block by block

By Stellar Development Foundation

Crypto is going mainstream — changing the way we spend, build, and connect. Stay ahead of the curve with Denelle Dixon, CEO and Executive Director of the Stellar Development Foundation, as she dives i... more

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FAQs about block by block:

How many episodes does block by block have?

The podcast currently has 22 episodes available.

block by block episodes:

January 22, 2026 From $100M to $1: How Brale Changed Stablecoin Issuance
Issuing a stablecoin used to require a nine-figure investment, years of regulatory work, and deep banking relationships. For most companies, that barrier made participation impossible.
In this episode of block by block, Denelle Dixon speaks with Ben Milne, founder and CEO of Brale, about why stablecoin issuance was historically so expensive - and how Brale approached the problem differently. Ben explains how existing regulation made another path possible, why licensing and compliance are central to trust, and how absorbing those fixed costs upfront reduces the marginal cost of issuing a stablecoin to nearly zero.
The conversation covers the economics of stablecoin infrastructure, Brale’s decision to support third-party issuers, and what changes when access to regulated financial rails is no longer limited to the largest institutions.
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47min
December 16, 2025 Cutting Global Payroll Costs by 20–25% with AirTM
This Block by Block episode features AirTM CEO Ruben Galindo on the economics of global payroll. AirTM has processed more than $1B in stablecoin payments, paid 250,000 workers in 150+ countries, and reports 20–25% cost savings on cross-border payouts. Galindo explains how stablecoin payments are converted to local currency in minutes, why the “last mile” is the real challenge in international payroll, and what reliable settlement means for enterprises looking beyond traditional payment processors.
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55min
December 16, 2025 How blockchain changes money, settlement, and risk | Austin Campbell
In this episode of block by block with Denelle Dixon, Austin Campbell (Founder of Zero Knowledge Consulting, NYU Stern professor, former Paxos, JP Morgan, Citi) talks through the parts of the financial system most people never see — settlement, velocity, trapped capital, and the tradeoffs between openness, privacy, and control.
Drawing from experience in traditional finance and crypto infrastructure, Austin explains why most tokenization efforts fail, what blockchains actually make possible, and why copying legacy systems onchain won’t lead to greater adoption.
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37min
November 10, 2025 How LayerZero Solves the $700M Bridge Problem | LZ's Brian Pellegrino on Omnichain Assets
In this episode of Block by Block, Denelle Dixon sits down with Brian Pellegrino, CEO and Co-Founder of LayerZero Labs, to explore how blockchain interoperability is evolving beyond traditional bridges and wrapped assets toward true omnichain infrastructure.
What You'll Learn:
-How omnichain tokens eliminate fragmented liquidity and security risks
-Why LayerZero is a messaging protocol, not a bridge
-The importance of immutable, censorship-resistant infrastructure
-How blockchain interoperability will become as invisible as HTTPS
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49min
October 22, 2025 How Etherfuse Aims to Bring 100 Sovereign Currencies Onchain with Dave Taylor
This episode explores how Etherfuse is using Stellar to build open, interoperable financial rails that keep money, and access, truly open. Dave Taylor, Co-Founder and CEO of Etherfuse, joins Denelle to share how bringing local-currency sovereign bonds onchain through stablebonds can create transparent, yield-bearing opportunities for savings and payments. Together, discussing what it takes to keep these rails permissionless, ensure composability across builders, and expand real-world access to trusted financial assets - all while helping local economies thrive without relying solely on the U.S. dollar.
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42min
September 05, 2024 Real-world impact : Leading with the caring edge ft. Elisabeth Carpenter, COO of Circle
In our third and final episode in our mini-series on how to make a real-world impact, Denelle talks with Elisabeth Carpenter, COO of Circle. Denelle and Elisabeth talked about the value stablecoins have for global users, why enterprise innovation is not just compatible but complementary to social impact, and why skepticism about a new technology can be healthy, and where we are on the transformation journey in movement of money. Join us to hear how to make it happen…block by block.
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41min
August 22, 2024 Real World Impact: The Value of Inclusion ft. Mary Ellen Iskenderian, CEO of Women’s World Banking
In our second episode in our mini-series on how to make a real-world impact, Denelle talks with Mary Ellen Iskenderian, President and CEO of Women’s World Banking. Denelle and Mary Ellen talked about how access and inclusion are different, how financial institutions improving their customer experience for women are driving big business improvements, and why it’s important not to lose sight of the long game. Join us to hear how to make it happen…block by block.
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32min
August 08, 2024 How mobile wallet Decaf is delivering real world benefits across the globe with Rick Martin
Denelle kicks off Season 3’s miniseries on real-world impact with Rick Martin of decaf. Rick and the decaf team have built a blockchain-powered mobile wallet, leveraging digital assets integrated with local cash in and out points, that is giving people a new found sense of pride in their work and for some, provides greater physical security. They explore these real world impacts and how it’s important to create and maintain trust with users, all while being a voice at the table for those that don’t have a seat. Join the conversation to learn how to make it happen….block by block.
Learn more about the Decaf Digital Wallet: https://bit.ly/decaf_builds_better
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28min
February 29, 2024 An Innovator's Journey: Insights on Blockchain, Space Exploration, and AI Impact
This season concludes with one of the most influential voices in the Stellar ecosystem – none other than Stellar Development Foundation co-founder, Jed McCaleb. Since the 3rd grade, Jed’s passion for programming has led him to solve interesting problems. He’s started numerous companies and worked on emerging technology for decades, and now has his sights set on space habitation technologies with Vast, and AI with Astera Institute. In this episode, Denelle and Jed discuss his path as an innovator, the barriers to building that he faced in the early days of blockchain, the importance of setting space as a new frontier for human exploration, and AI as the last science project.
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31min
January 23, 2024 Digital Transformation inside Moneygram International
Denelle Dixon, and Alex Holmes, CEO of MoneyGram, unpack MoneyGram's transformative journey from conventional remittance services to a digital powerhouse. Denelle and Alex cover the company’s strategic shifts and pivotal moments in embracing digital innovation, showcasing Holmes' insights into the company's evolution. Dixon emphasizes the collaborative efforts that led to the creation of MoneyGram Access and the recent launch of their non-custodial wallet, unveiling a vision to bridge traditional finance with blockchain technology, revolutionizing cross-border payments and fostering financial inclusion on a global scale. How does a more than 80 year old company adopt new technologies and reshape the financial landscape? Listen to find out.
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18min

FAQs about block by block:

How many episodes does block by block have?

The podcast currently has 22 episodes available.

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