Podcast
Around the Coin
Hosted by Stephen Sargeant and Mike Townsend · EN
The mission behind Around The Coin podcast is to offer entrepreneurs an alternative perspective for growing their business in and around the payment industry.
11episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
ATC - Seni Thomas, Founder and CEO of EDGE Markets
4d ago00:49:57Tap to summarizeJoin our host, Stephen Sargeant, as he welcomes Seni Thomas, CEO and founder of EDGE Markets, to discuss prediction markets and EDGE’s role in compliant, high-velocity fund movement across regulated venues. Thomas covers EDGE’s $29.2M Series A led by CoinFund, the partnership with Kalshi, and why fragmentation into multiple liquidity pools could drive far higher volumes than current projections. He explains EDGE’s origins in gaming money movement, the pivot from leverage to solving banking constraints, and the launch of a limited-use checking account with a $1M debit limit that blocks non-allowlisted transactions to reduce AML risk. The episode also explores EDGE Boost, EDGE Connect, and EDGE Pro, real-time payments via RTP/FedNow, crypto-to-fiat rails via Zero Hash, plans for an FCM license to reduce dead capital, views on evolving state/federal regulation, and responsible gaming tools like universal limits, Copilot social accountability, and a planned disposable-income-based limit feature. We are also available via:Around The Coin — Official WebsiteBuzzsproutApple PodcastSpotifyPlayer FMQuoraMediumX FacebookLinkedInTiktokSoundcloud
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How Crypto Onboarding Finally Gets Easier - Aditi Sriram | ATC #618
2w ago00:59:17Tap to summarizeOn Around The Coin, host Stephen Sargeant welcomes Aditi Shriram, COO of Para, to discuss her path into crypto from seeing Vitalik speak and starting at ConsenSys, plus her experience as a venture scout for Bain Capital Crypto. Aditi explains Para’s focus on wallet infrastructure for companies building on-chain financial products, highlighting stablecoin-driven use cases like remittances, embedded finance, payouts, treasury, and early agentic commerce. She details Para’s differentiation through a security-first distributed MPC model, stack neutrality, and modular integrations, and shares Para 3.0 updates driven by global customer needs. The conversation covers reusable KYC and permissioned identity sharing, the challenges of autonomous transaction authorization, views on super wallets, X402’s strengths and gaps, and what it’s like operating launches and roadmap priorities as a product-minded COO. We are also available via:Around The Coin — Official WebsiteBuzzsproutApple PodcastSpotifyPlayer FMQuoraMediumX FacebookLinkedInTiktokSoundcloud
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How AI Agents Use Stablecoins - Xen Baynham-Herd | ATC #617
3w ago00:57:52Tap to summarizeJoin our host Stephen Sargeant with Xen Baynham-Herd, Head of Growth and Marketing at Base, on the Around The Coin podcast to discuss Base’s newest launches. Base Ledgers for enterprise-grade private transactions (shielded from the public but visible to regulators/auditors) and Base MCP, which connects chat interfaces like ChatGPT/Claude to a wallet and Base apps so agents can execute DeFi actions with user approval. Xen shares his path from TradFi and five years at Blockchain.com to working with Balaji Srinivasan on The Network State, and explains how Base is growing across trading, lending, payments (including major USDC transfer volume and local-currency stablecoins), and agents. They cover institutional adoption, X402 as an internet payments protocol enabling agentic commerce, Agentic market, and Xen’s approach to global expansion and building founder-driven communities.We are also available via:Around The Coin — Official WebsiteBuzzsproutApple PodcastSpotifyPlayer FMQuoraMediumX FacebookLinkedInTiktokSoundcloud
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ATC - Itai Turbahn, Co-Founder & CEO of Dynamic and Tal Zackon, Co-Founder & CEO of TRES Finance
4w ago01:07:12Tap to summarizeJoin our host Stephen Sargeant with Itai Turbahn from Dynamic and Tal Zackon from TRES Finance, both now under Fireblocks, for a deep dive into agentic AI and what it means for payments, compliance, cybersecurity, and stablecoins. They explain why today’s human-in-the-loop rails like cards and ACH don’t scale for agent-to-agent microtransactions, and why crypto rails and stablecoins can enable instant, low-cost, high-volume programmable payments that should remain invisible to end users. Tal shares how TRES is using AI tools like Vara and MCP to automate repetitive back-office reconciliation and help compliance teams operate with an “army of agents” while maintaining audit trails. They also discuss agent identity, emerging standards like x402 and MPP, fraud and chargebacks, enterprise treasury efficiencies with stablecoins, and how to stay relevant by learning and building hands-on. We are also available via:Around The Coin — Official WebsiteBuzzsproutApple PodcastSpotifyPlayer FMQuoraMediumX FacebookLinkedInTiktokSoundcloud
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How Stablecoins Fix Cross-Border Payments - Chris Mason | ATC #615
Jun 1000:51:12Tap to summarizeHost Stephen Sargeant interviews Chris Mason, founder and CEO of Orbital, about building stablecoin infrastructure and how it can improve cross-border payments compared with traditional correspondent banking and SWIFT. Mason explains Orbital’s background processing stablecoins for seven years, its focus on corporate clients, and why transaction controls, authorizations, segregation of client funds, and compliance (including travel rule and blockchain analytics tools) matter as much as speed. They discuss common use cases like pay-ins, payouts, auto-conversions for firms that want stablecoin speed without holding stablecoins on balance sheet, and growing demand for emerging-market on/off-ramps. The conversation covers licensing burdens, regulatory arbitrage, crypto’s potential for better financial crime detection due to on-chain visibility, stablecoins in crisis or sanctioned-region trade for non-sanctioned goods, and how industry M&A and AI may shape Orbital’s next phase.We are also available via:Around The Coin — Official WebsiteBuzzsproutApple PodcastSpotifyPlayer FMQuoraMediumX FacebookLinkedInTiktokSoundcloud
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Why Enterprises Need Their Own Blockchain - Kyle Jenke | ATC #614
Jun 300:22:38Tap to summarizeRecorded live at EthCC in Cannes, Around The Coin with host Stephen Sargeant sits down with Kyle Jenke, Chief Business Officer at Optimism, about how Optimism’s OP Stack and OP Enterprise help large enterprises build and own their own blockchains for customization, revenue economics, and stronger compliance, privacy, and security. Jenke cites over 50 OP Stack chains and major brands building on Optimism, and highlights Bitpanda’s MiCA-compliant Vision Chain as a European example of regulated adoption. He discusses key customer verticals (fintechs, exchanges, payments, and large financial institutions), rising gas-fee costs and urgency to launch owned infrastructure, and how enterprises use blockchains for product differentiation amid converging financial services. The conversation also covers Security Overwatch SLAs, a menu of compliance/security vendors, AI use across Optimism, and compliance needs like OFAC screening amid geopolitics. We are also available via:Around The Coin — Official WebsiteBuzzsproutApple PodcastSpotifyPlayer FMQuoraMediumX FacebookLinkedInTiktokSoundcloud
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Why Institutions Need Confidential Blockchain Transactions - Jeremy Jeremy | ATC #613
May 2700:32:40Tap to summarizeLive at EthCC on the Around The Coin podcast, Stephen Sargeant heads to the Zama Villa to speak with Zama COO Jeremy Bradley about fully homomorphic encryption (FHE) and why financial institutions need a confidentiality layer to balance blockchain transparency with selective access for regulators and compliance. Jeremy explains “programmable confidentiality,” Europe’s GDPR-driven focus on data sovereignty, and how Zama enables end-to-end encrypted on-chain transactions while allowing authorized decryption when needed. He cites a partnership with T. Rowe Price/Apex Group, use cases like payroll, supplier payments, and influencer payments, and notes other projects (e.g., Inco, Phoenix) use Zama’s technology. They discuss lessons from Zama’s token launch, KYC/KYB support at scale, hiring in a niche FHE talent pool, internal AI for operations efficiency, and quantum computing risks, noting FHE’s quantum-resistant properties. We are also available via:Around The Coin — Official WebsiteBuzzsproutApple PodcastSpotifyPlayer FMQuoraMediumX FacebookLinkedInTiktokSoundcloud
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Will AI Agents Dominate DeFi Trading? - Sergej Kunz | ATC #612
May 2000:22:50Tap to summarizeJoin host Stephen Sargeant reports live from ECC, where discussions center on wallets, tokenization, real-world assets, regulation, and compliance, and introduces a live Around The Coin episode featuring 1inch co-founder and CEO Sergej Kunz. Kunz recounts 1inch’s start at the 2019 ETHGlobal New York hackathon after conversations with Vitalik Buterin, his early hackathon circuit, and how 1inch grew into a leading DEX aggregator. He explains aggregation, intent-based swaps, limit orders, and a cross-chain atomic swap protocol using hash time lock contracts with KYB/compliance-checked participants, positioning 1inch as infrastructure for institutions. They cover institutional adoption via rebranding, tokenized assets, business model (subscriptions, API, rev share), regulatory direction including wallet screening and potential KYC, and how AI agents and 1inch’s MCP tools may drive Web3 usage. We are also available via:Around The Coin — Official WebsiteBuzzsproutApple PodcastSpotifyPlayer FMQuoraMediumX FacebookLinkedInTiktokSoundcloud
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How Crypto Companies Get Media Coverage? - Otto Jacobsson | ATC #611
May 1300:21:58Tap to summarizeJoin host Stephen Sargeant live from EthCC in Cannes for a special episode of the Around The Coin podcast featuring Otto Jacobson, CEO of YAP Global. Otto shares his journey from investment banking and CFO to leading one of the top PR firms in crypto, blockchain, fintech, and AI. Together, they discuss the evolving media landscape in Web3, the rise of niche content creators, and how crypto companies can effectively communicate their stories in an increasingly crowded market.The conversation also explores major industry trends including stablecoins, tokenization, FX trading on-chain, institutional adoption, and why traditional finance giants are moving deeper into blockchain infrastructure. Recorded live at EthCC, this episode is packed with insights for founders, investors, marketers, and anyone interested in the future of crypto and fintech. We are also available via:Around The Coin — Official WebsiteBuzzsproutApple PodcastSpotifyPlayer FMQuoraMediumX FacebookLinkedInTiktokSoundcloud
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Why AI Agents Need Blockchain Identity? - Yat Siu | ATC #610
May 601:09:25Tap to summarizeHost Stephen Sargeant interviews Yat Siu, co-founder and executive chairman of Animoca Brands, covering his background (German mother tongue, education work) and views on how AI is changing the purpose of school and future jobs, emphasizing creativity, humanities, and entrepreneurship. Siu connects cycles from the dot-com era to crypto, arguing technologies that are better for society ultimately win, and frames Animoca’s evolution from gaming to NFTs, DeFi, RWAs, and institutional efforts including Anchor Point’s stablecoin license in Hong Kong. He explains digital ownership as identity and freedom enabled by blockchain, and outlines Web4/agentic commerce where billions of AI agents need on-chain identity, reputation, and payments. Siu describes Animoca Minds with EtherSwarm as low-cost agent infrastructure and a tokenized marketplace for agent “skills,” and shares a blueprint to get his attention: build with Animoca Minds and post results on X. We are also available via:Around The Coin — Official WebsiteBuzzsproutApple PodcastSpotifyPlayer FMQuoraMediumX FacebookLinkedInTiktokSoundcloud
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