
Sign up to save your podcasts
Or


Is today’s financial system fit for a digital-first world?
Not quite — and Siddharth Shetty is here to tell us why.
In this episode of Couchonomics, Arjun speaks with Finternet Labs CEO Siddharth Shetty, one of the architects behind India’s UPI and Account Aggregator framework, to unpack the vision for Finternet — a universal financial infrastructure layer designed to empower users, build trust, and unlock global interoperability.
We explore how fragmented rails, legacy systems, and a lack of verifiability are holding back progress, and how Finternet could be the solution that brings it all together.
👉 What you’ll learn:
- Why identity, credentials & asset control need to shift back to users
- How Finternet coexists with CBDCs, stablecoins & real-time payment systems
- The role of governments vs private sector in future infrastructure
- Middle East leapfrogging, tokenization & AI-driven transactions
🔗 Watch, learn, and join the conversation about the future of digital 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/
Discover how the Finternet is reimagining finance for a connected world. Tap the link in the show notes to learn more. 👇
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qIw8wSbw26mw8uLXIK8SohmGvvJobcPX/view?usp=sharing
Explore Finternet Labs: https://finternetlab.io/
Chapters:
00:00 Episode Highlights
01:58 Exploring Finternet Labs
03:01 Understanding Financial Infrastructure
05:33 The Vision of Finternet Labs
13:19 Governance and Dispute Resolution
25:02 Future of Financial Systems
27:07 Web3 and Coexistence with Traditional Financial Systems
29:15 Interoperability Challenges and Solutions
31:42 Cross-Border Transactions and Emerging Technologies
36:12 The Role of Digital Identity in Financial Ecosystems
40:45 Centralization vs. Decentralization in Digital Identity
44:13 Introduction to Finnet and Its Objectives
46:34 The Finternet Labs: Structure and Goals
50:21 Opportunities for the Middle East in Digital Finance
53:01 Conclusion and Future Events
Our website 👉 https://bit.ly/3jk7UH0
Find us on our social media platforms:
Subscribe to Arjun's LinkedIn newsletter, Couchonomics Crunch: https://bit.ly/3WI4A6E
The future of payments won’t be card-swiped or cash-counted — it’ll be fast, digital, and deeply integrated.
In this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, Floris de Kort, CEO of Thunes, joins to unpack what it really takes to build a global payments network across 130+ markets, from wallets to banks to mobile rails.
What’s inside:
- Why real-time payments still face real-world friction
- How Thunes is turning compliance into a competitive edge
- The rise of B2B payouts — and why corporates are driving the volume
- Why MENA is now a proving ground for wallet innovation
- The growing role of stablecoins in global finance
If you're building in fintech, infrastructure, or cross-border payments, this one’s essential listening.
🎧 Watch or listen on YouTube, Spotify, and 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
00:48 Introduction
01:34 State of the Payments Industry
03:39 The Rise of B2B Payments
05:33 Real-Time Payments and Global Trends
11:26 The Role of Stablecoins in Modern Payments
20:34 Regulation and the Future of Stablecoins
23:27 Cost and Efficiency of Modern Payment Systems
23:52 Regulatory Evolution and Market Disruption
24:17 Thunes' Recent Milestones and Future Plans
24:50 Challenges and Strategies in the US Market
25:30 Investment and Growth Focus
26:29 AI Integration in Financial Services
29:41 Navigating Complex Regulatory Environments
38:37 Middle East Expansion and Local Strategies
42:23 Conclusion and Future Outlook
Our website 👉 https://bit.ly/3jk7UH0
Find us on our social media platforms:
Subscribe to Arjun's LinkedIn newsletter, Couchonomics Crunch: https://bit.ly/3WI4A6E
Crypto isn’t dead, it’s going institutional.
In this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, Rifad Mahasneh, CEO of OKX MENA, joins the show to unpack what real digital asset adoption looks like beyond the headlines.
We explore how OKX is building for scale, trust, and regulation - especially in the UAE, where crypto is becoming infrastructure, not just innovation.
🎯 What’s inside:
• Post-FTX trust rebuild: custody, compliance & proof-of-reserves
• Stablecoins, CBDCs & the future of programmable money
• Tokenization with real-world utility
• Why the UAE is leading the global charge in crypto regulation
Full episode out 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
00:56 Welcome to Couchonomics
01:48 Exploring OKX and Crypto Basics
03:29 Why the UAE for Crypto?
06:34 Understanding Crypto Terminology
09:37 State of Crypto in 2025
12:57 Institutional Adoption of Crypto
17:04 Bitcoin: Proof of Value
19:24 Centralized vs Decentralized Finance
24:00 Regulatory Landscape and Challenges
28:59 Regulatory Challenges in Blockchain
31:00 Innovating in the Crypto Space
32:32 Educating and Differentiating in the Market
41:04 Stablecoins and Their Impact
45:06 The Future of CBDCs and Stablecoins
49:46 Tokenization of Real-World Assets
54:50 OKX's Future Plans and Market Expansion
57:45 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
Our website 👉 https://bit.ly/3jk7UH0
Find us on our social media platforms:
Subscribe to Arjun's LinkedIn newsletter, Couchonomics Crunch: https://bit.ly/3WI4A6E
💸 What’s the real fintech miracle? Lending to SMEs — and staying alive 9 years later.
In this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, we’re joined by Nikhilesh Goel, Co-Founder & CEO of Validus, Southeast Asia’s largest SME financing platform.
We unpack how Validus scaled to $5B+ in credit across the region by avoiding the hype and building disciplined, anchor-based lending models that actually work.
💡 Why SME lending is a graveyard for most fintechs
💡 Why 90% of Validus' capital comes from banks, not VCs
💡 AI that serves the ops, not the pitch
💡 How they scaled across SEA without shortcuts
🎧 Full episode now live on YouTube, Spotify & Apple Podcasts. Watch if you're building real fintech — not just noise.
#CouchonomicsWithArjun #Validus #SMELending #Fintech #DigitalBanking #AnchorLending #SoutheastAsia #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
01:05 Meet Nikhilesh, CEO of Validus
01:56 The Genesis of Validus
03:05 Navigating the SME Financing Landscape
06:08 Challenges and Solutions in SME Lending
09:00 The Role of Technology in SME Financing
11:32 Supply Chain Financing Model
18:57 The Future of SME Financing
29:05 Building Relationships with SMEs
31:13 Anchor-Based Lending
32:07 Regulatory Challenges in Indonesia and Thailand
37:04 Ethical Lending Practices
42:57 Competition in the FinTech Space
49:40 Exportability and Future Plans
51:42 Impact of Global Supply Chain Disruptions
52:31 Adopting AI and Frontier Technologies
56:24 Final Thoughts and Future Directions
Our website 👉 https://bit.ly/3jk7UH0
Find us on our social media platforms:
Subscribe to Arjun's LinkedIn newsletter, Couchonomics Crunch: https://bit.ly/3WI4A6E
AI isn’t a campaign. It’s a core banking reset.
In this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, we’re joined by Amith Rajan, CEO of Neo Ventures and Head of Digital Wholesale Banking at Mashreq, for a candid conversation on how AI, tokenization, and infrastructure transformation are reshaping the banking stack from the inside out.
We unpack:
- Why "rip and replace" is a myth and what real legacy evolution looks like
-How Mashreq is deploying AI across KYC, onboarding, and customer insights
-The role of tokenized assets, CBDCs, and smart contracts in wholesale banking
- How Neo Ventures is exporting IP and scaling infrastructure beyond capital
- Why culture, not technology, is the biggest barrier to digital transformation
🎧 Full episode now streaming on YouTube, Spotify & Apple Podcasts.
🎧 Watch now and subscribe for more conversations on 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
00:43 Welcome to Couchonomics
01:48 Aligning Dual Roles in Banking
04:11 Challenges in Wholesale Banking
06:51 The Role of AI in Banking
11:14 FinTech and Digital Assets
25:14 The Future of Tokenization
27:04 CBDCs and Stablecoins: A Comparative Analysis
29:14 Exploring Digital Assets in the Lab
29:47 Introduction to New Ventures
30:49 Venture Building and Investment Strategies
35:45 Scouting and Partnerships with Fintechs
39:08 Challenges and Opportunities in the VC Landscape
46:17 Advice for Institutions Entering the CVC Space
48:34 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
Our website 👉 https://bit.ly/3jk7UH0
Find us on our social media platforms:
Subscribe to Arjun's LinkedIn newsletter, Couchonomics Crunch: https://bit.ly/3WI4A6E
The core of banking is broken, and duct-taping legacy systems won’t fix it.
This week on Couchonomics with Arjun, I’m joined by Myles Bertrand, CEO of Tuum, the modular core banking platform built in Estonia and now scaling across Europe and the GCC.
Tuum isn’t selling digital lipstick. They’re rebuilding the real plumbing of modern banking — one composable, cloud-native layer at a time.
💡 In this episode:
- Why full core replacement is a myth — and composability is the real unlock
- How to modernize without breaking everything (or everyone)
- What it takes to scale infra platforms into the GCC
- Where AI fits in — and where it doesn’t
- Why institutional banking might be the biggest opportunity for transformation
If you’re in banking, infra, SaaS, or scaling into MENA, this episode is required listening.
#couchonomicswitharjun #CoreBanking #BankingInfrastructure #DigitalBanking #ComposableInfra #Fintech #MENA #GCCStartups #AIinBanking #Tuum #FutureOfFinance #BankTech #SaaS #Leadership
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
00:00 Episode Highlights
01:59 Myles' Journey to Estonia
02:58 The Story of TOMB
05:40 Challenges and Trends in Banking
10:18 Cloud and Banking Infrastructure
15:17 Complexity in Banking Systems
20:03 Regulatory and Cultural Challenges
25:38 Competitive Landscape in Core Banking
26:41 Banking as a Service Evolution
27:45 Challenges and Opportunities in the Market
29:46 The Role of Technology Providers
31:20 Core Banking and Integration Strategies
40:03 AI in Banking: Potential and Challenges
45:57 Cultural Shifts and Technological Adoption
49:12 Regional Focus and Future Plans
51:25 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
Our website 👉 https://bit.ly/3jk7UH0
Find us on our social media platforms:
Subscribe to Arjun's LinkedIn newsletter, Couchonomics Crunch: https://bit.ly/3WI4A6E
In this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, we sit down with Tim Levene, CEO of Augmentum Fintech, the UK’s only publicly listed fintech venture capital firm.
From going public to backing infrastructure instead of hype, Tim shares what permanent capital allows that traditional VC structures don’t and why he believes the next decade of fintech will be won with discipline, not just disruption.
What we cover:
🛋️ Why Augmentum chose public markets over LP cycles
🛋️ The real story behind growth-at-all-costs and its fallout
🛋️ Why the GCC is becoming central to Augmentum’s investment strategy
🛋️ What it takes to stay relevant when the hype fades
🎧 Now streaming on YouTube, Spotify, and 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/
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
02:45 – Why Augmentum chose to go public
06:10 – Permanent capital vs traditional VC fundraising
10:25 – What LPs and public shareholders want in today’s market
13:55 – How Augmentum balances patient capital with fintech agility
17:20 – The post-2021 correction: resetting the fintech ecosystem
21:40 – Fintech infrastructure or B2C buzz: where the real value is now
25:00 – Operator-led investing and what it means for founders
29:15 – What makes a good VC-founder relationship
33:40 – Augmentum’s evolving interest in the Middle East
37:00 – Dubai and GCC as emerging fintech investment hubs
41:30 – Tim’s take on profitability vs scale in VC
45:05 – Outlook for fintech in the next 3–5 years
48:50 – Closing reflections and final takeaways
Our website 👉 https://bit.ly/3jk7UH0
Find us on our social media platforms:
Subscribe to Arjun's LinkedIn newsletter, Couchonomics Crunch: https://bit.ly/3WI4A6E
The next banking stack won’t just be fast — it has to be human.
In this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, Nick Drewett, Chief Commercial Officer at Engine by Starling, joins the conversation to share what it actually takes to launch and scale a digital bank — not in theory, but in practice.
Engine is the tech spinout from Starling Bank - one of the world’s first profitable digital banks - and it’s now powering next-gen banking infrastructure globally.
We cover:
- How Salt Bank launched in under 12 months
- Why most “modern” stacks still act like legacy
- Where AI adds real value in banking
- Why cost-to-serve is the new frontline
- What it means to localise for the GCC
Engine isn’t theory — it’s the tech behind Starling Bank’s success.
📍🎧 Listen now on Spotify, YouTube & 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
01:07Introduction
01:15 Meet Nick Drewett and Engine
01:53 The Story of Starling Bank
02:23 Starling Bank's Success and Customer Service
05:50 Introduction to Engine
08:12 Engine's Global Expansion
13:40 Case Study: Salt Bank in Romania
20:15 Case Study: AMP Bank in Australia
21:55 The Value of Banking Relationships
22:52 Competition and Mobile App Strategy
24:16 Global Banking Challenges and Localization
26:40 Trust and Managed Services
30:15 Technology and Banking as a Service
38:34 Growth and Expansion Plans
41:36 Final Thoughts and Future of Banking
Our website 👉 https://bit.ly/3jk7UH0
Find us on our social media platforms:
Subscribe to Arjun's LinkedIn newsletter, Couchonomics Crunch: https://bit.ly/3WI4A6E
There’s a $260B SME financing gap in MENA, and most players are still offering copy-paste solutions.
In this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, Craig Moore, Founder and CEO of Beehive, shares how one of the region’s original fintechs is tackling real problems with real results.
Since 2014, Beehive has built a lending model that combines technology, regulatory know-how, and operational depth to serve the segment banks continue to overlook.
In this conversation, we explore:
• What SME lending looks like on the ground in the GCC
• Why Beehive shifted from peer-to-peer to institutional capital
• How investor appetite is changing, from family offices to global VCs
• The practical role of AI in credit decisioning
• Beehive’s plans for expansion into Saudi Arabia, Oman, and more
📌 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube.
#CouchonomicsWithArjun #SMELending #Fintech #DigitalBanking #MiddleEastFintech #AltCredit #VentureCapital #GCCStartups #FinancialInclusion #FounderVoices
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
00:50 Intro
01:37 Beehive's Origin and Mission
04:22 Challenges in SME Lending
12:45 Technology's Role in Lending
15:08 Beehive's Evolution and Strategy
21:29 Competitive Landscape and Future Outlook
30:11 The SME Lending Landscape
30:43 Challenges and Competition in SME Lending
31:42 Significant Milestones and Growth
33:16 BNPL and Merchant Lending
35:46 Investment and Corporate Dynamics
40:53 Embracing AI and Technology
44:21 Blockchain and Tokenization
47:09 Regional Expansion and Market Strategies
51:34 Future Vision and Focus
55:40 Final Thoughts
Our website 👉 https://bit.ly/3jk7UH0
Find us on our social media platforms:
Subscribe to Arjun's LinkedIn newsletter, Couchonomics Crunch: https://bit.ly/3WI4A6E
The Venture Model Broke. But Startups Are Still Building.
In this episode, Arjun is joined by Devin Kohli, General Partner at Outward VC, for a candid conversation on what’s next for venture capital.
They unpack:
- Shifting VC trends in Europe, MENA, and the USA
- Outward’s bets on Curve, Vauban, Bud & more
- AI hype vs. real vertical value
- Tokenisation, digital assets & future financial infrastructure
- Emerging tech hubs across Japan, MENA, Southeast Asia
Plus, Devin shares what conviction really looks like in a post-hype market — and why MENA founders are ones to watch.
No pitch decks. No jargon. Just a candid chat about cycles, conviction, and building through uncertainty.
🎧 Episode now live on YouTube, Spotify, and 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
00:51 Introduction
02:01 State of the Nation: VC Insights for 2023 and Beyond
02:52 Impact of Global Events on VC and Startups
13:43 The Genesis and Philosophy of Outward VC
22:20 Challenges and Success Stories in VC Investments
30:05 Key Qualities and Red Flags in Founders
31:01 Identifying Key Qualities in Founders
33:26 Quantitative Aspects of Evaluating Founders
34:02 Emerging Sectors and Avoiding Herd Mentality
35:15 Focus on Wealth Tech and Asset Management
44:07 Challenges and Opportunities in Europe and the UK
51:37 Middle East as a Growing Hub for FinTech
54:12 Concluding Thoughts and Future Prospects
Our website 👉 https://bit.ly/3jk7UH0
Find us on our social media platforms:
Subscribe to Arjun's LinkedIn newsletter, Couchonomics Crunch: https://bit.ly/3WI4A6E
From the publisher's feed
Decoding the New World Order of Finance - Unfiltered, global, weekly
As tectonic shifts reshape the financial world, Couchonomics continues to explore the trends transforming commerce,…
Whether it’s AI in Asia, tokenization in Europe, or fintech policy experiments in Africa, today’s financial shifts cross borders, industries, and disciplines.
Whether you’re in the industry or just fintech-curious, tune in weekly as we decode the big moves, bold ideas, and brilliant minds shaping tomorrow’s economy.
Episodes drop weekly. Arabic subtitles available on YouTube: youtube.com/@couchonomicswitharjunsingh438
Learn more: www.couchonomics.com
Season 4 supported by:
Adyen | Mastercard | SC Ventures | Thunes | Hala | e& | Digit 9
About the host:
Arjun's expertise covers a broad range of areas including Fintech, Payments, Digital Assets, Embedded Finance, Application of Emerging Technologies, and the Emergence of New Business Models within the Financial Services Sector in the MEA region and globally.
Arjun is deeply engaged in the Tech Start-Up ecosystem. He serves as a passive investor, advisory board member, and a notable commentator on the rapidly evolving scene.
In recognition of his impactful contributions, Arjun was honored as a Top Voice of the region by LinkedIn in 2020.
Learn more at www.couchonomics.com.

10,115 Listeners