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/
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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

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