Blockchain Ireland Summit 2025

In this special episode recorded live at the buzzing Blockchain Ireland Summit 2025, our host Sebastian Grube sits down with Andrew Mulvenny, General Manager of the Trading Platform at Kraken, for a lively and insightful conversation that captures the spirit of innovation and momentum in the crypto world right now.

Andrew joins us fresh from the stage and dives straight into what brought Kraken to this year’s summit, from its commitment to supporting the growing Irish and European blockchain community, to its excitement about the regulatory clarity brought by MiCA. There’s a real sense that 2025 is a turning point for the industry—and Kraken is leading from the front.

Throughout the episode, Andrew shares Kraken’s big moves this year, including the launch of Kraken Embed in partnership with Bunq, the acquisition of NinjaTrader in the U.S., and the rollout of tokenised equities for global markets. It’s all part of Kraken’s mission to break down the barriers between traditional finance and crypto, creating a more accessible, open financial future for everyone.

Sebastian and Andrew also reflect on what’s changed in the past year and where things are heading. With stablecoins gaining serious traction, tokenisation moving from hype to reality, and big-name partnerships like Kraken x MasterCard making waves, the conversation paints a picture of a sector that’s no longer just building—but delivering.

Looking ahead, Andrew shares his hopes for 2026, including mass adoption of tokenised assets and a new generation of users engaging with crypto in everyday life. If you’re interested in the real-world evolution of blockchain, this is one episode you won’t want to miss.

So grab your headphones and tune in to hear how Kraken is shaping the future—one innovation at a time—from the heart of Dublin’s premier blockchain gathering.

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Available on the Blockchain Ireland website: https://www.blockchainireland.ie/podcasts/

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Host: Sebastian Grube - Co-Chair of Events and Communication Working Group

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sebastiangrube/

Name: Andrew Mulvenny - General Manager

https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-mulvenny/

https://www.kraken.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/krakenfx/

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About Blockchain Ireland

Blockchain Ireland is an initiative aimed at promoting and enhancing Ireland's position as a global hub for blockchain technology. It was launched by the Irish Blockchain Expert Group (IBEG), led by IDA Ireland, and includes a collaboration of Irish-based organisations.

The main goals of Blockchain Ireland are to serve as a central source of information on the growing blockchain, crypto and Web3 ecosystem, to support the development of blockchain technology in Ireland, and to create awareness of industry developments both nationally and internationally.

Follow us:

https://www.blockchainireland.ie/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/blockchain-ireland

https://twitter.com/blockchainireland/

https://instagram.com/blockchainireland/

https://tiktok.com/@blockchainireland/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this special live episode from the Blockchain Ireland Summit 2025, recorded at the vibrant Trinity Business School, we sit down with Jón Egilsson, co-founder of Monerium and former Chairperson of the Central Bank of Iceland. Jón brings a rare mix of central banking experience and blockchain innovation to the table, and trust us—he doesn’t disappoint.

From the moment the conversation kicks off, Jón dives into why Ireland, why now, and what makes the Irish ecosystem such an exciting part of the EU’s blockchain evolution—especially with MiCA regulations coming into play. He walks us through Monerium’s journey, from being the first company licensed to issue euro-backed stablecoins, to integrating with the European payment system, making digital euros more accessible than ever.

But this isn’t just a story about financial infrastructure. Jón brings warmth, clarity, and even a bit of humor to the conversation as he explains how he uses his own crypto wallet in everyday life. From getting paid in euros to sending dollars to his son in the US, Jón’s life without a traditional bank sounds surprisingly smooth and incredibly efficient.

We also explore the explosive rise in stablecoin usage—over $33.5 trillion in the past year alone, surpassing Visa and MasterCard combined. With big players like Stripe, Meta, and BlackRock entering the arena, Jón shares why 2025 is shaping up to be a landmark year for real-world blockchain adoption.

If you're curious about how digital money is actually being used today, how Europe is positioning itself on the global crypto stage, or what the future holds for traditional banks, you’ll love this episode. It’s smart, it’s accessible, and it’s filled with insights that will leave you thinking long after the outro.

So grab your headphones, find a comfy spot, and join us for a warm and forward-thinking chat on the future of finance—with a healthy dose of real-world perspective.

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Available on the Blockchain Ireland website: https://www.blockchainireland.ie/podcasts/

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Host: Sebastian Grube - Co-Chair of Events and Communication Working Group

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sebastiangrube/

Jón Egilsson - Co-founder at Monerium / Former Chairman of Central Bank of Iceland

https://www.linkedin.com/in/egilsson/

https://monerium.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/monerium/

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About Blockchain Ireland

Blockchain Ireland is an initiative aimed at promoting and enhancing Ireland's position as a global hub for blockchain technology. It was launched by the Irish Blockchain Expert Group (IBEG), led by IDA Ireland, and includes a collaboration of Irish-based organisations.

The main goals of Blockchain Ireland are to serve as a central source of information on the growing blockchain, crypto and Web3 ecosystem, to support the development of blockchain technology in Ireland, and to create awareness of industry developments both nationally and internationally.

Follow us:

https://www.blockchainireland.ie/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/blockchain-ireland

https://twitter.com/blockchainireland/

https://instagram.com/blockchainireland/

https://tiktok.com/@blockchainireland/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this special episode recorded live at the Blockchain Ireland Summit 2025, we’re joined by one of the most passionate voices in global blockchain regulation—Juan Carlos Reyes, President and Executive Director of El Salvador’s National Commission of Digital Assets (CNAD). If you think “regulator” sounds like a dry job title, prepare to have that idea turned on its head. Juan Carlos brings energy, clarity, and a deep commitment to innovation as he shares El Salvador’s journey from legalising Bitcoin to creating a bold, tailor-made regulatory framework for digital assets.

Juan Carlos sits down with host Sebastian for a warm and insightful chat about what inspired his visit to Ireland, how CNAD came to be, and why traditional financial rules just don’t work when it comes to blockchain. He explains how El Salvador has taken a fresh approach, building regulation that fits the unique nature of digital assets rather than trying to squeeze them into outdated systems. His enthusiasm is infectious, and his real-world experience gives the conversation depth without losing the human touch.

We hear about the Center of Innovation for Digital Assets—CNAD’s initiative to create a safe space for startups and innovators to test their technology without the fear of falling foul of unclear rules. Juan Carlos makes it clear that most innovators don’t want to break the rules—they just need to know what the rules are. He also shares his strong belief in the power of tokenisation to transform access to financial markets, and why the future of blockchain is all about transparency, collaboration, and sensible regulation.

From Bitcoin to global partnerships, from regulation nightmares to hopeful futures, this episode is packed with stories, insights, and a few laughs along the way. It’s a conversation that proves you can talk about law, finance, and innovation—and still keep things real. Tune in for a thoughtful and uplifting conversation that shows what’s possible when leadership meets vision in the world of digital assets.

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Available on the Blockchain Ireland website: https://www.blockchainireland.ie/podcasts/

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Host: Sebastian Grube - Co-Chair of Events and Communication Working Group

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sebastiangrube/

Guests: Juan Carlos Reyes - President and Executive Director

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jcreyes/

https://cnad.gob.sv/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/comision-nacional-de-activos-digitales/

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About Blockchain Ireland

Blockchain Ireland is an initiative aimed at promoting and enhancing Ireland's position as a global hub for blockchain technology. It was launched by the Irish Blockchain Expert Group (IBEG), led by IDA Ireland, and includes a collaboration of Irish-based organisations.

The main goals of Blockchain Ireland are to serve as a central source of information on the growing blockchain, crypto and Web3 ecosystem, to support the development of blockchain technology in Ireland, and to create awareness of industry developments both nationally and internationally.

Follow us:

https://www.blockchainireland.ie/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/blockchain-ireland

https://twitter.com/blockchainireland/

https://instagram.com/blockchainireland/

https://tiktok.com/@blockchainireland/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.