Crypto, Spies, and Stablecoins: Shopify’s USDC Push, FSB Bitcoin Payouts, and Coinbase’s High-Profile Hire | June 13, 2025

A teenage Canadian recruited by Russia’s FSB and paid in bitcoin (0:55). Shopify flips the switch on auto-enabled USDC payments (2:30). Coinbase adds Obama’s former campaign chief as crypto legislation gains steam (3:50). And Hong Kong tracks $1.1 billion in alleged laundering tied to crypto wallets (5:22).

This is your essential update on the forces shaping what’s next in money.

More on stories and articles mentioned or referenced in this episode:

Russia Recruited a Teenage Spy. His Arrest Led to a Crypto Money Trail. Mari Saito, Anna Koper, Anton Zverev, Filipp Lebedev, and Polina Nikolskaya. Reuters.

https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/europe-espionage-teen-spy/

Shopify Partners with Coinbase and Stripe in Landmark Stablecoin Deal. Ben Weiss. Fortune.

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/shopify-partners-coinbase-stripe-landmark-182707374.html

Coinbase Adds Former Top Obama and Harris Adviser Plouffe as It Broadens Its Political Reach. Joey Cappelletti. Associated Press.

https://abcnews.go.com/amp/Politics/wireStory/coinbase-adds-former-top-obama-harris-adviser-plouffe-122765127

Customs works with University of Hong Kong to develop crypto transaction tracer. Jess Ma. South China Morning Post.

https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3314187/customs-works-university-hong-kong-develop-crypto-transaction-tracer

The music in this episode was composed by Liborio Conti, and you can find more of his fantastic work at his YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/liborioconti