The Stablecoin Podcast

Stablecoin Partners

The Stablecoin Podcast dives deep into the world of stablecoins — from technology and regulation to adoption and innovation. Brought to you by Stablecoin Partners, an expert advisory firm born out of the industry body Stablecoin Standard, this show explores everything stablecoin-related with top voices from finance, crypto, and policy. Whether you're a builder, regulator, or just curious, this podcast is your go-to source for stablecoin insights.

  1. 3d ago

    From Sidelines to Front Row: Anthony Vassallo on How SVB Built Crypto Banking for 500+ Clients

    In this episode, we're joined by Anthony Vassallo, Director of Crypto at Silicon Valley Bank (a division of First Citizens Bank), who's spent the last eight of his ten years at SVB bridging traditional banking with digital assets. We dig into how SVB built a dedicated crypto practice now serving over 500 clients, why banks that once wouldn't touch digital assets are suddenly racing to build stablecoin infrastructure, and what's actually changed in the compliance and risk conversation since 2022. We also unpack the difference between stablecoins and tokenized deposits, why Anthony sees distribution, not issuance, as the real bottleneck to stablecoin adoption, whether Tether has become "too big to fail," and his framework for thinking about confidentiality versus compliance on-chain (verify the mailbox exists without disclosing the address). Plus: what the GENIUS Act means for banks now that rules are finally in place, and why "hide the blockchain, show the benefit" might be the best way to think about where this all goes next. Follow Stablecoin Partners  Stablecoin Partners: https://www.stablecoinpartners.com/  StableCheck: https://www.stablecoinstandard.com/stablecheck    SVB: Website: https://www.svb.com/profile/anthony-vassallo/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonyvassallo/ / https://www.linkedin.com/company/silicon-valley-bank/    Chapters   00:14 Introduction to Stablecoin Infrastructure 03:13 Silicon Valley Bank's Role in Digital Assets 06:11 Evolution of Banking Relationships in Crypto 09:21 Adapting to Market Changes and Client Needs 12:00 The Changing Landscape of Digital Assets 15:08 Stablecoins and Their Growing Importance 18:02 Institutional Perspectives on Digital Assets 21:09 The Future of Banking and Digital Assets 25:17 Initial Reactions and Market Dynamics 26:19 Tokenization of Assets and Customer Demand 28:48 Counterparty Risk and Liquidity Concerns 29:48 Distribution vs. Issuance in Stablecoins 34:34 Systemic Risks and Market Cap of Stablecoins 38:23 Fragmentation and the Future of Stablecoins 42:26 Compliance Challenges in Digital Assets 42:27 Future of Confidentiality and Compliance

  2. Aug 25

    Building SphereNet: The Compliance-First Ledger for Cross-Border Payments (Arnold Lee) 

    In this episode, we're joined by Arnold Lee, co-founder and CEO of Sphere Labs, whose company settles cross-border payments across more than 160 markets and just brought Deutsche Telekom on as a validator for its new compliance-native ledger, SphereNet. We dig into how a Solana hackathon win led Arnold and his co-founder to spend the last three years building payment rails across Latin America, why the region's regulatory chaos and thin corporate participation create both the opportunity and the ceiling for stablecoin adoption, and how SphereNet's approach to confidential-but-disclosable transactions is designed to let regulated institutions get comfortable with blockchain rails without sacrificing their compliance obligations. We also unpack why a telecom giant like Deutsche Telekom is a surprisingly natural fit as a validator, Arnold's contrarian take on agentic commerce (it's less about AI agents buying sneakers and more about underwriting mid-market trade finance that humans can't be bothered to do), and what the GENIUS Act, and the CLARITY Act working its way through Congress, actually mean for money transmitters building in this space.   Follow Stablecoin Partners  Stablecoin Partners: https://www.stablecoinpartners.com/  StableCheck: https://www.stablecoinstandard.com/stablecheck    Sphere Pay/Labs/Net: Websites: SpherePay: Global Stablecoin Payments API & Dashboard / https://spherelabs.co/ / https://www.sphere.net/  LinkedIn: Sphere Labs | LinkedIn  Arnold: Arnold Lee - Sphere Labs | LinkedIn    Chapters   00:00 Introduction to Sphere Labs and Arnold Lee's Journey 03:00 The Evolution of SphereNet and Its Unique Approach 05:56 Sphere Labs' Operations in Latin America 09:13 Compliance and Institutional Adoption Challenges 12:02 Sphere's Differentiation in the Market 14:59 The Interplay of Sphere Pay, Sphere Labs, and Sphere Net 18:09 Privacy Preservation in Blockchain Transactions 25:26 Balancing Privacy and Regulation 29:18 The Role of Telecom in Payment Infrastructure 31:44 AI and Agentic Payments: A New Frontier 40:26 Building Compliance into Blockchain Solutions 45:48 The Impact of Regulatory Clarity on Innovation

  3. Jul 28

    Accounting for Stablecoins: Inside Nephos Group's Crypto Practice (Joe David)

    In this episode, we're joined by Joe David, founder and CEO of Nephos Group, an accountancy practice that moved from servicing a handful of early crypto clients in 2018 to running its business from Dubai and settling its own invoices in a regulated dirham stablecoin. We dig into how a chance client introduction to a crypto exchange turned into a full pivot for the firm, why Joe relocated Nephos's headquarters from the UK to the UAE, and how VARA and ADGM's "inside out" approach to regulation compares with the UK's attempt to bolt crypto onto existing financial services rules. From accepting payments in AE Coin to the tax treatment question dividing regulators worldwide, is a stablecoin a disposal of an asset or a cash-equivalent payment method?, we explore where the accounting and compliance headaches really sit for businesses adopting this technology. We also unpack the difference between a reserve attestation and true proof of reserves, why GBPA opts for monthly reporting ahead of the FCA's quarterly requirement, and how local stablecoins like AE Coin and GBPA might coexist with global players in an increasingly interoperable, multi-currency stablecoin landscape. Follow Stablecoin Partners  Stablecoin Partners: https://www.stablecoinpartners.com/  StableCheck: https://www.stablecoinstandard.com/stablecheck    Nephos Group Website: https://www.nephosgroup.com/  Joe Website: https://joedavid.co/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joedavidcrypto/    Chapters   0:00 - Opening and introductions 1:14 - Joe’s background and how Nephos moved into crypto 6:57 - Why Joe moved from the UK to Dubai 9:24 - Why the UAE is a crypto-friendly hub 13:31 - Stablecoin payments and AE Coin 18:13 - Tax treatment of stablecoins 28:36 - Reserves vs. attestations 35:10 - UK stablecoin rules and monthly reporting 42:09 - Local vs international stablecoins 48:47 - Where the industry is heading 52:29 - What businesses should ask their accountant first

  4. Jul 14

    Building Sorbet: MENA's First On-Chain Neobank (Maher Ayari)

    In this episode, we're joined by Maher Ayari, co-founder of Sorbet, a stablecoin-powered fintech building what it calls the region's first on-chain neobank for the MENA market. We dig into how a freelancer payments problem in Riyadh turned into a broader thesis for stablecoin-based settlement, why the UAE and Saudi Arabia rank among the top global remittance corridors despite currencies already pegged to the dollar, and how Sorbet is navigating one of the world's more conservative regulatory environments while building alongside the Saudi Central Bank's evolving stance on digital assets. From the "stablecoin sandwich" model of plugging into providers like Bridge and Circle, to the strategic shift toward owning liquidity rails directly, we explore how Sorbet is repositioning from B2C freelancer payments toward a Mercury-style B2B financial operating system for businesses across Saudi and the wider region. We also unpack the just-announced OpenUSD consortium, what it signals about the USDC-versus-USDT dynamic, and why distribution, not issuance, may be the hardest problem in stablecoins today.Follow Stablecoin Partners Stablecoin Partners: https://www.stablecoinpartners.com/ StableCheck: https://www.stablecoinstandard.com/stablecheck SorbetWebsite: https://mysorbet.io/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mysorbet/ Maher: https://sa.linkedin.com/in/maher-ayari Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Sorbet and the MENA Region02:58 Maher's Journey and the Birth of Sorbet06:06 The Evolution of Stablecoins in the MENA Region09:01 Challenges and Opportunities in Building in the GCC11:55 The Role of Stablecoins in Remittances14:46 Understanding the Unique Needs of the MENA Market17:58 The Future of Stablecoins and Financial Infrastructure21:02 Target Customers and Business Model of Sorbet24:15 Transitioning to B2B Financial Solutions29:11 The Evolution of Stablecoins in the MENA Region35:40 Innovative Financial Products and Market Positioning39:20 The Impact of OpenUSD on the Stablecoin Landscape46:33 Navigating the Future of Stablecoins and Regulation

  5. Jul 9

    Inside the UAE's First Central Bank-Licensed Stablecoin: Building AECoin (Ramez Rafeek)

    In this episode, we're joined by Ramez Rafeek, General Manager of AED Stablecoin LLC, the issuer of AECoin, the UAE's first Dirham-backed stablecoin, licensed directly by the Central Bank of the UAE. We dig into what it actually took to build a regulated stablecoin from scratch alongside a central bank, how the escrow-backed, one-to-one Dirham peg works day to day, and why AECoin's daily reporting and monthly attestation model sets a different bar for transparency. From government fee payments and merchant adoption to a standout use case, topping up your wallet with crypto and spending it instantly as AECoin, we explore how real-world distribution was won across retail, institutional, and B2B channels. We also examine the broader Dirham stablecoin landscape, how the UAE's central bank licensing differs from free-zone regimes like VARA and ADGM, and where Ramez sees digital Dirham adoption heading by 2030.Follow Stablecoin Partners Stablecoin Partners: https://www.stablecoinpartners.com/ StableCheck: https://www.stablecoinstandard.com/stablecheck AE CoinWebsite: https://aecoin.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ad-coinuae/ Ramez: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ramez-rafeek-18651541/ Chapters 00:00 Introduction to AECoin and Its Significance03:04 Regulatory Framework and Compliance in the UAE11:50 Impact of Regulation on Innovation12:21 Competitive Landscape of Stablecoins in the UAE15:35 Use Cases and Adoption of AECoin20:21 Future of AECoin and Market Demand26:01 Vision for the Future of Digital Payments in the UAE30:42 Conclusion and Resources for AECoin

  6. Jun 23

    When Money Moves Itself: Agentic Payments and the Future of Cross-Border Finance (Pritpal Shokar)

    In this episode, we're joined by Pritpal Shokar, Head of Product for Digital Assets at Thunes, to explore what it really takes to build stablecoin infrastructure at a global scale. We dig into how digital money is evolving across borders, why stablecoins and e-money aren't as interchangeable as they seem, and where tokenized deposits fit into the picture. From liquidity challenges in cross-border payments to the UK's shifting regulatory landscape, we examine the friction points that still define international finance, and how programmable money could eliminate them. We also look ahead to the emerging world of agentic payments, where AI-driven transactions demand new thinking around trust, oversight, and the role of the treasurer. Follow Stablecoin Partners: - Stablecoin Partners: https://www.stablecoinpartners.com/ - StableCheck: https://www.stablecoinstandard.com/stablecheck Thunes: - Website: https://www.thunes.com/ - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thunespayments/ - Pritpal: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pritpal-shokar/ Presented in partnership with Nephos Group Proud sponsors of the Stablecoin Standard Podcast, Nephos Group is the specialist accountancy and advisory firm for stablecoin issuers. From proof of reserves and attestations to stablecoin accounting and compliance support, they help digital asset businesses build the financial rigour that institutional adoption demands. Learn more at nephosgroup.com.

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About

The Stablecoin Podcast dives deep into the world of stablecoins — from technology and regulation to adoption and innovation. Brought to you by Stablecoin Partners, an expert advisory firm born out of the industry body Stablecoin Standard, this show explores everything stablecoin-related with top voices from finance, crypto, and policy. Whether you're a builder, regulator, or just curious, this podcast is your go-to source for stablecoin insights.

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