Fintech Confidential

Bitcoin payments, Lightning Network, and fast crypto payments are here. Learn about cryptocurrency payment processing and blockchain technology with Tedd Huff, CEO of Voalyre, and Voltage CEO Graham Krizek. This conversation cuts through the noise around Bitcoin's practical applications, digital currency, and modern financial solutions.

The discussion reveals striking realities about payment processing that most people never consider. While traditional bank transfers take days and wire transfers take hours, Lightning Network transactions settle in under a second with complete finality. Graham shares how regulatory barriers are falling, with banks now able to hold cryptocurrency without special approval, and why businesses should default to Lightning for all Bitcoin transactions.

1️⃣ Switch to Lightning Payments

2️⃣ Leverage New Banking Rules

3️⃣ Avoid Infrastructure Building

4️⃣ Target Global Markets

5️⃣ Prepare for Consolidation

DFNS delivers secure wallets as a service API-first, multi-chain by design across 50+ blockchains - https://fintechconfidential.com/dnfs

SkyFlow provides zero trust data privacy vault API for collecting, securing, and tokenizing payment details - https://skyflowsecure.com

Under.io streamlines application and underwriting by digitizing PDFs for upload and digital signature - https://under.io/FTC

Hawk offers AI tools for real-time payment screening, ML transaction monitoring, and fraud prevention - https://gethawkai.com

Graham Krizek

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grahamkrizek

Twitter/X: https://x.com/gkrizek

Nostr: [email protected]

Voltage

Website: https://voltage.cloud

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/voltagecloud/

X: https://x.com/voltage_cloud

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/voltagecloud

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@voltage_cloud

Nostr: [email protected]

Fintech Confidential

Podcast: https://fintechconfidential.com/listen

Newsletter: https://fintechconfidential.com/access

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fintechconfidential

X: https://x.com/FTconfidential

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fintechconfidential

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fintechconfidential

Graham Krizek is the Founder and CEO of Voltage. With 10+ years in cryptocurrency, he contributed to Bitcoin Core and worked at Salesforce. He builds Lightning Network infrastructure to help businesses scale global payments with low-cost, fast settlements.

Voltage provides Bitcoin infrastructure enabling global payments via Lightning Network. It offers enterprise modular tools for exchanges, wallets, fintechs, and banks to cut costs, speed settlements, and simplify Bitcoin and stablecoin integration. Voltage powers fast, final low-fee transactions, bridging traditional finance and blockchain tech.

Tedd Huff founded Voalyre, a professional services and advisory firm focused on global payments and banking. He hosts and produces Fintech Confidential. With 25+ years in fintech, he's advised, co-founded, and led startups like OpenEdge, Heartland, Nuvei, and TSYS, focusing on growth, process improvements, and user experience to simplify payments.

DD3, Media: DD3 Media is a media creation, management, and production company delivering engaging content globally

Chapters:

00:00 Highlights

01:02 DFNS: Wallets as a Service (sponsor)

02:23 Intro to Web3 with FTC

03:06 Meet Graham Krizek: Founder and CEO of Voltage

05:05 Bitcoin's Evolution to Mainstream

07:04 Graham's Transition from Salesforce to Bitcoin

08:36 Bridging the Digital Divide with Bitcoin

11:30 Voltage: From Side Project to Real Company

13:10 Sky Flow Privacy Vault (sponsor)

14:09 Thunder Games

16:12 The Lightning Network: Speed & Efficiency

24:39 Real-Time Payments: Current State

25:10 Public Lightning Network Insights

26:48 Regulatory Landscape Shifts

28:13 Crypto Integration in Traditional Finance

30:45 Importance of Lightning Network Providers

31:30 Setting Up Nodes Efficiently

32:05 Under.io : Streamlining App Processes (sponsor)

32:38 Challenges in Node Setup

33:47 Stable Coins on the Rise w/ Lightning Network

37:28 AI & Payments

39:45 TradFi Meets Crypto

43:09 Real World & Digital Assets Converge

44:39 Voltage's Role in the Crypto Ecosystem

45:55 Encouraging Businesses to Adopt Lightning

46:17 Case Studies and Success Stories

46:59 Closing Thoughts and Future Outlook

47:34 Hawk : AI Fraud Fighting (sponsor)

48:20 Disclaimer

Discover how Victor “DIVINE” Lombard went from street hustler to fintech CEO, with guidance from Ben Horowitz, and a mission to transform how finance serves overlooked communities.

Fintech entrepreneur Victor “DIVINE” Lombard shares his journey from street hustler to CEO, revealing how mentorship, compliance, and purpose-driven startups can transform access to financial tools with Tedd Huff Voalyre CEO on Fintech Confidential. They to expose the blind spots in today’s financial system and why creators are locked out before they even get started.

With firsthand experience on both sides of the table, Victor reveals how he’s building purpose-driven fintech to empower independent artists with access to financial services, real mentorship, and education. This isn’t theory—it’s a blueprint, shaped by hard-earned lessons and grounded in reality.

Together, they unpack:

• Why traditional banking metrics fail creators

• How compliance, when mastered, can build trust—not block progress

• What it takes to design sustainable financial ecosystems from the ground up

• Why mentorship often matters more than a credit score

Whether you’re a startup founder, creative entrepreneur, or fintech builder—this conversation delivers rare, real insight.

Takeaways

1️⃣ Build Systems Before You Scale – Early structure avoids chaos later

2️⃣ Use Compliance To Build Credibility – Master regulation before you need it

3️⃣ Train Your Team Like Operators – Start onboarding with education

4️⃣ Pitch Value, Not Your Backstory – Focus on what you’re solving

5️⃣ Design Products For Real Use – Reflect real workflows, not trends

Victor Lombard (aka DIVINE)

Instagram: www.instagram.com/divine4thletter

Notes

Website: www.notestechnology.com

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/notestechnology

Facebook: www.facebook.com/notestechnologyinc

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@notestechnology

Instagram: www.instagram.com/notestechnology

Fintech Confidential

Podcast: https://fintechconfidential.com/listen

Newsletter: https://fintechconfidential.com/access

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fintechconfidential

X: https://x.com/FTconfidential

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fintechconfidential

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fintechconfidential

Supporters

Under.io – Streamline your underwriting and application process by digitizing PDFs and enabling secure, fast digital signatures. https://under.io/ftc

Dfns – Launch wallets across 50+ blockchains with API-first, MPC-secured tools trusted by top fintechs and custodians. https://fintechconfidential.com/dnfs

Skyflow – Secure, tokenize, and analyze personal data with a zero-trust privacy vault delivered via API. https://skyflowsecure.com

Hawk:AI – Detect fraud in real time with ML transaction monitoring and advanced risk scoring. https://getHawkai.com

About

Victor Lombard (aka DIVINE): Fintech founder and hip hop artist empowering urban music creators with capital access and financial education.

Notes: Fintech platform helping artists build sustainable wealth through education, mentorship, and smarter financial tools.

Tedd Huff: Founder of Voalyre and executive producer of Fintech Confidential, helping fintechs scale with strategy and clear messaging.

DD3 Media: Production company powering high-impact media content globally.

Chapters

00:00 Highlights

01:02 Under.io (Sponsor)

01:46 The Intersection of Hip Hop and Banking

04:29 Falling into Fintech

06:05 The Importance of Financial Literacy

07:47 Creating Financial Platforms for Artists

09:01 The Role of Empathy in Financial Systems

09:55 Streets to Startups

12:29 The Power of Networking and Mentorship

13:24 Dfns (sponsor)

14:46 Challenges in Building FinTech Startups

17:28 Addressing Bias in Financial Systems

22:14 Leveraging Technology for Financial Empowerment

26:09 The Importance of Knowledge and Awareness

27:07 Pursuing Knowledge and Experience

27:37 Challenges of Independent Artists

28:27 Technology’s Role in Success

29:36 Building FinTech with a Criminal Record

30:08 Overcoming Barriers with Partnerships

30:35 Navigating Startup Challenges

32:45 Importance of Relationships in FinTech

34:18 High Compliance and Risk Management

35:56 Growth Challenges in FinTech

36:49 SkyFlow: (Sponsor)

38:41 Managing Multiple Financial Institutions

39:22 Complexity in FinTech Backend

40:01 Problem-Solving in FinTech

41:28 Learning and Adapting in FinTech

42:17 Regulatory Environment and Compliance

42:50 Cannabis and Cryptocurrency Banking Issues

43:36 Thinking Big but Starting Small

44:51 Building Relationships for Success

45:31 Soft Skills and Communication

46:09 Blind Spots in FinTech Startups

47:37 Future of Financial Technology

49:37 Advice for FinTech Founders

50:04 Final Thoughts

50:37 FinTech Isn’t Just About Tech and Finance

51:08 Creators Deserve Better Tools

52:01 Hawk:AI (Sponsor)

52:49 Disclaimer

Details Here: https://fintechconfidential-newsletter.beehiiv.com/p/web3-june-2025-recap

Host Tedd Huff the CEO of Voalyre teams up with confidential informant, Robert Musiala , partner at Baker Hostetler’s Web3 team and author of the Blockchain Monitor blog, to break down June 2025’s seismic shifts in cryptocurrency markets and blockchain technology. This episode covers Circle’s spectacular $1.1 billion IPO success, the Senate’s bipartisan GENIUS Act passage, and nearly $6 billion flowing into crypto ETFs.

The conversation explores how regulatory clarity is accelerating institutional adoption while $2.1 billion in security losses highlights ongoing challenges. Robert shares legal insights on Ethereum’s Pectra upgrade, ZKSync’s technical breakthroughs, and how global coordination through EU MiCA, Singapore policies, and Hong Kong frameworks creates unprecedented opportunities for compliant builders positioning for mainstream Web3 adoption.

Takeaways

1️⃣ Track 98.7% scam rate: avoid pump.fun marketplace tokens since research shows nearly every token exhibits pump and dump characteristics.

2️⃣ Leverage ultra high net worth security: implement specialized protection strategies beyond standard measures, including estate planning for crypto assets.

3️⃣ Deploy Ethereum staking now: take advantage of validator limit increase from 32 ETH to 2,048 ETH per validator for profitable institutional models.

4️⃣ Monitor NFT legal precedents: watch court-approved NFT service processes in your jurisdiction for recovering stolen funds and serving papers.

5️⃣ Build surgical compliance framework: prepare for targeted regulatory actions rather than broad enforcement sweeps with flexible systems.

Links

Guest

Robert Musiala

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-musiala/

• Baker Hostetler: https://www.bakerlaw.com/people/robert-musiala

• Blockchain Monitor: https://www.blockchainmonitor.com/

Company

Baker Hostetler

• Website: https://www.bakerlaw.com/

• Web3 & Digital Assets Team: https://www.bakerlaw.com/practices/web3-digital-assets

• Legal Resources: https://www.bakerlaw.com/insights

Fintech Confidential

• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@fintechconfidential

• Podcast: https://fintechconfidential.com/listen

• Newsletter: https://fintechconfidential.com/access

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fintechconfidential

• X: https://x.com/FTconfidential

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fintechconfidential

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fintechconfidential

Supporters

Dfns - Wallets as a service that's API first, multi-chain by design and secured within MPC with no single point of failure for launching across over 50 blockchains - fintechconfidential.com/dnfs

SkyFlow - Zero trust data privacy vault delivered as an API that lets you collect, secure, and tokenize personal information like card data and payment details - skyflowsecure.com

Under.io - Streamlines application and underwriting process by digitizing PDFs effortlessly for upload and digital signature - under.io/FTC

Hawk - AI tools for real-time payment screening, ML transaction monitoring, and dynamic customer risk rating to fight fraud and financial crime - gethawkai.com

Tedd Huff, Founder of Voalyre and Host of Fintech Confidential Leaders One on One Series, teams up with Israel Mazin, CEO and Co-Founder of Memcyco, to break down what really matters for protecting sensitive data and customer trust in finance. This episode uncovers how real-time security, AI-powered defense, and practical compliance can set you apart in a fast-changing world. Learn how to take immediate action against cyber threats, show proof of safety to your users, and build long-term growth through real trust. Get clear steps to boost your security and keep your business ahead with real solutions for fintech, banking, and online businesses.

1️⃣ Question Every Access Point

Review all customer-facing sites and login pages right now. Remove anything not used and confirm all security checks are active.

2️⃣ Set Up Instant Threat Alerts

Get notified the moment something suspicious happens. Don’t wait for a report—flag real risks in real time.

3️⃣ Test AI Defenses Against Real Threats

Run real-world attack scenarios with your team and tune your AI filters to block the latest tactics.

4️⃣ Make Trust Part of Onboarding

Show new customers exactly how their info is protected. Give them clear proof your security works.

5️⃣ Document Compliance For Every Update

Keep a simple log of every regulatory step and system change. This saves time at audit and keeps you covered.

Israel Mazin:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/israelmazin/

Memcyco Team Profile: https://www.memcyco.com/team/israel-mazin/

Memcyco:

Website: https://www.memcyco.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/memcyco/

Fintech Confidential:

YouTube: https://youtube.com/@fintechconfidential

Podcast: https://fintechconfidential.com/listen

Newsletter: https://fintechconfidential.com/access

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fintechconfidential

X: https://x.com/FTconfidential

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fintechconfidential

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fintechconfidential

Under.io – Digitize underwriting and signatures for faster, secure workflows. https://under.io/ftc

Skyflow – Zero-trust data vault to secure, tokenize, and govern data with ease. https://skyflowsecure.com

CheckAlt Clearingworks – Automate receivables and treasury management for banks and businesses. https://checkalt.com

Hawk:AI – Real-time fraud prevention with smarter compliance tools. https://getHawkai.com

Israel Mazin is CEO and Co-Founder of Memcyco, recognized for building, scaling, and exiting cybersecurity companies with a focus on teamwork, execution, and directly solving industry challenges.

Memcyco delivers real-time detection and protection against website impersonation and account takeovers, helping banks, retailers, and online businesses secure customer interactions and stay compliant.

Tedd Huff is Founder of Voalyre, a professional services and advisory firm focused on global payments and banking. With over 25 years in fintech, payments, and financial services, Tedd has launched and led startups and advised enterprise firms on digital strategy, user experience, and innovation. As host and executive producer of Fintech Confidential, he delivers direct conversations that highlight practical leadership and new ideas shaping fintech.

Fintech Confidential features trusted insights, actionable strategies, and interviews with leaders shaping the future of finance.

DD3 Media produces engaging digital content, powering global shows and media brands like Fintech Confidential.

00:11 – Episode Highlights

01:20 – Sponsor: Under.io

02:03 – Guest Introduction

03:43 – Cybersecurity Career Insights

04:50 – Industry Shifts & Threat Landscape

05:30 – Real-Time Protection

06:03 – Regulation and Compliance

07:08 – Leadership Lessons

08:42 – Building Strong Teams

09:37 – AI in Security

10:33 – Mission and Vision at Memcyco

12:18 – The Case for Real-Time Detection

13:33 – Sponsor: Skyflow

17:00 – Customer Trust

20:27 – Consortiums & Collaboration

21:53 – Advanced Threat Detection

26:49 – Reducing False Positives

28:36 – AI and Compliance

30:02 – Sponsor: CheckAlt

36:22 – Quantum Computing

37:37 – Proactive vs. Reactive

38:18 – Advice for Founders

39:16 – Closing Thoughts

40:05 – Sponsor: Hawk AI

40:50 – Disclaimer

Host Tedd Huff & Robert Musiala, co-leader of Baker Hostetler’s Web3 Digital Assets team, break down May 2025’s crypto developments.

May 2025 just changed a lot for crypto and Web3. Bitcoin hit $111,970, total crypto assets reached $136 billion, & ETF inflows topped $3.3 billion in a 1 month. The SEC clarified that proof-of-stake mining isn't a security, while the DOJ dropped charges against Ethereum hackers, signaling a major shift in regulatory approach.

Ethereum's Petra upgrade increased validator staking limits from 32 to 2,048 ETH, opening doors for massive institutional operations. Yield-bearing stablecoins crossed $9 billion, proving they're no longer experimental tokens. Courts in the US, UK, and EU approved using NFTs for legal service of process, creating new accountability in crypto disputes.

The dark side persists: $244 million was stolen in hacks, with $157 million recovered. A Solana report found 98.7% of tokens on pump.fun showed pump-and-dump characteristics. Physical security threats against crypto executives are escalating globally.

Institutional investors now represent 50% of trading volume. Circle launched real-time payment APIs, Ripple acquired Hidden Road for $1.25 billion. The convergence of regulatory clarity, institutional adoption, and technical improvements is creating perfect conditions for mainstream crypto adoption.

Takeaways

1️⃣ Track Validator Staking Changes

2️⃣ Research Before Token Investments

3️⃣ Explore Programmable Wallet Features

4️⃣ Consider Legal NFT Applications

5️⃣ Prepare for Staking Compliance

Links:

Guest:

Robert A. Musiala Jr. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-a-musiala-jr-esq-cfcs-b6534bb/

Company:

BakerHostetler: https://www.bakerlaw.com/

The Blockchain Monitor: https://www.theblockchainmonitor.com/

Fintech Confidential:

Podcast: https://fintechconfidential.com/listen

Notifications: https://fintechconfidential.com/access

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fintechconfidential

X: https://x.com/FTconfidential

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fintechconfidential

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fintechconfidential

Supporters:

DFNS - Offering Wallets as a Service with military-grade security and enterprise-grade scalability - https://fintechconfidential.com/dfns

Skyflow - Helping FinTechs build secure experiences without managing customer data directly - https://skyflowsecure.com

Under – Streamlines application and underwriting by digitizing PDF processes for fast digital signatures

https://under.io/ftc

Hawk AI - Providing real-time fraud prevention and AML compliance for FinTechs - https://getHawkai.com

About:

Guest: Robert Musiala has been working in the blockchain and digital assets market since 2012 and has led multiple digital asset investigations, including as the court-appointed receiver over cryptocurrency investment funds used in a major fraud. He advises on various regulatory compliance issues involving digital assets and has drafted/negotiated agreements for a wide range of transactions in the fintech, digital assets, Web3, and NFT markets. He is the inventor of two blockchain patents and co-leader of the Web3 and Digital Assets team at BakerHostetler.

Host: Tedd Huff is the founder of Voalyre and Diamond D3. He’s spent over 24 years helping fintechs grow by improving payments, user experience, and go-to-market strategies.

DD3 Media creates and produces content for Fintech Confidential.

In this episode of Fintech Confidential, host Tedd Huff and guest co-host Jordan Greenberg from LoanPro sit down with Jay King and Aimee Ford of Alorica. Together, they share how banks and fintechs are transforming customer service with scalable operations, AI-powered tools, and real empathy. Jay and Aimee bring decades of hands-on experience helping financial institutions build smarter systems that actually work for people.

The conversation cuts through the noise to expose what matters most, personalization, speed, and clarity. Lending has become easier to launch, but real growth depends on aligning with brand culture, meeting customers where they are, and fixing problems before they escalate. This episode explains what that looks like in real life, with real examples from real industry leaders.

1️⃣ Fix Customer Pain Before It Escalates

 2️⃣ Match Agents With Natural Strengths

 3️⃣ Skip Scripts, Train for Authenticity

 4️⃣ Turn Survey Data Into Scripts

 5️⃣ Use Voice Analytics to Boost ROI

Guest

 Aimee Ford: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fordaimee/

 Jay King: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jay-king-a75b64/

Company

 Alorica: https://www.alorica.com/

 Alorica LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/alorica/

Fintech Confidential

 YouTube: https://youtube.com/@fintechconfidential

 Podcast: https://fintechconfidential.com/listen

 Newsletter: https://fintechconfidential.com/access

 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fintechconfidential

 X: https://x.com/FTconfidential

 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fintechconfidential

 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fintechconfidential

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@fintechconfidential

LoanPro – Allows lenders to enhance their origination, servicing, collections, and payments using the foundation of a modern lending core

 https://loanpro.io

Under – Streamlines application and underwriting by digitizing PDF processes for fast digital signatures

 https://under.io/ftc

DFNS – Provides API-first, MPC-secured wallets as a service for payments, exchanges, and DeFi platforms

 https://fintechconfidential.com/dfns

Hawk AI – Offers tools for real-time payment screening, transaction monitoring, and dynamic customer risk rating to fight fraud and financial crime

 https://gethawkai.com

Aimee Ford is VP of Client Experience at Alorica. She is known for building strong partnerships and creating customer strategies that deliver results.

 Jay King is Head of Operations at Alorica, focused on efficiency, performance, and strategic growth.

 Alorica is a global leader in customer experience solutions, serving clients across multiple sectors.

 Host: Tedd Huff is the founder of Voalyre and Diamond D3. He’s spent over 24 years helping fintechs grow by improving payments, user experience, and go-to-market strategies.

 DD3 Media creates and produces content for Fintech Confidential.

 Co-host: Jordan Greenberg leads strategic partnerships at LoanPro, helping banks and fintechs build embedded finance products.

Web3, crypto, stablecoins, digtial assets and tokenized real world assets are reshaping finance. Blockchain expert Annelise Osborne joins Tedd Huff to reveal what’s actually working in real-world blockchain adoption. With years in traditional finance and deep knowledge of smart contract architecture, She shares what’s actually working for institutions right now.

The conversation focuses on the real adoption curve inside banking and finance. Stablecoins are quietly replacing old settlement systems. Institutions are using blockchain not for headlines, but for cost control and speed. Tokenization is making high-yield assets accessible to more investors. Identity and security are reshaping compliance needs. Tedd brings sharp questions backed by operational experience, while outlining what’s possible, what’s happening, and what’s next.

1️⃣ Stop Ignoring Payment Speed Gaps

2️⃣ Fix Identity Before Scaling Blockchain

3️⃣ Use Tokenization to Cut Minimums

4️⃣ Adopt Blockchain Quietly in Ops

5️⃣ Track Real Hiring, Not Headlines

Kadena

Website: https://www.kadena.io/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kadena-llc

Twitter/X: https://x.com/kadena_io

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KadenaBlockchain/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kadena.io.kda/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/kadenablockchain

Telegram: https://t.me/kadena_io

Annelise Osborne

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annelise-osborne-7611176/

Twitter/X: https://x.com/anneliseosborne

Book: From Hoodies to Suits: Innovating Digital Assets for Traditional Finance https://amzn.to/43pZwcb

Fintech Confidential

Newsletter: https://fintechconfidential.com/access

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fintechconfidential

X: https://x.com/FTconfidential

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fintechconfidential

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fintechconfidential

Supporters

Bitcoin 2025 - Bringing together Bitcoiners in Las Vegas to explore Bitcoin’s role in capital markets, featuring speakers like Michael Saylor, Caitlin Long, and Elizabeth Stark - https://fintechconfidential.com/btc25

DFNS - Offering Wallets as a Service with military-grade security and enterprise-grade scalability - https://fintechconfidential.com/dfns

Skyflow - Helping FinTechs build secure experiences without managing customer data directly - https://skyflowsecure.com

Hawk AI - Providing real-time fraud prevention and AML compliance for FinTechs - https://getHawkai.com

Guest: Annelise Osborne is Chief Business Officer at Kadena, with 20+ years in finance, real estate, and digital assets. She’s held leadership roles at Moody’s, Propellr, and Arca Labs, where she advanced blockchain adoption in institutional markets. Annelise is also the author of From Hoodies to Suits, focused on merging blockchain with traditional finance.

Kadena is a Layer-1 Proof-of-Work blockchain built for business, offering high-speed, low-cost transactions with secure smart contracts. Its Chainweb architecture and Pact language power use cases in DeFi, NFTs, gaming, and enterprise, making it a strong choice for institutional blockchain adoption.

HOST

Tedd Huff: Tedd Huff is the Founder of Voalyre, and Diamond D3, professional services consulting firms focused on global payments and marketing. He is also a video podcast host and executive producer on the Fintech Confidential network.

Over the past 24 years, he has contributed to FinTech startups as an Advisory Board Member, Co-Founder, and Chief Experience Officer, providing strategic and tactical direction for Global Payments OpenEdge, Heartland Payments, Nuvei, and TSYS, among others, focusing on growth while delivering innovation, process improvements and user experience-driven value to simplify the complexity of payments.

DD3, Media:

DD3 Media is a media creation, management, and production company delivering engaging content globally

Chapters

00:00 Episode Highlights

01:59 Bitcoin 2025 Event Announcement (sponsor)

02:52 Welcome to web3 with FTC

04:05 Welcome Annise Osborne

06:02 Current State of Blockchain and Digital Assets

15:37 Stable Coins as a Gateway to Digital Assets

17:41 Cross-Border Payments and Stable Coins

19:07 Dfns Secure Wallets Built right (Sponsor)

23:16 Institutional Adoption of Blockchain Technology

24:23 Programmability of Blockchain Tools

27:29 Real World Asset Tokenization

29:31 Retail Investment in Private Equity Funds

31:03 Real Estate Tokenization

32:39 Traditional Players Enter BlockChain

34:51 Man vs. Machine

36:38 Global Trust Growing for  Custodians and Blockchain

39:53 Community Banks and Blockchain

41:35 Digital Identity and Blockchain

43:38 Skyflow Secure Data Now (Sponsor)

45:55 Privacy in Blockchain

46:50 Fraud and Trust in Blockchain

48:27 DeFi and TradFi Collaboration

49:32 Hoodies to Suits: Bridging the Gap

51:55 Blockchain Job Market Growth

55:09 Blockchain in Retail and Supply Chain

57:09 Future Predictions for web3

58:49 Advice for Blockchain Enthusiasts

01:01:37 Final Thoughts

01:02:56 Hawk AI Tools for Fraud Prevention (sponsor) and Disclosures

In this episode of Fintech Confidential, host Tedd Huff is joined by CI (Confidential Informant), Robert Musiala, co-leader of the Web3 and Digital Assets team at BakerHostetler, to discuss the significant developments in the crypto and fintech space during April 2025. Robert shares his expertise on blockchain law and compliance, providing insights into the evolving regulatory landscape and its impact on the industry.

The conversation covers the mainstream adoption of stablecoins, the implications of the Payment Stablecoin Act, and the integration of crypto with traditional financial systems. They also delve into the expansion of programmable money, the shifting regulatory environment, and the growing security threats in the crypto space.

1️⃣ Stablecoins are becoming a viable solution for faster and more transparent payments.

2️⃣ The Payment Stablecoin Act is prompting companies to adjust their strategies in anticipation of new regulations.

3️⃣ Kraken’s expansion demonstrates the blending of crypto and traditional finance.

4️⃣ Programmable money is enabling automation in financial processes.

5️⃣ Security remains a top concern, with sophisticated attacks targeting the crypto infrastructure.

Links:

Guest:

Robert A. Musiala Jr. BakerHostetler Profile: https://www.bakerlaw.com/professionals/robert-a-musiala-jr/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-a-musiala-jr-esq-cfcs-b6534bb/

Company:

BakerHostetler: https://www.bakerlaw.com/

The Blockchain Monitor: https://www.theblockchainmonitor.com/

Fintech Confidential:

Podcast: https://fintechconfidential.com/listen

Notifications: https://fintechconfidential.com/access

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fintechconfidential

X: https://x.com/FTconfidential

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fintechconfidential

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fintechconfidential

Supporters:

Bitcoin 2025 - Bringing together digital asset leaders in Las Vegas to explore Bitcoin’s role in capital markets, featuring speakers like Michael Saylor, Caitlin Long, and Elizabeth Stark - https://fintechconfidential.com/btc25

DFNS - Offering Wallets as a Service with military-grade security and enterprise-grade scalability - https://fintechconfidential.com/dfns

Skyflow - Helping FinTechs build secure experiences without managing customer data directly - https://skyflowsecure.com

Hawk AI - Providing real-time fraud prevention and AML compliance for FinTechs - https://getHawkai.com

About:

Guest: Robert Musiala has been working in the blockchain and digital assets market since 2012 and has led multiple digital asset investigations, including as the court-appointed receiver over cryptocurrency investment funds used in a major fraud. He advises on various regulatory compliance issues involving digital assets and has drafted/negotiated agreements for a wide range of transactions in the fintech, digital assets, Web3, and NFT markets. He is the inventor of two blockchain patents and co-leader of the Web3 and Digital Assets team at BakerHostetler.

Host: Tedd Huff is the Founder of Voalyre and Diamond D3, professional services consulting firms focused on global payments and marketing. He is also a video podcast host and executive producer on the Fintech Confidential network. Over the past 24 years, he has contributed to FinTech startups as an Advisory Board Member, Co-Founder, and Chief Experience Officer, providing strategic and tactical direction for global companies, focusing on growth while delivering innovation, process improvements, and user experience-driven value to simplify the complexity of payments.

Fintech Confidential: A media creation, management, and production company delivering engaging content globally.

00:00 Highlights

01:13 Bitcoin 2025 (Sponsor)

02:06 Welcome to Web3 with FTC

02:32 Introducing Robert Musiala

03:22 April 2025 Recap and Strategic Signals

04:16 Competitive Advantage of FinTech Integration

04:58 Integration of Blockchain and Web3

06:12 Kraken’s Expansion in Europe

06:49 Crypto’s Integration with Traditional Finance

07:27 Crypto as a Payment Method

08:43 Stablecoins in Merchant Payments

10:14 Pending Legislation: Payment Stablecoin Act

13:05 Benefits of Stablecoins in Payments

16:15 Wallets as a Service by DFNS (Sponsor)

17:53 Programmable Money and Innovation

19:48 Bitcoin’s Role in Capital Markets

20:52 Kraken’s Traditional Market Offerings

21:09 Approval of Global ETFs and Staking

22:50 Digital Asset Regulatory Environment in the US

26:10 Federal Regulators’ Alignment on Crypto

28:24 States and Digital Assets

30:27 Wyoming’s Digital Asset Initiatives

32:01 State-Based Strategic Bitcoin Reserves

35:23 Legal and Regulatory Enforcement

37:58 Skyflow Secure Data Now (Sponsor)

40:34 Crypto Theft and Security Threats

42:16 Sophisticated Hacks and Scams

46:18 April 2025: Key Developments

47:20 Future Trends in Stablecoins

47:56 Regulatory Environment Evolution

48:38 SEC Roundtables and Public Input

49:20 Conclusion and Future Announcements

50:04 Hawk AI Fraud Prevention (Sponsor)

50:47 Disclaimer

In this episode of FinTech Confidential Uncut, host Tedd Huff talks with Jeff Scheidel, VP of Operations at AuthID, about the rise of AI-driven fraud targeting financial institutions. They explore how deepfakes, voice cloning, and large language models are enabling scammers to impersonate executives, create synthetic identities, and build fake websites and phishing emails with alarming accuracy. Real cases include a $25 million loss from a deepfake video call and voice cloning scams using only seconds of audio.

The episode highlights the limitations of current security tools, such as facial recognition failing due to minor appearance changes, and the inefficiency of manual fraud reviews. Jeff explains how biometric systems using passive liveness detection and cryptographic keys offer stronger protection without storing facial data. The discussion makes clear that financial organizations must quickly adopt smarter authentication methods and better user education to stay ahead of rapidly advancing threats.

Takeaways

1️⃣ Stop Falling for Fake Customer Support

2️⃣ Watch How One Photo Fakes a Live Identity

3️⃣ Use Biometrics to Expose Deepfake Lies

4️⃣ Catch Scammers Building Fake Credit Profiles

5️⃣ Block Voice Scams Made in Under 5 Seconds

Jeff Scheidel

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffscheidel/

authID

Website: https://www.authid.ai

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/authid

Twitter: https://twitter.com/authIDai

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authidai/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authid.ai/

YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@authID-we-are-digital-identity

Fintech Confidential

Podcast: https://fintechconfidential.com/listen

Newsletter: https://fintechconfidential.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fintechconfidential

X: https://x.com/FTconfidential

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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fintechconfidential

Skyflow – A zero trust data privacy vault API for secure data collection and compliance: www.skyflowsecure.com

Solvpath – AI-powered platform that reduces support tickets and guides users in real time: www.solvpath.com

Clearingworks – Unified accounts receivable platform for streamlined financial workflows: www.clearingworks.com

Hawk AI – Real-time fraud detection and compliance tools with AI-driven monitoring: www.get.hawkai.com

Guest

Jeff Scheidel is the Chief Operating Officer at authID, with over 40 years of experience in software, specializing in identity and access management. He has held leadership roles at Oracle and Socure, where he contributed to revenue growth and organizational restructuring.

authID (Nasdaq: AUID) delivers fast, accurate biometric identity verification that helps enterprises know who’s behind every login and transaction. With industry-leading authentication speeds and privacy-first design, authID stops fraud from onboarding through account recovery.

Host:

Tedd Huff is the Founder of Voalyre, and Diamond D3, professional services consulting firms focused on global payments and marketing. He is also a video podcast host and executive producer on the Fintech Confidential network.

Over the past 24 years, he has contributed to FinTech startups as an Advisory Board Member, Co-Founder, and Chief Experience Officer, providing strategic and tactical direction for Global Payments OpenEdge, Heartland Payments, Nuvei, and TSYS, among others, focusing on growth while delivering innovation, process improvements and user experience-driven value to simplify the complexity of payments.

Diamond D3, Media is a media creation, management, and production company delivering engaging content globally.

Tedd Huff & John Gordon, CEO of ValidiFI, explore key shifts in Fintech and focus on Account Validation Technology. The focus is on account validation, fraud detection, and customer risk. With over 25 years in financial services, Gordon shares insights from his work at TransUnion and ValidiFI. 

He explains how behavioral signals like multiple emails, landlines, or shared accounts—can trigger higher risk. Gordon also breaks down why ACH transactions remain dominant, and how high-risk accounts show 11.5x more return failures. The episode covers challenges with virtual bank accounts, especially from neo banks, and how lenders can better identify stable users.

John highlights how linking emails, phone types, and account behavior to reduce fraud and improve onboarding. He shares how AI and alternative data fill gaps left by outdated credit models, especially for BNPL users or consumers without full credit files.

He predicts a rise in consumer control over financial data and warns that limited access may hurt repayment assessments. For fintech founders, his advice is clear: look at the full data picture account history, contact info, and usage to make better, faster decisions.

🔹 Email Addresses Could Be Warning Signs

🔹 Landlines Are Worse Than You Think

🔹 Your Phone Type Says More

🔹 Fake-Looking Behavior That’s Actually Fraud

🔹 One Account, Too Many Users

🔹 Why Some Banks Get You Declined

🔹 ACH Still Beating Flashy Options

🔹 Manual Processes Are Still Everywhere

🔹 Stopping Fraud Without Losing Good Users

🔹 The Risk Hiding in Screen Scraping

1️⃣ This One Banking Habit Is Costing You

2️⃣ What ACH Return Rates Are Hiding

3️⃣ Why Neo Bank Users Are Getting Watched

4️⃣ Most Used Accounts Still Miss the Full Picture

5️⃣ The $100 Pizza You Didn’t Know About

John Gordon

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

ValidiFI

Website: https://validifi.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/validifi/

X: https://x.com/validi_fi

Fintech Confidential

Podcast: https://fintechconfidential.com/listen

Notifications: https://fintechconfidential.com/access

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fintechconfidential

X: https://x.com/FTconfidential

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fintechconfidential

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fintechconfidential

SkyFlow

Build fast without breaking privacy. Secure data, stay compliant with PCI, CCPA, GDPR, SOC2, and more. Visit https://skyflowsecure.com

Solvpath

AI-powered customer support with self-serve tools for fast issue resolution. Try it at https://www.getsolvpath.com

ClearingWorks

Simplify AR with a single login. Manage all receivables in one platform. Schedule your demo at https://clearingworks.com

HAWK

Cut false positives with real-time AI monitoring. Smarter, faster compliance. Learn more at https://gethawkai.com

John Gordon - John Gordon is CEO of ValidiFI with 25+ years in financial tech. He helps companies reduce fraud, assess risk, and validate accounts using real-time data strategies.

ValidiFI - ValidiFI provides account and payment intelligence to help businesses verify bank accounts, reduce fraud, and improve approvals using real-time, bank-sourced data.

Tedd Huff: Tedd Huff is the Founder of Voalyre.com, a professional services advisory firm focused on global payments and DD3 Media.

Over the past 26 years, he has contributed to FinTech startups as an Advisory Board Member, Co-Founder, and Chief Experience Officer, providing strategic and tactical direction for Global Payments OpenEdge, Heartland Payments, Nuvei, and TSYS, among others, focusing on growth while delivering innovation, process improvements and user experience-driven value to simplify the complexity of payments.

Diamond D3, Media: A media creation, management, and production company delivering engaging content globally