Talking Tokens

Jacquelyn Melinek, Token Relations

Talking Tokens is a podcast focused on interviewing the best crypto leaders, startups, market players and up-and-coming founders that are changing the industry. Join Jacquelyn Melinek, an award-nominated host and seasoned crypto journalist-turned-entrepreneur, to dive into the best talks in crypto in an easy-to-understand way. The episodes will air every Tuesday and Thursday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, X and more. For more updates, subscribe to the Talking Tokens newsletter here: https://talkingtokens.beehiiv.com/ Follow us on X: https://twitter.com/_TalkingTokens

  1. 1天前

    Why Bitcoin Adoption is a Once-in-a-Generation Financial Revolution | American Bitcoin

    In this episode of Talking Tokens, Jacquelyn Melinek sits down with Mike Ho, Matt Prusak, and Donald Trump Jr. from American Bitcoin. They discuss Bitcoin as the ultimate scarce asset and compare it to gold, underlining Bitcoin’s fixed supply and growing institutional adoption. The team shares their business model behind American Bitcoin, blending mining and treasury operations to maximize Bitcoin accumulation and shareholder value. They explore how institutions are finally embracing Bitcoin amid evolving regulatory clarity and rising market maturity, including major moves in the US. Don Jr. reflects on Bitcoin’s power for financial democratization and global influence. The conversation dives into the future opportunities and long-term strategies for crypto adoption across global markets like South Korea, and how Bitcoin is poised for a financial revolution beyond simple investment. This episode is sponsored by Fireblocks, the leading stablecoin infrastructure for global enterprises. Learn more at fireblocks.com. ⏱️ Timestamps (00:01) - Introduction and host welcome (01:39) - Bitcoin as the world’s one true scarce asset vs gold (04:15) - Ownership and dormant supply insights (05:50) - American Bitcoin’s business model: combining mining and treasury (08:10) - Tools to increase Bitcoin ownership per share (10:00) - Institutional adoption trends and current owners (12:10) - Bitcoin regulatory advances and US policy impact (14:00) - Introduction of Donald Trump Jr. joining remotely (15:40) - Bitcoin as a global borderless value transfer and prosperity tool (18:20) - Democratization of finance with Bitcoin and crypto (21:30) - Bitcoin diplomacy and influence globally (24:00) - Market differences: US, South Korea, and global opportunity (26:00) - Future strategies for Bitcoin and crypto adoption (28:20) - Closing reflections from all guests 📢 Subscribe & Follow Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube. Support the show by leaving a review! Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0LOgWxIQ0NnNUD5eXsSuoZ Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/talking-tokens/id1743669141 Follow on X: Host Jacquelyn Melinek https://twitter.com/jacqmelinek | Podcast https://twitter.com/_TalkingTokens Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_talkingtokens/ Note: This podcast is for informational purposes only. Guests may have financial interests in discussed assets or companies. Not investment advice.

    29 分钟
  2. Talking Tokenization: Bringing Wall Street to Ethereum | Vivek Raman

    3天前

    Talking Tokenization: Bringing Wall Street to Ethereum | Vivek Raman

    In this episode of Talking Tokenization, Jacquelyn Melinek interviews Vivek Raman, CEO of Etherealize and former Wall Street high yield credit trader. Vivek shares his journey from top-tier banks to pioneering Ethereum-based tokenization solutions. He explains why tokenizing existing financial assets on public blockchains is crucial for the future of finance and how Etherealize is tackling the challenges of institutional-grade privacy, compliance, and scalability. The episode covers the shift in institutional sentiment towards blockchains, the importance of public and layer-2 Ethereum networks, and the massive opportunity tokenizing the global capital markets presents. Vivek also highlights why privacy solutions onchain are mission-critical and shares his outlook on regulatory tailwinds and the urgent need for responsible innovation today.Sponsored by Securitize, the proven leader in tokenized funds, equities, and private markets. Discover more at ⁠securitize.io⁠. Sponsored by Fireblocks, the trusted stablecoin infrastructure for global enterprises. Learn more at fireblocks.com. ⏱️ Timestamps (00:00) - Intro (01:08) - Why Vivek left banking? The lack of tech upgrades on Wall Street (03:22) - Discovering Ethereum in 2020 and seeing product-market fit (05:07) - Defining tokenization in simple terms (07:11) - Why Ethereum is the best back-end for financial assets (09:27) - Stablecoins as the first step in tokenization (12:03) - Regulatory clarity, bipartisan support & the Clarity Act (14:46) - Etherealize raises $40M to build tokenization infrastructure (18:25) - Privacy as table stakes for institutional adoption (20:11) - Future tokenized assets: treasuries, mortgages, car loans (23:01) - Global opportunity: emerging markets & democratized access (27:04) - The urgency of building responsibly before momentum fades (31:00) - Tokenization makes assets programmable and globally accessible (35:09) - Investing in private companies like OpenAI & regulatory issues (38:06) - Scaling Ethereum for institutions & risks of fragmentation (40:07) - Final thoughts 📢 Subscribe & Follow Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube. Support the show by leaving a review! Spotify:⁠ https://open.spotify.com/show/0LOgWxIQ0NnNUD5eXsSuoZ⁠ Apple Podcast:⁠ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/talking-tokens/id1743669141⁠ Follow on X: Host Jacquelyn Melinek⁠ https://twitter.com/jacqmelinek⁠ | Podcast⁠ https://twitter.com/_TalkingTokens⁠ Instagram:⁠ https://www.instagram.com/_talkingtokens/⁠ Note: This podcast is for informational purposes only. Guests may have financial interests in discussed entities or assets. Not investment advice.

    43 分钟
  3. 9月25日

    PayPal Just Made a HUGE Crypto Move | Matt Tabbiner

    On today’s Talking Tokens episode, Jacquelyn sits down with Matthew Tabbiner, CEO of Stable, a layer-1 blockchain purpose-built for stablecoins. Stable recently received a strategic investment from PayPal Ventures and enabled use of PayPal USD (PYUSD) on its chain, aimed at expanding the stablecoin’s distribution and utility for payments, remittances, and commerce. They discuss why Stable uses USDT as the native gas token, how that design targets fast, low-friction settlement, and what this means for institutions, B2B flows, and emerging markets. They also cover how Stable fits alongside broader moves in the sector as major issuers and payments firms push stablecoin infrastructure onchain. This episode is sponsored by Fireblocks, the leading stablecoin infrastructure for global enterprises. Learn more at fireblocks.com. ⏱️ Timestamps (00:00) - Intro (01:23) - Stable’s mission for everyday utility of stablecoins (03:14) - Why Stable is purpose-built as a payments chain (05:25) - New PayPal partnership and support for PYUSD (07:33) - UX/UI challenges and why PayPal is Stable’s perfect partner (09:07) - Explosive B2B stablecoin growth in market (2,900%+ since 2023) (12:20) - Remittances, payroll, and multinational adoption use cases (14:17) - Launching the Stable Wallet and fee-free P2P USDC transfers (16:28) - Stripe, Tether, and enterprise validation for stablecoin rails (19:58) - Financial inclusion: 1.5B unbanked and mobile-first adoption (22:12) - Emerging markets (Argentina, Brazil, Indonesia) vs. U.S. adoption (25:09) - Institutional adoption, treasuries, and guaranteed blockspace (29:14) - Everyday utility: from savings to paying for coffee (32:06) - The “Summer of Stablecoins” and institutional momentum (36:09) - Final advice: build from user needs, ground up 📢 Subscribe & Follow Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube. Support the show by leaving a review! Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0LOgWxIQ0NnNUD5eXsSuoZ Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/talking-tokens/id1743669141 Follow on Twitter: Host Jacqueline https://twitter.com/jacqmelinek | Podcast https://twitter.com/_TalkingTokens Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_talkingtokens/ Note: This podcast is for informational purposes only. Guests may have a financial interest in discussed entities or assets. Not investment advice.

    40 分钟
  4. Introducing Talking Tokenization : The Future of Finance Tokenizing Wall Street

    9月23日

    Introducing Talking Tokenization : The Future of Finance Tokenizing Wall Street

    Welcome to Talking Tokenization, a new podcast series unlocking how onchain assets are transforming finance, capital markets, and the way the world trades. Award-nominated journalist Jacquelyn Melinek leads conversations with the people and projects building the real world asset ecosystem, from tokenizing treasuries and private credit to launching the next wave of onchain funds and public equities. This series is supported by Securitize, the industry’s leading platform for tokenizing investments. In the debut episode, Carlos Domingo, co-founder and CEO of Securitize, explains what it takes to move from pilot projects to institutional mainstream, why BlackRock’s onchain fund is a true turning point, and how compliance-first infrastructure is powering the rise of a new financial industry. Dive in to hear what’s next as tokenization enters a new era of scale and impact. If you want to understand how global markets are being rebuilt for the next decade and how this movement will shape investing and access around the world, this is the conversation to follow. Sponsored by Securitize, the proven leader in tokenized funds, equities, and private markets. Discover more at securitize.io. This episode is sponsored by Fireblocks, the stablecoin infrastructure of choice for top global businesses, from Visa and Worldpay to Bridge and Revolut. Learn more at fireblocks.com. ⏱️ Timestamps (00:00) - Introducing Talking Tokenization (01:40) - Why capital markets need tokenization (04:15) - Launching Securitize in 2017 and early challenges (07:20) - Why tokenization failed before and why it works now (10:05) - Stablecoins, regulation, and adoption momentum (13:15) - The KKR partnership: first tokenized fund (16:40) - BlackRock’s $2B tokenized treasury fund explained (20:30) - Ripple’s RLUSD stablecoin integration (23:50) - DeFi meets tokenization: lending, collateral & Aave (27:40) - Native tokenization vs wrappers: what investors must know (31:20) - Tokenized stocks and the path to mainstream adoption (35:00) - Market structure, regulation & investor protections (38:40) - What’s next for Securitize and RWAs (42:20) - Final thoughts from Carlos Domingo 📢 Subscribe & Follow Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube. Support the show by leaving a review! Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0LOgWxIQ0NnNUD5eXsSuoZ Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/talking-tokens/id1743669141 Follow on X: Host Jacquelyn Melinek https://twitter.com/jacqmelinek | Podcast https://twitter.com/_TalkingTokens Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_talkingtokens/ Note: This podcast is for informational purposes only. Guests may have a financial interest in discussed entities or assets. Not investment advice.

    47 分钟
  5. 9月18日

    Tokenize Everything? The Real World Asset Debate in 2025

    Today’s episode was recorded at the Real World Asset Summit, where leaders from across capital markets and crypto came together to chart the future of tokenized assets. Jacquelyn moderated a candid panel with Kaushal Sheth (Head of US Sales, Blockdaemon), Neil Chopra (Head of Strategy & Business Development, Fireblocks), and Jenn Senhaji (Head of Growth & BD, Chronicle) on what institutional demand for tokenized money market funds and stablecoins really looks like today. The guests break down the state of RWA infrastructure, the unique compliance and regulatory hurdles being tackled, why “tokenize everything” is both a meme and a mission, and what’s finally bridging DeFi with traditional finance. Learn about emerging use cases for stablecoins, tokenized collateral, cross-border settlements, the boom in onchain private assets, and the timeline for true retail access. This episode is sponsored by Fireblocks, the leading stablecoin infrastructure for global enterprises. Learn more at fireblocks.com. ⏱️ Timestamps (00:00) - Intro: Stablecoins and market structure today (01:04) - Guest intros: Chronicle, Fireblocks, Blockdaemon (02:23) - From price oracles to tokenized assets (03:47) - Fireblocks on custody, wallets & security (04:51) - Blockdaemon’s path: nodes, staking & DeFi infra (05:35) - Why fragmentation is a “necessary evil” (06:20) - Regulation, the Clarity Act & institutional readiness (07:52) - Institutions shifting from curiosity to execution (09:00) - Why compliance comfort has improved (11:00) - The business case for stablecoins (12:01) - Stablecoins as bridges between TradFi and DeFi (13:21) - Collateral management with money market funds (15:07) - Onchain FX as the next opportunity (16:12) - Stablecoins as easy-to-understand consumer rails (17:38) - Tokenized collateral and global settlement demand (18:44) - Private credit, private equity & tokenized funds (20:20) - Global competition & regulatory races (22:05) - Tokenizing equities and global access (23:07) - Should everything be tokenized? Utility vs hype (25:08) - Trial and error: what works and what doesn’t (27:09) - DeFi and TradFi convergence: coexistence, not replacement (29:10) - Younger generations & the shift to digital-native finance (30:24) - Final thoughts and closing 📢 Subscribe & Follow Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube. Support the show by leaving a review! Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0LOgWxIQ0NnNUD5eXsSuoZ Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/talking-tokens/id1743669141 Follow on Twitter: Host Jacqueline https://twitter.com/jacqmelinek | Podcast https://twitter.com/_TalkingTokens Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_talkingtokens/ Note: This podcast is for informational purposes only. Guests may have a financial interest in discussed entities or assets. Not investment advice.

    32 分钟
  6. 9月16日

    Solana Genius Behind Mad Lads & Backpack | Armani Ferrante

    In this episode, Jacquelyn sits down with Armani Ferrante, co-founder and CEO of Backpack. Armani explains how Backpack EU became one of Europe’s first fully regulated derivatives exchanges, after acquiring and refunding FTX EU’s user base. The team also launched daily proof of reserves, verified by OtterSec, to show transparency regardless of market conditions. He highlights the massive gap left by other exchanges exiting Europe, the unique compliance culture across regions (EU, Asia, US), and what “crypto’s next-generation bank” actually means. Armani also reflects on learnings from the FTX collapse, building trust through compliance and daily transparency, and why focusing on long-term cycles is key to survival and innovation in crypto.This episode is sponsored by Fireblocks, the stablecoin infrastructure of choice for top global businesses, from Visa and Worldpay to Bridge and Revolut. Learn more at fireblocks.com. ⏱️ Timestamps (00:00) - Intro (01:23) - Backpack EU operating under MiFID II License (02:08) - Refunding FTX EU users (03:23) - Acquiring FTX EU compliance cleanup (06:05) - Why regulated perps matter in Europe (06:53) - Perpetual futures explained (08:29) - Compliance first approach at Backpack (09:00) - Exchanges exit EU, demand grows (10:57) - Institutions already here in crypto (12:36) - Two year journey to licenses worldwide (13:56) - Expansion playbook US, Asia, Japan, UAE (16:36) - Japan tax cut and market revival (19:17) - Why Armani chose to build close to users in Japan (21:02) - Dubai first, Asia next, US later (24:41) - Backpack in US? Live in 17 states (26:16) - Compliance for Backpack wallet and Mad Lads (27:41) - Crypto bank vs traditional brokers and banks (29:31) - Integrating fiat on/off-ramps, cross-border payments, and multichain wallet power (31:26) - Building a new financial stack (33:09) - Build vs buy: FTX EU case (34:04) - Competing with major exchanges like Coinbase and Binance (36:35) - Next-generation apps focused on transparency (38:23) - Crypto only verifiability and security (41:11) - Daily proof-of-reserve and OtterSec audits (42:14) - Stripe’s Tempo blockchain and corporates in crypto (44:02) - From speculation to real world products (44:43) - Closing advice on long term conviction 📢 Subscribe & Follow Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube. Support the show by leaving a review! Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0LOgWxIQ0NnNUD5eXsSuoZ Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/talking-tokens/id1743669141 Follow on Twitter: Host Jacqueline https://twitter.com/jacqmelinek | Podcast https://twitter.com/_TalkingTokens Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_talkingtokens/ Note: This podcast is for informational purposes only. Guests may have a financial interest in discussed entities or assets. Not investment advice.

    47 分钟
  7. 9月11日

    Why Solflare Thinks the Bear Market Is an Advantage | Vidor Gencel

    In this episode, Vidor Gencel, Co-Founder of Solflare, shares the journey of building one of the most widely used crypto wallets in the Solana ecosystem.  This episode is a part of the Solana Sessions campaign that Token Relations and the Talking Tokens podcast are doing, diving into founders’ journeys and startups building on Solana.  Solflare has over 4 million users and manages billions in assets. He discusses how crypto’s cyclical nature shaped Solflare’s growth approach, emphasizing the importance to innovate even during bear markets. Vidor explains the crucial role of self-custody, how the wallet adapts to diverse user needs globally, and the importance of seamless user experience. Hear about Solflare’s integration with Solana Mobile’s Seed Vault on Seeker and its flagship Saga device, the team’s focus on security with multi-wallet support, and plans for stablecoin yield and debit cards. He also shares insights on product design, lessons from both successes and challenges, and his optimistic outlook on Solana’s technical progress. This episode is sponsored by Fireblocks, the stablecoin infrastructure of choice for top global businesses, from Visa and Worldpay to Bridge and Revolut. Learn more at fireblocks.com. ⏱️ Timestamps (00:00) - Intro (01:01) - Vidor's early Web3 journey and technical background (02:24) - What inspired Solflare’s creation on Solana (03:32) - From initial release to 4 million active users and $15B assets managed (04:38) - Market-driven feature focus: staking, trading, and onboarding tailored to trends (06:03) - Empowering users to own their crypto assets (07:40) - Overcoming fear of self-custody in mainstream audiences (09:52) - Community-driven development through user feedback (12:36) - Adapting to diverse user roles (14:28) - Integrating with Solana Mobile’s Seeker Seed Vault and Saga device (17:03) - Hot wallets, hardware wallet support including Ledger, Keystone, and Saga (20:16) - Product strategy on Solana and perspective on multichain future (22:14) - Lessons from limit orders and cautious stance on perpetuals (26:06) - Stablecoin management trends and rollout of self-custodial debit cards (28:50) - Thoughts on Solana’s network upgrades (31:52) - Vidor’s closing advice 📢 Subscribe & FollowSubscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube. Support the show by leaving a review!Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0LOgWxIQ0NnNUD5eXsSuoZApple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/talking-tokens/id1743669141Follow on Twitter: Host Jacqueline https://twitter.com/jacqmeline | Podcast https://twitter.com/_TalkingTokensInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/_talkingtokens/ Note: This podcast is for informational purposes only. Discussions may include perspectives of guests with financial interests. Not investment advice.

    35 分钟
  8. 9月9日

    Why Your Data Gets Hacked Every Week (And How ZK Proofs Fix It) | Shiv Shankar

    On this episode of Talking Tokens, Jacquelyn welcomes Shiv Shankar, CEO of Boundless, a protocol for verifiable compute across any chain, powered by the RISC Zero zkVM technology. From software engineering at companies like Coinbase, Lyft, Ava Labs, and Microsoft, to becoming CEO of Boundless, Shiv is pioneering blockchain research, while bringing the world of zero-knowledge (ZK) proofs to everyone. He explains how ZK unlocks privacy, app scaling, and true interoperability.  Tune in to learn why Boundless’ mainnet beta began on Base (with Ethereum Foundation support), how proof-of-verifiable-work compresses costs, and how ZK will make cross-chain apps and frictionless user experiences possible for the next billion users.This episode is sponsored by Fireblocks, the stablecoin infrastructure of choice for top global businesses, from Visa and Worldpay to Bridge and Revolut. Learn more at fireblocks.com. ⏱️ Timestamps 📢 Subscribe & Follow Subscribe on Spotify, Apple or YouTube. If you like the show, leave us a review! Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0LOgWxIQ0NnNUD5eXsSuoZ Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/talking-tokens/id1743669141 Follow on X: Jacquelyn: https://twitter.com/jacqmelinek | Talking Tokens: https://twitter.com/_TalkingTokens Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_talkingtokens/ Note: This podcast is for informational purposes only. Guests may have a financial interest in discussed assets or companies. Not investment advice.

    52 分钟

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4.8
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关于

Talking Tokens is a podcast focused on interviewing the best crypto leaders, startups, market players and up-and-coming founders that are changing the industry. Join Jacquelyn Melinek, an award-nominated host and seasoned crypto journalist-turned-entrepreneur, to dive into the best talks in crypto in an easy-to-understand way. The episodes will air every Tuesday and Thursday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, X and more. For more updates, subscribe to the Talking Tokens newsletter here: https://talkingtokens.beehiiv.com/ Follow us on X: https://twitter.com/_TalkingTokens

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