Couchonomics with Arjun

When money moves faster than ever, who really controls it? 

In this episode, Arjun sits down with Arik Shtilman, Founder and CEO of Rapyd, to explore how AI and stablecoins are rewriting the rules of global payments.
 From powering transactions across 100+ countries to building an AI-first infrastructure, Rapyd is proving that the next financial revolution is already underway.

🎙️ In this episode:
- Why payments companies that aren’t AI-first may not survive the next three years
- How stablecoins are reshaping liquidity, cross-border trade, and working capital
- Why banks and SWIFT are in a race to stay relevant
- How Rapyd embedded stablecoins into every layer of its platform
- The real battle between AI-powered fraud and AI-driven fraud prevention
- What the rise of CBDCs means for the future of money movement

This isn’t a discussion about what’s coming.
It’s a look at how the foundations of finance are being rebuilt in real time.

👉 Watch now and discover how Rapyd is shaping the future of payments.

#CouchonomicsWithArjun #Fintech #AI #Stablecoins #CrossBorderPayments #DigitalFinance #FutureOfMoney #financialinnovation 

Couchonomics with Arjun Season 04 is brought to you by our partners:
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/
Hala https://hala.com/ 

Chapters:
00:00 Episode Highlights
03:00 AI and Stablecoins: The Twin Shifts
05:00 How Regulation and Politics Changed Crypto
08:00 Cross-Border Trade in Stablecoins
12:00 Swift’s Future and Bank Partnerships
16:00 Rapyd’s Stablecoin Strategy and Revenue Impact
18:00 Compliance, Regulation, and Market Readiness
25:00 CBDCs and the New Monetary Order
30:00 Inside Rapyd’s AI Engine
39:00 The Rapyd Story and Its Evolution

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

What if AI ran your bank? 🤯

In this episode, Arjun sits down with Quang Nguyen, CEO of Cake Digital Bank, Vietnam’s AI-first bank that’s redefining what digital finance looks like.

With only 300 employees serving 6 million customers, Cake has become one of Southeast Asia’s most efficient and innovative financial institutions — proving that the future of banking is lean, intelligent, and fully automated.

🎙️ In this episode:
- How Cake uses AI to power 70% of its operations
- Building trust through technology in a young, digital-first market
- Why Vietnam is leading the next fintech wave
- How Cake achieved profitability in just 3 years
- What AI-first banking really means beyond the buzz
 
This isn’t a story about the future of banking - it’s a look at what’s already here.

👉 Watch now and see how AI is transforming finance from the inside out.

#CouchonomicsWithArjun #Fintech #DigitalBanking #AI #Vietnam #FinancialInnovation #FutureOfFinance

Couchonomics with Arjun Season 04 is brought to you by our partners:
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/
Hala https://hala.com/ 


Chapters:
00:00 Episode Highlights
02:22 Vietnam's Digital Transformation
06:19 Building Trust in Digital Banking
09:06 The Playful Brand: Cake
11:46 Regulatory Landscape in Vietnam
19:20 AI Integration in Banking
23:26 Staffing and AI Integration
24:21 Embracing AI in Operations
25:22 Approach to Small Loans
28:21 Deposit Strategies and Competitive Pricing
29:42 Building Ecosystems and Partnerships
33:16 Challenges and Opportunities in Embedded Banking
36:34 Regulatory Compliance and AI
39:03 The Story Behind the Name 'Cake'
41:10 Future Plans and Regional Expansion
43:18 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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

Over $80 trillion in global wealth is moving to a younger, more digital generation. But who will manage it—and how will AI, trust, and technology reshape investing?

In this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, Caesar Sengupta, Co-Founder and CEO of Arta Finance (backed by Eric Schmidt, Peak XV, and Ribbit Capital), shares how his company is democratizing wealth management—bringing institutional-grade investing to millions worldwide.

Discover how AI is redefining advice, why trust matters more than ever, and how digital platforms like Arta x Wio are changing the game for banks, advisors, and investors alike.

🎧 Listen now on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts.



Couchonomics with Arjun Season 04 is brought to you by our partners:
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/
Hala https://hala.com/


Chapters:
00:00 Episode Highlights 
01:10 Introducing Caesar Sengupta
02:00 The Great Wealth Transfer
03:07 Secular Forces in Wealth Creation
05:38 The Myth of Democratization
10:13 Retail Trading: Speculation or Wealth Building?
13:33 Building Trust in Wealth Management
17:25 The Role of Technology in Wealth Management
24:42 Family Offices and Digital Capabilities
27:57 Regulatory Challenges and Partner Expertise
28:13 Designing and Offering Structured Products
30:13 AI's Role in Fintech and Wealth Management
33:41 AI's Impact on Wealth Strategies
35:46 AI in Customer Experience and Wealth Planning
42:26 Concerns and Future of AI in Wealth Management
45:39 Business Strategy and Future Directions
49:29 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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

Episode 150 of Couchonomics with Arjun is here — and it’s a milestone.

For the very first time, we go to Latin America. My guest: Eduardo Chedid, CEO of PicPay — Brazil’s biggest super app and one of the fastest-scaling fintechs in the world.

With 60M+ customers, $1B+ in revenues, profits up 7× YoY, and 4,500 employees, PicPay is rewriting the rules of digital banking in one of the most competitive markets on earth.

We cover:
- Brazil’s fintech revolution and the role of regulation
- How PicPay scaled from wallet → super app → full-service bank
- Why AI and open finance are core to growth
- The future of tokenized money and cross-border payments

This isn’t just a Brazil story — it’s a blueprint for the future of finance.


Couchonomics with Arjun Season 04 is brought to you by our partners:
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/
Hala https://hala.com/

Chapters:
00:00 Episode Highlights
01:11 Welcoming Eduardo Chedd
03:29 Brazilian FinTech Landscape
11:22 PicPay's Growth and Strategy
23:52 AI Integration and Innovations
28:25 Organizational Structure and Product Velocity
29:23 Ownership and Cross-Functional Integration
31:13 Driving Governance and Agile Practices
32:36 The Role of Data in Financial Services
36:55 The Evolution and Importance of Digital Wallets
38:46 Tokenized Money and Future Trends
41:59 Competition and Market Focus
45:21 Global Insights and Future Plans
50:44 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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

Turning Savings into Wealth — Inside Chip’s Fintech Playbook 

UK fintech is entering a new chapter. While funding slows, savers poured £103bn into ISAs — proving that trust, not downloads, is the real currency.

In this episode, Arjun speaks with Alex Latham, Co-Founder & CMO of Chip, one of Europe’s fastest-growing fintechs, on:
- The future of UK fintech beyond banking apps
- How Chip grew from a crowdfunded startup to a wealth platform managing billions
- Why trust, community, and AI will shape wealth management

📺 Watch now and see how Chip is redefining the future of savings and investing.



Couchonomics with Arjun Season 04 is brought to you by our partners:
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/
Hala https://hala.com/

Find us on our social media platforms:
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?s=20
TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@couchonomics

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

Chapters:
00:00 Episode Highlights
00:56 Introduction
02:09 State of UK FinTech
02:34 The Rise of British FinTech
04:05 Challenges and Opportunities in FinTech
09:00 Chip: A Digital Wealth Manager
18:12 Building Trust and Authenticity
26:35 Consumer Behavior Trends
29:38 Stabilizing Interest Rates and Long-Term Financial Planning
30:19 Exploring Alternative Investments: Crypto and ETFs
31:55 The British Saving Culture and Investment Challenges
34:01 The Role of Education in Financial Literacy
38:05 Marketing Strategies in FinTech
43:20 Building and Engaging a Community
47:43 Future Plans and Financial Advice Innovations
56:17 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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

Most fintechs chased hype. Abhi chased cash flow.

In this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, we sit down with Omair Ansari, Co-Founder & CEO of Abhi, one of Pakistan’s fastest-growing fintechs.

Abhi began with earned wage access, giving workers instant liquidity. Today, it has scaled into payroll financing, SME lending, and invoice factoring — and even acquired a licensed microfinance bank in Pakistan to materially lower its cost of funds.

We explore:
- Why profitability and cost of capital decide who survives fintech’s winter
- How Abhi scaled from earned wage access into a full-stack working capital platform
- Pakistan as the anchor, GCC as the growth frontier
- The real potential (and limits) of tokenization & private credit
- Why licences and compliance, not glossy apps, are the true moat in fintech
- How embedded finance at payroll and receivables lowers costs and expands inclusion

This is more than a growth story — it’s a blueprint for building durable fintech in emerging markets.

🎧 Full episode now streaming on YouTube, Spotify & Apple Podcasts.


Couchonomics with Arjun Season 04 is brought to you by our partners:
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/
Hala https://hala.com/

chapters:
00:00 Episode Highlights
00:59 Welcome to Couchonomics
02:19 FinTech Evolution and Market Dynamics
06:28 Business Model Adaptations
12:21 Manual Operations and Testing
14:34 Credit Models and Market Realities
17:24 Funding and Capital Challenges
23:54 Regulatory Landscape and Innovations
27:38 Navigating Regulatory Challenges
29:14 The Debate on Fintech Regulation
32:07 Embedded Finance: Progress and Challenges
35:24 The Future of Banking and Fintech
38:44 Crypto and Digital Assets in Emerging Markets
43:27 Expanding into Pakistan: Opportunities and Risks
46:52 Strategic Focus and Future Vision
51:41 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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

Wealth management is no longer just champagne perks and 2% fees. The new generation of investors demands digital, transparent, and affordable solutions.

In this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, we’re joined by Dhruv Arora, Founder & CEO of Syfe, a digital wealth management platform managing over US$10B.
We cover:
- Why trust is the biggest competition in digital wealth
- The difference between robo-advisors & true digital wealth platforms
- How Syfe is scaling across Singapore, Hong Kong & Australia
- Why inclusivity without affordability doesn’t work
- The merging of saving + investing into one continuum

A sharp look into the future of wealth management, fintech, and investing.
🎧 Full episode now on YouTube, Spotify & Apple Podcasts.



Couchonomics with Arjun Season 04 is brought to you by our partners:
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/
Hala https://hala.com/


chapters:
00:00 Episode Highlights
00:55 Introduction
01:38 Defining Digital Wealth Management
02:28 The Future of Wealth Management
07:07 Challenges for Traditional Banks
16:07 Trust and Transparency in Wealth Management
19:56 Expansion and Growth Strategies
24:42 Localization and Personalization in Wealth
26:42 Exploring Syfe's Offerings
27:28 Model Portfolios and Cash Management
28:15 Holistic Wealth Management
29:33 Deep Integration and Proprietary Technology
31:49 Rule-Based Investing vs. Robo-Advisors
35:08 Democratizing Access to Wealth Management
41:06 Future of Wealth Management and Crypto Integration
48:47 Syfe's Expansion Plans and Final Thoughts

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

💡 Africa’s fintech story is no longer a local experiment — it’s a global test case for the future of inclusion, innovation, and capital flows.

In this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, we’re joined by Yustus Aribariho, Co-Founder of Furaha Financial (part of SC Ventures by Standard Chartered). Yustus is now on a mission to unlock education financing and opportunity across Sub-Saharan Africa.

We unpack:
💸 Why capital inflows into African fintech lag behind the opportunity
📱 How mobile money became the blueprint for financial inclusion worldwide
🛠 The frictions of regulation, repatriation, and cross-border flows
👥 Why human capital and local talent could be Africa’s ultimate advantage

Furaha isn’t just another fintech — it’s building infrastructure that bridges capital and impact in one of the world’s fastest-growing regions.

🎧 Watch the full episode now on YouTube, Spotify & Apple Podcasts.


Couchonomics with Arjun Season 04 is brought to you by our partners:
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/
Hala https://hala.com/

Chapters:
00:00 Episode Highlights
02:40 State of FinTech in Sub-Saharan Africa
08:11 Challenges and Opportunities in African FinTech
10:48 The Role of Mobile Money and Digital Banks
15:00 Investment Dynamics and Regulatory Challenges
17:57 Affordability and Financial Inclusion
21:46 Alternative Financial Services in Africa
27:46 High Cost of Borrowing and Risk-Based Pricing
28:36 Purpose-Driven Financing
33:37 Addressing the Education Financing Gap
35:43 Building an Ecosystem for Education Loans
37:42 Why Uganda?
45:29 Future Expansion and Challenges
48:04 Business Model and Partnerships
52:25 Vision for the Future
55:26 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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

Stablecoins are no longer on the sidelines — they’re stepping into the core of global finance.

In this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, we're joined by Dante Disparte, Chief Strategy Officer & Head of Global Policy at Circle, for his second appearance on the show. Speaking from Washington, DC, Dante brings a timely perspective on how digital finance is evolving — and why it matters now more than ever.

We unpack:
- Stablecoins as real financial infrastructure for payments, remittances, and cross-border flows
- How smart regulation acts as a catalyst for trust, adoption, and institutional capital
- CBDCs and tokenisation — separating hype from substance, and where they’ll truly reshape markets and inclusion
- Why MENA is emerging as a global hub for digital assets, with the UAE leading from the front

If you want to understand how money itself is being rebuilt — not just the apps we use, but the foundations beneath the system — this conversation with Dante is essential listening.

🎧 Watch and listen now on YouTube, Spotify & Apple Podcasts.

Couchonomics with Arjun Season 04 is brought to you by our partners:
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/
Hala https://hala.com/

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Digital Assets and Policy
00:54 Welcoming the Guest: Dante Disparte
02:35 Stablecoins: Current State and Future Prospects
03:05 Regulatory Changes and Their Impact
06:21 Exploring Use Cases for Digital Assets
16:29 The Role of Banks and Stablecoins
24:46 Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs)
28:15 The Genius Act: Opportunities and Risks
29:59 The Resilience of Digital Assets
30:37 The Genius Act: A Legislative Proposal
31:20 Stablecoins and Market Stability
31:55 The Role of Stablecoins in the Banking System
32:54 Guardrails and Systemic Risk
33:45 Tokenized Treasuries vs. Stablecoins
35:48 Concerns About Tether
38:05 The Genius Act and Global Regulatory Harmonization
40:41 Corporate Stablecoins and Market Adoption
49:00 Circle's IPO and Long-Term Vision
53:03 Circle Payment Network (CPN) and Financial Inclusion

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

Fraud just had its AI upgrade.
It’s faster than your payments and industrialised at a global scale. 

Welcome to the Scamdemic — a global wave of scams and financial crime growing faster than almost any asset class.
We’re joined by Simon Taylor, Head of Strategy at Sardine and Co-Founder of 11:FS. Together, we unpack how fraud has evolved, why it’s so hard to stop, and what financial institutions, fintechs, and regulators must do now.

Inside the episode:
- Why faster payments = faster fraud
- Deepfakes, fraud-as-a-service, and industrialised scam call centres
- Why liability shifts and reimbursements can fuel crime instead of stopping it
- The missed open banking opportunity: building a global “fraud utility”
- Stablecoins, AI agents, and the next wave of attack surfaces
- How to protect customers without killing innovation

Whether you work in banking, fintech, payments, or policy, this episode will change how you think about fraud prevention in the age of AI and real-time payments.

🎧 Listen now and stay ahead of the Scamdemic.

Couchonomics with Arjun Season 04 is brought to you by our partners:
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/
Hala https://hala.com/

Chapters:
00:00 Episode Highlights
02:04 The Scam Epidemic: An Overview
06:33 The Impact of Fraud on Financial Institutions
14:14 Introducing Sardine: AI-Powered Financial Crime Platform
19:17 Global Fraud Typologies and Real-Time Payments
22:47 Global Reactions to the Pandemic
23:46 The Impact on Wealthy Individuals and Businesses
24:43 The Need for Transparency and Best Practices
25:23 Regulatory Responses and Fraud Prevention
26:34 The Role of Social Media in Fraud
27:38 Challenges in Fraud Prevention and Coordination
29:42 Opportunities in Open Banking and Data Sharing
34:31 Digital Assets and Stablecoins
39:08 The Role of AI in Fraud Prevention
42:10 Future of Financial Crime and Conclusion

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