If you’re in banking, infra, SaaS, or scaling into MENA, this episode is required listening.
Couchonomics with Arjun Season 04 is brought to you by our partners: Adyen https://www.adyen.com/ Thunes https://thunes.com/ Mastercard https://mastercard.com/ E& https://www.eand.com/ Digit9 https://www.digitnine.com/ SC Ventures https://scventures.io/ Hala https://hala.com/
Find us on our social media platforms: Arjun's LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjunvirsingh/ Couchonomics LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/couchonomics-with-arjun-singh/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/couchonomics/ Twitter https://twitter.com/Arjun_Vir_Singh?s=20 TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@couchonomics
Subscribe to Arjun's LinkedIn newsletter, Couchonomics Crunch: https://bit.ly/3WI4A6E
00:00 Episode Highlights 01:59 Myles' Journey to Estonia 02:58 The Story of TOMB 05:40 Challenges and Trends in Banking 10:18 Cloud and Banking Infrastructure 15:17 Complexity in Banking Systems 20:03 Regulatory and Cultural Challenges 25:38 Competitive Landscape in Core Banking 26:41 Banking as a Service Evolution 27:45 Challenges and Opportunities in the Market 29:46 The Role of Technology Providers 31:20 Core Banking and Integration Strategies 40:03 AI in Banking: Potential and Challenges 45:57 Cultural Shifts and Technological Adoption 49:12 Regional Focus and Future Plans 51:25 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
What VCs Get Wrong About Building Durable Startups with Tim Levene
24 Jun 2025
00:56:57
In this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, we sit down with Tim Levene, CEO of Augmentum Fintech, the UK’s only publicly listed fintech venture capital firm.
From going public to backing infrastructure instead of hype, Tim shares what permanent capital allows that traditional VC structures don’t and why he believes the next decade of fintech will be won with discipline, not just disruption.
What we cover: 🛋️ Why Augmentum chose public markets over LP cycles 🛋️ The real story behind growth-at-all-costs and its fallout 🛋️ Why the GCC is becoming central to Augmentum’s investment strategy 🛋️ What it takes to stay relevant when the hype fades
🎧 Now streaming on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.
Couchonomics with Arjun Season 04 is brought to you by our partners: Adyen https://www.adyen.com/ Thunes https://thunes.com/ Mastercard https://mastercard.com/ E& https://www.eand.com/ Digit9 https://www.digitnine.com/ SC Ventures https://scventures.io/ Hala https://hala.com/
Find us on our social media platforms: Arjun's LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjunvirsingh/ Couchonomics LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/couchonomics-with-arjun-singh/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/couchonomics/ Twitter https://twitter.com/Arjun_Vir_Singh?s=20 TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@couchonomics
Subscribe to Arjun's LinkedIn newsletter, Couchonomics Crunch: https://bit.ly/3WI4A6E
Chapters: 00:00 – Episode Highlights 02:45 – Why Augmentum chose to go public 06:10 – Permanent capital vs traditional VC fundraising 10:25 – What LPs and public shareholders want in today’s market 13:55 – How Augmentum balances patient capital with fintech agility 17:20 – The post-2021 correction: resetting the fintech ecosystem 21:40 – Fintech infrastructure or B2C buzz: where the real value is now 25:00 – Operator-led investing and what it means for founders 29:15 – What makes a good VC-founder relationship 33:40 – Augmentum’s evolving interest in the Middle East 37:00 – Dubai and GCC as emerging fintech investment hubs 41:30 – Tim’s take on profitability vs scale in VC 45:05 – Outlook for fintech in the next 3–5 years 48:50 – Closing reflections and final takeaways
Why Most Digital Banks Fail - And How Engine by Starling Is Flipping the Script
11 Jun 2025
00:45:20
The next banking stack won’t just be fast — it has to be human.
In this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, Nick Drewett, Chief Commercial Officer at Engine by Starling, joins the conversation to share what it actually takes to launch and scale a digital bank — not in theory, but in practice.
Engine is the tech spinout from Starling Bank - one of the world’s first profitable digital banks - and it’s now powering next-gen banking infrastructure globally.
We cover: - How Salt Bank launched in under 12 months - Why most “modern” stacks still act like legacy - Where AI adds real value in banking - Why cost-to-serve is the new frontline - What it means to localise for the GCC
Engine isn’t theory — it’s the tech behind Starling Bank’s success.
📍🎧 Listen now on Spotify, YouTube & Apple Podcasts.
Couchonomics with Arjun Season 04 is brought to you by our partners: Adyen https://www.adyen.com/ Thunes https://thunes.com/ Mastercard https://mastercard.com/ E& https://www.eand.com/ Digit9 https://www.digitnine.com/ SC Ventures https://scventures.io/ Hala https://hala.com/
Chapters: 00:00 Episode Highlights 01:07Introduction 01:15 Meet Nick Drewett and Engine 01:53 The Story of Starling Bank 02:23 Starling Bank's Success and Customer Service 05:50 Introduction to Engine 08:12 Engine's Global Expansion 13:40 Case Study: Salt Bank in Romania 20:15 Case Study: AMP Bank in Australia 21:55 The Value of Banking Relationships 22:52 Competition and Mobile App Strategy 24:16 Global Banking Challenges and Localization 26:40 Trust and Managed Services 30:15 Technology and Banking as a Service 38:34 Growth and Expansion Plans 41:36 Final Thoughts and Future of Banking
Beyond the Buzz: Beehive’s Real Playbook for SME Lending
03 Jun 2025
00:56:25
There’s a $260B SME financing gap in MENA, and most players are still offering copy-paste solutions.
In this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, Craig Moore, Founder and CEO of Beehive, shares how one of the region’s original fintechs is tackling real problems with real results.
Since 2014, Beehive has built a lending model that combines technology, regulatory know-how, and operational depth to serve the segment banks continue to overlook.
In this conversation, we explore: • What SME lending looks like on the ground in the GCC • Why Beehive shifted from peer-to-peer to institutional capital • How investor appetite is changing, from family offices to global VCs • The practical role of AI in credit decisioning • Beehive’s plans for expansion into Saudi Arabia, Oman, and more
📌 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube.
Couchonomics with Arjun Season 04 is brought to you by our partners: Adyen https://www.adyen.com/ Thunes https://thunes.com/ Mastercard https://mastercard.com/ E& https://www.eand.com/ Digit9 https://www.digitnine.com/ SC Ventures https://scventures.io/ Hala https://hala.com/
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Chapters: 00:00 Episode Highlights 00:50 Intro 01:37 Beehive's Origin and Mission 04:22 Challenges in SME Lending 12:45 Technology's Role in Lending 15:08 Beehive's Evolution and Strategy 21:29 Competitive Landscape and Future Outlook 30:11 The SME Lending Landscape 30:43 Challenges and Competition in SME Lending 31:42 Significant Milestones and Growth 33:16 BNPL and Merchant Lending 35:46 Investment and Corporate Dynamics 40:53 Embracing AI and Technology 44:21 Blockchain and Tokenization 47:09 Regional Expansion and Market Strategies 51:34 Future Vision and Focus 55:40 Final Thoughts
Conviction Over Hype: What Great VCs Look Like Now
27 May 2025
00:00:51
The Venture Model Broke. But Startups Are Still Building. In this episode, Arjun is joined by Devin Kohli, General Partner at Outward VC, for a candid conversation on what’s next for venture capital.
They unpack: - Shifting VC trends in Europe, MENA, and the USA - Outward’s bets on Curve, Vauban, Bud & more - AI hype vs. real vertical value - Tokenisation, digital assets & future financial infrastructure - Emerging tech hubs across Japan, MENA, Southeast Asia
Plus, Devin shares what conviction really looks like in a post-hype market — and why MENA founders are ones to watch.
No pitch decks. No jargon. Just a candid chat about cycles, conviction, and building through uncertainty.
🎧 Episode now live on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.
Couchonomics with Arjun Season 04 is brought to you by our partners: Adyen https://www.adyen.com/ Thunes https://thunes.com/ Mastercard https://mastercard.com/ E& https://www.eand.com/ Digit9 https://www.digitnine.com/ SC Ventures https://scventures.io/ Hala https://hala.com/
chapters: 00:00 Episode Highlights 00:51 Introduction 02:01 State of the Nation: VC Insights for 2023 and Beyond 02:52 Impact of Global Events on VC and Startups 13:43 The Genesis and Philosophy of Outward VC 22:20 Challenges and Success Stories in VC Investments 30:05 Key Qualities and Red Flags in Founders 31:01 Identifying Key Qualities in Founders 33:26 Quantitative Aspects of Evaluating Founders 34:02 Emerging Sectors and Avoiding Herd Mentality 35:15 Focus on Wealth Tech and Asset Management 44:07 Challenges and Opportunities in Europe and the UK 51:37 Middle East as a Growing Hub for FinTech 54:12 Concluding Thoughts and Future Prospects