Bitcoin.com News Interviews

He lost his first Bitcoin — now he helps the world’s biggest institutions secure theirs.

Michael Parsons, Head of Sales at Fireblocks, joins Bitcoin.com News Lead David Sencil (@_dsencil) to discuss how crypto infrastructure evolved from its early, experimental days to supporting global financial leaders like BNY Mellon, Revolut, and Robinhood.

In this insightful episode, Parsons breaks down why crypto infrastructure is still broken, the growing importance of secure custody and compliance frameworks, and how Fireblocks is redefining what institutional-grade digital asset management looks like. He also shares what Web3 startups often get wrong when trying to scale — and what it really takes to earn trust in a space built on transparency and decentralization.

• From losing his first Bitcoin to building institutional crypto infrastructure
• Why today’s crypto infrastructure needs a complete rethink
• How Fireblocks powers major players like BNY Mellon, Revolut, and Robinhood
• Custody, compliance, and regulation in the next wave of crypto adoption
• Common mistakes Web3 startups make — and how to avoid them

A must-listen for founders, fintech leaders, and institutional investors who want to understand how secure infrastructure, compliance, and innovation are shaping the next decade of digital asset management.

🎙️ Host: David Sencil – Bitcoin.com News Podcast
💼 Guest: Michael Parsons – Head of Sales, Fireblocks
🔗 Learn more: bitcoin.com | fireblocks.com | @FireblocksHQ | @_dsencil

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EMCD is one of the largest ecosystems for miners and crypto investors in Eastern Europe. The EMCD ecosystem includes a mining pool ranked among the world’s top 7, a multi-currency wallet, the Coinhold service for passive income, and a P2P exchange platform.

Michael Djerlis is the Founder and CEO of EMCD. He recently joined the Bitcoin.com News Podcast to talk about the the future of crypto mining.

EMCD has grown from a mining pool into a comprehensive crypto ecosystem serving miners and investors across Eastern Europe and beyond. Michael shares his inspiring entrepreneurial journey, beginning with his early days in IT support and detailing how he built EMCD into a powerhouse offering a range of crypto verticals, including staking wallets and swaps.

This episode delves deep into the evolving landscape of cryptocurrency mining, exploring its increasing institutionalization and EMCD's global expansion, with operations in the US and Ethiopia.

Michael also offers his insights on Bitcoin's future, the role of transaction fees, and EMCD's commitment to building out payment and investment infrastructure alongside their core mining business. Discover EMCD's innovative solutions, including a crypto wallet for international payments and a B2B processing solution, and learn how this company is shaping the future of the crypto world.

To learn more about the project visit EMCD.IO, and follow the team on X.

What began as a late-night Clubhouse chat has evolved into official city policy in Tokyo. In this inspiring episode, Irie Nobuko (@irienobuko) joins Bitcoin.com News Lead David Sencil (@_dsencil) to share how Web3 has become a key part of Tokyo’s growth plan — and what that means for the city’s innovation future.

As a leading advocate for digital transformation in Japan, Irie explains how the movement known as #TeamZ helped bridge the gap between grassroots Web3 communities and city policymakers, turning online discussions into actionable public policy. The conversation explores how Web3, blockchain, and digital assets are being woven into Tokyo’s official strategy for entrepreneurship, culture, and economic development.

From startup acceleration and creative industries to governance and regulation, Irie offers a rare insider look at how Tokyo is positioning itself as a global hub for Web3 innovation — all sparked by a single late-night idea that caught fire.

• How a Clubhouse discussion became real city policy
• Why Tokyo is betting on Web3 for economic growth
• The story behind #TeamZ and Japan’s Web3 policy movement
• How grassroots builders are influencing government strategy
• What other cities can learn from Tokyo’s approach to digital innovation

A must-listen for policymakers, entrepreneurs, and builders exploring how grassroots innovation and government collaboration can drive the next phase of Web3 adoption and smart-city growth.

🎙️ Host: David Sencil – Bitcoin.com News Podcast
💼 Guest: Irie Nobuko – Web3 Advocate & #TeamZ Leader
🔗 Learn more: bitcoin.com | @irienobuko | #TeamZ

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Christopher Louis Tsu, CEO of the Venom Foundation, joins the Bitcoin.com News Podcast to discuss how sovereign blockchain infrastructure is being developed to power entire nations — combining the reliability of centralized systems with the transparency and efficiency of decentralized technology.

“We have essentially the full solution of blockchain technology infrastructure at a sovereign level,” says Tsu, describing Venom’s vision for hybrid blockchain architecture that integrates public and private layers to support national-scale use cases such as digital identity, cross-border payments, and tokenized assets.

In this interview, Tsu explains how Venom Foundation is helping governments adopt blockchain-as-infrastructure, enabling them to digitize services while maintaining compliance, data sovereignty, and financial security. He also explores the broader implications of sovereign-level blockchain adoption for the global economy and crypto ecosystem.

• What “sovereign blockchain infrastructure” means in practice
• How Venom balances centralization and decentralization at scale
• Real-world government applications for blockchain technology
• The importance of compliance, transparency, and interoperability
• Why hybrid blockchain models could define the next decade of digital transformation

A must-listen for policymakers, technologists, and blockchain innovators interested in how national-level blockchain systems are redefining governance, finance, and the global digital economy.

🎙️ Host: Bitcoin.com News Podcast
💼 Guest: Christopher Louis Tsu – CEO of Venom Foundation
🔗 Learn more: bitcoin.com | venom.foundation | @louiss_tsu | @VenomFoundation

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David Lolaev (Head of GoMining Launchpad), Charlie Hu (Founder of Bitlayer), and Zamy Atlukhanova (GoMining Launchpad Project Lead) join the Bitcoin.com News Podcast to discuss how BTCFi — Bitcoin-based decentralized finance — is rapidly transforming the crypto landscape.

In this episode, the guests introduce the GoMining Launchpad, a new platform designed to help Bitcoin-focused projects launch tokens, raise capital, and connect with engaged communities. Its first project, Bitlayer, is pioneering BitVM, unlocking trust-minimized smart contracts and programmable DeFi functionality secured by Bitcoin’s network.

Charlie Hu, whose Layer-2 project Bitlayer has already processed over 65 million transactions, reached $850M+ TVL, and onboarded millions of users, shares how this ecosystem is pushing Bitcoin’s capabilities beyond store-of-value into scalable, decentralized finance. Meanwhile, David Lolaev and Zamy Atlukhanova explain how GoMining’s infrastructure and user education initiatives are bridging mining, DeFi, and accessibility — laying the groundwork for a sustainable Bitcoin-native DeFi ecosystem.

Together, the conversation paints a compelling vision for BTCFi — a new era where Bitcoin isn’t just held, but actively utilized to power liquidity, innovation, and global participation.

• How GoMining Launchpad is connecting builders, investors, and users in BTCFi
• Bitlayer’s BitVM implementation and its role in expanding Bitcoin DeFi
• Why Bitcoin Layer-2 ecosystems are the future of decentralized finance
• How decentralization and accessibility can redefine Bitcoin mining
• The long-term vision for BTCFi — where Bitcoin meets programmability

A must-listen for Bitcoin holders, builders, and DeFi innovators exploring how GoMining and Bitlayer are leading the charge toward a programmable Bitcoin economy through BTCFi.

🎙️ Host: Bitcoin.com News Podcast
💼 Guests:

• David Lolaev – Head of GoMining Launchpad

• Charlie Hu – Founder of Bitlayer

• Zamy Atlukhanova – Project Lead, GoMining Launchpad

🔗 Learn more: bitcoin.com | Launchpad.GoMining.com | bitlayer.org

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Oliver Löffler, founder of Voya Games and Angry Dynomites, joins the Bitcoin.com News Podcast to share his unfiltered take on what it really takes to build a Web3-native game — not just slap a token on a Web2 model.

Löffler and his team are developing over 25 tokens on testnet, all set to launch on the Ronin Network, with a focus on true player-driven economies and meaningful token utility. In this conversation, he breaks down why most Web3 games are missing the mark, how thoughtful tokenomics design can fuel sustainable ecosystems, and what a genuinely engaging blockchain gaming experience looks like when gameplay, community, and economy work together.

From early Web2 gaming roots to pioneering on-chain economies, Löffler explains how Voya Games is building for the long term — proving that Web3 gaming’s future lies in design depth, not speculative hype.

• Why “slapping a token on it” doesn’t make a game Web3
• How 25+ tokens on Ronin unlock complex player economies
• The vision behind Angry Dynomites and Voya Games
• Building tokenomics that prioritize gameplay over speculation
• Why retrofitting Web2 models won’t drive true adoption

A must-listen for developers, investors, and gamers who want to understand how real utility, smart tokenomics, and creative design are shaping the next generation of Web3 gaming.

🎙️ Host: Bitcoin.com News Podcast
💼 Guest: Oliver Löffler – Founder of Voya Games & Angry Dynomites
🔗 Learn more: bitcoin.com | voya.games | @Bitcoincom

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Jeremy Dreier, Chief BD Officer at GoMining | Bitcoin Mining Goes Institutional: Alpha Blocks, Apple Pay & the Future of Digital Hashpower | Bitcoin.com News Podcast

Jeremy Dreier, Chief Business Development Officer at GoMining, joins Bitcoin.com News Lead David Sencil (@_dsencil) at Token2049 Dubai to explore how Bitcoin mining is rapidly evolving from hobbyist roots to full institutional adoption.

Dreier discusses how GoMining is bridging retail and institutional mining through its gamified digital miner model — allowing users to mine Bitcoin in seconds, even with Apple Pay. He also reveals details about the GoMining Alpha Blocks Fund, a Bitcoin mining investment vehicle tailored for institutional investors seeking exposure to mining yield and infrastructure.

The conversation dives into the regulatory challenges, power market pressures, and the geopolitical implications of large-scale mining — including why some governments may soon mine Bitcoin as a reserve asset. Dreier highlights how GoMining’s approach aligns incentives between everyday users and institutions while strengthening Bitcoin’s decentralization at scale.

• Why Bitcoin mining remains the foundation of Bitcoin’s network security
• How GoMining’s gamified platform lets users mine BTC via Apple Pay
• Inside the GoMining Alpha Blocks Fund for institutional investors
• The evolving regulatory landscape and energy cost dynamics
• Why governments could become the next major Bitcoin miners

A must-listen for institutional investors, miners, and Bitcoin enthusiasts exploring how technology, regulation, and capital markets are redefining what it means to mine Bitcoin in the modern era.

🎙️ Host: David Sencil – Bitcoin.com News Podcast
💼 Guest: Jeremy Dreier – Chief Business Development Officer, GoMining
🔗 Learn more: bitcoin.com | institutional.gomining.com | @GoMiningInst | @jeremy_dreier

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Arravind Prabu, CEO of CryptoBilis (@cryptobilis), joins Bitcoin.com’s Regina C (@ReginaC3214) to explore a groundbreaking vision for Bitcoin mining in Southeast Asia — one powered not by massive data centers, but by solar panels and smartphones.

Prabu introduces the concept of “village mining”, a model that enables individuals and rural communities to mine Bitcoin using renewable energy, transforming mining from an industrial pursuit into a tool for financial inclusion and decentralized wealth creation.

The conversation dives deep into the friction between banks and crypto in Southeast Asia, how local regulations shape adoption, and why commerce — not speculation — will define the region’s next wave of Web3 growth. By reimagining Bitcoin mining as a grassroots movement, CryptoBilis is helping communities generate income and participate directly in the digital economy.

• How “village mining” empowers communities through decentralized wealth creation
• Why solar energy could democratize Bitcoin mining in emerging markets
• The tension between traditional banks and crypto startups in SEA
• Why everyday commerce will drive the next crypto adoption wave
• The vision for sustainable, inclusive Bitcoin infrastructure

A must-listen for Bitcoin advocates, sustainability pioneers, and Web3 builders exploring how renewable energy and decentralization can expand economic freedom across emerging markets.

🎙️ Host: Regina C – Bitcoin.com News Podcast
💼 Guest: Arravind Prabu – CEO of CryptoBilis
🔗 Learn more: bitcoin.com | @cryptobilis | @cryptobilisph

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Oliver Stauber, CEO of KuCoin EU, joins Bitcoin.com News Lead David Sencil (@_dsencil) at Token2049 Dubai to unpack the fast-changing regulatory landscape in Europe — and why the MiCA framework may be both a blessing and a barrier for the region’s crypto industry.

In this wide-ranging discussion, Stauber explains how MiCA regulation is reshaping how exchanges operate across the EU, why offshore trading platforms may soon be blocked, and how KuCoin is navigating complex compliance hurdles — including the need for three separate licenses just to serve European users.

From the politics of Bitcoin reserves to the challenges of taxation and cross-border operations, Stauber offers a candid assessment of Europe’s role in the global crypto ecosystem and what international projects need to know before expanding into the EU market.

• Why MiCA regulation is both helpful and broken for the crypto industry
• How offshore exchanges may be fenced out of the European market
• The complex licensing requirements facing KuCoin in the EU
• Why Germany and other governments resist holding Bitcoin reserves
• The future of crypto adoption, taxation, and compliance in Europe
• What global crypto projects should know before entering the EU

A must-listen for founders, compliance officers, and global exchanges looking to understand how Europe’s MiCA regime is reshaping crypto operations, regulation, and access to the world’s largest single market.

🎙️ Host: David Sencil – Bitcoin.com News Podcast
💼 Guest: Oliver Stauber – CEO of KuCoin EU
🔗 Learn more: bitcoin.com | kucoin.com | @KuCoinCom | @ostauber

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Chris Pavlovski, CEO of Rumble, joins Bitcoin.com News Lead David Sencil at Bitcoin 2025 to talk about his bold vision to take on Big Tech — and why Rumble’s mission to defend digital freedom now includes a major Bitcoin strategy.

“We’re not trying to be a mini-Google. I want to be as big as Google,” Pavlovski declares, underscoring Rumble’s commitment to building an open, censorship-resistant alternative to centralized platforms. In this wide-ranging discussion, he reveals why Rumble purchased $20 million in Bitcoin, how the company is launching a Tether-backed non-custodial wallet, and what’s next in the battle for free speech online.

From YouTube bans to Rumble’s rapid growth as a pro-free-expression platform, Pavlovski offers a candid look at how decentralization, Bitcoin, and user sovereignty are shaping the future of the internet.

• Why Rumble sees Bitcoin as the foundation for digital freedom
• The $20M Bitcoin buy and what it signals about corporate adoption
• How Rumble’s new Tether-backed non-custodial wallet works
• Competing head-on with Google and YouTube’s centralized dominance
• The future of content, crypto, and censorship resistance

A must-listen for Bitcoin believers, content creators, and free speech advocates exploring how Rumble is using crypto and decentralization to build a more open and resilient digital economy.

🎙️ Host: David Sencil – Bitcoin.com News Podcast
💼 Guest: Chris Pavlovski – CEO of Rumble
🔗 Learn more: bitcoin.com | rumble.com | @chrispavlovski

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