Wrap Up

Sam Boboev

Conversation about finance, tech, AI, and crypto

  1. 4 days ago

    Why Banks Spend $60 Billion a Year on Core Banking - Martin Della Chiesa, (CEO,Skaleet)

    Banks spend more than $60 billion a year on core banking, yet much of the industry still runs on decades-old technology. In this episode of the WRAP UP, I sit down with Martin Della Chiesa, CEO of Skaleet, to discuss why replacing legacy core banking systems remains so difficult and how cloud-native, modular and real-time infrastructure is changing the market. We discuss why the biggest competitor for next-generation core banking providers is often the status quo, why major migrations can still take 18–24 months, and how modern platforms can help banks and fintechs launch new products in as little as six months. We also get into AI and agentic commerce. Martin explains why banks cannot fully take advantage of AI agents if their underlying infrastructure is not API-based and real-time, how AI could make legacy migrations easier, and why Skaleet is building infrastructure that could allow AI agents to trigger payments on behalf of customers. We cover: Why core banking remains such a fragmented marketLegacy systems vs next-generation core bankingWhy banks keep postponing core modernizationModular architecture and faster product launchesThe real cost and complexity of core migrationsAI agents and the future of paymentsWhy real-time infrastructure matters for agentic commerceHow AI could help banks understand and replace legacy codeThe three things banks should evaluate when choosing a core banking providerWhy an 800-row RFP spreadsheet may be the wrong way to choose banking technologyA practical conversation about the infrastructure sitting behind modern financial services and what has to change as banking moves into the AI era. _________ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sirojboboev/ Newsletter: https://www.fintechwrapup.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wrapuppodcast/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrapuppodcast X: https://x.com/samboboev

    Why Banks Spend $60 Billion a Year on Core Banking - Martin Della Chiesa, (CEO,Skaleet)

  2. 14 Aug

    Can Stablecoins Really Compete With Visa and Mastercard? - Jess Houlgrave (CEO, WalletConnect)

    Why would someone pay with stablecoins when they already have a Visa or Mastercard? Jess Houlgrave, CEO of WalletConnect, joins me to discuss where stablecoin payments make sense and what is holding them back. WalletConnect works with around 700 wallets and 80,000 applications, reaching about 800 million end users. Around $400 billion in value moved through the network last year. The company is now pushing further into payments with WalletConnect Pay. We get into the competition between stablecoins and cards, including the fees merchants pay and the challenge of getting consumers to change how they pay. Jess explains why stablecoins can work well for cross-border payments and markets where card costs are high. We also discuss whether stablecoins are truly global and whether the market needs so many different stablecoins. The conversation then moves to AI agents. Jess explains why stablecoins could work well for small AI payments and why moving money is only one part of a payment. Compliance and security still need to be handled. We also discuss what happens to Visa and Mastercard if stablecoin payments continue to grow, and what merchants should consider before adding crypto payments. We cover: Why merchants would accept stablecoins when cards already workSame-hour and same-day settlement and the impact on merchant working capitalStablecoins vs Visa, Mastercard, PIX and Faster PaymentsWhether stablecoins are actually globalWhy emerging markets are seeing strong stablecoin demandWhether the market needs hundreds of different stablecoinsWhat stablecoins could mean for card network pricingWhy payments require more than moving money from A to BStablecoins, AI agents and micropaymentsHow AI agents could buy products and services on our behalfWhat merchants should look for when choosing a stablecoin payment providerA practical conversation about where stablecoins genuinely improve payments, where existing rails remain stronger, and how the two could coexist. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sirojboboev/ Newsletter: https://www.fintechwrapup.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wrapuppodcast/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrapuppodcast X: https://x.com/samboboev

    Can Stablecoins Really Compete With Visa and Mastercard? - Jess Houlgrave (CEO, WalletConnect)

  3. 7 Aug

    The Stablecoin Stack Every Fintech Will Eventually Build - Bentzi Rabi (CEO, Utila)

    Stablecoins are getting all the attention. But there's another layer most people ignore: the infrastructure that actually holds, secures, and moves digital assets. In this episode of the WRAP UP podcast, I sit down with Bentzi Rabi, Co-Founder and CEO of Utila, to discuss why institutional wallet infrastructure is becoming one of the most important parts of the digital asset ecosystem. We explore why key management is only the beginning, how operational controls and risk management become critical at scale, and why many fintechs will eventually move away from all-in-one providers to build and control their own stablecoin infrastructure. We also discuss: Why holding digital assets is harder than moving themMPC vs multisig for institutional securityThe biggest operational risks in stablecoin infrastructureWhy fintechs eventually build their own stablecoin stackFireblocks vs the new generation of wallet providersGas management, policy engines, and transaction automationWhy regulation is changing wallet infrastructureMastercard's acquisition of BVNK and what it means for the marketWhy every fintech may soon become a blockchain companyIf you work in fintech, payments, banking, crypto infrastructure, or digital assets, this episode explains the technology powering the next generation of money. Subscribe for more conversations with the leaders building the future of finance. ___________ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sirojboboev/ Newsletter: https://www.fintechwrapup.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wrapuppodcast/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrapuppodcast X: https://x.com/samboboev

    The Stablecoin Stack Every Fintech Will Eventually Build - Bentzi Rabi (CEO, Utila)

  4. 31 Jul

    Why Amazon, Shopify & Stripe Are Becoming the New Banks - Jakob Pethick (CCO, YouLend)

    Most business owners still think of banks when they need financing. That is quickly changing. In this episode of the WRAP UP Podcast, I sit down with Jakob Pethick, Chief Commercial Officer at YouLend, to explore why lending is moving directly into the software businesses already use every day. We discuss how platforms such as Amazon, Shopify, eBay, Stripe, Worldpay and many others are embedding financial products into their ecosystems, allowing merchants to access funding without ever speaking to a bank. We also dive into: Why embedded lending is growing so quickly How YouLend powers lending behind major platforms Why banks are losing distribution to software companies The role of AI and machine learning in credit underwriting How open banking is transforming risk assessment Why platforms—not banks—may become the primary distribution channel for financial services The future of embedded finance over the next five years If you’re building in fintech, banking, payments, SaaS or embedded finance, this conversation offers a behind-the-scenes look at where business lending is heading next.

    Why Amazon, Shopify & Stripe Are Becoming the New Banks - Jakob Pethick (CCO, YouLend)

  5. 24 Jul

    How AI agents will change payments, commerce, and fraud - Amir Sarhangi (CEO, Skyfire)

    What happens when AI agents stop recommending products and start buying them for you? In this episode of WRAP UP podcast, I sit down with Amir Sarhangi, CEO of Skyfire, to explore what the rise of the machine economy means for payments, banking, and e-commerce. As AI agents become capable of searching, comparing, negotiating, and completing purchases autonomously, entirely new questions emerge around identity, trust, fraud, and payments. One of the biggest challenges is simple: How do you know an AI agent is acting on behalf of a real person? Amir explains the concept of Know Your Agent (KYA), why AI agents need their own digital identity, and how merchants can distinguish legitimate AI agents from malicious bots. We also discuss why stablecoins and micropayments could become the preferred payment rails for AI-to-AI transactions, why traditional payment infrastructure struggles with autonomous commerce, and what merchants, banks, and card issuers should be doing today to prepare for a future where software increasingly becomes the customer. In this episode: What the machine economy actually isWhy AI agents need a digital identity (Know Your Agent)How AI agents will make purchases on your behalfWhy stablecoins are well suited for AI commerceThe role of micropayments in the agent economyHow Skyfire enables AI agents to access websites and make paymentsWhat merchants should do to prepare for AI customersHow banks and card issuers should adaptThe biggest fraud and security risks in agentic commerceWhy AI-powered shopping is closer than most people thinkIf you work in fintech, payments, banking, AI, or e-commerce, this conversation explains the infrastructure needed to make autonomous commerce secure, trusted, and scalable. ____ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sirojboboev/ Newsletter: https://www.fintechwrapup.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wrapuppodcast/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrapuppodcast X: https://x.com/samboboev

    How AI agents will change payments, commerce, and fraud - Amir Sarhangi (CEO, Skyfire)

  6. 17 Jul

    The Real Reason Banks Aren't Seeing Results From AI - Charbel Safadi (CEO, Zafin)

    JPMorgan invests over $2 billion annually. Morgan Stanley predicts 200,000 banking jobs could disappear by 2030. Yet MIT research suggests most organizations still struggle to generate measurable value from AI. So what is really happening? In this episode of the WRAP UP podcast, I sit down with Charbel Safadi, CEO of Zafin, to discuss the future of AI in banking, why most AI initiatives fail, and how banks can move beyond experimentation into production. We cover: • Whether AI is hype or a genuine transformation • Why banks are struggling to achieve ROI from AI • The prediction that 200,000 banking jobs could disappear • How AI changes jobs rather than simply replacing them • Zafin’s new AI Operating System (AIOS) • Why banks need an “airport” for AI agents, not just more AI tools • AI governance, compliance, and accountability in regulated industries • How banks should think about OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini, and open-source models • The future of autonomous AI agents inside financial institutions • Why proof of work may become critical for enterprise AI adoption One of the most interesting takeaways was Charbel’s argument that AI is not primarily a technology challenge. It is an operating model challenge. Organizations that redesign how work gets done will benefit. Those that simply add AI tools to existing processes may struggle to see meaningful results. What do you think? Will AI create more opportunities in banking, or are the predictions about job losses correct? ____ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sirojboboev/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wrapuppodcast/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrapuppodcast X: https://x.com/samboboev

    The Real Reason Banks Aren't Seeing Results From AI - Charbel Safadi (CEO, Zafin)

  7. 10 Jul

    AI Agents Are About to Change Payments Operations - David Rosa (General Manager, Rapyd)

    Stablecoins. AI agents. Cross-border payments. The future of money is changing faster than most companies realize. In this episode of the WRAP UP podcast, I sit down with David Rosa, General Manager at Rapyd, to discuss one of the biggest transformations happening across financial services today. We explore the launch of OpenUSD and what it means for the stablecoin market, why Rapyd believes stablecoins are solving real-world payment problems, and how AI is already reshaping the economics of payments businesses. David also explains how Rapyd uses AI to onboard merchants, automate internal operations, improve decision-making, and why he believes many traditional jobs will inevitably change as AI adoption accelerates. We also discuss: • OpenUSD and the future of stablecoins • Whether stablecoins can challenge traditional payment rails • AI agents and autonomous payments • Why Visa and Mastercard are paying attention • MiCA regulation and its impact on crypto businesses • Real-time payments and cross-border infrastructure • Why emerging markets may be affected most by AI disruption • How Rapyd is rebuilding operations around AI • The biggest mistakes businesses make in payments today David oversees AI Transformation, FX, Payouts, and Platform Solutions at Rapyd, one of the world’s leading fintech companies powering global commerce and payments. Subscribe for more conversations with CEOs, founders, regulators, and executives shaping the future of fintech, payments, banking, crypto, AI, and financial infrastructure.

    AI Agents Are About to Change Payments Operations - David Rosa (General Manager, Rapyd)

  8. 3 Jul

    The stablecoin neobank challenging Revolut - Raagulan Pathy (CEO, KAST)

    In this episode of the WRAP UP podcast, I sit down with Raagulan Pathy, Founder & CEO of KAST and former Vice President at Circle . While most companies in crypto and stablecoins are focused on infrastructure, Raagulan believes the biggest opportunity lies elsewhere: building products for end users. We discuss why he left Circle to launch Kast, a stablecoin-powered neobank serving customers in more than 150 countries, how stablecoins are changing global banking, and why traditional banks struggle to serve digital nomads, remote workers, and globally mobile individuals. Topics covered: • Why Raagulan left Circle to start Kast • The vision behind a stablecoin neobank • Can stablecoins compete with Revolut and traditional banks? • Banking for digital nomads and global citizens • Stablecoin adoption around the world • The future of stablecoin cards and payments • Why consolidation is coming to the stablecoin industry • The impact of MiCA and the GENIUS Act • Credit, wealth management, and tokenized assets • Where the next wave of fintech innovation will come from Raagulan also shares his perspective on the future of financial services, the biggest opportunities in stablecoins, and why owning the customer relationship matters more than building infrastructure. Subscribe for more conversations with founders, CEOs, regulators, and operators shaping the future of fintech, payments, banking, AI, and digital assets. _____ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sirojboboev/ Newsletter: https://www.fintechwrapup.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wrapuppodcast/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrapuppodcast X: https://x.com/samboboev

    The stablecoin neobank challenging Revolut - Raagulan Pathy (CEO, KAST)
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About

Conversation about finance, tech, AI, and crypto

Information

  • Creator
    Sam Boboev
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    17
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Show Website
    Wrap Up

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