OnlyFintechs

David Berkowitz
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OnlyFintechs, the go-to podcast for insights and deep dives into the fast-paced world of financial technology. Join us as we explore the latest trends, innovations, and challenges facing fintech companies today. From game-changing startups to regulatory shake-ups and investment insights, OnlyFintechs delivers engaging discussions with industry leaders, tech visionaries, and finance experts. Whether you’re a seasoned fintech enthusiast or just curious about the future of finance, OnlyFintechs is your resource to stay ahead whats happening.

  1. Oct 12

    Stablecoins Bring Back the Best of Cash, and Banks Should Keep Up

    Stablecoins make money settle like cash again: pay, and it's done. Rain CEO Farooq Malik argues on the World Economic Forum's site that finance should embrace the upgrade. In his Oct 12, 2026 op-ed, Malik says electronic rails "separated payment from settlement," forcing banks to prefund accounts and reconcile after the fact. Capgemini estimates as much as $4 trillion sits trapped in settlement and liquidity accounts for cross-border payments. With a stablecoin, "the transfer and the record of it are the same event." That could free idle capital and make more markets "economic to serve." He also asks who benefits from the delay: institutions that earn on the float. The views are Malik's own, not WEF's, and Rain sells stablecoin payments infrastructure. Its OCC trust bank application from S2E23 is still pending. What you'll learn: Why cash's "payment and settlement at the same time" is the property stablecoins bring backWhere the up to $4 trillion in trapped capital comes from, per CapgeminiWhy sending $200 to sub-Saharan Africa costs 8.46% on average, per the World BankWho profits from slow money, and why incumbents need to adaptThe BIS "singleness, elasticity and integrity" hurdles, and how the stablecoin case answers themKeywords: stablecoins, cross-border payments, Rain, Farooq Malik, World Economic Forum, settlement, correspondent banking, BIS, remittances. #Stablecoins #Payments #CrossBorderPayments #Rain #Remittances #Fintech #OnlyFintechs

    Stablecoins Bring Back the Best of Cash, and Banks Should Keep Up

  2. Oct 9

    OKX × ICE Plan 24/7 Tokenized Stock Venue | SEC Notice, Not Approval

    OKXICE, the 50/50 joint venture between OKX and NYSE owner Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), has notified the SEC that it plans to run a 24/7 venue for 63 tokenized U.S. stocks. It is a notice, not an approval, and trading can't start before Nov 3 at the earliest. The Oct 4 notice, filed under the SEC's Sept 17 "Innovation Exemption," describes permissioned Uniswap v4 liquidity pools on OKX's X Layer blockchain, where verified wallets would trade tokenized Nvidia, Tesla, Apple, SpaceX, JPMorgan, Goldman Sachs, Coinbase, Circle and more against USDC, USDG or USDT. An unnamed third-party "Tokenizer" would hold the real shares one-for-one through a broker-dealer, with dividends and voting rights passed through. Cerebras has already objected to having its stock tokenized, and tight SEC volume caps keep the experiment small. Eleven days after NYSE signed its tokenized-stock MOU with Blockchain.com on Sept 23, ICE's other crypto partnership has moved to an actual filing. Catch up on that story in S2E11: NYSE × Blockchain.com. What you'll learn: What OKXICE actually filed, and why "notified the SEC" isn't "approved"How a permissioned DeFi pool with soulbound-token access is supposed to trade real stocksWho issues the tokens (an unnamed Tokenizer), and what holders would getThe 30-day clocks, issuer objections like Cerebras's, and the 0.25% volume capThe risks the notice itself flags: price gaps overnight, no clearing agency, admin keys, SIPC uncertaintyHow this fits ICE's two tokenization tracks, after S2E11 and S2E2Keywords: OKXICE, OKX, Intercontinental Exchange, ICE, NYSE, tokenized stocks, Tokenized Securities Venue, SEC Innovation Exemption, Uniswap v4, X Layer, USDC, USDG, USDT, Cerebras, Andrew Cuomo, Star Xu, 24/7 trading. #Tokenization #TokenizedStocks #OKX #ICE #NYSE #SEC #Stablecoins #CapitalMarkets

    OKX × ICE Plan 24/7 Tokenized Stock Venue | SEC Notice, Not Approval

  3. Oct 9

    Frank Rotman's Kepler Correction | AI Agents Are the Rational Customer

    Frank Rotman's "Kepler Correction" says the rational customer banking waited eight years for has finally arrived, and it's an AI agent. In 2018, QED Investors co-founder Frank Rotman argued in "The Copernican Revolution in Banking" that banks can't be everything to everyone, and that share would move to best-in-class providers once customers could compare everything. Now at 37Maru, he grades that thesis himself in a 64-slide 2026 deck, "Banking In The Agentic Era." His conclusion: customers had the information but didn't act. Friction was the missing term, and AI agents that act on a customer's behalf could remove it. The 2018 model, problem, prediction and question, plus Rotman's own scorecard (Big Tech: D)The "Inertia Tax," the profit banks earn when customers don't act on what they knowThree Keplerian laws: path of least resistance, banks fight back, agents become the channelThe "Quiet Run": why deposit beta could approach 1.0 when agents compare rates dailyPermission, recourse and trust, and Rotman's case for a licensed, fiduciary AI DelegateAgent savings stories cited in the deck are self-reported. Rotman discloses that he is building a company in agentic finance. Read Frank Rotman's original work: "Banking In The Agentic Era: The Kepler Correction" (LinkedIn) and "The Copernican Revolution in Banking" (2018). Only Fintechs is independent commentary and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Frank Rotman, 37Maru or QED Investors. Keywords: Frank Rotman, 37Maru, QED Investors, Kepler Correction, Copernican Revolution in Banking, AI agents, agentic finance, deposits, deposit beta, inertia tax, Mercury, Nubank, Chime, open banking #Fintech #AIAgents #Banking #AgenticAI #Deposits #OpenBanking #OnlyFintechs

    Frank Rotman's Kepler Correction | AI Agents Are the Rational Customer

  4. Oct 8

    Samsung Wallet to Add USDC | Stablecoins Built Into 82M Galaxy Phones

    Samsung announced on Oct 7, 2026 that Samsung Wallet will add USDC for eligible U.S. Galaxy users starting the last week of October, putting stablecoin accounts inside the wallet on 82 million compatible U.S. devices, with no extra app and no private keys to manage. USDC is the first and only stablecoin at launch. The accounts run on Bastion, with Coinbase as sub-custodian through Coinbase Prime Vault, and Solana and Sui provide network support. Samsung says it is not a bank, money transmitter, or custodian. Users will be able to send USDC to compatible crypto wallets with no Samsung transfer fee, and to bank accounts in more than 60 countries in local currency, with fees that vary and are shown in the app. Paying online or by tapping in store is only a possible future feature. It isn't live yet, and Samsung hasn't disclosed remittance fees or FX spreads. In this OnlyFintechs episode we cover what Samsung announced and what is still unknown: Why distribution is the moat when the wallet ships on the phoneWho does what: Samsung, Bastion, Coinbase, Solana and Sui, and why Circle isn't namedRemittances first, payments later, and why the fee screens matterThe regulatory timing, with stablecoin rules still being finalizedFrom Samsung's self-custody Blockchain Keystore to a KYC'd custodial accountKeywords: Samsung Wallet, Samsung, USDC, stablecoins, Bastion, Coinbase, Coinbase Prime, Solana, Sui, Galaxy, cross-border payments, remittances, digital wallet, stablecoin custody. #SamsungWallet #USDC #Stablecoins #Payments #Crypto #Remittances #Fintech #PodcastDrop

    Samsung Wallet to Add USDC | Stablecoins Built Into 82M Galaxy Phones

  5. Oct 7

    Modern Treasury Files for OCC Trust Bank | Stablecoin Custody, Not Yet Approved

    Payments infrastructure company Modern Treasury applied to the OCC on Oct 5, 2026 to set up Modern Treasury National Trust Bank. It is a filing, not an approval: nothing has been approved yet. If approved, the proposed limited-purpose national trust bank would add federally supervised digital asset custody and related fiat services to Modern Treasury's payments platform, giving customers one way to custody and move stablecoins and fiat. Modern Treasury says the bank would not make loans or issue stablecoins, and that its existing software and payment service provider business would keep running separately. The filing landed the same day as Rain's OCC trust-bank application, and three days after the Independent Community Bankers of America sued the OCC, arguing that national trust charters for crypto firms are a "side door" into banking without CRA duties, capital and liquidity standards, or FDIC insurance. In this OnlyFintechs episode we walk through what was filed and what is still pending: What Modern Treasury actually filed for, and why "filed" isn't "approved"What a limited-purpose national trust bank can and can't doWhy a payments software company wants its own federally supervised custodian for stablecoinsTwo trust-bank filings in one day: Modern Treasury and RainThe bank lobby's case against the trust-charter wave, and the lock-in question for customersKeywords: Modern Treasury, Modern Treasury National Trust Bank, OCC, national trust bank, trust charter, stablecoin custody, digital asset custody, Matt Marcus, ICBA, Rain, payments infrastructure, fintech charter. #ModernTreasury #OCC #TrustBank #Stablecoins #BankCharters #Payments #Fintech #PodcastDrop

    Modern Treasury Files for OCC Trust Bank | Stablecoin Custody, Not Yet Approved

  6. Oct 6

    Stripe Agrees to Buy Parafin | Embedded Credit for Small Business

    Stripe agreed on Sept 30, 2026 to acquire Parafin, the embedded-lending company behind small-business financing at platforms like DoorDash, Gusto, Jobber and Mindbody. The price wasn't disclosed, and the deal hasn't closed yet. Parafin lets software platforms offer pre-approved financing to the businesses that run on them. Offers are underwritten on the sales data the platform already sees, and repayments flex with sales. Parafin says it has funded more than $3 billion to more than 60,000 small businesses since its first cash advance in 2021. Stripe already lends through Stripe Capital. If the deal closes, Stripe says the platforms that build on it would get a wider range of credit products, and Parafin's existing platform programs would come with it. Critics ask why Stripe needs a second lender, what happens when some of Parafin's partners compete with Stripe, and how much state-by-state lending compliance Stripe would take on. Both companies say the deal is expected to close in the coming months, subject to customary closing conditions and any required regulatory clearances. In this OnlyFintechs episode we walk through what was agreed and what is still pending: What Parafin actually does, and how embedded, sales-based financing worksWhy Stripe wants it when it already runs Stripe CapitalWhat Parafin says won't change for platforms and borrowersStripe's acquisition run: Bridge, Privy, Metronome, OpenRouter, and now ParafinThe skeptics' case: partner conflicts, integration, and sales-based financing rulesKeywords: Stripe, Parafin, Stripe Capital, embedded finance, embedded lending, small business financing, merchant cash advance, revenue-based financing, DoorDash, Gusto, Sahill Poddar, Vineet Goel, Neetika Bansal, fintech M&A. #Stripe #Parafin #EmbeddedFinance #SmallBusiness #FintechMA #Payments #Fintech #PodcastDrop

    Stripe Agrees to Buy Parafin | Embedded Credit for Small Business

  7. Oct 6

    Coinbase × Citi Stablecoin Payments | Merchant Checkout, U.S. First

    Coinbase and Citi announced on Sept 28, 2026 a deeper stablecoin payments tie-up: stablecoin checkout for Citi's big merchant clients, and fiat-to-stablecoin accounts for fintechs. The deal has two halves. Coinbase Virtual Accounts, which turn incoming dollars into stablecoins automatically, run on Citi's Virtual Account Wallet, part of Citi's Banking-as-a-Service offering. Separately, Citi's institutional clients are set to accept stablecoins at checkout through Spring by Citi: Coinbase converts the tokens to fiat, and Citi settles as the bank of record, so the merchant never holds a token. Both companies say it launches in the U.S. first, with more capabilities in the coming months. Independent coverage is more cautious: no merchants or volumes were named, Virtual Accounts are still in private beta, and Citi has given no launch date for Spring stablecoin acceptance. In this OnlyFintechs episode we walk through what was announced and what is still to come: How the Virtual Accounts half and the Spring by Citi checkout half each workWhat changed since the two companies' October 2025 "intent to collaborate"Why "the merchant never touches the token" matters to corporate treasurersHow new this really is, given Coinbase's existing merchant payments engineThe politics: a bank lobby chaired by Citi CEO Jane Fraser pushed to ban stablecoin rewards, as reported by BeInCrypto and the WSJWhat still hasn't been disclosed: named merchants, volumes and launch datesKeywords: Coinbase, Citi, Citigroup, stablecoin payments, Spring by Citi, Virtual Account Wallet, virtual accounts, Banking-as-a-Service, merchant acquiring, bank of record, stablecoin rewards, CLARITY Act, fintech. #Coinbase #Citi #Stablecoins #Payments #BaaS #Fintech #OnlyFintechs #PodcastDrop

    Coinbase × Citi Stablecoin Payments | Merchant Checkout, U.S. First

  8. Oct 6

    Rain Files OCC Trust Bank Application | Not Approved, No Deposits

    Stablecoin payments platform Rain filed an application with the OCC on Oct 5, 2026 to set up Rain National Trust Bank in New York. It is a filing, not an approval: nothing has been approved yet. If approved, the proposed uninsured national trust bank would hold digital assets and U.S. dollars in custody, manage reserves for permitted stablecoin issuers under the GENIUS Act, and issue and redeem dollar-backed stablecoins for institutional clients. Rain says it would not take deposits, offer consumer accounts, make commercial loans, or carry FDIC insurance. Rain itself would stay a payments platform, with the trust bank as a separately capitalized subsidiary. The filing comes three days after the Independent Community Bankers of America sued the OCC over crypto national trust charters, arguing the agency went beyond its authority. The OCC review includes a public comment period, and no decision date has been given. In this OnlyFintechs episode we walk through what was filed and what is still pending: Exactly what Rain filed, and why "filed" is not "approved"What a national trust bank can and cannot do: custody and trust powers, no deposits, no loansHow the filing fits the GENIUS Act path for uninsured national banks as stablecoin issuersWhere Rain sits in the OCC's recent trust-charter wave, from Circle to Bastion, Agora and CatenaWhy bank trade groups, including ICBA, are fighting the charter model in courtKeywords: Rain, Rain National Trust Bank, OCC, national trust bank, trust charter, stablecoin, GENIUS Act, custody, reserve management, Brandon Soto, Farooq Malik, ICBA, Bank Policy Institute, fintech charter. #Rain #OCC #TrustBank #Stablecoins #GENIUSAct #BankCharters #Fintech #PodcastDrop

    Rain Files OCC Trust Bank Application | Not Approved, No Deposits
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About

OnlyFintechs, the go-to podcast for insights and deep dives into the fast-paced world of financial technology. Join us as we explore the latest trends, innovations, and challenges facing fintech companies today. From game-changing startups to regulatory shake-ups and investment insights, OnlyFintechs delivers engaging discussions with industry leaders, tech visionaries, and finance experts. Whether you’re a seasoned fintech enthusiast or just curious about the future of finance, OnlyFintechs is your resource to stay ahead whats happening.

Information

  • Creator
    David Berkowitz
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    61
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © David Berkowitz
  • Show Website
    OnlyFintechs