Episodios

  • What Happens When Trading Infrastructure Starts Changing the System
    Apr 14 2026

    Before a trading app reaches a user, there is an entire system underneath it doing the real heavy lifting.

    In this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, Arjun is joined by Yoshi Yokokawa, Co-Founder and CEO of Alpaca, for a sharp and wide-ranging conversation on brokerage infrastructure, on-chain finance, market access, and what it really takes to build financial products at global scale.

    It is a grounded look at how trading has shifted from web to mobile to on-chain, why financial access still needs to be designed around culture and local behaviour, and what happens when traditional markets and digital assets begin moving closer together.

    From tokenised stocks and stablecoins to prediction markets and infrastructure complexity, this conversation explores the less visible layer of finance, the one powering the apps, products, and experiences users see on the surface.

    They also discuss why infrastructure should behave like a utility, what responsibilities licensed platforms carry around investor protection and market integrity, and why the long-term shift toward on-chain finance may be less about ideology and more about real product-market fit.

    🎙️ In this episode:

    • What Alpaca actually does and why brokerage infrastructure matters now
    • How trading behaviour has evolved from desktop to mobile-first experiences
    • Why financial products cannot be copied globally without cultural context
    • The difference between building apps and building the infrastructure beneath them
    • Why Yoshi believes everything will eventually move on-chain
    • Stablecoins, tokenised stocks, and where real adoption is already happening
    • Why bridging fiat and on-chain systems is harder than it looks
    • The role of infrastructure in investor protection, compliance, and market safety
    • Whether finance is heading toward super apps or continued specialisation
    • Why Yoshi thinks access matters more than the language of “democratisation”
    • Building globally across 45 countries and operating financial infrastructure at scale
    • Yoshi’s view on Japanese founders, risk-taking, and what may change next

    If you are trying to understand where financial infrastructure is heading, and how brokerage, stablecoins, tokenisation, and digital assets are starting to connect, this episode gives you a practical lens into the layer most people never see.

    ⏱️ CHAPTERS

    00:00 Why infrastructure matters more than people think
    01:00 Meet Yoshi Yokokawa and what Alpaca does
    02:14 Why this is a big moment for brokerage infrastructure
    04:54 How trading behaviour has changed over time
    07:28 Why financial products need cultural context
    09:30 Trading, gambling, and the role of infrastructure
    12:19 Why Yoshi believes everything will move on-chain
    15:14 Investor protection, fraud, and market integrity
    18:05 Tokenised stocks and infrastructure complexity
    20:51 Bridging fiat and on-chain finance
    23:46 Bundling, unbundling, and where finance is going
    27:04 A

    Our website 👉 https://bit.ly/3jk7UH0

    Find us on our social media platforms:

    • Arjun's LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjunvirsingh/
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    • Instagram https://www.instagram.com/couchonomics/
    • Twitter https://twitter.com/Arjun_Vir_Singh?s=20
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    47 m
  • What Happens When Stablecoins Start Competing With Banks?
    Apr 7 2026

    Money is no longer just held. It is moving, earning, and quietly reshaping the system around it.

    In this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, Arjun is joined by Anton Golub, Founding Member of RWA Labs, for a sharp, grounded conversation on what is actually happening beneath the surface of crypto, stablecoins, and tokenization.

    It is a clear breakdown of how liquidity, leverage, and market structure are shaping Bitcoin cycles, why stablecoins are becoming impossible to ignore, and what happens when financial systems built for control collide with technologies built for movement.

    From retail dominance in crypto markets to the real risks behind products like Strategy, and from yield-bearing stablecoins to the tension they create with traditional banks, this conversation stays rooted in what actually matters.

    They also explore tokenization beyond the buzz, why most real-world asset experiments are still early, and how infrastructure gaps like liquidity, regulation, and market access continue to limit adoption.

    🎙️ In this episode:

    • What really caused recent Bitcoin volatility and liquidity drops
    • Why retail still dominates crypto ownership more than we think
    • Strategy, leverage, and the idea of “too big to fail” in crypto
    • The reality behind stablecoin yield and why regulators are cautious
    • How stablecoins could pressure smaller economies and currencies
    • Tokenized deposits vs stablecoins and where each fits
    • Why most tokenization use cases are still early or incomplete
    • Real estate tokenization, liquidity gaps, and market readiness
    • The future of Layer 1 blockchains and why many won’t survive
    • Where crypto infrastructure still falls short today

    If you are trying to understand where crypto meets real financial systems, and what actually drives adoption beyond narratives, this episode gives you a practical lens to think through it.

    ⏱️ CHAPTERS

    00:00 Bitcoin, yield, and why stablecoins are everywhere
    03:00 What broke the crypto market and liquidity after October
    07:00 Who really owns Bitcoin today
    11:00 Strategy, leverage, and systemic risk
    14:00 Stablecoin yield and regulatory pressure
    20:00 Stablecoins vs monetary policy in emerging markets
    23:00 Tokenized deposits vs stablecoins explained
    29:00 Cross-border payments and real-world use cases
    33:00 Tokenization of real-world assets, reality vs hype
    40:00 Layer 1 blockchains and future consolidation

    SOCIAL LINKS

    Arjun’s LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjunvirsingh/

    Couchonomics LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/couchonomics-with-arjun-singh/

    Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/couchonomics/

    Twitter (X) → https://twitter.com/Arjun_Vir_Singh

    TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@couchonomics

    Newsletter → https://bit.ly/3WI4A6E

    PARTNERS

    Couchonomics with Arjun Season 04 is brought to you by:

    Adyen → https://www.adyen.com/

    Thunes → https

    Our website 👉 https://bit.ly/3jk7UH0

    Find us on our social media platforms:

    • Arjun's LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjunvirsingh/
    • CCN LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/couchonomics-with-arjun-singh/
    • Instagram https://www.instagram.com/couchonomics/
    • Twitter https://twitter.com/Arjun_Vir_Singh?s=20
    • TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@couchonomics

    Subscribe to Arjun's LinkedIn newsletter, Couchonomics Crunch: https://bit.ly/3WI4A6E

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    47 m
  • Can Stablecoins Scale Without Expanding Systemic Risk?
    Mar 31 2026

    Fraud is not new. But the scale, speed, and sophistication have changed.

    In this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, Arjun is joined by Navin Gupta, CEO of Crystal Intelligence, and Nick Smart, Chief Intelligence Officer at Crystal Intelligence, to unpack the evolving world of crypto-related fraud, institutional risk, and the uncomfortable truth about financial crime in a 24/7 digital economy.

    From the Lazarus Group and the Bybit hack to scam compounds operating at industrial scale, this conversation moves beyond headlines and into how crypto crime actually works, why velocity of money matters, and whether regulation is finally catching up.

    They explore the intersection of traditional finance and digital assets, stablecoins, tokenization, AI-driven fraud, and the systemic risks emerging as crypto integrates deeper into the global financial system.

    🎙️ In this episode:

    • Why crypto fraud is industrialized, not amateur
    • The Lazarus Group and lessons from the Bybit incident
    • How blockchain transparency changes crime investigation
    • AI as a multiplier for scams and financial crime
    • Why 24/7 markets clash with 9–5 regulatory systems
    • Stablecoins, velocity of money, and systemic risk
    • Tokenization: real utility vs liquidity illusion
    • Regulatory arbitrage and geopolitical blind spots
    • Financial inclusion vs vulnerability in emerging markets
    • Scam Alert and how reporting fraud protects the ecosystem

    If you care about the future of finance, financial inclusion, stablecoins, or institutional crypto adoption, this episode offers a clear-eyed view of where risk really sits.

    ⏱️ CHAPTERS

    00:00 Fraud in the digital era and why crypto attracts it
    01:00 What Crystal Intelligence actually does
    05:00 Is crypto more opaque than traditional finance?
    12:00 Industrial-scale scam compounds and modern fraud
    16:30 The Lazarus Group and the Bybit hack
    21:00 Velocity of money vs cost of fraud
    26:00 Regulation catching up to digital assets
    30:00 Stablecoins, custody, and institutional adoption
    35:00 Exchanges, compliance, and global licensing gaps
    38:00 Layer 1s, liquidity, and criminal behavior
    44:00 AI, 24/7 markets, and systemic vulnerabilities
    49:00 Tokenization, real world assets, and risk
    52:00 Informal value transfer systems and financial inclusion
    56:00 Scam Alert and collective responsibility

    SOCIAL LINKS

    Arjun’s LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjunvirsingh/

    Couchonomics LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/couchonomics-with-arjun-singh/

    Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/couchonomics/

    Twitter (X) → https://twitter.com/Arjun_Vir_Singh

    TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@couchonomics

    Newsletter → https://bit.ly/3WI4A6E

    PARTNERS

    Couchonomics with Arjun Season 04 is brought to you by:

    Adyen → https://www.adyen.com/

    Thunes → https://thunes.com/

    Mastercard → https://mastercard.com/

    Our website 👉 https://bit.ly/3jk7UH0

    Find us on our social media platforms:

    • Arjun's LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjunvirsingh/
    • CCN LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/couchonomics-with-arjun-singh/
    • Instagram https://www.instagram.com/couchonomics/
    • Twitter https://twitter.com/Arjun_Vir_Singh?s=20
    • TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@couchonomics

    Subscribe to Arjun's LinkedIn newsletter, Couchonomics Crunch: https://bit.ly/3WI4A6E

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    59 m
  • How AI Agents and Stablecoins Are Reshaping Modern Banking
    Feb 26 2026

    Is banking really changing at the core, or are we just putting better apps on old rails?

    In this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, Arjun is joined in studio by Jayesh Patel, CEO of Wio Bank PJSC, to unpack what real transformation inside a bank actually looks like, how AI is reshaping operating models, and why stablecoins may compress time in money movement far more than most people realize.

    They break down the difference between digitizing processes and restructuring around the customer, why SME banking still has structural gaps, and how Wio is building with micro AI agents, smart offices, and long term product bets like family banking. They also dive into crypto as an investment class, regulated stablecoins in the UAE, and whether banks should issue, distribute, or build on top of digital currencies.

    🎙️ In this episode:
    • Are banks truly transforming or just digitizing bureaucracy
    • What customer obsession looks like beyond marketing language
    • Why SMEs still struggle with onboarding and credit access
    • AI micro agents and the shift toward a smart office model
    • Crypto as an investment class and real user behavior on platform
    • Stablecoins, regulation, and where real utility begins
    • Payments strategy and building in house vs partnering
    • Embedded banking through TAMM and platform distribution
    • Competition in the UAE and what the next five years could look like

    👉 Watch the full episode if you want a grounded view of how digital banks evolve from the inside, what stablecoins could mean for liquidity and payments, and where the real structural shifts in banking are happening.

    SOCIAL LINKS
    Arjun’s LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjunvirsingh/
    Couchonomics LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/couchonomics-with-arjun-singh/
    Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/couchonomics/
    Twitter (X) → https://twitter.com/Arjun_Vir_Singh
    TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@couchonomics
    Newsletter → https://bit.ly/3WI4A6E

    PARTNERS
    Couchonomics with Arjun Season 04 is brought to you by:
    Adyen → https://www.adyen.com/
    Thunes → https://thunes.com/
    Mastercard → https://mastercard.com/
    e& → https://www.eand.com/
    Digit9 → https://www.digitnine.com/
    SC Ventures → https://scventures.io/

    CHAPTERS:
    00:00 Is banking really changing or just digitizing old rails
    01:10 Jayesh Patel on building Wio and scaling a digital bank
    05:30 Customer obsession vs legacy operating models
    11:40 The SME banking gap and structural constraints
    18:20 AI micro agents and the smart office model
    27:30 Crypto as an investment class and user behavior
    35:00 Stablecoins, regulation, and real world use cases
    43:20 Payments strategy and in house build vs partnership
    49:30 Embedded banking and the TAMM collaboration
    54:30 Competition in the UAE and what the next five years look like

    Our website 👉 https://bit.ly/3jk7UH0

    Find us on our social media platforms:

    • Arjun's LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjunvirsingh/
    • CCN LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/couchonomics-with-arjun-singh/
    • Instagram https://www.instagram.com/couchonomics/
    • Twitter https://twitter.com/Arjun_Vir_Singh?s=20
    • TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@couchonomics

    Subscribe to Arjun's LinkedIn newsletter, Couchonomics Crunch: https://bit.ly/3WI4A6E

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    57 m
  • How Tokenization and Stablecoins Will Change Money Movement
    Feb 17 2026

    Technology is changing what people expect from money, and stablecoins are turning that into reality.

    In this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, Arjun is joined from New York by Stephen Richardson (CSO and Head of Banking at Fireblocks) to break down why digital assets are back at the center of banking strategy, what stablecoins are really unlocking, and where banks are at risk of getting disintermediated if they treat this like “just another rails upgrade.”

    They unpack the on-chain vs off-chain convergence, why stablecoins became the real “killer app” for blockchain UX, and why the next wave isn’t just crypto trading, but new product models: stablecoin acceptance, payouts, FX orchestration, stablecoin clearing, tokenized deposits, and tokenized assets that can move and settle with fewer constraints.

    🎙️ In this episode:
    • Why digital assets momentum is rising again in 2026
    • Stablecoins as the “money on-chain” unlock (and why that changed everything)
    • TradFi + DeFi convergence: where the customer actually feels it
    • Real-time payments vs 24/7 money movement: what banks still miss
    • What banks should do first: acceptance, payouts, FX, clearing, interoperability
    • Why “40 stablecoins” is a UX problem (and who solves it)
    • Stablecoin-as-a-Service vs Banking-as-a-Service: what gets leapfrogged
    • Tokenization explained: native on-chain assets vs digital twins
    • What’s next to tokenize: gold, treasuries, and trade foundations
    • What Fireblocks is building towards: commercially viable use cases, not demos

    👉 Watch the full episode if you want a clear, non-hype view of how stablecoins and tokenization can reshape banking operating models, and what banks and fintechs should do before the new rails become the default.

    SOCIAL LINKS
    Arjun’s LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjunvirsingh/

    Couchonomics LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/couchonomics-with-arjun-singh/

    Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/couchonomics/

    Twitter (X) → https://twitter.com/Arjun_Vir_Singh

    TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@couchonomics

    Newsletter → https://bit.ly/3WI4A6E

    PARTNERS
    Couchonomics with Arjun Season 04 is brought to you by:
    Adyen → https://www.adyen.com/
    Thunes → https://thunes.com/
    Mastercard → https://mastercard.com/
    e& → https://www.eand.com/
    Digit9 → https://www.digitnine.com/
    SC Ventures → https://scventures.io/

    CHAPTERS:
    00:00 Stablecoins, fintech platforms, and “money on-chain”
    01:00 Who Stephen Richardson is + what Fireblocks does
    02:10 Why digital assets now: what changed since the last cycle
    05:00 Stablecoins as the killer UX unlock for blockchain
    08:05 On-chain + off-chain convergence: where it’s heading
    14:40 Real-time payments vs 24/7 money: visibility, trust, orchestration
    17:30 What banks must shift to: platform mindset + on-chain products
    25:05 First moves banks can make: accept, convert, payout, FX
    33:45 What holds stablecoins bac

    Our website 👉 https://bit.ly/3jk7UH0

    Find us on our social media platforms:

    • Arjun's LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjunvirsingh/
    • CCN LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/couchonomics-with-arjun-singh/
    • Instagram https://www.instagram.com/couchonomics/
    • Twitter https://twitter.com/Arjun_Vir_Singh?s=20
    • TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@couchonomics

    Subscribe to Arjun's LinkedIn newsletter, Couchonomics Crunch: https://bit.ly/3WI4A6E

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    53 m
  • Why Japan’s Payments Are About to Change Fast
    Feb 10 2026

    Japan is often seen as a “mature” financial market.
    But the real story is in what’s quietly shifting underneath.

    In this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, Arjun is joined from Tokyo by Pieter Franken (Co-Founder & CEO at GFTN Japan) to unpack what’s actually changing in Japan’s fintech and digital assets landscape and what it means for founders, investors, and global players looking at the Japan opportunity.

    They go deep on stablecoins and why Japan may be ahead on regulation, the upcoming move to classify crypto and digital assets as financial instruments, and why payments remain fragmented despite Japan’s innovation legacy. The conversation also explores what could unlock faster adoption (from interoperability to cost structures), how Japan’s national digital ID rollout could become a foundational layer, and why Japan–MENA collaboration is still early but strategically important.

    🎙️ In this episode:
    • What’s really changed in Japan fintech over the last 12 months
    • Stablecoins in Japan: regulation, launches, and why it matters now
    • The big shift: crypto moving from “non-financial” to “financial instrument”
    • Why Japan’s payments ecosystem is still fragmented (and what could fix it)
    • Open banking, consumer adoption, and the cost problem for merchants
    • The digital ID layer Japan is finally accelerating (MyNumber)
    • Japan–MENA corridors: where collaboration is real vs. where it’s early
    • What to expect at GFTN Forum Japan 2026: AI, tokenization, and cross-border corridors

    👉 Watch the full conversation to understand what’s brewing in Japan, why regulation is setting up the next phase of digital assets and payments, and where the real opportunities could emerge next.

    SOCIAL LINKS
    Arjun’s LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjunvirsingh/

    Couchonomics LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/couchonomics-with-arjun-singh/

    Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/couchonomics/

    Twitter (X) → https://twitter.com/Arjun_Vir_Singh

    TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@couchonomics

    Newsletter → https://bit.ly/3WI4A6E

    CHAPTERS
    00:00 Japan fintech beyond the stereotypes
    01:05 Who Peter Franken is + what GFTN Japan does
    02:20 What shifted in Japan over the last 12 months
    03:10 Stablecoins: why Japan is moving early
    05:00 Crypto reclassification: what changes when it becomes a financial instrument
    08:10 Open banking reality check + what’s still missing
    10:10 Cash vs digital payments: Tokyo vs the rest of Japan
    12:20 Interoperability problem: too many silos, too many rails
    14:10 What could unlock faster adoption (cost, standards, stablecoins, points)
    16:30 Digital ID (MyNumber) as Japan’s DPI foundation
    22:10 Japan–MENA corridor: what’s real today, what could grow next
    28:40 What to expect at GFTN Forum Japan 2026 (AI, tokenization, corridors)

    Our website 👉 https://bit.ly/3jk7UH0

    Find us on our social media platforms:

    • Arjun's LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjunvirsingh/
    • CCN LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/couchonomics-with-arjun-singh/
    • Instagram https://www.instagram.com/couchonomics/
    • Twitter https://twitter.com/Arjun_Vir_Singh?s=20
    • TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@couchonomics

    Subscribe to Arjun's LinkedIn newsletter, Couchonomics Crunch: https://bit.ly/3WI4A6E

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    42 m
  • How Deep Payments Infrastructure Creates Real Fintech Advantage
    Feb 5 2026

    Payments in emerging markets are often discussed as infrastructure.
    But the real differentiation happens in how deeply payments are embedded into business operations.

    In the final episode of this special Qatar Development Bank series of Couchonomics with Arjun, Arjun sits down in Doha with Saad Ishfaq, CEO of TESS Payments, to unpack how a payments company built for Qatar is scaling by solving real operational pain, not just processing transactions.

    TESS Payments is a QCB-licensed payment service provider designed specifically for the Qatari market. Rather than chasing regional expansion, Saad explains why the company chose to go deep instead of wide, focusing on enterprise-grade flexibility, managed services, and bespoke integrations for large organisations across real estate, government, and critical infrastructure.

    The conversation explores how payments sit at the centre of SME enablement, why micro and small businesses remain underserved across the GCC, and how fintechs and banks must collaborate rather than compete. Saad also shares how TESS evolved beyond payments into CFO tooling and digital lending, including a new sandboxed lending platform addressing Qatar’s blue-collar workforce.

    From owning core infrastructure to navigating bank partnerships, regulatory sandboxes, and product adjacencies, this episode offers a grounded look at how fintech scale is built inside regulated markets.

    🎙️ In this episode:
    • Why TESS Payments is built for Qatar, not regional expansion
    • Payments as an embedded operational layer, not a commodity
    • Solving CFO and CTO pain through deep integrations
    • SME and micro-SME challenges in the GCC
    • Why banks and fintechs must work together to scale impact
    • Building proprietary payments infrastructure in a crowded market
    • Regulatory sandboxes as a growth enabler
    • Expanding from payments into digital lending
    • Addressing financial access for blue-collar workers
    • Qatar’s role as a fintech launchpad
    • Founder lessons from Pakistan to Qatar
    • Grit, resilience, and building through constraint

    👉 Watch the full conversation to understand how payments, regulation, and fintech innovation come together when products are built with local reality in mind.

    SOCIAL LINKS

    Arjun’s LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjunvirsingh/

    Couchonomics LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/couchonomics-with-arjun-singh/

    Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/couchonomics/

    Twitter → https://twitter.com/Arjun_Vir_Singh

    TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@couchonomics

    Newsletter → https://bit.ly/3WI4A6E

    CHAPTERS

    00:00 Qatar Development Bank series wrap-up
    01:30 Introducing TESS Payments and Saad Ishfaq
    04:00 Key global and regional payment trends
    07:00 SME and micro-SME challenges in the GCC
    10:30 Embedding payments into enterprise operations
    13:30 Proprietary infrastructure and differentiation
    16:00 Working with banks

    Our website 👉 https://bit.ly/3jk7UH0

    Find us on our social media platforms:

    • Arjun's LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjunvirsingh/
    • CCN LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/couchonomics-with-arjun-singh/
    • Instagram https://www.instagram.com/couchonomics/
    • Twitter https://twitter.com/Arjun_Vir_Singh?s=20
    • TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@couchonomics

    Subscribe to Arjun's LinkedIn newsletter, Couchonomics Crunch: https://bit.ly/3WI4A6E

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    33 m
  • What It Really Takes to Launch a Fintech in Qatar
    Feb 4 2026

    Financial innovation in the GCC is often framed around payments, licenses, and launch timelines.
    But the harder work happens long before a product goes live.

    In this special Qatar Development Bank series of Couchonomics with Arjun, Arjun sits down in Doha with Mohammed Suleiman, Co-Founder and CEO of Karty, to unpack what it really takes to build a regulated fintech company from the ground up in Qatar.

    Karty is not trying to out-bank banks or outscale telco wallets. Instead, it is being designed as a financial management layer that sits between spending and understanding money. A digital wallet built around insights, behaviour, and literacy rather than just transactions.

    Mohammed explains why Qatar’s wallet landscape still leaves a gap for mass-affluent users, how Karty is approaching savings and financial awareness as a bundled experience, and why monetisation in fintech only works when usage comes first.

    A grounded discussion on fintech realism, ecosystem maturity, and why building the right foundations matters more than rushing to market.

    🎙️ In this episode:
    • Why Qatar still needs independent digital wallets
    • The gap between telco wallets and traditional banking
    • Financial literacy as a bundled product, not a standalone feature
    • How wallets monetise without pushing lending too early
    • Multi-rail payments and the future of wallet infrastructure
    • Round-ups, savings nudges, and behaviour-led product design
    • Building fintech under evolving regulation in Qatar
    • Talent, infrastructure, and the realities of building in-house
    • AI in fintech, where it works and where it is overhyped
    • Scaling through partnerships vs direct market expansion
    • Why Karty sees itself as a layer after banking, not a replacement

    👉 Watch the full conversation to understand how fintech is actually being built in Qatar, before the headlines, before the hype, and before launch.

    SOCIAL LINKS

    Arjun’s LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjunvirsingh/

    Couchonomics LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/couchonomics-with-arjun-singh/

    Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/couchonomics/

    Twitter → https://twitter.com/Arjun_Vir_Singh

    TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@couchonomics

    Newsletter → https://bit.ly/3WI4A6E

    CHAPTERS

    00:00 Qatar Development Bank series and context
    02:00 Why Qatar needs another digital wallet
    05:30 The gap between telco wallets and banks
    09:00 Financial literacy as a product, not content
    13:30 Monetisation, margins, and wallet realities
    17:00 Multi-rail payments and infrastructure thinking
    21:00 Regulation, licensing, and ecosystem support
    25:00 Talent, tech, and building in-house in Qatar
    29:00 AI in fintech and practical constraints
    33:00 Expansion strategies and infrastructure plays
    37:00 Launch readiness and what comes nex

    Our website 👉 https://bit.ly/3jk7UH0

    Find us on our social media platforms:

    • Arjun's LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjunvirsingh/
    • CCN LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/couchonomics-with-arjun-singh/
    • Instagram https://www.instagram.com/couchonomics/
    • Twitter https://twitter.com/Arjun_Vir_Singh?s=20
    • TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@couchonomics

    Subscribe to Arjun's LinkedIn newsletter, Couchonomics Crunch: https://bit.ly/3WI4A6E

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    28 m