Couchonomics with Arjun

Arjun Singh

Decoding the New World Order of Finance - Unfiltered, global, weeklyAs tectonic shifts reshape the financial world, Couchonomics continues to explore the trends transforming commerce, capital, and culture. This season, we expand our lens - building on our deep focus in the MENA region while bringing in voices, stories, and innovations from around the globe.Why? Because the future of finance is no longer regional - it’s interconnected.  Whether it’s AI in Asia, tokenization in Europe, or fintech policy experiments in Africa, today’s financial shifts cross borders, industries, and disciplines.Whether you’re in the industry or just fintech-curious, tune in weekly as we decode the big moves, bold ideas, and brilliant minds shaping tomorrow’s economy.Episodes drop weekly. Arabic subtitles available on YouTube: youtube.com/@couchonomicswitharjunsingh438Learn more: www.couchonomics.comSeason 4 supported by:Adyen | Mastercard | SC Ventures | Thunes | Hala | e& | Digit 9 About the host:  Arjun's expertise covers a broad range of areas including Fintech, Payments, Digital Assets, Embedded Finance, Application of Emerging Technologies, and the Emergence of New Business Models within the Financial Services Sector in the MEA region and globally.  Arjun is deeply engaged in the Tech Start-Up ecosystem. He serves as a passive investor, advisory board member, and a notable commentator on the rapidly evolving scene.In recognition of his impactful contributions, Arjun was honored as a Top Voice of the region by LinkedIn in 2020.  Learn more at www.couchonomics.com. 

  1. What It Really Takes for Banks to Innovate Without Breaking Trust

    12/16/2025

    What It Really Takes for Banks to Innovate Without Breaking Trust

    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. #CouchonomicsWithArjun #BankingInnovation #Fintech #DigitalAssets #AIinBanking #Tokenization #FutureOfBanking #UAE #Leadership #FinancialServices 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/ Hala → https://hala.com/ SOCIAL LINKS 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 TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@couchonomics Newsletter → https://bit.ly/3WI Our website 👉 https://bit.ly/3jk7UH0 Find us on our social media platforms: Arjun's LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjunvirsingh/ CCN 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

    58 min
  2. How CBD Is Reshaping Banking in the UAE

    12/09/2025

    How CBD Is Reshaping Banking in the UAE

    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. #CouchonomicsWithArjun #Banking #DigitalTransformation #AI #Fintech #UAE #CustomerExperience #FutureOfBanking #Leadership #Innovation 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/ Hala → https://hala.com/ SOCIAL LINKS 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 TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@couchonomics Newsletter → https://bit.ly/3WI4A6E Chapters 00:00 The new realities of customer expectations 02:00 Why UAE banks are evolving faster than global peers 04:00 Customer experience as the only real competitive advantage 07:00 Rewiring people and processes for a digital-first world 10:00 How fintech partnerships are reshaping bank capabilities 14:00 The future role of branches in a digital-first banking model 18:00 Moving from legacy tech to open, integrated systems 22:00 The real impact of AI on productivity, risk and governance 30:00 Trust, safety and how customers choose banks today 36:00 What the next 3 to 5 years of banking will look like Our website 👉 https://bit.ly/3jk7UH0 Find us on our social media platforms: Arjun's LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjunvirsingh/ CCN 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

    48 min
  3. How One Platform Went From 5,000 Cards to Powering Global Banks

    12/03/2025

    How One Platform Went From 5,000 Cards to Powering Global Banks

    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. #CouchonomicsWithArjun #Banking #CoreBanking #Fintech #Payments #Cloud #AI #DigitalAssets #Stablecoins #CBDC #Migration #FutureOfFinance #Innovation 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/ Hala → https://hala.com/ Follow us on social media 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 TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@couchonomics Newsletter → https://bit.ly/3WI4A6E Chapters 00:00 The Pismo origin story and early Brazil journey 02:00 Winning trust through a 5,000-card pilot 04:00 Landing Itaú and scaling to millions of accounts 06:00 Citi’s 76-country ledger and going global 08:00 What modern core banking must deliver today 12:00 The realities of migrating from legacy mainframes 16:00 Payments rails, localization and rising global complexity 20:00 How digital assets, stablecoins and CBDCs reshape the backend 26:00 AI’s impact on migrations, operations and developer speed 34:00 Why safety, resilience and governance Our website 👉 https://bit.ly/3jk7UH0 Find us on our social media platforms: Arjun's LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjunvirsingh/ CCN 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

    43 min
  4. How AI and Stablecoins Are Rewiring the Future of Fintech

    11/25/2025

    How AI and Stablecoins Are Rewiring the Future of Fintech

    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 Our website 👉 https://bit.ly/3jk7UH0 Find us on our social media platforms: Arjun's LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjunvirsingh/ CCN 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

    47 min
  5. Why Stablecoins Could Redefine Global Trade and Banking

    11/11/2025

    Why Stablecoins Could Redefine Global Trade and Banking

    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 Our website 👉 https://bit.ly/3jk7UH0 Find us on our social media platforms: Arjun's LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjunvirsingh/ CCN 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

    51 min
  6. The End of Bank Accounts: How Money Is Moving On-Chain

    11/04/2025

    The End of Bank Accounts: How Money Is Moving On-Chain

    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 Our website 👉 https://bit.ly/3jk7UH0 Find us on our social media platforms: Arjun's LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjunvirsingh/ CCN 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

    56 min
  7. The Next Decade of FinTech: AI, Tokenization & Quantum Finance

    10/28/2025

    The Next Decade of FinTech: AI, Tokenization & Quantum Finance

    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 Our website 👉 https://bit.ly/3jk7UH0 Find us on our social media platforms: Arjun's LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjunvirsingh/ CCN 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

    47 min
  8. How AI and Stablecoins Are Rewriting Payments

    10/21/2025

    How AI and Stablecoins Are Rewriting Payments

    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. #CouchonomicsWithArjun #Fintech #AI #Stablecoins #CrossBorderPayments #DigitalFinance #FutureOfMoney #financialinnovation  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 Our website 👉 https://bit.ly/3jk7UH0 Find us on our social media platforms: Arjun's LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjunvirsingh/ CCN 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

    47 min

Trailers

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Decoding the New World Order of Finance - Unfiltered, global, weeklyAs tectonic shifts reshape the financial world, Couchonomics continues to explore the trends transforming commerce, capital, and culture. This season, we expand our lens - building on our deep focus in the MENA region while bringing in voices, stories, and innovations from around the globe.Why? Because the future of finance is no longer regional - it’s interconnected.  Whether it’s AI in Asia, tokenization in Europe, or fintech policy experiments in Africa, today’s financial shifts cross borders, industries, and disciplines.Whether you’re in the industry or just fintech-curious, tune in weekly as we decode the big moves, bold ideas, and brilliant minds shaping tomorrow’s economy.Episodes drop weekly. Arabic subtitles available on YouTube: youtube.com/@couchonomicswitharjunsingh438Learn more: www.couchonomics.comSeason 4 supported by:Adyen | Mastercard | SC Ventures | Thunes | Hala | e& | Digit 9 About the host:  Arjun's expertise covers a broad range of areas including Fintech, Payments, Digital Assets, Embedded Finance, Application of Emerging Technologies, and the Emergence of New Business Models within the Financial Services Sector in the MEA region and globally.  Arjun is deeply engaged in the Tech Start-Up ecosystem. He serves as a passive investor, advisory board member, and a notable commentator on the rapidly evolving scene.In recognition of his impactful contributions, Arjun was honored as a Top Voice of the region by LinkedIn in 2020.  Learn more at www.couchonomics.com. 

You Might Also Like