Circle Builders Series

CIRCLE
  • 0.0 (0)
  • BUSINESS
  • UPDATED FORTNIGHTLY

Welcome to the Circle Builders Series, where we demystify the world of blockchain and programmable money. Whether you’re a developer looking to harness digital currencies or a business leader interested in the impact of blockchain, this podcast delivers real-world stories, practical technologies, and actionable takeaways. Join host Sam Sealey as each episode brings us closer to a future where open innovation and global financial inclusion are a reality.

Episodes

  1. Hackathons to Unicorns: Why the Next Big Thing Can Run on USDC | DoraHacks (Steve Ngok) | Builder Series

    14/11/2025

    Hackathons to Unicorns: Why the Next Big Thing Can Run on USDC | DoraHacks (Steve Ngok) | Builder Series

    Hackathons have always been fertile ground for innovation, and in this episode, Steve Ngok shares how DoraHacks is partnering with Circle to unlock new opportunities for builders. From bounties powered by USDC to the future of stablecoins in mainstream adoption, Steve offers unique insights into why this moment is the golden time to build. Key Takeaways: 00:00 Introduction. 02:44 The role of hackathons in driving collaboration and new ideas. 03:43 AI is transforming hackathon infrastructure and efficiency. 04:58 Enterprises gain significant value from hackathon ecosystems. 08:12 Circle developer bounties create new opportunities for builders. 11:23 Stablecoin-powered payments unlock consumer applications. 12:34 USDC is trusted as a compliant and secure stablecoin. 13:01 USDC’s expansion across multiple chains strengthens ecosystems. 13:56 This is the golden time to build with Circle and USDC. Resources Mentioned: DoraHacks | LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/dorahacks/ DoraHacks | Website https://dorahacks.io/ Circle Developer Bounties https://dorahacks.io/hackathon/circle-developer-bounties-1/detail Thanks for listening to the Circle Builders Series. To learn more about Circle, please visit www.circle.com/build. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review on your favorite podcast platform, and be sure to subscribe so you never miss any insightful conversations. Get $100 in Circle developer credits! Sign up at circle.com/build to access this exclusive offer. #DigitalCurrency #BlockchainTechnology #Web3

    18 min
  2. AI Agents, USDC, and the Programmable Economy | thirdweb (Furqan Rydhan) | Builder Series

    09/09/2025

    AI Agents, USDC, and the Programmable Economy | thirdweb (Furqan Rydhan) | Builder Series

    Furqan Rydhan, Founder of thirdweb, shares how USDC is shaping the future of onchain AI and developer ecosystems. From dynamic agents to scalable infrastructure, Furqan reveals how USDC is designed to maintain not just stable value but foundational programmability for next-gen apps and agent economies. Furqan explains why Circle's tools, including CCTP, help to unlock seamless USDC movement across chains, powering thousands of thirdweb apps without developers needing to manage complexity. Key Takeaways: (01:01) Programmable value is essential for enabling real-world use cases. (11:08) Intelligent agents require infrastructure that can reason and transact autonomously. (15:10) Dynamic contract creation can support complex, customized interactions. (16:37) USDC simplifies how value moves across agents, apps, and services. (17:59) Developers benefit from abstracted tools that handle wallets and permissions. (19:18) Circle’s infrastructure is critical for enabling trusted, crosschain activity. (29:08) Onchain economies are forming through tools that reduce friction and risk. (32:34) USDC supports new income models and participation in digital-first jobs. Resources Mentioned: Circle’s CCTP https://www.circle.com/cross-chain-transfer-protocol Circle Discord https://discord.com/invite/buildoncircle Nebula https://nebula.thirdweb.com/login Thirdweb | Website https://thirdweb.com/ USDC https://www.circle.com/usdc Thanks for listening to the Circle Builder Series. To learn more about Circle, please visit www.circle.com/developer. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review on your favorite podcast platform, and be sure to subscribe so you never miss any insightful conversations. Get $100 in Circle developer credits! Sign up at circle.com/build to access this exclusive offer.

    42 min
  3. Powering Solar With USDC: Glow Protocol

    24/06/2025

    Powering Solar With USDC: Glow Protocol

    In this episode, David Vorick shares how Glow’s incentive mechanism, a recursive and performance-based funding model, channels electricity revenue from newly verified solar farms into building more solar projects. Using USDC and smart contracts, Glow helps provide funding to some of the most cost-effective and verifiably constructed solar farms. Key Takeaways: (01:56) Building on reliable infrastructure supports growth. (03:20) Incentive models can drive real-world change. (07:17) Technology and nature can advance together. (09:12) Smarter funding models improve climate impact. (14:10) Glow operates as a virtual factory, using incentives to drive real-world outcomes. (16:37) Circle’s USDC powers all electricity revenue flows within the ecosystem. (21:24) Climate solutions require phased strategies. (22:56) Growing energy demand presents new opportunities. (26:06) Blockchain technology can enable sustainability. Resources Mentioned: David Vorickhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/david-vorick-6758a66a/ Glow International | Website https://glow.org/ Glow Audit Hub https://hub.glow.org/ Thanks for listening to the Circle Builder Series. To learn more about Circle, please visit circle.com/developer. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review on your favorite podcast platform, and be sure to subscribe so you never miss any insightful conversations. Get $100 in Circle developer credits! Sign up at circle.com/build to access this exclusive offer. #DigitalCurrency #BlockchainTechnology #Web3

    16 min
  4. Unlocking USDC for LATAM's Underbanked

    13/05/2025

    Unlocking USDC for LATAM's Underbanked

    Nelson Peña, Co-Founder and Chief Financial Officer of Amero Exchange, shares his mission to make digital finance accessible across Latin America by simplifying remittances, enabling bank-free living, and redefining financial trust. In this conversation with Sam Sealey, Nelson shares personal stories and talks about Amero’s early hurdles and the transformative power of USDC in real-life emergencies. This episode dives into what it means to create an inclusive financial ecosystem from the ground up. Key Takeaways: (01:27) The importance of building solutions rooted in personal and community needs. (02:56) The widespread impact of limited banking access across underserved regions. (04:33) How high transaction fees can deepen financial exclusion. (09:38) Why enabling easy access to digital dollars is crucial for adoption. (13:10) How aligned missions can drive product and ecosystem growth. (14:35) Making blockchain tools accessible by focusing on user familiarity. (17:38) Building resilient infrastructure by connecting multiple technologies. (19:52) Simplifying crypto so users can benefit without needing to understand the tech. Resources Mentioned: Nelson Peña https://www.linkedin.com/in/nelsonp1/ Amero Exchange | LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/ameroexchange/ Amero Exchange | Websitehttps://amero.exchange USDC https://www.circle.com/usdc Thanks for listening to the Circle Builder Series. To learn more about Circle, please visit www.circle.com/developer. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review on your favorite podcast platform, and be sure to subscribe so you never miss any insightful conversations. #DigitalCurrency #BlockchainTechnology #Web3

    17 min
  5. Unlocking Financial Independence With USDC

    21/03/2025

    Unlocking Financial Independence With USDC

    Access to stable money shouldn’t be a privilege — it should be a right. In this episode of the Builder Series, we sit down with Rubén Galindo Steckel, CEO and Co-Founder of Airtm*, to discuss how his company is transforming financial access across the LATAM. Rubén shares how Airtm, with Circle’s USDC, is helping individuals and businesses securely move money, earn income in a stable currency, and access global opportunities. But Airtm’s impact goes beyond payments. When COVID-19 hit, doctors and nurses in Venezuela were left unpaid, unable to access their wages due to financial restrictions. That’s when Airtm and Circle stepped in with a groundbreaking USDC-powered solution. What happened next? You won’t want to miss it! *Circle Ventures, an affiliate of Circle Internet Financial, LLC, has invested in Airtm Key Takeaways: (01:57) Rubén’s fintech journey begins with an internship at a crypto exchange, revealing the need for better financial solutions. (03:46) Motivated by a sense of justice and respect for freedom, Airtm was founded to help bring access to stable currencies. (05:33) In 2015, Airtm launched one of the first stablecoin wallets, enabling unrestricted access to stable currency. (13:22) Users in the Global South are willing to pay up to 30% in fees just to access funds quickly, exposing banking inefficiencies. (24:37) Airtm partners with Circle to transfer US Dollars via USDC to Venezuelan healthcare workers. (36:05) Airtm shifts focus from financial freedom to financial independence, helping users earn in USDC. (47:58) AI-driven platforms and blockchain payments create new freelance opportunities in developing countries. (52:42) Traditional cross-border payments are becoming commoditized, leading to the unbundling of services. Resources Mentioned:Rubén Galindo Steckelhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/rub%C3%A9n-galindo-steckel-0860176a/?originalSubdomain=mx Airtm LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/airtm/ Airtm Websitehttps://www.airtm.com/ Circle https://www.circle.com/ Thanks for listening to the Circle Builder Series. To learn more about Circle, please visit www.circle.com/build. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review on your favorite podcast platform, and be sure to subscribe so you never miss any insightful conversations. Get $100 in Circle developer credits! Sign up at circle.com/build to access this exclusive offer. #DigitalCurrency #BlockchainTechnology #Web3

    15 min
  6. Driving Efficiency in Global Payment Systems With USDC Content Sheet

    28/02/2025

    Driving Efficiency in Global Payment Systems With USDC Content Sheet

    Jasper Fu, Co-Founder and CEO, explains how Coinsub’s platform is enabling seamless and secure USDC subscriptions. Using blockchain technology, their goal is to minimize the time and clicks required to pay and get paid while providing the infrastructure for fintech companies to easily incorporate subscriptions and recurring payments through stablecoins. Jasper breaks down the technical challenges they’ve overcome, emphasizes the strength of USDC, and discusses real-world use cases across industries, including SaaS-based companies, international payroll, global subscriptions, and high-ticket transactions. Key Takeaways: (00:56) The missing piece in crypto payments: recurring transactions. (02:27) Why blockchain isn’t built for subscriptions — and how Coinsub fixes that. (05:01) Coinsub makes stablecoin payments as intuitive as traditional checkouts. (08:09) How gas abstraction removes friction for users. (11:58) Stablecoins are critical for markets with unreliable banking infrastructure. (13:44) How Coinsub reduces fraud risks for high-ticket purchases. (19:03) The goal is to minimize the time and clicks needed for people to pay and get paid through blockchain. (27:03) The future of blockchain payments: seamless multi-chain compatibility. Resources Mentioned: Jasper Fu - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasper-fu/ Coinsub | LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/coinsub/ Coinsub | Website - https://coinsub.io Coinsub for developers - https://docs.coinsub.io/coinsub-ecosystem/for-developers Thanks for listening to the Circle Builders Series. To learn more about Circle, please visit www.circle.com/build. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review on your favorite podcast platform, and be sure to subscribe so you never miss any insightful conversations. Get $100 in Circle developer credits! Sign up at circle.com/build to access this exclusive offer. #DigitalCurrency #BlockchainTechnology #Web3

    16 min
  7. Empowering the Next Generation of Commerce with USDC

    14/02/2025

    Empowering the Next Generation of Commerce with USDC

    In this episode, we sit down with Circle Developer Grant recipient Ali Sammour, Co-Founder of droplinked, a platform revolutionizing onchain commerce. Ali explains how droplinked empowers merchants with no-code tools that seamlessly integrate Circle’s @circle’s USDC, EURC, CCTP, Programmable Wallets & Smart Contracts to make onchain commerce more accessible. He breaks down the game-changing benefits of onchain commerce, from eliminating third-party fees to integrating digital product passports for supply chain transparency. Key Takeaways: (01:54) Facilitating payments and eliminating third-party intermediaries with escrow solutions since 2017. (03:00) droplinked provides no-code and low-code tools for shopfronts, product tiles for embeddables, and token payment gateways to accept digital and credit card payments, all with onchain inventory management. (05:16) Onchain commerce allows SMBs to take full ownership of their inventory and customer relationships. (08:39) Merchants can set up a fully functional onchain store in minutes using no-code tools. (12:35) Stablecoins unlock global remittances and improve payment efficiency. (17:53) droplinked wallets enable merchants to accept multi-stablecoin payments and earn 5% interest. (19:56) How to use the droplinked management panel and customizable tools. (24:14) droplinked helps merchants save up to 12% by removing third-party transaction fees. Resources Mentioned: Ali Sammour - https://www.linkedin.com/in/alisammour/ droplinked LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/droplinked/ droplinked Website - https://droplinked.com Circle Programmable Wallets - https://www.circle.com/es-la/programmable-wallets USDC - https://www.circle.com/es-la/usdc CCTP (Cross-Chain Transfer Protocol) - https://www.circle.com/es-la/cross-chain-transfer-protocol#:~:text=What%20is%20Cross%2DChain%20Transfer,from%20one%20blockchain%20to%20another. Thanks for listening to the Circle Builders Series. To learn more about Circle, please visit www.circle.com/developers. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review on your favorite podcast platform, and be sure to subscribe so you never miss any insightful conversations. #DigitalCurrency #BlockchainTechnology #Web3

    20 min
  8. How Rosen Revolutionizes Cross-Border Payments With USDC

    24/01/2025

    How Rosen Revolutionizes Cross-Border Payments With USDC

    In this episode, we’re joined by Circle Developer Grant recipient Sida (Stella) Zheng, Co-Founder of Rosen Bridge, an AI and blockchain-powered social app designed to connect people worldwide, regardless of language, and facilitate secure Bitcoin and USDC transfers. Sida explains how Circle’s tools and infrastructure like Circle’s Programmable Wallets have helped Rosen Bridge develop a secure, user-friendly app that functions like popular social media platforms while enabling seamless USDC transfers. She also shares their strategy for tailoring the app’s user interface to appeal to women and how this approach supports their expansion goals. Key Takeaways: (02:09) The company’s name is inspired by the Einstein-Rosen Bridge, symbolizing seamless transitions from Web2 to Web3. (03:08) People in Latin America love stablecoins because they allow them to diversify when they can’t hold US assets. (04:09) Educating non-crypto users remains a challenge, but Rosen Bridge tackles this by lowering barriers to blockchain adoption and simplifying processes for first-time users. (06:37) The app’s geo-localized design allows users to navigate a world map and connect with people nearby or across the globe. (07:07) Rosen Bridge removes language barriers with AI-powered chat translation for real-time global conversations. (07:23) Users can securely trade Bitcoin and USDC directly within a chat, simplifying cross-border transactions. (09:40) Circle’s Programmable Wallets simplify blockchain interactions, allowing login with email or Google credentials. (13:00) Rosen Bridge’s UI focuses on simplicity, cuteness, and approachability, attracting female users who interact more and help make the platform viral. (13:07) The app’s design hides blockchain complexities, allowing non-crypto users to log in and use the platform with ease, similar to Web2 apps like Google or Venmo. Resources Mentioned: Sida (Stella) Zheng - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sida-stella-zheng/ Circle Programmable Wallets - https://www.circle.com/es-la/programmable-wallets Rosen Bridge | LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/gorosen/ Rosen Bridge | Website - https://www.gorosen.xyz/ Polygon Blockchain - https://polygon.technology/ Thanks for listening to the Circle Builders Series. To learn more about Circle, please visit www.circle.com/developers. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review on your favorite podcast platform, and be sure to subscribe so you never miss any insightful conversations. #DigitalCurrency #BlockchainTechnology #Web3

    16 min
  9. Bringing Real Estate On-Chain with Darren Carvalho of Metawealth

    10/12/2024

    Bringing Real Estate On-Chain with Darren Carvalho of Metawealth

    In this episode, we sit down with Darren Carvalho, Co-Founder of MetaWealth, a Web3 investment platform offering fractional ownership of institutional-grade real estate. Darren walks us through how MetaWealth tokenizes real estate assets, making real estate investment more accessible and efficient through blockchain technology. Key Takeaways: (01:07) Fractional ownership of institutional-grade real estate assets through tokenization and blockchain. (03:19) The challenges of traditional real estate investing led to the founding of MetaWealth. (04:10) MetaWealth tokenizes real estate, allowing users to become landlords through their app. (05:41) MetaWealth migrated from Ethereum to Solana to reduce transaction costs and improve efficiency. (06:55) USDC was chosen as MetaWealth’s stablecoin for its security, and transparency. (11:14) User-friendly approach to Metawelt’s digital wallets and tokenized real estate. (11:40) MetaWealth’s app provides users with due diligence materials like valuation reports and market overviews for each real estate asset. (13:49) MetaWealth aims to expand beyond tokenized real estate into other tokenized assets. Resources Mentioned: Darren Carvalho - https://www.linkedin.com/in/darrencarvalho/ MetaWealth - https://www.linkedin.com/company/metawealthapp/ USDC - https://www.circle.com/es-mx/usdc Solana Blockchain - https://solana.com/ Wealthsimple - https://www.wealthsimple.com/en-ca Transak - https://transak.com/ Circle Mint - https://www.circle.com/es-mx/circle-mint Colliers International - https://www.colliers.com/ Thanks for listening to the Circle Builders Series. To learn more about Circle, please visit www.circle.com/developers. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review on your favorite podcast platform, and be sure to subscribe so you never miss any insightful conversations. #RealEstate #Blockchain #Investment #Tokenization #USDC #DigitalAssets

    23 min
  • 9 Episodes

About

Welcome to the Circle Builders Series, where we demystify the world of blockchain and programmable money. Whether you’re a developer looking to harness digital currencies or a business leader interested in the impact of blockchain, this podcast delivers real-world stories, practical technologies, and actionable takeaways. Join host Sam Sealey as each episode brings us closer to a future where open innovation and global financial inclusion are a reality.

Information

  • Creator
    CIRCLE
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2025
  • Episodes
    9
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2024
  • Show Website
    Circle Builders Series