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Western Union launching a stablecoin on Solana marks a major shift in payments infrastructure.
In this episode of Stabled Up, we sit down with Stepan Simkin and Garrett Harper from Squads Protocol to discuss how they built the infrastructure for Western Union's Solana strategy, why vertically integrated infrastructure wins, and the path to $3.7 trillion in stablecoin market cap.
We discuss:
- How Western Union secured $15B in assets on Solana
- Western Union's Solana strategy & why they chose Squads
- Enterprise vs crypto-native stablecoin approaches
- Why vertically integrated infrastructure wins
- The path from $300B to $3.7T in stablecoins
- Altitude: On-chain business banking for enterprises
- Getting paid in USDC: The future of payroll
Timestamps
00:00 Intro
01:39 Stepan & Garrett's Background: Building Squads
03:13 Blockworks Transformation Story
04:15 Squads' Founder Journey
07:58 Western Union Goes to Solana: The Inside Story
10:40 The Squads Value Proposition for Enterprises
12:34 Relay Ad
13:35 Why Vertically Integrated Infrastructure Wins
15:53 Stable Chains vs Open Networks: The Trade-offs
17:27 Payment Stablecoins vs Loyalty Stablecoins
19:54 Balancing Security & Trust at Scale
21:02 Growing Stablecoin Supply: What's Driving It
22:54 Enterprise Chain Preferences Revealed
25:05 $15B Breakdown & Geography: Where the Money Is
26:24 Alvara Ad
26:49 Coinbase Partnership: What It Unlocks
32:48 Getting Paid in Stablecoins: The Payroll Future
33:17 Closing Thoughts
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ðððŠððððð ðð¥: ðð¯ð·ðŠðŽðµðªð¯ðš ðªð¯ ð€ð³ðºð±ðµð°ð€ð¶ð³ð³ðŠð¯ð€ðº ð¢ð¯ð¥ ððŠððª ð±ðð¢ðµð§ð°ð³ð®ðŽ ð€ð°ð®ðŠðŽ ðžðªðµð© ðªð¯ð©ðŠð³ðŠð¯ðµ ð³ðªðŽð¬ðŽ ðªð¯ð€ðð¶ð¥ðªð¯ðš ðµðŠð€ð©ð¯ðªð€ð¢ð ð³ðªðŽð¬, ð©ð¶ð®ð¢ð¯ ðŠð³ð³ð°ð³, ð±ðð¢ðµð§ð°ð³ð® ð§ð¢ðªðð¶ð³ðŠ ð¢ð¯ð¥ ð®ð°ð³ðŠ. ððµ ð€ðŠð³ðµð¢ðªð¯ ð±ð°ðªð¯ðµðŽ ðµð©ð³ð°ð¶ðšð©ð°ð¶ðµ ðµð©ðªðŽ ð€ð©ð¢ð¯ð¯ðŠð, ðžðŠ ð®ð¢ðº ðŠð¢ð³ð¯ ð¢ ð€ð°ð®ð®ðªðŽðŽðªð°ð¯ ð°ð³ ð§ðŠðŠ ð¢ðŽ ð¢ ðŽð±ð°ð¯ðŽð°ð³ðŽð©ðªð±, ðªð§ ðµð©ðªðŽ ðªðŽ ðµð©ðŠ ð€ð¢ðŽðŠ ðžðŠ ðžðªðð ð¢ððžð¢ðºðŽ ð®ð¢ð¬ðŠ ðŽð¶ð³ðŠ ðªðµ ðªðŽ ð€ððŠð¢ð³. ððŠ ð¢ð³ðŠ ðŽðµð³ðªð€ðµððº ð¢ð¯ ðŠð¥ð¶ð€ð¢ðµðªð°ð¯ð¢ð ð€ð°ð¯ðµðŠð¯ðµ ð±ðð¢ðµð§ð°ð³ð®, ð¯ð°ðµð©ðªð¯ðš ðžðŠ ð°ð§ð§ðŠð³ ðªðŽ ð§ðªð¯ð¢ð¯ð€ðªð¢ð ð¢ð¥ð·ðªð€ðŠ. ððŠ ð¢ð³ðŠ ð¯ð°ðµ ð±ð³ð°ð§ðŠðŽðŽðªð°ð¯ð¢ððŽ ð°ð³ ððªð€ðŠð¯ðŽðŠð¥ ð¢ð¥ð·ðªðŽð°ð³ðŽ.
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ðððŠððððð ðð¥: ðð¯ð·ðŠðŽðµðªð¯ðš ðªð¯ ð€ð³ðºð±ðµð°ð€ð¶ð³ð³ðŠð¯ð€ðº ð¢ð¯ð¥ ððŠððª ð±ðð¢ðµð§ð°ð³ð®ðŽ ð€ð°ð®ðŠðŽ ðžðªðµð© ðªð¯ð©ðŠð³ðŠð¯ðµ ð³ðªðŽð¬ðŽ ðªð¯ð€ðð¶ð¥ðªð¯ðš ðµðŠð€ð©ð¯ðªð€ð¢ð ð³ðªðŽð¬, ð©ð¶ð®ð¢ð¯ ðŠð³ð³ð°ð³, ð±ðð¢ðµð§ð°ð³ð® ð§ð¢ðªðð¶ð³ðŠ ð¢ð¯ð¥ ð®ð°ð³ðŠ. ððµ ð€ðŠð³ðµð¢ðªð¯ ð±ð°ðªð¯ðµðŽ ðµð©ð³ð°ð¶ðšð©ð°ð¶ðµ ðµð©ðªðŽ ð€ð©ð¢ð¯ð¯ðŠð, ðžðŠ ð®ð¢ðº ðŠð¢ð³ð¯ ð¢ ð€ð°ð®ð®ðªðŽðŽðªð°ð¯ ð°ð³ ð§ðŠðŠ ð¢ðŽ ð¢ ðŽð±ð°ð¯ðŽð°ð³ðŽð©ðªð±, ðªð§ ðµð©ðªðŽ ðªðŽ ðµð©ðŠ ð€ð¢ðŽðŠ ðžðŠ ðžðªðð ð¢ððžð¢ðºðŽ ð®ð¢ð¬ðŠ ðŽð¶ð³ðŠ ðªðµ ðªðŽ ð€ððŠð¢ð³. ððŠ ð¢ð³ðŠ ðŽðµð³ðªð€ðµððº ð¢ð¯ ðŠð¥ð¶ð€ð¢ðµðªð°ð¯ð¢ð ð€ð°ð¯ðµðŠð¯ðµ ð±ðð¢ðµð§ð°ð³ð®, ð¯ð°ðµð©ðªð¯ðš ðžðŠ ð°ð§ð§ðŠð³ ðªðŽ ð§ðªð¯ð¢ð¯ð€ðªð¢ð ð¢ð¥ð·ðªð€ðŠ. ððŠ ð¢ð³ðŠ ð¯ð°ðµ ð±ð³ð°ð§ðŠðŽðŽðªð°ð¯ð¢ððŽ ð°ð³ ððªð€ðŠð¯ðŽðŠð¥ ð¢ð¥ð·ðªðŽð°ð³ðŽ.
Bitcoin's transparency problem just became a trillion-dollar opportunity for privacy-focused alternatives.
In this episode of AI Supercycle, we sit down with Josh Swihart from Zcash, to discuss how Bitcoin got captured by fintech, why zero-knowledge encryption is the only path forward, and how Zcash drove $100M in flows through NEAR intents in just 8 weeks.
We discuss:
- How Zcash Invented Zero-Knowledge Encryption
- $100M in Flows Through NEAR Intents in 8 Weeks
- The Exploding Shielded Pool & What It Means
- Navigating Regulators: FBI, CIA & Building Trust
- Why Bitcoin Got Captured by Fintech
- Freedom Coin vs Fintech Coin: The Coming Battle
Timestamps
00:00 Intro
01:01 Josh's Role & Zcash Origins
03:14 The Founding Scientists Story
06:43 Zcash's Recent Momentum Explained
09:34 Understanding the Shielded Pool
11:36 Relay Ad, Enso Ad, Talus Ad
12:19 NEAR Intents Integration: $100M in 8 Weeks
16:26 Comparing Zcash to Swiss Bank TAM
21:12 Builder Ecosystem Growth
24:08 Navigating Regulatory Pressure: FBI, CIA & Trust
30:27 Alvara Ad, Hibachi Ad
30:50 Building DC Relationships That Matter
32:13 Zephyr Punk Hackathon
36:00 Getting Started with Zcash
39:37 Op Cat & Bitcoin Comparison
40:18 Scaling to Billions of Users
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ðððŠððððð ðð¥: ðð¯ð·ðŠðŽðµðªð¯ðš ðªð¯ ð€ð³ðºð±ðµð°ð€ð¶ð³ð³ðŠð¯ð€ðº ð¢ð¯ð¥ ððŠððª ð±ðð¢ðµð§ð°ð³ð®ðŽ ð€ð°ð®ðŠðŽ ðžðªðµð© ðªð¯ð©ðŠð³ðŠð¯ðµ ð³ðªðŽð¬ðŽ ðªð¯ð€ðð¶ð¥ðªð¯ðš ðµðŠð€ð©ð¯ðªð€ð¢ð ð³ðªðŽð¬, ð©ð¶ð®ð¢ð¯ ðŠð³ð³ð°ð³, ð±ðð¢ðµð§ð°ð³ð® ð§ð¢ðªðð¶ð³ðŠ ð¢ð¯ð¥ ð®ð°ð³ðŠ. ððµ ð€ðŠð³ðµð¢ðªð¯ ð±ð°ðªð¯ðµðŽ ðµð©ð³ð°ð¶ðšð©ð°ð¶ðµ ðµð©ðªðŽ ð€ð©ð¢ð¯ð¯ðŠð, ðžðŠ ð®ð¢ðº ðŠð¢ð³ð¯ ð¢ ð€ð°ð®ð®ðªðŽðŽðªð°ð¯ ð°ð³ ð§ðŠðŠ ð¢ðŽ ð¢ ðŽð±ð°ð¯ðŽð°ð³ðŽð©ðªð±, ðªð§ ðµð©ðªðŽ ðªðŽ ðµð©ðŠ ð€ð¢ðŽðŠ ðžðŠ ðžðªðð ð¢ððžð¢ðºðŽ ð®ð¢ð¬ðŠ ðŽð¶ð³ðŠ ðªðµ ðªðŽ ð€ððŠð¢ð³. ððŠ ð¢ð³ðŠ ðŽðµð³ðªð€ðµððº ð¢ð¯ ðŠð¥ð¶ð€ð¢ðµðªð°ð¯ð¢ð ð€ð°ð¯ðµðŠð¯ðµ ð±ðð¢ðµð§ð°ð³ð®, ð¯ð°ðµð©ðªð¯ðš ðžðŠ ð°ð§ð§ðŠð³ ðªðŽ ð§ðªð¯ð¢ð¯ð€ðªð¢ð ð¢ð¥ð·ðªð€ðŠ. ððŠ ð¢ð³ðŠ ð¯ð°ðµ ð±ð³ð°ð§ðŠðŽðŽðªð°ð¯ð¢ððŽ ð°ð³ ððªð€ðŠð¯ðŽðŠð¥ ð¢ð¥ð·ðªðŽð°ð³ðŽ.
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ðððŠððððð ðð¥: ðð¯ð·ðŠðŽðµðªð¯ðš ðªð¯ ð€ð³ðºð±ðµð°ð€ð¶ð³ð³ðŠð¯ð€ðº ð¢ð¯ð¥ ððŠððª ð±ðð¢ðµð§ð°ð³ð®ðŽ ð€ð°ð®ðŠðŽ ðžðªðµð© ðªð¯ð©ðŠð³ðŠð¯ðµ ð³ðªðŽð¬ðŽ ðªð¯ð€ðð¶ð¥ðªð¯ðš ðµðŠð€ð©ð¯ðªð€ð¢ð ð³ðªðŽð¬, ð©ð¶ð®ð¢ð¯ ðŠð³ð³ð°ð³, ð±ðð¢ðµð§ð°ð³ð® ð§ð¢ðªðð¶ð³ðŠ ð¢ð¯ð¥ ð®ð°ð³ðŠ. ððµ ð€ðŠð³ðµð¢ðªð¯ ð±ð°ðªð¯ðµðŽ ðµð©ð³ð°ð¶ðšð©ð°ð¶ðµ ðµð©ðªðŽ ð€ð©ð¢ð¯ð¯ðŠð, ðžðŠ ð®ð¢ðº ðŠð¢ð³ð¯ ð¢ ð€ð°ð®ð®ðªðŽðŽðªð°ð¯ ð°ð³ ð§ðŠðŠ ð¢ðŽ ð¢ ðŽð±ð°ð¯ðŽð°ð³ðŽð©ðªð±, ðªð§ ðµð©ðªðŽ ðªðŽ ðµð©ðŠ ð€ð¢ðŽðŠ ðžðŠ ðžðªðð ð¢ððžð¢ðºðŽ ð®ð¢ð¬ðŠ ðŽð¶ð³ðŠ ðªðµ ðªðŽ ð€ððŠð¢ð³. ððŠ ð¢ð³ðŠ ðŽðµð³ðªð€ðµððº ð¢ð¯ ðŠð¥ð¶ð€ð¢ðµðªð°ð¯ð¢ð ð€ð°ð¯ðµðŠð¯ðµ ð±ðð¢ðµð§ð°ð³ð®, ð¯ð°ðµð©ðªð¯ðš ðžðŠ ð°ð§ð§ðŠð³ ðªðŽ ð§ðªð¯ð¢ð¯ð€ðªð¢ð ð¢ð¥ð·ðªð€ðŠ. ððŠ ð¢ð³ðŠ ð¯ð°ðµ ð±ð³ð°ð§ðŠðŽðŽðªð°ð¯ð¢ððŽ ð°ð³ ððªð€ðŠð¯ðŽðŠð¥ ð¢ð¥ð·ðªðŽð°ð³ðŽ.
Circle just solved one of crypto's biggest UX problems: paying gas fees with the tokens you're already using.
In this episode, we sit down with Rachel Mayer to discuss why they built Arc as an L1 instead of L2, how stablecoin-as-gas unlocks instant settlement, and why bringing $8 trillion/day FX markets onchain changes everything.
We discuss:
- Why Circle Built Arc as an L1 vs L2
- Stablecoin-as-Gas: The Silent Unlock
- Instant Settlement & Privacy Features
- 100+ Launch Partners (Apollo, BNY Mellon, Visa, Mastercard & More)
- Bringing $8 Trillion/Day FX Markets Onchain
- Multi-Currency Stablecoin Strategy
- USDC's Evolution & Global Liquidity Hub Vision
Timestamps
00:00 Intro
00:53 From TradFi to Crypto: Rachel's Journey
06:17 Why Circle Built Arc as L1 Instead of L2
09:51 The Dollar Fungibility Illusion
11:14 Enso Ad, Relay Ad
11:50 Stablecoin Proliferation: Why More Is Better
14:09 Upstream vs Downstream Money Infrastructure
16:55 The Fragmentation Problem Circle Is Solving
19:00 How Circle's USD Actually Works Under the Hood
21:28 Bridge Partnership: The Technical Architecture
26:00 Talus Ad, Alvara Ad, Hibachi Ad
26:29 Will Users Actually Notice Blockchain Rails?
28:37 Second-Order Effects When Trillions Move Onchain
30:34 The Next Major Circle Launch Coming
32:28 Hyperliquid's Stablecoin War: Circle's Take
34:19 Developer-Friendly Issuance: Lowering Barriers
34:42 Closing Thoughts
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ðððŠððððð ðð¥: ðð¯ð·ðŠðŽðµðªð¯ðš ðªð¯ ð€ð³ðºð±ðµð°ð€ð¶ð³ð³ðŠð¯ð€ðº ð¢ð¯ð¥ ððŠððª ð±ðð¢ðµð§ð°ð³ð®ðŽ ð€ð°ð®ðŠðŽ ðžðªðµð© ðªð¯ð©ðŠð³ðŠð¯ðµ ð³ðªðŽð¬ðŽ ðªð¯ð€ðð¶ð¥ðªð¯ðš ðµðŠð€ð©ð¯ðªð€ð¢ð ð³ðªðŽð¬, ð©ð¶ð®ð¢ð¯ ðŠð³ð³ð°ð³, ð±ðð¢ðµð§ð°ð³ð® ð§ð¢ðªðð¶ð³ðŠ ð¢ð¯ð¥ ð®ð°ð³ðŠ. ððµ ð€ðŠð³ðµð¢ðªð¯ ð±ð°ðªð¯ðµðŽ ðµð©ð³ð°ð¶ðšð©ð°ð¶ðµ ðµð©ðªðŽ ð€ð©ð¢ð¯ð¯ðŠð, ðžðŠ ð®ð¢ðº ðŠð¢ð³ð¯ ð¢ ð€ð°ð®ð®ðªðŽðŽðªð°ð¯ ð°ð³ ð§ðŠðŠ ð¢ðŽ ð¢ ðŽð±ð°ð¯ðŽð°ð³ðŽð©ðªð±, ðªð§ ðµð©ðªðŽ ðªðŽ ðµð©ðŠ ð€ð¢ðŽðŠ ðžðŠ ðžðªðð ð¢ððžð¢ðºðŽ ð®ð¢ð¬ðŠ ðŽð¶ð³ðŠ ðªðµ ðªðŽ ð€ððŠð¢ð³. ððŠ ð¢ð³ðŠ ðŽðµð³ðªð€ðµððº ð¢ð¯ ðŠð¥ð¶ð€ð¢ðµðªð°ð¯ð¢ð ð€ð°ð¯ðµðŠð¯ðµ ð±ðð¢ðµð§ð°ð³ð®, ð¯ð°ðµð©ðªð¯ðš ðžðŠ ð°ð§ð§ðŠð³ ðªðŽ ð§ðªð¯ð¢ð¯ð€ðªð¢ð ð¢ð¥ð·ðªð€ðŠ. ððŠ ð¢ð³ðŠ ð¯ð°ðµ ð±ð³ð°ð§ðŠðŽðŽðªð°ð¯ð¢ððŽ ð°ð³ ððªð€ðŠð¯ðŽðŠð¥ ð¢ð¥ð·ðªðŽð°ð³ðŽ.
The Rollup TV is brought to you by:AltLayer: https://www.altlayer.io/SQD: https://www.sqd.ai/Kalshi: https://t.co/UEGdJMRFFZNEAR: https://kalshi.onelink.me/1r91/kalshixFrax: https://frax.comPolygon: https://polygon.technologyTalus: https://testnet.talus.network/testnetRelay: https://linktr.ee/relayprotocolJoin The Rollup Family:Website: https://therollup.co/Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1P6ZeYd..Podcast: https://therollup.co/category/podcastFollow us on X: https://www.x.com/therollupcoFollow Rob on X: https://www.x.com/robbie_rollupFollow Andy on X: https://www.x.com/ayyyeandyJoin our TG group: https://t.me/+8ARkR_YZixE5YjBhThe Rollup Disclosures: https://therollup.co/the-rollup-disclðððŠððððð ðð¥: ðð¯ð·ðŠðŽðµðªð¯ðš ðªð¯ ð€ð³ðºð±ðµð°ð€ð¶ð³ð³ðŠð¯ð€ðº ð¢ð¯ð¥ ððŠððª ð±ðð¢ðµð§ð°ð³ð®ðŽ ð€ð°ð®ðŠðŽ ðžðªðµð© ðªð¯ð©ðŠð³ðŠð¯ðµ ð³ðªðŽð¬ðŽ ðªð¯ð€ðð¶ð¥ðªð¯ðš ðµðŠð€ð©ð¯ðªð€ð¢ð ð³ðªðŽð¬, ð©ð¶ð®ð¢ð¯ ðŠð³ð³ð°ð³, ð±ðð¢ðµð§ð°ð³ð® ð§ð¢ðªðð¶ð³ðŠ ð¢ð¯ð¥ ð®ð°ð³ðŠ. ððµ ð€ðŠð³ðµð¢ðªð¯ ð±ð°ðªð¯ðµðŽ ðµð©ð³ð°ð¶ðšð©ð°ð¶ðµ ðµð©ðªðŽ ð€ð©ð¢ð¯ð¯ðŠð, ðžðŠ ð®ð¢ðº ðŠð¢ð³ð¯ ð¢ ð€ð°ð®ð®ðªðŽðŽðªð°ð¯ ð°ð³ ð§ðŠðŠ ð¢ðŽ ð¢ ðŽð±ð°ð¯ðŽð°ð³ðŽð©ðªð±, ðªð§ ðµð©ðªðŽ ðªðŽ ðµð©ðŠ ð€ð¢ðŽðŠ ðžðŠ ðžðªðð ð¢ððžð¢ðºðŽ ð®ð¢ð¬ðŠ ðŽð¶ð³ðŠ ðªðµ ðªðŽ ð€ððŠð¢ð³. ððŠ ð¢ð³ðŠ ðŽðµð³ðªð€ðµððº ð¢ð¯ ðŠð¥ð¶ð€ð¢ðµðªð°ð¯ð¢ð ð€ð°ð¯ðµðŠð¯ðµ ð±ðð¢ðµð§ð°ð³ð®, ð¯ð°ðµð©ðªð¯ðš ðžðŠ ð°ð§ð§ðŠð³ ðªðŽ ð§ðªð¯ð¢ð¯ð€ðªð¢ð ð¢ð¥ð·ðªð€ðŠ. ððŠ ð¢ð³ðŠ ð¯ð°ðµ ð±ð³ð°ð§ðŠðŽðŽðªð°ð¯ð¢ððŽ ð°ð³ ððªð€ðŠð¯ðŽðŠð¥ ð¢ð¥ð·ðªðŽð°ð³ðŽ.
The infrastructure of money is being completely rewritten, and most people don't see it happening.
In this episode, we sit down with Luca Prosperi, founder of M0, to discuss why every major app will issue their own stablecoin, how MetaMask built their own dollar without banking rails, and why we're heading from $300B to trillions in stablecoin market cap.
We discuss:
- Why every bank's dollar is actually different
- The stablecoin fragmentation problem
- How MetaMask built their own dollar without banking rails
- Why apps need to control their own stablecoins
- The future of non-custodial financial services
- From $300B to trillions: Where stablecoins are heading
Timestamps
00:00 Intro
00:53 Luca's Journey: From Traditional Finance to Crypto
06:17 Founding M0 & Raising Without a Pitch Deck
09:51 The Illusion of Dollar Fungibility
11:14 Enso Ad, Relay Ad
11:50 Stablecoin Proliferation Strategy: Why More Is Better
14:09 Upstream vs Downstream Money Infrastructure
16:55 The Fragmentation Problem Nobody Talks About
19:00 How MetaMask's USD Actually Works
21:28 MetaMask's Partnership with Bridge: The Technical Details
26:00 Talus Ad, Alvara Ad, Hibachi Ad
26:29 Will Consumers Actually Notice Blockchain Money?
28:37 Second-Order Effects of Trillions in Stablecoins
30:34 The Next Major M0 Launch
32:28 Hyperliquid's Stablecoin War: Who Wins?
34:19 Developer-Friendly Issuance: Lowering the Barrier
34:42 Closing Thoughts
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ðððŠððððð ðð¥: ðð¯ð·ðŠðŽðµðªð¯ðš ðªð¯ ð€ð³ðºð±ðµð°ð€ð¶ð³ð³ðŠð¯ð€ðº ð¢ð¯ð¥ ððŠððª ð±ðð¢ðµð§ð°ð³ð®ðŽ ð€ð°ð®ðŠðŽ ðžðªðµð© ðªð¯ð©ðŠð³ðŠð¯ðµ ð³ðªðŽð¬ðŽ ðªð¯ð€ðð¶ð¥ðªð¯ðš ðµðŠð€ð©ð¯ðªð€ð¢ð ð³ðªðŽð¬, ð©ð¶ð®ð¢ð¯ ðŠð³ð³ð°ð³, ð±ðð¢ðµð§ð°ð³ð® ð§ð¢ðªðð¶ð³ðŠ ð¢ð¯ð¥ ð®ð°ð³ðŠ. ððµ ð€ðŠð³ðµð¢ðªð¯ ð±ð°ðªð¯ðµðŽ ðµð©ð³ð°ð¶ðšð©ð°ð¶ðµ ðµð©ðªðŽ ð€ð©ð¢ð¯ð¯ðŠð, ðžðŠ ð®ð¢ðº ðŠð¢ð³ð¯ ð¢ ð€ð°ð®ð®ðªðŽðŽðªð°ð¯ ð°ð³ ð§ðŠðŠ ð¢ðŽ ð¢ ðŽð±ð°ð¯ðŽð°ð³ðŽð©ðªð±, ðªð§ ðµð©ðªðŽ ðªðŽ ðµð©ðŠ ð€ð¢ðŽðŠ ðžðŠ ðžðªðð ð¢ððžð¢ðºðŽ ð®ð¢ð¬ðŠ ðŽð¶ð³ðŠ ðªðµ ðªðŽ ð€ððŠð¢ð³. ððŠ ð¢ð³ðŠ ðŽðµð³ðªð€ðµððº ð¢ð¯ ðŠð¥ð¶ð€ð¢ðµðªð°ð¯ð¢ð ð€ð°ð¯ðµðŠð¯ðµ ð±ðð¢ðµð§ð°ð³ð®, ð¯ð°ðµð©ðªð¯ðš ðžðŠ ð°ð§ð§ðŠð³ ðªðŽ ð§ðªð¯ð¢ð¯ð€ðªð¢ð ð¢ð¥ð·ðªð€ðŠ. ððŠ ð¢ð³ðŠ ð¯ð°ðµ ð±ð³ð°ð§ðŠðŽðŽðªð°ð¯ð¢ððŽ ð°ð³ ððªð€ðŠð¯ðŽðŠð¥ ð¢ð¥ð·ðªðŽð°ð³ðŽ.
Stablecoins aren't crypto assets, they're negotiable instruments that banks should process like checks.
In this episode of Stabled Up, we sit down with Tony McLaughlin, CEO of Ubyx and former Swift executive, to discuss why the stablecoin supercycle is here, how clearing infrastructure actually works, and why every bank will soon offer a stablecoin wallet.
We discuss:
- Why private blockchains have failed
- The six magic words that will unlock bank adoption
- How clearing infrastructure actually works
- The coming Cambrian explosion of stablecoins
- Why every bank will offer a wallet
- CBDCs vs stablecoins: What's the real difference?
- Stablecoins as "bundles of joy" for global commerce
Timestamps
00:00 Intro
00:44 From TradFi to Crypto: Tony's Journey
06:10 Why Public Blockchains Win
08:52 Alvara Ad, Enso Ad, Talus Ad
09:24 Ubyx's Infrastructure Solution for Banks
14:46 Stablecoins vs Checks: The Perfect Comparison
20:53 The Clearing Process Explained Simply
24:38 Negotiable Instruments 101: What Banks Actually Understand
28:16 Not All Stablecoins Are Created Equal
32:57 CBDCs & Tokenized Deposits: The Real Differences
35:24 Relay Ad, Hibachi Ad
35:57 How Clearing Actually Works Behind the Scenes
42:41 Wallets for Every Bank & Every Fintech
46:46 Decentralizing the Network: The End Game
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The Rollup Disclosures: https://therollup.co/the-rollup-discl
ðððŠððððð ðð¥: ðð¯ð·ðŠðŽðµðªð¯ðš ðªð¯ ð€ð³ðºð±ðµð°ð€ð¶ð³ð³ðŠð¯ð€ðº ð¢ð¯ð¥ ððŠððª ð±ðð¢ðµð§ð°ð³ð®ðŽ ð€ð°ð®ðŠðŽ ðžðªðµð© ðªð¯ð©ðŠð³ðŠð¯ðµ ð³ðªðŽð¬ðŽ ðªð¯ð€ðð¶ð¥ðªð¯ðš ðµðŠð€ð©ð¯ðªð€ð¢ð ð³ðªðŽð¬, ð©ð¶ð®ð¢ð¯ ðŠð³ð³ð°ð³, ð±ðð¢ðµð§ð°ð³ð® ð§ð¢ðªðð¶ð³ðŠ ð¢ð¯ð¥ ð®ð°ð³ðŠ. ððµ ð€ðŠð³ðµð¢ðªð¯ ð±ð°ðªð¯ðµðŽ ðµð©ð³ð°ð¶ðšð©ð°ð¶ðµ ðµð©ðªðŽ ð€ð©ð¢ð¯ð¯ðŠð, ðžðŠ ð®ð¢ðº ðŠð¢ð³ð¯ ð¢ ð€ð°ð®ð®ðªðŽðŽðªð°ð¯ ð°ð³ ð§ðŠðŠ ð¢ðŽ ð¢ ðŽð±ð°ð¯ðŽð°ð³ðŽð©ðªð±, ðªð§ ðµð©ðªðŽ ðªðŽ ðµð©ðŠ ð€ð¢ðŽðŠ ðžðŠ ðžðªðð ð¢ððžð¢ðºðŽ ð®ð¢ð¬ðŠ ðŽð¶ð³ðŠ ðªðµ ðªðŽ ð€ððŠð¢ð³. ððŠ ð¢ð³ðŠ ðŽðµð³ðªð€ðµððº ð¢ð¯ ðŠð¥ð¶ð€ð¢ðµðªð°ð¯ð¢ð ð€ð°ð¯ðµðŠð¯ðµ ð±ðð¢ðµð§ð°ð³ð®, ð¯ð°ðµð©ðªð¯ðš ðžðŠ ð°ð§ð§ðŠð³ ðªðŽ ð§ðªð¯ð¢ð¯ð€ðªð¢ð ð¢ð¥ð·ðªð€ðŠ. ððŠ ð¢ð³ðŠ ð¯ð°ðµ ð±ð³ð°ð§ðŠðŽðŽðªð°ð¯ð¢ððŽ ð°ð³ ððªð€ðŠð¯ðŽðŠð¥ ð¢ð¥ð·ðªðŽð°ð³ðŽ.
DAT mania is over and it reveals the fundamental problems with retail speculation and user-generated markets.
In this episode, we sit down with Haseeb Qureshi from Dragonfly to discuss why the DAT craze died, what actually moves markets now, and why user-generated prediction markets will never work at scale.
We discuss:
- Why DAT Mania Is Officially Over
- The Death of Strong TGE Hype
- Bull Market Fatigue & Retail's Money Problem
- ETF Approvals Won't Save Long-Tail Alts
- Polymarket vs Kalshi: Who Wins Sports Betting?
- Why User-Generated Markets Will Never Work
- Monad & Mega: Launching Into Depression
Timestamps
00:00 Intro
00:37 DAT Mania Status Check
02:29 NAV Compression & Market Reality
06:12 Long-Tail ETF Disappointment
09:50 What Actually Moves Markets Now
13:50 Talus Ad, Relay Ad, Hibachi Ad
14:32 Beyond Meat, AI & Hot Money Flows
16:28 Haseeb's Macro Takeaways
19:35 Gold's Weird Rally vs Bitcoin
21:49 Fed Master Accounts Explained
28:26 Stablecoins & Banking Dynamics
31:02 Strong vs Weak TGE Chart Analysis
38:01 Power Law Distribution in Tokens
40:45 Upcoming TGEs: Monad & Mega
41:31 Alvara Ad, Enso Ad
41:55 NHL Prediction Market Wars
44:49 DraftKings Enters the Game
46:41 User-Generated Market Failure
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The Rollup Disclosures: https://therollup.co/the-rollup-discl
ðððŠððððð ðð¥: ðð¯ð·ðŠðŽðµðªð¯ðš ðªð¯ ð€ð³ðºð±ðµð°ð€ð¶ð³ð³ðŠð¯ð€ðº ð¢ð¯ð¥ ððŠððª ð±ðð¢ðµð§ð°ð³ð®ðŽ ð€ð°ð®ðŠðŽ ðžðªðµð© ðªð¯ð©ðŠð³ðŠð¯ðµ ð³ðªðŽð¬ðŽ ðªð¯ð€ðð¶ð¥ðªð¯ðš ðµðŠð€ð©ð¯ðªð€ð¢ð ð³ðªðŽð¬, ð©ð¶ð®ð¢ð¯ ðŠð³ð³ð°ð³, ð±ðð¢ðµð§ð°ð³ð® ð§ð¢ðªðð¶ð³ðŠ ð¢ð¯ð¥ ð®ð°ð³ðŠ. ððµ ð€ðŠð³ðµð¢ðªð¯ ð±ð°ðªð¯ðµðŽ ðµð©ð³ð°ð¶ðšð©ð°ð¶ðµ ðµð©ðªðŽ ð€ð©ð¢ð¯ð¯ðŠð, ðžðŠ ð®ð¢ðº ðŠð¢ð³ð¯ ð¢ ð€ð°ð®ð®ðªðŽðŽðªð°ð¯ ð°ð³ ð§ðŠðŠ ð¢ðŽ ð¢ ðŽð±ð°ð¯ðŽð°ð³ðŽð©ðªð±, ðªð§ ðµð©ðªðŽ ðªðŽ ðµð©ðŠ ð€ð¢ðŽðŠ ðžðŠ ðžðªðð ð¢ððžð¢ðºðŽ ð®ð¢ð¬ðŠ ðŽð¶ð³ðŠ ðªðµ ðªðŽ ð€ððŠð¢ð³. ððŠ ð¢ð³ðŠ ðŽðµð³ðªð€ðµððº ð¢ð¯ ðŠð¥ð¶ð€ð¢ðµðªð°ð¯ð¢ð ð€ð°ð¯ðµðŠð¯ðµ ð±ðð¢ðµð§ð°ð³ð®, ð¯ð°ðµð©ðªð¯ðš ðžðŠ ð°ð§ð§ðŠð³ ðªðŽ ð§ðªð¯ð¢ð¯ð€ðªð¢ð ð¢ð¥ð·ðªð€ðŠ. ððŠ ð¢ð³ðŠ ð¯ð°ðµ ð±ð³ð°ð§ðŠðŽðŽðªð°ð¯ð¢ððŽ ð°ð³ ððªð€ðŠð¯ðŽðŠð¥ ð¢ð¥ð·ðªðŽð°ð³ðŽ.
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Frax: https://frax.com
Polygon: https://polygon.technology
Talus: https://testnet.talus.network/testnet
Relay: https://linktr.ee/relayprotocol
Join The Rollup Family:
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The Rollup Disclosures: https://therollup.co/the-rollup-discl
ðððŠððððð ðð¥: ðð¯ð·ðŠðŽðµðªð¯ðš ðªð¯ ð€ð³ðºð±ðµð°ð€ð¶ð³ð³ðŠð¯ð€ðº ð¢ð¯ð¥ ððŠððª ð±ðð¢ðµð§ð°ð³ð®ðŽ ð€ð°ð®ðŠðŽ ðžðªðµð© ðªð¯ð©ðŠð³ðŠð¯ðµ ð³ðªðŽð¬ðŽ ðªð¯ð€ðð¶ð¥ðªð¯ðš ðµðŠð€ð©ð¯ðªð€ð¢ð ð³ðªðŽð¬, ð©ð¶ð®ð¢ð¯ ðŠð³ð³ð°ð³, ð±ðð¢ðµð§ð°ð³ð® ð§ð¢ðªðð¶ð³ðŠ ð¢ð¯ð¥ ð®ð°ð³ðŠ. ððµ ð€ðŠð³ðµð¢ðªð¯ ð±ð°ðªð¯ðµðŽ ðµð©ð³ð°ð¶ðšð©ð°ð¶ðµ ðµð©ðªðŽ ð€ð©ð¢ð¯ð¯ðŠð, ðžðŠ ð®ð¢ðº ðŠð¢ð³ð¯ ð¢ ð€ð°ð®ð®ðªðŽðŽðªð°ð¯ ð°ð³ ð§ðŠðŠ ð¢ðŽ ð¢ ðŽð±ð°ð¯ðŽð°ð³ðŽð©ðªð±, ðªð§ ðµð©ðªðŽ ðªðŽ ðµð©ðŠ ð€ð¢ðŽðŠ ðžðŠ ðžðªðð ð¢ððžð¢ðºðŽ ð®ð¢ð¬ðŠ ðŽð¶ð³ðŠ ðªðµ ðªðŽ ð€ððŠð¢ð³. ððŠ ð¢ð³ðŠ ðŽðµð³ðªð€ðµððº ð¢ð¯ ðŠð¥ð¶ð€ð¢ðµðªð°ð¯ð¢ð ð€ð°ð¯ðµðŠð¯ðµ ð±ðð¢ðµð§ð°ð³ð®, ð¯ð°ðµð©ðªð¯ðš ðžðŠ ð°ð§ð§ðŠð³ ðªðŽ ð§ðªð¯ð¢ð¯ð€ðªð¢ð ð¢ð¥ð·ðªð€ðŠ. ððŠ ð¢ð³ðŠ ð¯ð°ðµ ð±ð³ð°ð§ðŠðŽðŽðªð°ð¯ð¢ððŽ ð°ð³ ððªð€ðŠð¯ðŽðŠð¥ ð¢ð¥ð·ðªðŽð°ð³ðŽ.
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