Blockchain may have its greatest impact on finance when customers stop seeing it.

In this episode of the London Fintech Podcast, Tony Clark speaks with Marc Boiron, CEO of Polygon Labs, about the convergence of blockchain and traditional financial infrastructure — and why the future of digital finance may be less about replacing existing systems and more about making blockchain invisible beneath familiar financial products.

The conversation explores what stablecoins are already making possible, what the growing adoption of blockchain infrastructure actually tells us, and why faster settlement alone is not enough to transform financial services.

Marc also explains Polygon's Open Money Stack and the thinking behind bringing more of the payment journey together while keeping the underlying infrastructure open and interoperable. The discussion looks beyond payments and digital assets to ask why banks, wealth managers, insurers, fintechs and market infrastructure providers should be paying attention.

Tony and Marc also examine the limits of the current technology, including regulation, risk, integration, liquidity and customer protection — and where existing financial rails may still be the better answer.

Most importantly, the episode asks a practical question for financial-services leaders: what should you act on now, what should you watch, and what can safely wait?

📌 Topics covered

• Why blockchain could disappear into mainstream finance• What stablecoin adoption really tells us

• Why faster settlement isn't enough

• Polygon's Open Money Stack and open financial infrastructure

• The future of payments and digital assets

• Blockchain's implications for banking, wealth, insurance and fintech• Integration, interoperability and chain abstraction

• The role of regulation, risk and customer protection

• What remains unresolved or overhyped

• What financial-services leaders should act on now

🔗 Learn more:

Tony Clark: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tclark100/

Marc Boiron: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcboiron

NextWave Consulting: https://www.nxwave.com

Polygon: https://polygon.technology/

⏱️ Chapters:

0:00 Intro

1:05 Welcome to the show

1:55 Blockchain as an upgrade

3:52 What should customers notice?

5:31 Speed under the hood

6:54 What TradFi brings to the table

11:02 The Great Rewiring: real examples

15:40 $3T in stablecoin volume

17:28 Anatomy of a cross-border payment

20:50 Blockchain like AWS, not "crypto"

22:03 Gaps and the Open Money Stack

24:37 88% committed, 16% live

27:05 Is "open" really open?

30:11 How many chains are connected

31:54 Agentic use cases and fraud

35:04 Agentic commerce moving fast

38:01 Talent was the missing piece

40:22 Priorities for the next two years

45:12 Designing your future architecture

46:22 Where clients start: chains and wallets

48:57 What could go wrong

52:06 Closing thoughts

Where is the VC money going in the UK, and what does it take for a startup to become investment-ready in today’s funding market?

In this episode of the London Fintech Podcast, Tony Clark speaks with Thomas Easterby from HSBC Innovation Banking about the state of the UK innovation economy, the latest venture capital trends, the surge in AI investment, and what founders need to know when raising capital.

The conversation explores a rapidly changing funding landscape, where AI investment has reached record levels, but investors are becoming increasingly thoughtful and diligent about where they deploy capital.Thomas shares his perspective on the companies and sectors attracting funding, what counts as frontier AI, why fintech and healthcare remain important parts of the innovation economy, and how the relationship between traditional finance and decentralised finance is evolving.

They also discuss why London continues to lead the UK VC market, the emerging "hourglass" shape of startup funding, and the growing importance of regional innovation hubs outside the capital.

For founders, the conversation gets practical: what makes a company investment-ready? Thomas shares insights into what investors are looking for, the different types of VC and corporate venture capital, and why demonstrating how AI is genuinely changing your business can help a company stand out.

The discussion also looks at an often-overlooked part of scaling a business: choosing the right banking partner. As companies move from startup to growth stage, their banking needs evolve — making specialist support increasingly important.

Whether you're a founder preparing to raise, an investor tracking the UK innovation economy, or simply interested in where the next generation of high-growth companies is coming from, this episode offers a grounded look at the opportunities and challenges ahead.

Topics covered

• UK startup funding and the current VC landscape

• Record AI investment and the rise of frontier AI

• Which sectors are attracting investment

• FinTech, healthcare and the convergence of TradFi and DeFi

• Why London continues to lead UK venture capital

• The "hourglass" shape of today's funding market

• Who today's founders are and what investors want to see

• How founders can become investment-ready

• Different VC models and corporate venture capital

• Why the right banking partner matters as companies scale

• The outlook for the UK innovation economy

• Advice for founders and investors

Learn more:

Tony Clark: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tclark100/

Thomas Easterby: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-easterby-3189709b/NextWave Consulting: https://www.nxwave.com

HSBC Innovation Banking: https://www.hsbcinnovationbanking.com/

Crypto is no longer operating at the edges of finance. It’s becoming part of the core infrastructure powering global payments, treasury operations, and digital asset innovation.In this episode of the London Fintech Podcast, Tony Clark sits down with Ran Goldi, SVP Payments & Network at Fireblocks, to explore the rapid rise of stablecoins, institutional crypto adoption, and the technologies reshaping the future of financial services.Broadcast live from Money20/20 Europe in Amsterdam, the conversation examines how traditional financial institutions are increasingly embracing blockchain-based financial rails. Ran shares insights from Fireblocks’ unique vantage point, with the platform now supporting approximately $15 trillion in annual stablecoin transaction volume and serving thousands of organisations across banking, payments, fintech, and digital assets.The discussion explores the evolution of the crypto industry through three major waves: trading, payments, and tokenisation. Ran explains why stablecoins have become one of the fastest-growing areas of financial infrastructure, how regulatory clarity is accelerating adoption, and why the “hottest thing in DeFi is TradFi.”They also dive into the emerging role of tokenised deposits, the future of digital asset infrastructure, and how AI-powered agents could transform the way businesses and consumers interact with money.Whether you're a fintech founder, banker, payments executive, or digital asset investor, this episode offers practical insight into where financial infrastructure is heading next.📌 Topics covered• Fireblocks’ role in digital asset infrastructure• Institutional adoption of crypto and stablecoins• Why stablecoin transaction volumes are accelerating• The evolution from crypto trading to payments and tokenisation• Tokenised deposits vs stablecoins• The impact of regulation on institutional adoption• Blockchain infrastructure for banks and payment providers• AI, automation, and agent-based financial services• What the next decade of digital finance could look like• Advice for founders building in emerging technology markets🔗 Learn more:Tony Clark: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tclark100/Ran Goldie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rangoldi/NextWave Consulting: https://www.nxwave.comFireblocks: https://www.fireblocks.com#Crypto #Stablecoins #Fireblocks #DigitalAssets #Blockchain #Tokenization #InstitutionalCrypto #Payments #Fintech #DeFi #TokenizedDeposits #AI #FutureOfFinance #Money2020 #LondonFintechPodcastcrypto, stablecoins, fireblocks, ran goldie, digital assets, institutional crypto, blockchain infrastructure, tokenization, tokenised assets, tokenized deposits, defi, traditional finance, tradfi, crypto payments, stablecoin payments, digital asset custody, fintech podcast, london fintech podcast, money2020, blockchain adoption, web3, crypto regulation, financial infrastructure, ai in finance, payments innovation, cross border payments, fireblocks network, digital asset platform, crypto rails, future of finance, fintech innovation, institutional adoption of crypto, stablecoin infrastructure, blockchain payments, tokenized finance, crypto banking, treasury management, digital finance, fintech leadership, financial services innovation

Embedded banking is moving from concept to reality. According to Andrew Ellis, CEO of NatWest Boxed, the future of financial services will be shaped by organisations that can seamlessly integrate banking products into the experiences customers already use every day.In this episode of the London Fintech Podcast, Tony Clark speaks with Andrew Ellis, CEO of NatWest Boxed, about the evolution of Banking-as-a-Service, embedded finance, and how major brands are creating new opportunities through financial products.Andrew shares the journey behind NatWest Boxed, from building a modern banking platform to powering partnerships with organisations including Sainsbury's, Saga, and the AA. The conversation explores how embedded banking is changing customer expectations, creating new revenue opportunities, and enabling brands to deepen customer relationships.They also discuss the realities of AI adoption in financial services, the importance of governance and trust, and why many firms are focusing on practical business outcomes rather than simply chasing the latest technology trends.At the heart of the conversation is a bigger question: what happens when banking becomes an invisible, integrated part of the customer experience?📌 Topics covered• The growth of embedded banking and Banking-as-a-Service• The story behind NatWest Boxed• Building partnerships with brands including Sainsbury's, Saga, and the AA• How customer expectations are changing in financial services• The role of trust, governance, and resilience in modern banking• Practical AI adoption in financial services• Why firms struggle to move from AI pilots to production• Trends shaping banking, fintech, and customer experience over the next 12–18 months🔗 Learn more:Tony Clark: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tclark100/Andrew Ellis: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andy-a-ellis/NatWest Boxed: https://www.nwboxed.com/NextWave Consulting: https://www.nxwave.com/#EmbeddedFinance #BankingAsAService #NatWestBoxed #Banking #FinancialServices #FinTech #AI #DigitalTransformation #Innovation #CustomerExperience #OpenBanking #LondonFintechPodcast

Most AI projects don't fail because of the model. They fail because organisations don't trust the data.In this special live edition of the London Fintech Podcast, recorded from Money20/20 Europe in Amsterdam, Tony Clark sits down with Remco den Heijer, Vice President APJ & EMEA Channels at Alteryx, to explore why data readiness has become the defining challenge in enterprise AI adoption.As organisations move from AI experimentation to real-world deployment, the conversation is shifting away from models and prompts towards trust, governance, and operational execution. Remco explains why AI success depends not on having the latest model, but on having data that is visible, understandable, repeatable, and auditable.Drawing on experience working with some of the world's largest enterprises, Remco shares how organisations are modernising legacy processes, replacing spreadsheet-driven workflows, and creating the foundations required for AI to deliver measurable business outcomes.The discussion explores agentic AI, enterprise automation, regulatory expectations, and the infrastructure needed to support AI at scale. They also examine how businesses are using governed workflows to bridge the gap between raw data and trusted decision-making.Beyond technology, the conversation covers leadership, ecosystem partnerships, global perspectives on AI adoption, and why organisations that treat data as a strategic asset are emerging as the winners in the AI era.Whether you're a data leader, fintech operator, AI practitioner, or executive responsible for transformation, this episode offers practical insight into what it really takes to become AI-ready.📌 Topics covered:• Why most AI projects fail despite advances in AI models• What "AI-ready data" actually means• The VURA framework: Visible, Understandable, Repeatable, Auditable• Data governance, trust, and the EU AI Act• Agentic AI and governed workflows• How Alteryx powers enterprise-scale automation• The role of data infrastructure in AI adoption• Why businesses run on workflows, not prompts• AI readiness across Europe, Asia, and North America• Lessons from investing in startups and scaling technology businesses🔗 Learn more:Tony Clark: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tclark100/Remco den Heijer: https://nl.linkedin.com/in/remcodenheijerAlteryx: https://www.alteryx.com/platformNextWave Consulting: https://www.nxwave.com/NextWave Alteryx Knowledge Hub: https://resources.nxwave.com/hub/nxw-alteryx-hubFree Alteryx License: https://www.alteryx.com/trial/workflow-automation?prid=0033n00002qVAafAAG&crp=0033n00002qVAafAAG&apid=0012R00002DwbwTQARAlteryx Training Courses: https://www.nxwave.com/alteryx-trainingGo Beyond the Podcast: https://resources.nxwave.com/hub/london-fintech-podcast

Recorded live at the Banking Transformation Summit, this special London Fintech Podcast panel brings together senior leaders from banking and technology to explore one of the biggest strategic questions facing financial services today: what happens when AI moves from assistant to autonomous teammate?

Host Tony Clark is joined by Stuart McIntyre, Executive Director, Digital Strategy & Operations – AI & Change Enablement at Standard Chartered, Marc Barnard-Naulls, Head of Enterprise Platforms and Services at Close Brothers, and James Georgiou, Principal Solution Engineer at Salesforce.

Together, they unpack the strategic fork in the road facing banks as Agentic AI accelerates from experimentation to implementation.

The discussion explores where banks need to commit versus hedge, which capabilities will separate winners from laggards by 2027, and the challenges leaders are still avoiding.

From intelligent infrastructure and AI-powered operations to governance, trust, and the future of human-machine collaboration, the panel provides a practical view of what transformation looks like beyond the hype.

A recurring theme emerges throughout the conversation: technology is no longer the primary constraint. Success will depend on how effectively banks align people, processes, data, and governance to unlock value from AI at scale.

Whether you're a banking executive, fintech founder, technology leader, or investor, this episode offers valuable insight into the decisions financial institutions can no longer afford to postpone.

📌 Topics covered:

• The rise of Agentic AI in banking

• Where banks should commit versus hedge their AI strategy

• The capabilities that will define winners by 2027

• Human + machine leadership and workforce transformation• Intelligent infrastructure and operational resilience

• Trust, governance, and AI risk management

• What leaders are still avoiding when it comes to AI adoption

• The cost of inaction in financial services

• How banks can move from experimentation to execution

🔗 Learn more:

Tony Clark: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tclark100/

NextWave Consulting: www.nxwave.com

Banking Transformation Summit: https://bankingtransformationsummit.com/

James Georgiou: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesgeorgiou/

Salesforce: https://www.salesforce.com/uk/

Marc Barnard-Naulls: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markbarnard/

Close Brothers: https://www.closebrothers.com/

Stuart McIntyre: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mcintyre/

Standard Chartered: https://www.sc.com/en/

Go Beyond the Podcast: https://resources.nxwave.com/hub/london-fintech-podcast?c=cG9zdDo5OTI5NzY%3D&nav=aHViX3BhZ2U6MTA%3D&s=null

#AgenticAI #BankingTransformation #ArtificialIntelligence #Banking #FinancialServices #Fintech #BankingTransformationSummit #MoneyNext #AIinBanking #DigitalTransformation #Salesforce #StandardChartered #CloseBrothers #Innovation #EnterpriseAI #AIGovernance #FutureOfBanking #FinancialInnovation #Leadership #LondonFintechPodcast

Smartphones are evolving. According to Emmett Hollyer of Solana Mobile, the next generation of devices will be the foundation of how we own, trade, and manage digital assets.In this episode of the London Fintech Podcast, Tony Clark speaks with Emmett Hollyer from Solana Mobile about the rise of crypto-native hardware, the launch of the Seeker device, and why mobile phones could become the primary gateway to decentralised finance and digital ownership.Emmett shares the story behind building one of the world’s first crypto-native smartphones, from early experimentation and hardware challenges to shipping more than 150,000 devices across 50+ countries. The conversation explores how Solana’s high-speed blockchain infrastructure enables seamless mobile trading, payments, and digital asset interaction directly from your pocket.They also discuss why crypto adoption is moving beyond niche communities, how embedded security and ownership models are reshaping mobile technology, and why major manufacturers are beginning to pay attention to crypto-native infrastructure.At the heart of the conversation is a bigger question: what happens when financial services become native to the device itself?📌 Topics covered• The story behind Solana Mobile and the Seeker device• Why crypto-native smartphones are gaining traction globally• How Solana enables fast, seamless mobile transactions• The future of mobile DeFi and digital asset ownership• Hardware security, self-custody, and crypto usability• Why major tech companies are paying attention to crypto hardware• The shift from crypto niche to mainstream consumer adoption• How mobile devices could become the foundation of digital finance🔗 Learn more:Tony Clark: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tclark100/Emmett Hollyer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmett-hollyer/NextWave Consulting: www.nxwave.comSeeker: https://solanamobile.com/Solana: https://solana.com/Range by David Epstein: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Range-Generalists-Triumph-Specialized-World/dp/1509843493London Falling by Patrick Radden Keefe: https://amzn.eu/d/03Ipm9m8Go Beyond the Podcast: https://resources.nxwave.com/hub/london-fintech-podcast?c=cG9zdDo5OTI5NzY%3D&nav=aHViX3BhZ2U6MTA%3D&s=null#Solana #Crypto #Web3 #Blockchain #DigitalAssets #DeFi #MobileTech #FinTech #CryptoWallet #SelfCustody #AI #Web3Gaming #Smartphones #FinancialServices #Innovation #LondonFintechPodcast

Crypto is moving from the margins to the core of global financial infrastructure — but the real question is how fast that transformation will happen, and who will lead it.

In this episode of the London Fintech Podcast, Tony Clark speaks with Keith Grose, UK CEO at Coinbase, to explore the evolution of crypto, institutional adoption, and the technologies shaping the next decade of finance.

The conversation traces Coinbase’s journey from early conviction in digital assets to becoming one of the world’s largest regulated crypto exchanges. Keith explains how a compliance-first mindset, product innovation, and long-term strategic thinking have been central to building trust in an emerging asset class.

As the discussion turns to market evolution, a key theme emerges: institutional adoption. From stablecoins to tokenised assets, Keith shares how traditional financial institutions are increasingly embracing crypto as new financial rails — unlocking faster, more efficient global transactions and entirely new business models.

A major focus of the episode is scalability. Keith dives into Layer 2 solutions, including Base, and explains how these technologies are addressing blockchain limitations — enabling high-performance, low-cost infrastructure for developers, businesses, and the next generation of “crypto-native” applications.

They also explore the UK market and regulatory landscape, highlighting the importance of trust, compliance, and collaboration with policymakers in scaling crypto responsibly.

From embedded finance to AI integration and the convergence of crypto with traditional equities, the discussion offers a forward-looking view of financial services.

Whether you’re a fintech founder, investor, or operator, this episode provides practical insight into how crypto is reshaping financial infrastructure — and what it takes to build at scale in a rapidly evolving ecosystem.

📌 Topics covered:

• Coinbase’s growth and key success factors

• Institutional adoption of crypto and stablecoins

• Layer 2 solutions and blockchain scalability (Base)

• The UK regulatory landscape and building trust

• Embedded finance and infrastructure growth

• AI and digital currency integration

• Future trends in finance and crypto markets

• Advice for fintech founders building at scale

🔗 Learn more:

Tony Clark: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tclark100/

Keith Grose: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keithgrose/ & https://x.com/kmgrose

NextWave Consulting: www.nxwave.com

Coinbase: https://www.coinbase.com/

The Beginning of Infinity by David Deutsch: https://amzn.eu/d/04tOEa62

There Are Rivers in the Sky by Elif Shafak: https://amzn.eu/d/0hGlwUGf

The Knowledge Project Podcast by Shane Parrish: https://www.youtube.com/@UCLtTf_uKt0Itd0NG7txrwXA

Acquired Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/7Fj0XEuUQLUqoMZQdsLXqp

Go Beyond the Podcast: https://resources.nxwave.com/hub/london-fintech-podcast?c=cG9zdDo5OTI5NzY%3D&nav=aHViX3BhZ2U6MTA%3D&s=null

#Crypto #Coinbase #Stablecoins #Layer2 #Fintech #InstitutionalAdoption #Blockchain #UKFintech #DigitalCurrency #financialinfrastructure #Web3 #Base #CryptoRegulation #AI #FutureOfFinance #LondonFintechPodcast

Banking is changing fast, but what does real transformation actually look like inside today’s financial institutions?

In this episode of the London Fintech Podcast, Tony Clark sits down with Mark Johnstone, Chief Strategy Officer at MoneyNext and Managing Director of the Banking Transformation Summit, to unpack how banks are navigating AI, modernisation, and the evolving competitive landscape.

Mark shares insights from curating one of the most practitioner-led banking events in Europe, where the focus isn’t hype, but what’s actually working inside banks today. With 175+ institutions represented and a highly curated audience, the summit offers a unique lens into how senior leaders are tackling transformation at scale.

The conversation explores how the industry has shifted from digital transformation to AI-driven execution, and why the real challenge is no longer technology, but adoption, governance, and human integration.

They also dive into the biggest themes shaping banking right now: agentic AI, AI risk and regulation, embedded finance, and the surprising return of the human touch in financial services.

Whether you’re a banker, fintech operator, or simply tracking the future of financial services, this episode offers a grounded, insider view of where the industry is heading next.

📌 Topics covered• What makes Banking Transformation Summit different from other fintech events

• Why banks are shifting from AI hype to real delivery and ROI

• The rise of agentic AI and what it means for banking operations

• AI governance, regulation, and the impact of the EU AI Act

• Embedded finance and the battle for customer ownership

• Why human interaction is making a comeback in digital banking

• The real blockers to transformation: adoption vs technology

• How banks are competing with AI-native fintech startups

• Why smaller, curated events outperform large conferences🔗 Learn more:

Tony Clark: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tclark100/

Mark Johnstone: https://www.linkedin.com/in/majohnstone/

NextWave Consulting: www.nxwave.comBanking Transformation Summit: https://bankingtransformationsummit.com/

MoneyNext: https://uk.linkedin.com/company/moneynexttv

Go Beyond the Podcast: https://resources.nxwave.com/hub/london-fintech-podcast?c=cG9zdDo5OTI5NzY%3D&nav=aHViX3BhZ2U6MTA%3D&s=null#FinTech #Banking #AI #AgenticAI #DigitalTransformation #EmbeddedFinance #BankingTransformation #FinancialServices #Innovation #AIRegulation #OpenBanking #FintechEvents #LondonFintechPodcast

In this episode of the London Fintech Podcast, Tony Clark speaks with Christoph Rieche, CEO and Co-Founder of iwoca, about his transition from Goldman Sachs to building one of Europe’s leading SME lending platforms.

“More than 80% of our customers receive instant credit decisions… and can draw funding the same day.”

That capability sits at the heart of iwoca’s proposition — transforming SME lending from a slow, uncertain process into something fast, data-driven, and accessible.

Christoph explains how API integrations and real-time data sharing allow businesses to move from application to funding in record time, unlocking opportunities that would otherwise be lost.

Christoph shares how a desire to “build something with my own hands” led him into entrepreneurship, and how iwoca has grown into a data-driven lender helping small businesses access fast, flexible financing. From the early days to scaling through uncertainty, he reflects on the “roller coaster” of building a fintech business with real-world impact.

The conversation dives deep into how AI and data science are transforming credit decisioning, enabling faster and more accurate lending decisions for underserved SMEs.

Christoph explains iwoca's hybrid approach, combining machine learning with human judgment, and why this balance is critical in modern lending.

They also explore the rise of embedded finance and API-driven lending, and how partnerships are reshaping distribution across digital platforms. With insights into post-pandemic market dynamics, geopolitical pressures, and funding strategies, this episode offers a comprehensive view of where SME financing is heading.

Whether you’re a fintech founder, investor, or operator, this is a practical and insightful look at scaling a lending business in today’s environment.

📌 Topics covered:

• Christoph's journey from banking to fintech founder

• Building iwoca and scaling an SME lending platform

• AI and data science in credit decisioning• Embedded finance and API-led distribution models

• Navigating COVID-19 and macroeconomic challenges

• Growth strategies for SME lenders

• The role of partnerships in fintech ecosystems

🔗 Learn more:

Tony Clark: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tclark100/Christoph Rieche: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/christophrieche

NextWave Consulting: www.nxwave.comiwoca: www.iwoca.co.uk/

1929: The Inside Story of The Greatest Crash in Wall Street History: https://amzn.eu/d/09UYVP9L

Go Beyond the Podcast: https://resources.nxwave.com/hub/london-fintech-podcast?c=cG9zdDo5OTI5NzY%3D&nav=aHViX3BhZ2U6MTA%3D&s=null

#FinTech #SMELending #EmbeddedFinance #AI #DataScience #DigitalBanking #CreditDecisioning #UKSMEs #Startups #Entrepreneurship #BusinessGrowth #Lending #FinancialTechnology #APIs #LondonFintechPodcast