In this episode of Fintech Chatter, host Dexter Cousins speaks with Dan Jowett, CEO of OpenMarkets Group, about the rapid convergence of Tradfi and DeFi

About OpenMarkets Group

Power your Fintech, Advisory, or Trading business with an end-to-end Wealth Management and Trading solutions. 

Openmarkets empowers financial institutions and advisers to deliver a seamless investment experience to their clients. They provide a comprehensive suite of trading, clearing and settlement, custody, and technology solutions that enable businesses to efficiently manage portfolios, scale their business, and support investors in achieving their financial objectives.

About This Episode

Tune in as Dan and Dexter discuss how OpenMarkets has transformed from a traditional stockbroker to a technology-focused fintech, the regulatory hurdles facing the crypto industry, and the future of equities trading in a rapidly changing environment.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to OpenMarkets and Fintech Landscape
02:26 Evolution of OpenMarkets: From Stockbroker to Tech Innovator
06:08 Navigating the Future: DeFi and Traditional Finance
11:45 Regulatory Challenges and Opportunities in Digital Assets
15:37 Building a Strong Culture at OpenMarkets
18:47 Navigating Market Changes in Fintech
21:07 Lessons from Leadership During Challenging Times
23:22 The Importance of Networking and Global Perspectives
24:26 The Future of DeFi and Regulatory Challenges
27:24 Cultivating a Positive Workplace Culture
30:59 Finding the Right Fit in a Dynamic Environment

Find Out More - https://openmarkets.com.au/

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In this episode of Fintech Chatter, host Dexter Cousins speaks with Joni Pirovich, a crypto compliance expert and founder of Crystal AOS. They discuss Joni's journey from being a crypto lawyer to a tech founder, the challenges of hiring in the compliance space, and the role of AI in enhancing productivity and filling the compliance knowledge gap in the digital assets space. 

Joni and Dexter chat about the current state of play in the crypto industry in Australia, regulatory challenges, and the need for holistic policy to foster innovation in the tech sector.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Fintech Chatter and Guest Background
04:50 The Evolution of Compliance in Crypto
09:24 AI's Role in Enhancing Compliance and Legal Practices
14:11 Challenges in the Australian Crypto Landscape
18:43 The Need for Holistic Regulatory Approaches
23:18 Building a Supportive Ecosystem for Startups
27:56 Conclusion and Future Outlook

Contact Joni: [email protected] 

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Is Ethereum the layer to exchange value via the internet? 

In this episode of Fintech Chatter, host Dexter Cousins speaks with Jake Denny, Chief Commercial Officer of Pier Two, about Ethereum staking and its commercial potential.

Tune in for a discussion on the differences between Ethereum, Bitcoin, and Solana, the future of money through smart contracts, and the real world use cases that are being delivered through stablecoin adoption.

Find out more - https://piertwo.com/

Chapters

00:00 Introduction 
01:28 Understanding Ethereum Staking and Its Commercial Potential
07:00 The Use Cases of Ethereum vs. Bitcoin and Solana
13:05 The Future of Money and the Role of Smart Contracts
18:55 The Impact of Technology on Traditional Finance
24:51 The Importance of Speed in Financial Transactions
31:07 The Role of Curiosity and Hustle in Fintech Careers
39:19 Pier Two's Mission and Vision in the Crypto Space
56:24 Connecting DeFi and TradFi: Opportunities for Collaboration

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In this episode of Fintech Chatter, Dexter Cousins speaks with Morty Tollo, co-founder of Elbaite and Faststables.com, about the intersection of traditional finance (TradFi) and decentralised finance (DeFi). 

They discuss the evolution of Elbaite, the importance of stablecoins in solving everyday business problems, and the challenges posed by regulation and banking in the crypto space. 

Morty shares insights on the future of crypto, and his observations from Token 2049 in Singapore. The need for optionality in payment solutions paints a bright future for stablecoins in the evolving landscape of financial services.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Elbaite and Morty Tollo
02:20 Bridging TradFi and DeFi
10:22 Challenges and Successes of FastStables
17:04 The Future of Stablecoins and Banking
27:37 Connecting with Elbaite and Closing Thoughts

Find out more: https://www.faststables.com/

https://elbaite.com/au

Connect with Morty on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mortytollo/

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In this final episode on Housing Affordability, Fintech Chatter host, Dexter Cousins speaks with Dean Fraser, founder of BrickFloor.

BrickFloor aims to help "Forever Renters" through innovative property technology and fintech solutions, including a market price guarantee product that locks in a price for sellers before they go to market.

Find out more - https://brickfloor.com.au/

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Housing Affordability Solutions
02:39 Understanding BrickFloor's Business Model
05:32 Navigating the Challenges of the Housing Market
08:21 Regulatory Hurdles and Product Innovation
11:08 Success Stories and Customer Experiences
17:02 Future Plans for BrickFloor

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In this episode of Fintech Chatter, host Dexter Cousins speaks with Matt McKenzie, CEO and co-founder of Nuj, a Regtech company making serious strides in the Aus$ 4trn Superannuation sector. Nuj’s plug-and-play solution streamlines workflows while ensuring compliance with all current and upcoming regulations.

The platform enables quick integration, with automated workflows, audit trails, and real-time updates.

Nuj raised a $4m seed round in early 2025 and counts Bluechip names like MUFG and AMP as clients.

Find out more - https://www.nujsuper.com/

Key topics covered in the chat:

• Nudge was founded during COVID-19 in 2020.
• The superannuation industry has significant legacy challenges.
• Client acquisition requires proving value in a slow-moving market.
• Funding strategies can include leveraging early client relationships.
• Growth in fintech requires patience and resilience.
• Remote work has become integral to Nudge's culture.
• Establishing authentic company values is crucial for team alignment.
• Hiring should focus on cultural fit and embracing collective wisdom.
• Networking within the fintech community provides valuable insights.
• Future growth at Nuj will leverage AI and technological innovations.

Connect with Matt: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-mckenzie/

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Another instalment of our series on Housing Affordability! In this episode, Dexter speaks with OSQO CEO Stuart McGregor on how they're using Blockchain technology to solve housing affordability and the last frontier of finance yet to be adapted for the internet - Debt!

Starting with deposit gap loans - Stuart shares his bold and ambitious vision https://depositgaploans.com/

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Housing Affordability Challenges
01:21 Osco's Innovative Approach to Home Ownership
02:51 The Role of Technology in Fintech Solutions
08:19 Navigating Regulatory Challenges in Fintech
11:53 The Evolution of Osco's Business Model
15:02 Future Opportunities and Market Adaptation
21:11 Connecting Capital Supply and Demand for Home Ownership

Find out more - https://depositgaploans.com/

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Kicking off a new career series on Fintech Chatter, Dexter Cousins speaks with Alan Costello, employee number two at Afterpay, about his journey from the early days of the company to its current status as a global leader in the fintech space. 

As Alan reflects on 10 years with the business he shares insights on the challenges of rapid growth, the importance of timing in business, and what it was like to meet founder Nick Molnar and join the rocket ship.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Afterpay's Journey
02:59 Alan's Background and Joining Afterpay
06:28 Early Challenges and Growth Strategies
11:28 Recognizing Success and Market Timing
14:50 The Role of Relationships in Growth
17:33 Scaling the Business and Cultural Changes
19:26 The Journey of Afterpay: From Startup to Success
24:42 Navigating Challenges: Regulatory Pressures and Media Narratives
27:48 Sustaining Motivation: The Highs and Lows of Startup Life
30:43 Looking Ahead: Future Aspirations and Lessons Learned

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In this episode of Fintech Chatter, we continue our series on the challenges of housing affordability in Australia. Dexter Cousins speaks with Michael Ragavan, founder of Our Leg Up.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Housing Affordability
02:48 The Concept of OurLegUp
05:37 Innovation in Financial Products
08:37 Challenges in Product Development
12:17 Investor Relations and Capital Raising
14:21 Legal Wins and Product Feasibility
16:08 Future Plans and Market Strategy

Find out more: https://www.ourlegup.com/

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In this episode of our special series on Housing Affordability, Dexter speaks with Lynda Coker, co-founder of Co-Operty, about their innovative solution enabling fractional co-ownership of property.

Here's what's discussed.

00:00 Introduction to Housing Affordability and Co-Opity
01:51 Understanding Co-Ownership as a Solution
04:48 The Role of Parents in Home Buying
07:42 Navigating the Lending Landscape
10:49 Challenges in Integrating with Lenders
13:03 Innovative Approaches to Property Ownership
15:29 Future Roadmap for Co-Operty
18:26 Fractional Property Ownership

Find out more about Co-operty https://co-operty.com/

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