#24 – Tony McLaughlin: Can Banks Win the Stablecoin Race?
In this episode of the Applied Blockchain Podcast, Adi Ben-Ari speaks with Tony McLaughlin — founder of Ubyx, former Citi payments leader, and leading voice in the stablecoin movement — about why we are entering the Stablecoin Epoch and what it means for financial services worldwide.With three decades in payments, Tony has seen the industry shift from being “boring” to becoming the frontline of digital transformation. Now, he argues that stablecoins and tokenized deposits are set to become the general-purpose form factor for money — reshaping everything from corporate treasury to everyday payments.They explore:• Why the stablecoin epoch is inevitable — and what makes it different from past payment rails• The move from the account paradigm to the wallet paradigm• How stablecoins are really traveller’s checks 2.0 in digital form• Why banks and fintechs must compete on public blockchains• The convergence of public and permissioned networks• Tony’s vision for Ubyx and a universal acceptance network for stablecoins📚 Resources Mentioned• Ubyx – stablecoin ubiquity initiative• Citi research on digital money and tokenization• Industry debates on regulated stablecoins, tokenized deposits, and CBDCsThis podcast is brought to you by Applied Blockchain, a leading blockchain development company shaping the future of Web3 and decentralized technologies.📢 Listen & subscribeSpotify ○ spoti.fi/43AjliCApple Podcasts ○ apple.co/4izThbCAmazon Music ○ amzn.to/41RVTfzAnchor ○ bit.ly/4hufmY9YouTube ○ bit.ly/3QZl2i8🔗 Follow us for more blockchain insightsLinkedIn ○ bit.ly/3DsSNp3Twitter ○ bit.ly/4iCKhCBYouTube ○ bit.ly/3QZl2i8Medium ○ bit.ly/3R16Mp2GitHub ○ github.com/appliedblockchain/Linktree ○ linktr.ee/appblockchainThank you for tuning in,Applied Blockchainappliedblockchain.com | silentdata.com⚠️ DisclaimerThis podcast is strictly for educational purposes and does not constitute financial or tax advice. It is not a solicitation to buy or sell any assets or make financial decisions. Always consult with a professional and do your own research.
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#23 – Bernhard Schweizer from SAP: Stablecoins, ERP Integration & the Future of B2B Payments
In this episode of the Applied Blockchain Podcast, Adi Ben-Ari speaks with Bernhard Schweizer, Head of the SAP Digital Currency Hub, about how large enterprises are beginning to adopt stablecoins for B2B payments - and what that means for the future of financial operations.Bernhard shares insights from over 30 years at SAP, explaining how his team is bridging traditional ERP systems with blockchain-based payment rails. He outlines how stablecoins offer cost, speed, and transparency advantages for cross-border transactions, and how enterprise treasuries may eventually shift toward tokenized financial instruments and real-time, on-chain portfolio management.They discuss:○ Enterprise use cases for stablecoins in ERP payment runs○ Why cross-border B2B payments are ripe for disruption○ How SAP integrates blockchain payments via custodians and wallets○ Accounting, reconciliation & IFRS treatment of stablecoins○ Stablecoin vs commercial bank token infrastructure○ The role of regulation: MiCA in Europe & U.S. frameworks○ How treasuries could one day manage tokenized T-bills, MMFs & RWA tokens○ What’s needed to overcome the “chicken-and-egg” problem of adoption📚 Resources Mentioned:○ MiCA (Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation): europa.eu○ PayPal’s PYUSD stablecoin: paypal.com○ The Innovator’s Dilemma by Clayton Christensen○ Zero to One by Peter Thiel○ Crossing the Chasm by Geoffrey A. Moore○ Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel KahnemanThis podcast is brought to you by Applied Blockchain, a leading blockchain development company shaping the future of Web3 and decentralised technologies.📢 Listen & subscribeSpotify ○ spoti.fi/43AjliCApple Podcasts ○ apple.co/4izThbCAmazon Music ○ amzn.to/41RVTfzAnchor ○ bit.ly/4hufmY9YouTube ○ bit.ly/3QZl2i8🔗 Follow us for more blockchain insightsLinkedIn ○ bit.ly/3DsSNp3Twitter ○ bit.ly/4iCKhCBMedium ○ bit.ly/3R16Mp2GitHub ○ github.com/appliedblockchain/Thank you for tuning in,Applied Blockchainappliedblockchain.com | silentdata.com⚠️ DisclaimerThis podcast is strictly for educational purposes and does not constitute financial or tax advice. It is not a solicitation to buy or sell any assets or make financial decisions. Always consult with a professional and do your own research.
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#22 - Julien Bouteloup: From Hackathons to DeFi Powerhouse
In this episode of the Applied Blockchain Podcast, Adi Ben-Ari speaks with Julien Bouteloup - serial builder, investor, and contributor to some of DeFi’s most pivotal projects - about the journey from hackathons to helping shape the foundations of decentralised finance.Julien reflects on a decade of bold experimentation - from building ID systems in Papua New Guinea and AI tools for coconut farms, to co-founding StakeDAO, launching Rekt News, and shaping protocols like Curve and Aave.They discuss:• The roots of DeFi: hackathons, AMMs, flash loans, and governance• Decentralised identity and innovation in emerging markets• AI in agriculture, autonomous drones, and carbon markets• Curve’s tokenomics, veCRV, and liquidity dynamics• StakeDAO, protocol governance, and market coordination• Rekt News and transparency in Web3• The intersection of AI, privacy, and decentralised finance📚 Resources Mentioned• Rekt News• StakeDAO & Curve Finance• Zero Health: Privacy-preserving medical AI• Giza: Agentic AI trading bots• Perplexity & Claude: AI-powered research toolsThis podcast is brought to you by Applied Blockchain, a leading blockchain development company shaping the future of Web3 and decentralised technologies.📢 Listen & subscribeSpotify ○ spoti.fi/43AjliCApple Podcasts ○ apple.co/4izThbCAmazon Music ○ amzn.to/41RVTfzAnchor ○ bit.ly/4hufmY9YouTube ○ bit.ly/3QZl2i8🔗 Follow us for more blockchain insightsLinkedIn ○ bit.ly/3DsSNp3Twitter ○ bit.ly/4iCKhCBYouTube ○ bit.ly/3QZl2i8Medium ○ bit.ly/3R16Mp2GitHub ○ github.com/appliedblockchain/Linktree ○ linktr.ee/appblockchainThank you for tuning in,Applied Blockchainappliedblockchain.com | silentdata.com⚠️ DisclaimerThis podcast is strictly for educational purposes and does not constitute financial or tax advice. It is not a solicitation to buy or sell any assets or make financial decisions. Always consult with a professional and do your own research.
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#21 – Vikram Seth from Shell: Enabling an Environment of Data Sharing with Privacy
In this episode of the Applied Blockchain Podcast, Adi Ben-Ari speaks with Vikram Seth, Head of Blockchain & Web3 at Shell, about how blockchain, privacy, and decentralised infrastructure are shaping the energy transition and the future of value exchange.Vikram shares insights from his work at Shell and beyond, exploring how distributed technologies can enable cross-ecosystem data sharing while preserving privacy, incentivise sustainable behaviour, and integrate with technologies like AI and IoT to build more resilient systems.They discuss:Blockchain's role in data integrity and decentralised infrastructurePrivacy-preserving solutions enabling secure data collaborationCommunity-based incentives and transactive energy systemsReal-world assets and the rise of DePINs (Decentralised Physical Infrastructure Networks)How AI, smart contracts, and automation interplay with blockchainWhy system thinking is key to solving real-world challenges📚 Resources MentionedThe Future of Money by Bernard LietaerThe Great Simplification podcast by Nate HagensOcean Protocol, Fetch.ai, Deep GreenGitcoin, Helium Network, Project 2050 (Fuse Energy)Brixton Pound and complementary currenciesThis podcast is brought to you by Applied Blockchain, a leading blockchain development company shaping the future of Web3 and decentralised technologies.📢 Listen & subscribeSpotify ○ spoti.fi/43AjliCApple Podcasts ○ apple.co/4izThbCAmazon Music ○ amzn.to/41RVTfzAnchor ○ bit.ly/4hufmY9YouTube ○ bit.ly/3QZl2i8🔗 Follow us for more blockchain insightsLinkedIn ○ bit.ly/3DsSNp3Twitter ○ bit.ly/4iCKhCBYouTube ○ bit.ly/3QZl2i8Medium ○ bit.ly/3R16Mp2GitHub ○ github.com/appliedblockchain/Linktree ○ linktr.ee/appblockchainThank you for tuning in,Applied Blockchainappliedblockchain.com ○ silentdata.com⚠️ DisclaimerThis podcast is strictly for educational purposes and does not constitute financial or tax advice. It is not a solicitation to buy or sell any assets or make financial decisions. Always consult with a professional and do your own research.
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#20 – Andrew O’Neill: Tokenised Finance, Stablecoins & Risk in the Age of Blockchain
In this episode of the Applied Blockchain Podcast, Adi Ben-Ari speaks with Andrew O’Neill, Head of Digital Assets and Blockchain Analytics at S&P Global Ratings, about the evolution of financial infrastructure through tokenisation, stablecoins, and decentralised finance.Andrew shares insights from over 15 years in the financial sector, covering how traditional risk frameworks are being reshaped to accommodate real-time blockchain data, smart contracts, and on-chain portfolios. He explains how legacy institutions are engaging with Web3, and why transparency, resilience, and education are critical for widespread adoption.They discuss:Tokenisation of money market funds and treasury assetsStablecoins: reserve structures, transparency & risk profilesDecentralised finance (DeFi) and its parallels with structured financeOn-chain vs off-chain risks: what still needs bridgingHow blockchain enables real-time financial monitoringUse cases in DAO treasuries, corporate finance & asset managementBitcoin’s evolving role in global markets📚 Resources MentionedBitcoin White Paper: bitcoin.org/bitcoin.pdfSmart Money*by Brunello RosaMakerDAO’s RWA investmentsProject Guardian by JPMorgan & ApolloArbitrumDAO Treasury ProposalsS&P Global Ratings: spglobal.comThis podcast is brought to you by Applied Blockchain, a leading blockchain development company shaping the future of Web3 and decentralised technologies.📢 Listen & subscribeSpotify ○ spoti.fi/43AjliCApple Podcasts ○ apple.co/4izThbCAmazon Music ○ amzn.to/41RVTfzAnchor ○ bit.ly/4hufmY9YouTube ○ bit.ly/3QZl2i8🔗 Follow us for more blockchain insightsLinkedIn ○ bit.ly/3DsSNp3Twitter ○ bit.ly/4iCKhCBMedium ○ bit.ly/3R16Mp2GitHub ○ github.com/appliedblockchain/Thank you for tuning in,Applied Blockchainappliedblockchain.com | silentdata.com⚠️ DisclaimerThis podcast is strictly for educational purposes and does not constitute financial or tax advice. It is not a solicitation to buy or sell any assets or make financial decisions. Always consult with a professional and do your own research.
Applied Blockchain Podcast is hosted by Adi Ben-Ari and brings blockchain technology and innovation to the spotlight.
Through a relaxed conversation, Adi speaks with startup founders, business experts and industry leaders to get their views on what they are building, the Web3 ecosystem and the impact it is having on the modern world.
This podcast is brought to you by Applied Blockchain, a Blockchain development company that is shaping the future of Blockchain and Web3.
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