Block Talks by The Blockopedia: Crypto & Web3 Podcast

The Blockopedia

Block Talks is The Blockopedia's crypto and Web3 podcast. Every episode, founders, builders and investors break down what is really happening in Bitcoin, DeFi and blockchain, and what it means for your money, with a special eye on India's crypto market. Recorded at events and online, no hype, just clear conversations. New episodes regularly. Follow the show so you never miss one, and read more at theblockopedia.com.

  1. Nov 5

    Mercuryo: The Payment Layer Hidden Inside Apps | Arthur Firstov, Chief Business Officer

    Have you ever paid through a company without knowing it was there? Arthur Firstov, Chief Business Officer at Mercuryo, explains the white-label, API-first payments layer inside apps and wallets, stablecoin adoption in Asia and why TradFi now wants cards, payouts and ramps. What you’ll learn How Mercuryo's white-label, API-first payments layer works inside apps and wallets How Mercuryo moved from cross-border payments to stablecoins The most common mistake companies make with banks and payment partners Which Asian markets are bringing stablecoins into everyday use Why payroll, remittance and large payment companies want cards, payouts and ramps Arthur's advice before your very first purchase Chapters 00:00 Intro 01:06 The Blockopedia intro 01:19 Who Arthur is and what Mercuryo powers 01:38 From cross-border payments to stablecoins 02:41 Explaining Mercuryo to someone hearing the name for the first time 04:09 The most common mistake companies make with banks and payment partners 05:24 Which Asian markets are pulling stablecoins into everyday use 06:44 Mercuryo's focus for the next 12 months: TradFi wants cards, payouts and ramps 08:24 Advice before your very first purchase 09:44 Close Links Mercuryo: mercuryo.io Watch on YouTube: youtube.com/watch?v=GbHf0yz9TFg More Block Talks: theblockopedia.com/blocktalks-audio-podcast

  2. Nov 5

    How Babylon Puts Bitcoin to Work Without Losing Custody | Fisher Yu, Babylon Co-founder

    How does someone who once dismissed Bitcoin end up building on it? Fisher Yu, co-founder of Babylon, traces the path from network security research to Babylon and explains how holders can put Bitcoin to work without giving up custody. What you’ll learn How Fisher Yu went from Bitcoin skeptic to co-founding Babylon with David Tse How Babylon makes Bitcoin productive without giving up custody How borrowing against native Bitcoin on Aave works How Bitcoin ETFs relate to Babylon The biggest misconception about Bitcoin Why Bitcoin is still rarely used for payments Chapters 00:00 Intro 01:10 The Blockopedia intro 01:23 Introduction 01:40 From skeptic to founding Babylon 02:43 What Babylon is: productive Bitcoin without losing it 03:54 Borrowing against native Bitcoin on Aave 04:07 Bitcoin ETFs and Babylon 04:52 The biggest misconception about Bitcoin 05:24 Babylon's future plans 05:58 Advice for someone new to Bitcoin 06:42 Why Bitcoin still isn't used for payments 07:51 Close Links Babylon: babylonlabs.io Watch on YouTube: youtube.com/watch?v=bYQcFUl-kEI More Block Talks: theblockopedia.com/blocktalks-audio-podcast

  3. Nov 5

    Tokenizing Copper for the AI Era | Monty Metzger, Founder of LCX and Toto Finance

    What does an AI data centre have to do with copper, and why does that matter for finance? Monty Metzger, founder of LCX and chairman of Toto Finance, explains the copper crunch, three waves of tokenization and whether RWA demand is real. What you’ll learn Why LCX became a regulated company in 2017, before the rules existed Why tokenization could make the market ten times bigger How the copper crunch behind AI data centres connects to finance The three waves of tokenization and Toto's mine-to-market model Whether demand for real-world assets is real yet Advice before tokenizing your first real-world asset Chapters 00:00 Intro 01:05 The Blockopedia intro 01:18 Introduction 01:37 From Web 1.0 to tokenization: LCX and Toto Finance 02:17 Why LCX went regulated so early 03:36 Tokenized commodities and the copper crunch 05:27 Monty's book: three waves of tokenization and the mine-to-market model 07:42 Why write it down: make it simple 09:01 Is RWA demand real yet? 11:10 Advice before tokenizing your first real-world asset 12:33 What Toto tokenizes next, and why the US 13:29 Close Links Toto Finance: toto.finance LCX: www.lcx.com Watch on YouTube: youtube.com/watch?v=sq-FBYzSxig More Block Talks: theblockopedia.com/blocktalks-audio-podcast

  4. Nov 5

    Why Global Payments Are Still So Hard | Lola Oyelayo-Pearson, Anyflo CEO

    Why is sending money across borders still slow, expensive and hard to track for most businesses? Lola Oyelayo-Pearson, founder and CEO of Anyflo, explains how stablecoin rails move money fiat in and fiat out, and why "token go up is not a business model". What you’ll learn The three problems Anyflo solves: cheaper cross-border money, fiat-to-fiat transfers and accountant-ready receipts Where Anyflo stands today with design partners in payroll, retail and travel, and banking Why "token go up is not a business model" Why cross-border payments are either expensive or thin margin Why Anyflo chose Sui but stays multi-chain Why no founder can promise never to be hacked Chapters 00:00 Intro 01:05 The Blockopedia intro 01:18 Welcome to TOKEN2049 Singapore: meet Lola Oyelayo-Pearson of Anyflo 02:04 From Shopify and Mysten Labs to founding Anyflo 03:31 The three problems Anyflo solves for businesses 05:48 Where Anyflo is today: design partners, testing and the EU licence 07:20 Token go up is not a business model 09:37 Cross-border payments: expensive or thin margin 11:19 Will Anyflo get into cards? 12:35 Why Sui, and why Anyflo stays multi-chain 14:37 Security: why no founder can promise never to be hacked 16:21 Why so few women at the core of the industry? 17:51 Wrap-up Links Anyflo: www.anyflo.io Lola Oyelayo-Pearson on X: x.com/LolaOye Watch on YouTube: youtube.com/watch?v=vbck5VTcSNs More Block Talks: theblockopedia.com/blocktalks-audio-podcast

  5. Nov 5

    Crypto Licensing and MiCA Explained | Evgeny Ovsyankin, Chief Legal Officer, Tothemoon

    Why does a crypto company need a separate licence in almost every country it works in? Evgeny Ovsyankin, Chief Legal Officer of Tothemoon, explains MiCA licensing, how the exchange screens merchants and what founders should get right first. What you’ll learn How Evgeny moved from legal and compliance at Credit Suisse into crypto in 2017 What a legal career in crypto covers: structuring, licensing and AML Why serving clients outside the EU means a local licence in each country How Tothemoon screens merchants with AML policy, blockchain monitoring and due diligence How companies that missed a MiCA licence can stay in the EU through crypto as a service Advice for founders: build a strong team, follow changing laws and research first Chapters 00:00 Intro 01:00 The Blockopedia intro 01:13 Welcome to TOKEN2049 Singapore: meet Evgeny Ovsyankin of Tothemoon 01:37 From law student to Credit Suisse and into crypto 03:05 A crypto career in legal: structuring, licensing and AML 04:01 Tothemoon: an exchange built for corporate clients, now MiCA licensed 05:27 Why Tothemoon does not care about price crashes 06:42 Are people spending crypto? Tothemoon's crypto card 07:54 Which merchants Tothemoon works with 10:11 What is next: new licences, new markets, new products 12:48 When companies miss a MiCA licence: crypto as a service 14:27 Advice: build a team, follow evolving laws, research first 17:10 Thanks and close Links Tothemoon: tothemoon.com Watch on YouTube: youtube.com/watch?v=0Eu0OC7eifk More Block Talks: theblockopedia.com/blocktalks-audio-podcast

  6. Nov 5

    Why Market Making Needs More Than AI Bots | Jason Atkins, CCO of Auros

    Can AI and off-the-shelf trading bots really keep a market healthy when things get volatile? Jason Atkins, Chief Commercial Officer of Auros, explains why cheap market making is a risk, how KPI contracts work and why the industry is consolidating. What you’ll learn Why off-the-shelf algorithms cannot handle volatile markets Why choosing a cheap market maker is a risk like choosing a cheap audit How top market makers put spread, depth and uptime KPIs into the contract How Auros grew from a proprietary trading firm into liquidity, OTC and yield services Why the industry is consolidating rather than collapsing Jason's advice for founders: surround yourself with people you can trust Chapters 00:00 Intro 01:08 The Blockopedia intro 01:47 From bank FX trading to Matrixport to Auros 02:59 How Auros grew: liquidity, OTC and yield 05:03 Aurora OTC, Auros Ventures and forward-deployed engineers 06:11 Is market making still worth it in the age of AI bots? 08:44 Cheap market making is like a cheap audit 09:41 Top market makers and KPI contracts 12:10 Which regions Auros focuses on 13:19 What is different at TOKEN2049 this year? 15:02 Consolidation, not collapse 17:10 Advice for founders: find people you can trust 18:51 Thanks and close Links Auros: www.auros.global Jason Atkins on X: x.com/0xjatkins Jason Atkins on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jason-atkins-12350376 Watch on YouTube: youtube.com/watch?v=duNx8gP2vKg More Block Talks: theblockopedia.com/blocktalks-audio-podcast

  7. Nov 5

    What Institutions Need to Trust Digital Assets | Barnali Biswal, CEO of Hilbert Group

    What do institutions really need before they trust a new kind of finance? Barnali Biswal, CEO of Hilbert Group, explains her move from 15 years of credit at Goldman Sachs into digital asset management, what institutions still fear and the hidden risks of yield products. What you’ll learn Why people from credit bring the risk view a new asset class needs Why fintech companies are entering now that infrastructure and regulation have matured How Hilbert Group grew from its 2018 founding to a 2021 Nasdaq First North listing What institutions still worry about: fragmented rules, custody and underwriting The risks behind yield products that are not always well advertised Barnali's advice for founders: if you think you're dreaming big, dream bigger Chapters 00:00 Intro 01:03 The Blockopedia intro 01:15 Meet Barnali Biswal, CEO of Hilbert Group 01:39 From 15 years of credit at Goldman Sachs 03:06 Why she left Wall Street 04:33 Why fintech companies are entering now 07:14 What is Hilbert Group? 08:05 How Hilbert Group grew 12:04 What do institutions still fear? 13:08 Running a listed asset manager in a volatile market 14:26 Still the Wild West next to Wall Street? 15:50 Yield products: the risks that are not obvious 16:42 Advice for founders: dream bigger Links Hilbert Group: www.hilbert.group Watch on YouTube: youtube.com/watch?v=0JD0VLmKC6U More Block Talks: theblockopedia.com/blocktalks-audio-podcast

  8. Nov 5

    How Intersect Runs Community Governance | Jack Briggs, Executive Director

    How can a whole community decide, together, what gets built next? Jack Briggs, Executive Director of Intersect, explains how members and elected committees turn ideas into proposals and votes, how builders get funding, and where he sees innovation heading. What you’ll learn What Intersect does and how its members coordinate decisions How a proposal moves through expert committees and community votes Why one person can have one real voice in shaping the future Where builders can find funding and institutional support Why academic rigour and security matter when choosing a network Why Jack sees AI agents, privacy and public-sector transparency as the next wave Chapters 00:00 Intro 01:06 The Blockopedia intro 01:20 Why academic rigour and security matter 02:09 What Intersect does 03:06 How a proposal gets through Intersect 04:22 Advice for builders 05:36 Jack's journey to Intersect 07:03 Beyond the industry: transparency for the public sector 08:14 Where the innovation is 09:56 Thanks and close Links Intersect: www.intersectmbo.org Watch on YouTube: youtube.com/watch?v=8-4vvXRVqHs More Block Talks: theblockopedia.com/blocktalks-audio-podcast

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About

Block Talks is The Blockopedia's crypto and Web3 podcast. Every episode, founders, builders and investors break down what is really happening in Bitcoin, DeFi and blockchain, and what it means for your money, with a special eye on India's crypto market. Recorded at events and online, no hype, just clear conversations. New episodes regularly. Follow the show so you never miss one, and read more at theblockopedia.com.

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