Stablecoins have spent years being called either the future of money or a passing trend. What's changed isn't just the hype cycle: it's the regulatory foundation underneath it. The passage of the GENIUS Act, the repeal of SEC guidance SAB 121 on crypto custody, and a visible shift in how banks and financial institutions are engaging with stablecoins have moved this conversation from theoretical to operational. Banks that were quietly watching are now building. Companies that had no public stablecoin strategy 12 months ago are now processing stablecoin transactions in more than 150 countries.

But here's what's worth paying attention to: the version of stablecoins that actually reaches everyday people won't look like what the original crypto community envisioned. No seed phrases. No self-custody. No libertarian utopia. What mass adoption looks like is a Stripe-powered merchant settlement that runs on blockchain rails while the customer sees something that looks exactly like a credit card transaction. As Nik puts it, "the revolution has to become a lot more boring first."

That's not a failure of the original idea. That's how every major technology shift has played out, from radio to the internet. The infrastructure gets built, the guardrails go in, the corporates arrive, and what was once radical becomes routine.

The same pattern is showing up in how banks and FinTech companies are working together. The old model of banks acquiring technology companies and absorbing them in-house has largely failed. What's replacing it is a partnership model: tech-forward institutions like FinWise, Column Bank, and Cross River Bank figuring out how to extend their capabilities without overreaching their charters. The tension between "you're either a bank or a tech company" has given way to something more practical.

That shift in thinking is exactly what Nik built StableCon around. After six years of running This Week in FinTech and hearing repeated calls to launch a conference, the case for yet another general FinTech or crypto event wasn't there. There are more than 250 conferences globally with FinTech in the title. What didn't exist was a conference sitting at the specific intersection of banking, FinTech, and crypto, focused entirely on stablecoins: not asset price speculation, not blockchain theory, but the actual infrastructure of how money moves.

The conference was announced January 17, 2025. It ran May 29 in New York City. That's five months to plan, hire, sell tickets, and pull off an inaugural event in one of the most expensive cities in the world. At the start of May, only 400 tickets had been sold. In the final two weeks, 500 more sold as word spread and people realized they needed to be in the room. Final attendance: more than 1,000.

What the event revealed was as important as the numbers. Attendees were so focused on meeting each other that many skipped the general sessions entirely. That's not a failure: that's what happens when you gather a thousand people who are actually working in the same ecosystem and give them a room for the first time. The feedback confirmed it: StableCon filled a gap that BTC Vegas, Token2049, Permissionless, Money 2020, Consensus, Finovate, and FinTech Nexus weren't filling.

The next StableCon US is expanding to three days, moving to Washington, DC at the Gaylord at National Harbor, and shifting to September to avoid scheduling conflicts. The goal is to bring in policy participants, regulators, law firms, and accounting firms alongside the operators, reflecting where the stablecoin conversation is actually heading.

The current phase of stablecoin adoption has a name: skeuomorphic. Just like early apps made digital wallets look like leather wallets to make them feel familiar, today's stablecoin products largely rebuild what already exists on traditional rails. ACH replaced by stablecoin settlement. Wires replaced by on-chain transfers. The form looks the same; the infrastructure underneath is different.

What comes after that phase is where things get genuinely interesting. Programmable payments with instructions built directly into the transaction. Conditional transfers that can't be replicated on analog rails. On-chain escrow, disputes, and chargebacks managed without customer service departments. Collateral composed from tokenized holdings across multiple asset classes, combined into a single deposit without requiring conversion into dollars first.

That future isn't fully visible yet. As Nik says, "the coolest products that are built with stablecoins are products that we can't envision yet." What is visible is the direction: stablecoin rails becoming infrastructure people use without knowing it's there.

For FinTech founders navigating all of this, Nik closes with one clear piece of advice: don't lose sight of the big picture. It's easy in FinTech to start solving a surface-level problem, discover a deeper infrastructure issue beneath it, and keep drilling down until the original purpose disappears. The work of building better financial products requires holding both: the immediate technical problem and the reason you started solving it in the first place. And, critically, doing it in a way that stays compliant.

Key Highlights

Banks Are Finally Moving

Banks and financial institutions are actually making inroads into working with digital assets and stablecoins. After the event, we've got the passage of the GENIUS Act. I can only see a path moving forward with that, but the revolution has to become a lot more boring first. The revolution's getting co-opted, and in a way, this is a great thing.

500 Tickets in Two Weeks

At the start of May, we had only sold 400 tickets, and then in the last two weeks alone, I think we sold 500 tickets.

The Moment FinTech Became Real

The attempted Visa acquisition of Plaid in early 2020 forced the entire industry to stop and ask a question nobody had seriously considered before: can a tech company actually become a scaled financial institution? When the deal fell apart, the answer became impossible to ignore. That single moment shifted how investors, founders, and banks looked at what was actually being built.

The Deal That Changed Everything

Before 2020, the prevailing belief was that building a scaled financial services company required a bank charter, a fund structure, or a major institutional sponsor. The attempted Visa acquisition of Plaid shattered that assumption. When the deal collapsed and everyone started asking why it mattered, the answer was impossible to ignore: a tech company had quietly built something so valuable that one of the world's largest payment networks was willing to pay billions to own it. That single moment rewired how investors, founders, and banks thought about what was actually possible in fintech.

Stablecoins Must Get Boring

Stable coins, crypto, digital assets, they take off if you actually make them accessible to large institutional owners and corporates and retail investors and mom and pops. But that means that you need to add guardrails, and it's not gonna be like this libertarian Bitcoin vision where you self custody your wallet. It's gonna be a very, very boring mass market vision.

250 Conferences, One Gap

With over 250 FinTech-related conferences already competing for attention globally, launching another general event made no sense. The stablecoin space sat at a unique intersection of banking, FinTech, and crypto with no flagship conference to call its own. That gap was the only reason worth building something new.

When Disaster Became the Highlight

Two high-profile speakers dropped out within 36 hours of the conference. What could have derailed the entire event turned into one of the most talked-about sessions of the day. The unplanned replacement session delivered an hour of raw, unscripted conversation that attendees called the standout moment of StableCon.

A Decade of Groundwork Is Paying Off

JPMorgan has been running on-chain transaction experiments for close to ten years through its Onyx platform. The technology was never the problem; regulatory clarity was the missing piece. Now that the blessing has arrived, an institution at that scale turning on stablecoin settlement becomes one of the most significant signals in the market.

Stripe Flipped in 12 Months

In 2024, Stripe had no meaningful public stablecoin initiatives. By the end of 2025, after acquiring Bridge, Stripe had enabled stablecoin transactions for merchants across roughly 150 countries. That shift from zero presence to global stablecoin infrastructure in under 12 months shows exactly how fast this space can move when a major player commits.

The Advice Every Founder Needs

FinTech founders consistently start by solving one problem, only to discover deeper infrastructure issues underneath it that pull focus further and further from the original goal. The founders who build lasting companies are the ones who stay anchored to the outcome they set out to deliver, even as the technical complexity grows. Keeping the big picture in front of you at every stage of the build is what separates products that matter from ones that get lost...]]>Tedd Huff, CEO of fintech advisory firm Voalyre and founder of Fintech Confidential, sits down with Nik Milanović, Founder and FinTech Enthusiast in Chief of This Week in FinTech, a global community of more than 200,000 members, and the founder of StableCon, the first conference built exclusively around stablecoins and payments. Nik also serves as a General Partner at The FinTech Fund, where he invests in the next generation of FinTech startups.

Stablecoins have spent years being called either the future of money or a passing trend. What's changed isn't just the hype cycle: it's the regulatory foundation underneath it. The passage of the GENIUS Act, the repeal of SEC guidance SAB 121 on crypto custody, and a visible shift in how banks and financial institutions are engaging with stablecoins have moved this conversation from theoretical to operational. Banks that were quietly watching are now building. Companies that had no public stablecoin strategy 12 months ago are now processing stablecoin transactions in more than 150 countries.

But here's what's worth paying attention to: the version of stablecoins that actually reaches everyday people won't look like what the original crypto community envisioned. No seed phrases. No self-custody. No libertarian utopia. What mass adoption looks like is a Stripe-powered merchant settlement that runs on blockchain rails while the customer sees something that looks exactly like a credit card transaction. As Nik puts it, "the revolution has to become a lot more boring first."

That's not a failure of the original idea. That's how every major technology shift has played out, from radio to the internet. The infrastructure gets built, the guardrails go in, the corporates arrive, and what was once radical becomes routine.

The same pattern is showing up in how banks and FinTech companies are working together. The old model of banks acquiring technology companies and absorbing them in-house has largely failed. What's replacing it is a partnership model: tech-forward institutions like FinWise, Column Bank, and Cross River Bank figuring out how to extend their capabilities without overreaching their charters. The tension between "you're either a bank or a tech company" has given way to something more practical.

That shift in thinking is exactly what Nik built StableCon around. After six years of running This Week in FinTech and hearing repeated calls to launch a conference, the case for yet another general FinTech or crypto event wasn't there. There are more than 250 conferences globally with FinTech in the title. What didn't exist was a conference sitting at the specific intersection of banking, FinTech, and crypto, focused entirely on stablecoins: not asset price speculation, not blockchain theory, but the actual infrastructure of how money moves.

The conference was announced January 17, 2025. It ran May 29 in New York City. That's five months to plan, hire, sell tickets, and pull off an inaugural event in one of the most expensive cities in the world. At the start of May, only 400 tickets had been sold. In the final two weeks, 500 more sold as word spread and people realized they needed to be in the room. Final attendance: more than 1,000.

What the event revealed was as important as the numbers. Attendees were so focused on meeting each other that many skipped the general sessions entirely. That's not a failure: that's what happens when you gather a thousand people who are actually working in the same ecosystem and give them a room for the first time. The feedback confirmed it: StableCon filled a gap that BTC Vegas, Token2049, Permissionless, Money 2020, Consensus, Finovate, and FinTech Nexus weren't filling.

The next StableCon US is expanding to three days, moving to Washington, DC at the Gaylord at National Harbor, and shifting to September to avoid scheduling conflicts. The goal is to bring in policy participants, regulators, law firms, and accounting firms alongside the operators, reflecting where the stablecoin conversation is actually heading.

The current phase of stablecoin adoption has a name: skeuomorphic. Just like early apps made digital wallets look like leather wallets to make them feel familiar, today's stablecoin products largely rebuild what already exists on traditional rails. ACH replaced by stablecoin settlement. Wires replaced by on-chain transfers. The form looks the same; the infrastructure underneath is different.

What comes after that phase is where things get genuinely interesting. Programmable payments with instructions built directly into the transaction. Conditional transfers that can't be replicated on analog rails. On-chain escrow, disputes, and chargebacks managed without customer service departments. Collateral composed from tokenized holdings across multiple asset classes, combined into a single deposit without requiring conversion into dollars first.

That future isn't fully visible yet. As Nik says, "the coolest products that are built with stablecoins are products that we can't envision yet." What is visible is the direction: stablecoin rails becoming infrastructure people use without knowing it's there.

For FinTech founders navigating all of this, Nik closes with one clear piece of advice: don't lose sight of the big picture. It's easy in FinTech to start solving a surface-level problem, discover a deeper infrastructure issue beneath it, and keep drilling down until the original purpose disappears. The work of building better financial products requires holding both: the immediate technical problem and the reason you started solving it in the first place. And, critically, doing it in a way that stays compliant.

Key Highlights

Banks Are Finally Moving

Banks and financial institutions are actually making inroads into working with digital assets and stablecoins. After the event, we've got the passage of the GENIUS Act. I can only see a path moving forward with that, but the revolution has to become a lot more boring first. The revolution's getting co-opted, and in a way, this is a great thing.

500 Tickets in Two Weeks

At the start of May, we had only sold 400 tickets, and then in the last two weeks alone, I think we sold 500 tickets.

The Moment FinTech Became Real

The attempted Visa acquisition of Plaid in early 2020 forced the entire industry to stop and ask a question nobody had seriously considered before: can a tech company actually become a scaled financial institution? When the deal fell apart, the answer became impossible to ignore. That single moment shifted how investors, founders, and banks looked at what was actually being built.

The Deal That Changed Everything

Before 2020, the prevailing belief was that building a scaled financial services company required a bank charter, a fund structure, or a major institutional sponsor. The attempted Visa acquisition of Plaid shattered that assumption. When the deal collapsed and everyone started asking why it mattered, the answer was impossible to ignore: a tech company had quietly built something so valuable that one of the world's largest payment networks was willing to pay billions to own it. That single moment rewired how investors, founders, and banks thought about what was actually possible in fintech.

Stablecoins Must Get Boring

Stable coins, crypto, digital assets, they take off if you actually make them accessible to large institutional owners and corporates and retail investors and mom and pops. But that means that you need to add guardrails, and it's not gonna be like this libertarian Bitcoin vision where you self custody your wallet. It's gonna be a very, very boring mass market vision.

250 Conferences, One Gap

With over 250 FinTech-related conferences already competing for attention globally, launching another general event made no sense. The stablecoin space sat at a unique intersection of banking, FinTech, and crypto with no flagship conference to call its own. That gap was the only reason worth building something new.

When Disaster Became the Highlight

Two high-profile speakers dropped out within 36 hours of the conference. What could have derailed the entire event turned into one of the most talked-about sessions of the day. The unplanned replacement session delivered an hour of raw, unscripted conversation that attendees called the standout moment of StableCon.

A Decade of Groundwork Is Paying Off

JPMorgan has been running on-chain transaction experiments for close to ten years through its Onyx platform. The technology was never the problem; regulatory clarity was the missing piece. Now that the blessing has arrived, an institution at that scale turning on stablecoin settlement becomes one of the most significant signals in the market.

Stripe Flipped in 12 Months

In 2024, Stripe had no meaningful public stablecoin initiatives. By the end of 2025, after acquiring Bridge, Stripe had enabled stablecoin transactions for merchants across roughly 150 countries. That shift from zero presence to global stablecoin infrastructure in under 12 months shows exactly how fast this space can move when a major player commits.

The Advice Every Founder Needs

FinTech founders consistently start by solving one problem, only to discover deeper infrastructure issues underneath it that pull focus further and further from the original goal. The founders who build lasting companies are the ones who stay anchored to the outcome they set out to deliver, even as the technical complexity grows. Keeping the big picture in front of you at every stage of the build is what separates products that matter from ones that get lost in the stack.

Five Key Takeaways

1️⃣ Stop Waiting for Perfect Regulations

The GENIUS Act passed. SAB 121 is repealed. The regulatory foundation is in place right now. If you are a bank, a FinTech, or a founder still sitting on the sidelines waiting for clarity, you are already behind. Start building to the framework that exists today.

2️⃣ Check Your Conference Strategy

There are over 250 FinTech conferences globally. If you are sponsoring, speaking, or attending events that put you in a room with everyone instead of the right people, you are wasting budget. Find the events built around your exact niche and show up there instead.

3️⃣ Watch the Card Programs

Eight stablecoin-linked card programs launched or announced in a single year. Cards are the first product step before broader stablecoin adoption follows. If you want to know where the real traction is happening right now, track who is launching card programs tied to stablecoins.

4️⃣ Build Partnerships, Not Ownership

Banks that tried to buy and absorb tech companies watched those investments fail. If you are a bank or a FinTech looking to grow, find a partner who complements what you already do instead of trying to own and control the entire stack.

5️⃣ Ladder Back to Your Why

Before you ship your next feature or chase the next infrastructure problem, ask yourself if it connects back to the original value you set out to deliver. If you cannot draw a straight line from what you are building to a better outcome for your customer, stop and reorient.

TLDR

Tedd Huff, CEO of fintech advisory firm Voalyre and founder of Fintech Confidential, sits down with Nik Milanović, founder of This Week in FinTech and StableCon, to break down exactly what this regulatory shift means for banks, FinTech founders, and anyone building in the stablecoin payments space right now.

They cover why stablecoin adoption depends on becoming invisible infrastructure, how the current phase of stablecoin products is rebuilding existing rails before unlocking truly new capabilities, and what the surge of stablecoin-linked card programs signals about where the market is heading. Nik also pulls back the curtain on launching a thousand-person conference in five months, what the attendee behavior revealed about the state of the industry, and the one piece of advice every FinTech founder needs to hear before their next build.

Links & Resources

Guest

Nik Milanović

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

This Week in FinTech LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/this-week-in-fintech/

This Week in FinTech Website: https://www.thisweekinfintech.com/

StableCon Website: https://stablecon.com/

Host

Tedd Huff

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/teddhuff/

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 provider offering API-first, multi-chain digital asset infrastructure with security, compliance, key orchestration, and blockchain integration for fintech platforms and custodians - fintechconfidential.com/dfns

Skyflow - Zero trust data privacy vault delivered as an API; collect, secure, and tokenize personal information like card data and payment details with built-in PCI, CCPA, GDPR, and SOC 2 compliance - skyflowsecure.com

Hawk AI - Real-time payment screening, ML transaction monitoring, and dynamic customer risk rating tools designed to fight fraud and financial crime while reducing false positives - gethawkai.com

Timestamped Chapters

00:00 Episode Highlights

01:36 Welcome to Fintech Confidential

01:44 Dfns: Wallets as a Service

03:05 Meet Nik Milanović

08:44 Nobody Was Calling It FinTech

10:21 The Deal That Changed Everything

13:10 Banks and Tech Stopped Competing

16:02 Digital Assets Finally Come In From Cold

18:15 How Crypto Gets Mainstreamed

22:46 Why StableCon Had to Exist

25:20 Stablecoins Replace the Fax Machine

26:47 Five Months to Launch a Conference

28:04 The Moment We Knew It Worked

28:34 Skyflow: Data Privacy Vault

29:34 Nobody Went to the Sessions

31:39 NYC Logistics and What Comes Next

34:12 Speakers Dropped and Nobody Noticed

35:27 How Leaders Really View Stablecoins

37:51 Stripe Shopify AWS Walmart All In

39:46 Why Stablecoins Still Look Like ACH

45:11 Programmability Changes Everything About Money

46:59 Stablecoins Go Mainstream and Feel Boring

51:59 The One Thing Every Founder Needs

54:43 Wrap Up and Subscribe

56:45 Hawk AI: Fighting Fraud and Financial Crime

57:31 Disclaimer

About

Guest Bio

Nik Milanović is the Founder and FinTech Enthusiast in Chief of This Week in FinTech, the largest global fintech community with more than 234,000 subscribers across six continents. He started the newsletter in 2019 as an internal team email at Petal and grew it into one of the most widely read fintech publications in the world. He is also the General Partner at The Fintech Fund, an early-stage venture fund focused on underserved fintech verticals globally, and the founder of StableCon, the first conference built exclusively around stablecoins and payments, which drew more than 1,000 industry leaders to New York City in its inaugural year. Before building This Week in FinTech, Nik was the first U.S. employee at Funding Circle, led Business Development and Strategy at Google Pay and Google Finance, and held a strategy role at Petal. He studied at Stanford University and has spent more than 15 years working at the intersection of fintech, payments, and financial inclusion.

Host Bio

Tedd Huff is CEO of Voalyre, a fintech advisory firm, and founder of Fintech Confidential. Over the past 25+ 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. His expertise focuses on growth while delivering process improvements and user experience-driven value to simplify the complexity of payments. As host and executive producer of Fintech Confidential, Tedd brings entertaining and informative content focused on fintech industry insights, market trends, and stories from fintech leaders, thinkers, and doers. He is a recognized thought leader and U.S. Army veteran known for making complex financial technology approachable and engaging through his conversational storytelling style and deep understanding of global payments, cross-border transactions, and payment localization.

DD3 Media

DD3 Media is a media creation, management, and production company delivering engaging content globally. The company produces Fintech Confidential and other shows focused on the people, tech, and companies changing how money moves.

The BaaS space has had its share of high-profile failures. Consent orders, compliance breakdowns, and program manager implosions have made headlines for all the wrong reasons. Core Bank took a different approach. They spent time reading every consent order before writing a single line of code. They went to their regulators, both the FDIC and the state, before building anything. They presented their strategic plan, invited regulators back multiple times outside of formal exams, and built a reputation for transparency before they ever onboarded a single fintech client.

"We are not the biggest name in BaaS," Lindsay admits. "Yet, we certainly aim to be a well-known, respected name, but for the right reasons."

That mindset shaped everything about how CoreX, their BaaS brand, was built. They did not try to bolt new capabilities onto an existing tech stack with bubblegum and duct tape. When their initial technology partner did not work out, they stopped, went back to the board, and interviewed over ten vendors before selecting Core Bank as their Side core and Oscilar for transaction monitoring. They later added Cobalt Labs for AI-driven compliance workflows. Each decision was made with long-term strategic alignment in mind, not speed to market.

The compliance model at CoreX offers two paths. Fintechs can choose managed compliance, where the bank handles transaction monitoring, KYB, and KYC. Or they can run customized compliance if they have the internal muscle to own those functions themselves. Either way, the expectation is the same: compliance is not a phase, it is a constant. Lindsay puts it simply: "Compliance first. I should probably consider removing it because it's compliance always."

What makes CoreX different from other sponsor banks is the focus on who they want to serve. Their ideal customer profile centers on fintechs that support small businesses, particularly vertical SaaS platforms in industries Core Bank already understands. Construction, real estate, property management, unions, aviation, medical, and hospitality are all sectors where the bank already has deep expertise on the traditional side of the house. That knowledge transfers directly into how they evaluate fintech partnerships.

The "dinner test" came up more than once. If you would not want to sit down for a meal with a potential partner, you should not get into a contract with them. When things go wrong, and they will, the quality of the relationship determines whether both sides can work through it or walk away bitter.

For fintechs considering a community bank partnership, the advice is direct. Know what matters to you before you start talking to banks. Do not compromise on compliance or risk management just because someone promises speed or a lower price. And if a bank says they can have you live in three months and profitable in twelve, something is off. Building this correctly takes time.

For community banks thinking about entering BaaS, the message is just as clear. Do not dabble. This is not a side-of-desk project. It requires dedicated people, a separate tech stack, a documented risk appetite, and full alignment from the board down. If your executive team is not excited about it, you will not have the patience to do it right.

"It's not for the faint of heart," Lindsay says. "But it is really a great avenue for community banks to thrive."

Core Bank is now expanding into embedded lending, aiming to become a full-service partner for fintechs focused on serving the SMB market. They are hiring, growing their team, and preparing for what comes next in a regulatory environment that continues to shift.

The episode covers how to build a BaaS program that lasts, how to evaluate tech stack partners, how to structure compliance models, and what separates the banks that survive from the ones that make headlines for the wrong reasons. If you are a fintech founder looking for a sponsor bank, or a community bank executive weighing whether to enter this space, this conversation offers a grounded, practical look at what it actually takes.

Key Highlights

Silicon Prairie Is Real

Omaha, Nebraska has earned the nickname Silicon Prairie for a reason. Community banks in the Midwest are building serious fintech infrastructure without the spotlight of coastal tech hubs. The talent is there, the regulatory relationships are strong, and the results speak for themselves.

Bank Within A Bank

Building a BaaS platform means constructing an entirely separate operation inside your existing institution. Different people, different tech stack, different risk frameworks, different regulatory considerations. Most banks underestimate this scope until they are already in it.

BaaS In A Box Fails

Anyone promising to have you up and running in three months is selling a shortcut that will cost you later. If you are profitable in twelve months, something was built wrong. Speed to market is not the same as sustainability.

Read Every Consent Order

Before writing any code or signing any contracts, study what went wrong at other banks. Build a gap analysis. Make sure there is not a single stone you have not turned over. The failures in this space are public record for a reason.

Regulators Want Transparency First

Going to the FDIC and state regulators before building anything changed the entire trajectory. Presenting the strategic plan, inviting them back outside of exams, and maintaining open communication built trust that pays off when questions arise later.

Profitable Fast Means Problems

If someone tells you profitability comes quickly in BaaS, walk away. This is a long game that requires patience, investment, and a board that understands the timeline. Rushing leads to the same mistakes that made headlines.

Your Legacy Vendor Is Lying

When existing technology partners say they can handle BaaS requirements, verify it. Many banks learned the hard way that bubblegum and duct tape on old systems does not scale. Interview ten vendors if you have to.

Skills Do Not Transfer Automatically

The people who excel in traditional community banking may not thrive on the partner bank side. The mindset is different, the pace is different, and the technical demands are different. Evaluate talent honestly before assuming they can make the shift.

Know Your Why Before Starting

Core Bank got into BaaS to grow deposits. That clarity shaped every decision about which fintechs to partner with, which verticals to serve, and which opportunities to decline. Without a clear why, every shiny opportunity looks like the right one.

Fed Skinny Charters Loom Large

The rush to new charters and Fed master accounts is noise that could reshape the entire BaaS model. No one fully understands the impact yet, but smart banks are watching closely and preparing to pivot if the landscape shifts.

Five Key Takeaways

1️⃣ First Call Energy Tells All

If you leave a 30-minute intro call feeling drained, that is your answer. Walk away. The right partnerships should energize both sides from the first conversation.

2️⃣ Stop Overcomplicating BaaS

It is still banking. The same principles apply: risk management, customer experience, and caring about the businesses you serve. Remove the mysticism and treat it like what it is.

3️⃣ Competitors Will Help You

Banks in this space are surprisingly collaborative. They share what works and what does not because everyone benefits when the industry does it correctly. Reach out and learn from them.

4️⃣ Assess Cultural Readiness First

Before committing resources, evaluate whether your organization has the mindset to operate a partner bank. Naysayers and internal resistance will slow you down if leadership is not fully aligned.

5️⃣ Community Banks Offer Leadership Access

Fintechs get direct access to executive decision-makers at community banks. That level of high-touch partnership is harder to find at larger institutions. Do not assume smaller means less capable.

TLDR

Banking as a service does not require billions in assets or a top-five bank playbook. Tedd Huff and Stephen Bishop sit down with Lindsay Borgeson, President of Partner Banking at Core Bank, to break down how a community bank in Nebraska built a full BaaS platform from scratch. The focus is on what actually works: reading every consent order before writing code, going to regulators before building anything, and choosing tech partners based on long-term alignment instead of sales pitches. The compliance model offers two paths, managed or customized, but the expectation stays the same either way. Fintechs serving small businesses through vertical SaaS get priority. The dinner test matters more than most banks admit. Speed and price should never outweigh quality. And if someone promises profitability in twelve months, something is wrong. This is the practical breakdown for fintech founders and community bank executives who want to enter sponsor banking the right]]>Banking as a service, community banks, and fintech partnerships are changing how small businesses access financial products. Tedd Huff, CEO of fintech advisory firm Voalyre and founder of Fintech Confidential, along with Stephen Bishop of amBaaSsador and Fintech Confidential, Confidential Informant, sits down with Lindsay Borgeson, President of Partner Banking at Core Bank, to unpack how a community bank in Omaha, Nebraska built a full BaaS platform from scratch without a top-five bank playbook to follow.

The BaaS space has had its share of high-profile failures. Consent orders, compliance breakdowns, and program manager implosions have made headlines for all the wrong reasons. Core Bank took a different approach. They spent time reading every consent order before writing a single line of code. They went to their regulators, both the FDIC and the state, before building anything. They presented their strategic plan, invited regulators back multiple times outside of formal exams, and built a reputation for transparency before they ever onboarded a single fintech client.

"We are not the biggest name in BaaS," Lindsay admits. "Yet, we certainly aim to be a well-known, respected name, but for the right reasons."

That mindset shaped everything about how CoreX, their BaaS brand, was built. They did not try to bolt new capabilities onto an existing tech stack with bubblegum and duct tape. When their initial technology partner did not work out, they stopped, went back to the board, and interviewed over ten vendors before selecting Core Bank as their Side core and Oscilar for transaction monitoring. They later added Cobalt Labs for AI-driven compliance workflows. Each decision was made with long-term strategic alignment in mind, not speed to market.

The compliance model at CoreX offers two paths. Fintechs can choose managed compliance, where the bank handles transaction monitoring, KYB, and KYC. Or they can run customized compliance if they have the internal muscle to own those functions themselves. Either way, the expectation is the same: compliance is not a phase, it is a constant. Lindsay puts it simply: "Compliance first. I should probably consider removing it because it's compliance always."

What makes CoreX different from other sponsor banks is the focus on who they want to serve. Their ideal customer profile centers on fintechs that support small businesses, particularly vertical SaaS platforms in industries Core Bank already understands. Construction, real estate, property management, unions, aviation, medical, and hospitality are all sectors where the bank already has deep expertise on the traditional side of the house. That knowledge transfers directly into how they evaluate fintech partnerships.

The "dinner test" came up more than once. If you would not want to sit down for a meal with a potential partner, you should not get into a contract with them. When things go wrong, and they will, the quality of the relationship determines whether both sides can work through it or walk away bitter.

For fintechs considering a community bank partnership, the advice is direct. Know what matters to you before you start talking to banks. Do not compromise on compliance or risk management just because someone promises speed or a lower price. And if a bank says they can have you live in three months and profitable in twelve, something is off. Building this correctly takes time.

For community banks thinking about entering BaaS, the message is just as clear. Do not dabble. This is not a side-of-desk project. It requires dedicated people, a separate tech stack, a documented risk appetite, and full alignment from the board down. If your executive team is not excited about it, you will not have the patience to do it right.

"It's not for the faint of heart," Lindsay says. "But it is really a great avenue for community banks to thrive."

Core Bank is now expanding into embedded lending, aiming to become a full-service partner for fintechs focused on serving the SMB market. They are hiring, growing their team, and preparing for what comes next in a regulatory environment that continues to shift.

The episode covers how to build a BaaS program that lasts, how to evaluate tech stack partners, how to structure compliance models, and what separates the banks that survive from the ones that make headlines for the wrong reasons. If you are a fintech founder looking for a sponsor bank, or a community bank executive weighing whether to enter this space, this conversation offers a grounded, practical look at what it actually takes.

Key Highlights

Silicon Prairie Is Real

Omaha, Nebraska has earned the nickname Silicon Prairie for a reason. Community banks in the Midwest are building serious fintech infrastructure without the spotlight of coastal tech hubs. The talent is there, the regulatory relationships are strong, and the results speak for themselves.

Bank Within A Bank

Building a BaaS platform means constructing an entirely separate operation inside your existing institution. Different people, different tech stack, different risk frameworks, different regulatory considerations. Most banks underestimate this scope until they are already in it.

BaaS In A Box Fails

Anyone promising to have you up and running in three months is selling a shortcut that will cost you later. If you are profitable in twelve months, something was built wrong. Speed to market is not the same as sustainability.

Read Every Consent Order

Before writing any code or signing any contracts, study what went wrong at other banks. Build a gap analysis. Make sure there is not a single stone you have not turned over. The failures in this space are public record for a reason.

Regulators Want Transparency First

Going to the FDIC and state regulators before building anything changed the entire trajectory. Presenting the strategic plan, inviting them back outside of exams, and maintaining open communication built trust that pays off when questions arise later.

Profitable Fast Means Problems

If someone tells you profitability comes quickly in BaaS, walk away. This is a long game that requires patience, investment, and a board that understands the timeline. Rushing leads to the same mistakes that made headlines.

Your Legacy Vendor Is Lying

When existing technology partners say they can handle BaaS requirements, verify it. Many banks learned the hard way that bubblegum and duct tape on old systems does not scale. Interview ten vendors if you have to.

Skills Do Not Transfer Automatically

The people who excel in traditional community banking may not thrive on the partner bank side. The mindset is different, the pace is different, and the technical demands are different. Evaluate talent honestly before assuming they can make the shift.

Know Your Why Before Starting

Core Bank got into BaaS to grow deposits. That clarity shaped every decision about which fintechs to partner with, which verticals to serve, and which opportunities to decline. Without a clear why, every shiny opportunity looks like the right one.

Fed Skinny Charters Loom Large

The rush to new charters and Fed master accounts is noise that could reshape the entire BaaS model. No one fully understands the impact yet, but smart banks are watching closely and preparing to pivot if the landscape shifts.

Five Key Takeaways

1️⃣ First Call Energy Tells All

If you leave a 30-minute intro call feeling drained, that is your answer. Walk away. The right partnerships should energize both sides from the first conversation.

2️⃣ Stop Overcomplicating BaaS

It is still banking. The same principles apply: risk management, customer experience, and caring about the businesses you serve. Remove the mysticism and treat it like what it is.

3️⃣ Competitors Will Help You

Banks in this space are surprisingly collaborative. They share what works and what does not because everyone benefits when the industry does it correctly. Reach out and learn from them.

4️⃣ Assess Cultural Readiness First

Before committing resources, evaluate whether your organization has the mindset to operate a partner bank. Naysayers and internal resistance will slow you down if leadership is not fully aligned.

5️⃣ Community Banks Offer Leadership Access

Fintechs get direct access to executive decision-makers at community banks. That level of high-touch partnership is harder to find at larger institutions. Do not assume smaller means less capable.

TLDR

Banking as a service does not require billions in assets or a top-five bank playbook. Tedd Huff and Stephen Bishop sit down with Lindsay Borgeson, President of Partner Banking at Core Bank, to break down how a community bank in Nebraska built a full BaaS platform from scratch. The focus is on what actually works: reading every consent order before writing code, going to regulators before building anything, and choosing tech partners based on long-term alignment instead of sales pitches. The compliance model offers two paths, managed or customized, but the expectation stays the same either way. Fintechs serving small businesses through vertical SaaS get priority. The dinner test matters more than most banks admit. Speed and price should never outweigh quality. And if someone promises profitability in twelve months, something is wrong. This is the practical breakdown for fintech founders and community bank executives who want to enter sponsor banking the right way.

Links & Resources

Guest

Lindsay Borgeson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindsay-lee-borgeson-162a4972/

Core Bank: https://corebank.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/core-bank

Co-Host

Stephen Bishop: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephenbishop1/

amBaaSsador: https://ambaassador.com

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bankingambaassador

Host

Tedd Huff: https://www.linkedin.com/in/teddhuff/

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

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

Under io - Streamline your application and underwriting process by digitizing PDFs for digital signature - under.io/ftc

Skyflow - Zero trust data privacy vault delivered as an API; collect, secure, and tokenize personal information like card data and payment details with built-in PCI, CCPA, GDPR, and SOC 2 compliance - skyflowsecure.com

Hawk AI - Real-time payment screening, ML transaction monitoring, and dynamic customer risk rating tools designed to fight fraud and financial crime while reducing false positives - gethawkai.com

Timestamped Chapters

00:00 Episode Highlights

01:22 Under.io: AI-Powered Onboarding & Risk Verification (Sponsor)

01:52 Meet Lindsay Borgs: A FinTech Leader

03:17 Building Corex: The Journey Begins

06:28 Challenges and Lessons Learned

08:44 Strategic Partnerships and AI Integration

11:18 Compliance and Risk Management

13:07 Success Stories and Ideal Customer Profiles

14:29 Sky Flow: Building Fast and Secure (sponsor)

21:31 Navigating Regulatory Landscapes

28:36 Future of Core Bank and Corex

30:10 Closing Thoughts and Advice

33:32 Hawk.ai: AI-Driven Financial Crime Detection (Sponsor)

34:18 Disclaimer

About

GUEST

Lindsay Borgeson is President of Partner Banking at Core Bank, where she leads the CoreX banking-as-a-service platform. She has been at Core Bank for 14 years, starting as a branch manager and working her way up through Vice President of Retail Banking, Chief Deposit Officer, and now President of Partner Banking. Lindsay was recognized as a Top Contributor by Alloy Labs and has been instrumental in building CoreX from the ground up, including developing strategic partnerships with Increased Technologies, Osler, and Cobalt Labs. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from Bellevue University.

Core Bank is a full-service community bank headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, with six Midwest locations across the Omaha and Kansas City metros. The bank aspires to be a truly remarkable company that just happens to be a bank, delivering personal, business, real estate, healthcare banking, and wealth services. Through CoreX, their banking-as-a-service brand, Core Bank offers white-labeled solutions for deposits, money movement, and card issuance to fintech partners serving small businesses and vertical SaaS platforms.

CO-HOST

Confidential Informant Stephen Bishop Stephen “Steve” Bishop is the President of amBaaSsador, an education and advisory platform focused on embedded finance and Banking-as-a-Service for both financial institutions and service providers. He previously led strategic growth and new initiatives at OMB Bank as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Innovation Officer, where he also helped create and build OMBX, the bank’s embedded finance brand. His background includes senior roles at Jack Henry & Associates, Citi, and AT&T, and he holds graduate degrees in operations, finance, strategy, and information management from Washington University in St. Louis.

amBaaSsador is a strategic advisory and ecosystem platform dedicated to helping banks, fintechs, and service providers succeed in embedded finance and Banking-as-a-Service. The firm focuses on clear education, practical strategy, and curated connections, giving clients a neutral place to understand market shifts and choose a path that fits their goals. Its work spans consulting, community programs, training, events, and research, all designed to turn complex BaaS questions into practical, workable plans.

HOST

Tedd Huff is a long-time fintech leader with more than 25 years of experience across payments, banking, and software. He is the Founder and CEO of Voalyre and the creator of Fintech Confidential, a network of shows and newsletters focused on how money and payments really work. Over his career he has served as a founder, board member, and executive for multiple startups and has provided strategic direction to organizations such as Global Payments, OpenEdge, Heartland Payment Systems, Nuvei, and TSYS. His work centers on growth, clear strategy, and user experience, and has included collaborations with companies like Apple, Google, Amazon, Walmart, Cabela’s, and Restoration Hardware.

Voalyre is a global fintech enablement firm that helps payments and financial technology companies grow with a mix of advisory services and hands-on execution. The firm works with banks, processors, and fintechs on issues such as go-to-market strategy, product and experience design, partner programs, and operational readiness. By combining deep industry experience with practical support, Voalyre helps clients reduce friction in their payments stack and move faster from idea to measurable results.

DD3 Media

Diamond D3 Media is a multimedia and marketing agency founded by Tedd Huff that specializes in content creation and production for the fintech and payments industry. As the production company behind Fintech Confidential, DD3 Media produces podcasts, live streams, video content, and onsite interview events that deliver engaging, educational content to global audiences. The company focuses on creating professional-grade media that simplifies complex financial technology topics through storytelling and expert interviews, helping fintech companies and financial institutions build thought leadership and connect with their audiences across YouTube, podcast platforms, and social media.

The numbers tell a story that's hard to ignore. By the end of October 2025, stablecoin transaction volumes hit somewhere between $46 trillion and $50 trillion. BVNK alone processes about $20 billion in total volume, with the Americas business making up roughly a third of that amount. This isn't about speculative crypto trading anymore. The conversation has shifted to real payment infrastructure that moves money across borders 24/7 without the friction that's plagued traditional rails for decades.

Stablecoins offer instant settlement around the clock, transparency that traditional banking can't match, and costs that make high-ticket cross-border transactions actually viable. Banks and payment companies are moving from pilot programs to actual implementation.

Payouts have gained more traction early on because companies prefer to test the waters by pushing payments out rather than accepting them in. The gig economy has become a major beneficiary. Companies can now pay workers anywhere in the world without routing through legacy banking systems that charge hefty fees and take days to settle.

The compliance conversation gets interesting when you compare on-chain monitoring to traditional banking. With blockchain-based payments, every transaction leaves a permanent record. You can see where funds originated, every wallet they touched along the way, and where they end up.

Visa and MasterCard have been testing stablecoin settlements for their issuers and acquirers, primarily in European markets where regulatory clarity arrived sooner. For companies doing high volumes of original credit transactions on weekends, the ability to pre-fund with stablecoins eliminates the need for expensive lines of credit.

One surprise in the market comes from the reverse flow. Manufacturers in Latin America want to pay their US suppliers using stablecoins. BVNK converts those stablecoin payments to dollars and pays out through traditional rails.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

1️⃣ Train compliance teams on blockchain monitoring tools before piloting stablecoin payments because BSA-AML frameworks work differently on-chain.

2️⃣ Calculate what you spend on lines of credit just to pre-fund weekend settlement accounts and compare that against stablecoin settlement costs.

3️⃣ Set up ongoing monitoring using tools that track transactions after they exit your custody to catch compliance issues before they become problems.

4️⃣ Build infrastructure to accept payments from unexpected directions like Latin America to US and convert to traditional rails on the receiving end.

5️⃣ Use smart contracts to handle escrow requirements in lending situations instead of relying on intermediaries.

LINKS

Guest

Keith VanderLeast

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

BVNK Profile: https://bvnk.com/about-us

Company

BVNK

Website: https://bvnk.com/

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

Host

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 - Wallets as a service offering API-first, multi-chain infrastructure with security, compliance, and blockchain integration for fintech platforms - https://fintechconfidential.com/dfns

Sky Flow - Zero trust data privacy vault for collecting, securing, and tokenizing personal information with PCI, CCPA, GDPR, and SOC 2 compliance - https://skyflowsecure.com

Hawk AI - Real-time payment screening, AML transaction monitoring, and dynamic customer risk rating tools for fighting fraud and financial crime - https://gethawkai.com

ABOUT

Keith VanderLeast is General Manager of Americas at BVNK, leading strategy and customer success across the U.S. market for stablecoin-powered payment solutions. With over 20 years in payment infrastructure across Western Union, First Data, American Express, and Cross River Bank, Keith specializes in instant payments, compliance, and helping traditional institutions bridge fiat and blockchain-based payment systems.

BVNK is a London-based stablecoin infrastructure platform founded in 2021 that provides enterprise-grade payment services bridging traditional banking and blockchain networks. With over 25 regulatory licenses and processing over $30 billion in annualized payment volume, BVNK offers managed and self-managed payment solutions supporting SWIFT, ACH, SEPA, and major blockchains for fintechs, payment providers, and financial institutions.

Tedd Huff is CEO of fintech advisory firm Voalyre and host of Fintech Confidential. Fintech Confidential delivers insights, trends, and stories from fintech leaders.

Diamond D3 Media is a multimedia agency founded by Tedd Huff specializing in content creation and production for the fintech industry, producing podcasts, live streams, and video content that simplify complex financial technology topics.

CHAPTERS

00:00 Episode Highlights

01:08 Dfns: Wallets as a Service (sponsor)

02:29 Interview with Keith: FinTech Journey

04:41 Cross-Border Payments and Stable Coins

09:23 Stable Coins in the Gig Economy

10:40 Managed vs. Self-Managed Solutions

13:41 Sky Flow: Building Fast and Secure (sponsor)

21:21 Future of Stable Coins and Tokenized Deposits

23:43 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

24:19 Hawk AI (sponsor)

Legacy banking systems force business owners to wait days or weeks for funds from completed sales, creating cash flow crises that lead 82% of small businesses to struggle with basic operations. Modern fintech companies are solving this through real-time access to earned revenue, flexible payment infrastructure, and strategic partnerships that eliminate artificial delays built into outdated financial systems.

This episode of Fintech Confidential, recorded live from the Money Pot at Money 2020 in Las Vegas, breaks down how small businesses can access working capital faster, why traditional lending models fail Main Street America, and what partnerships between fintech innovators actually look like when building compliant, scalable solutions.

TAKEAWAYS

1️⃣ Pick partners, not vendors.

Look for teams that treat your success as their own.

2️⃣ Build in parallel, not sequence.

Run development and compliance at the same time to cut launch timelines.

3️⃣ Get the full customer picture.

Visibility into earnings, accounts, and spending drives smarter decisions.

4️⃣ Test options before you scale.

Come to partners with presets already tested to speed approvals.

5️⃣ Prepare for what you cannot see.

Stay flexible enough to respond when something unexpected hits.

LINKS

Ariel Blum | Founder and CEO of Receive

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

Bo Jiang | Co-founder and CEO of Lithic

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

Receive

Website: https://www.nowreceive.com/

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

Lithic

Website: https://www.lithic.com

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

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

Under.io – Digitize your PDFs for applications and underwriting. Get started free: https://under.io/ftc

Defense (Dfns) - Provides wallets as a service that's API first, multi-chain by design, and secured with MPC fintechconfidential.com/dfs

Hawk AI – Real-time payment screening, ML transaction monitoring, and dynamic risk rating for fraud prevention: https://gethawkai.com

ABOUT

Ariel Blum is the Founder and CEO of Receive. He previously held leadership roles at American Express, Green Dot, and Melio. He built Receive as the first earned revenue access platform for small businesses, helping them unlock cash they have already earned without borrowing.

Bo Jiang is the Co-founder and CEO of Lithic. He and his co-founders started building together at age 14 and later founded Privacy.com before launching Lithic. He studied at MIT and leads the company from New York.

Receive is a fintech platform that gives small businesses instant access to their earned revenue with no interest, no credit checks, and no traditional underwriting.

Lithic is a card issuing infrastructure platform that empowers fintechs to build compliant, scalable payment products through developer-friendly APIs and direct network connections.

Tedd Huff is the CEO of Voalyre and host of Fintech Confidential, bringing you the people, tech, and companies that change how you pay and get paid.

CHAPTERS

00:00 Highlights

01:07 Welcome to Fintech Confidential

01:16 Under.io: Streamline Applications & Underwriting (sponsor)

02:06 Challenges Facing Small Businesses

02:39 Meet Ariel Blum and Bo Jiang

03:26 Breaking Down Barriers for SMBs

04:19 Why the Financial System Is Broken

05:39 Modern Infrastructure for Modern Businesses

07:03 Adapting Fintech to Business Needs

09:46 The Receive and Lithic Partnership

11:40 Modern Businesses Need Modern Infrastructure

14:19 The Democratization of Liquidity

15:26 Compliance and Moving Fast

16:37 DFNS: Wallets as a Service (sponsor)

18:02 Balancing Speed with Regulation

21:08 Lightning Round: Quick Takes

24:27 Stablecoins and Real-Time Money Movement

30:00 Advice for Fintech Founders

30:36 Conclusion: Key Takeaways

31:10 Closing Remarks and Call to Action

32:02 Hawk AI: Fighting Fraud and Financial Crime (sponsor)

32:47 Disclaimer

The SEC declared most crypto assets are not securities, dismantling years of legal uncertainty. Banks got the green light to offer crypto custody and exchange services. Circle's IPO validated stablecoins as core financial infrastructure. The Genius Act created the first federal stablecoin framework while banning yield payments and imposing strict reserve requirements. NFTs gained legal clarity, DeFi got legitimized, and crypto-native firms started filing for bank charters. If you're building in crypto, investing in blockchain, or trying to understand where regulation is headed in 2026, this breaks down the exact moves that matter.

TAKEAWAYS:

1️⃣ Genius Act created federal stablecoin operating rules

2️⃣ Stables finally legal under federal framework

3️⃣ IRS solves crypto tax confusion overnight

4️⃣ Stablecoin yield payments now completely banned

5️⃣ SEC stops lawsuits, issues guidance instead

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: https://www.bakerlaw.com/practices/web3-digital-assets

Fintech Confidential

Podcast: https://fintechconfidential.com/listen

Notifications: https://fintechconfidential.com/access

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

X: https://x.com/FTconfidential

SUPPORTERS:

DFNS: Wallets as a service, API first, multi-chain, secured with MPC across 50+ blockchains - fintechconfidential.com/dfns

Skyflow: Zero trust data privacy vault for PCI, CCPA, GDPR, SOC 2 compliance - skyflowsecure.com

Hawk: AI tools for real-time payment screening and fraud prevention - gethawkai.com

ABOUT:

Robert Musiala is Partner and co-leader of Baker Hostetler's Web3 and Digital Assets team, providing weekly analysis on the Blockchain Monitor blog. Baker Hostetler is a leading U.S. law firm with over 900 attorneys serving blockchain clients from startups to Fortune 500 companies.

Tedd Huff is the Founder of Voalyre and Diamond D3, professional services consulting firms focused on global payments and marketing. He is also video podcast host and executive producer on the Fintech Confidential network. Over the past 25+ 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 process improvements and user experience-driven value to simplify the complexity of payments.

CHAPTERS:

00:00 Episode Highlights

02:08 Dfns: Wallets as a Service (sponsor)

04:01 2025 Regulatory Changes and Market Impact

04:43 January: SEC's Tone Shift and Market Reactions

06:11 February: The Genius Act Gains Momentum

07:02 March: OCC and SEC Updates

08:27 April: Stablecoins Get the Green Light

09:18 May: OCC and SEC Further Clarifications

10:53 June: Circle's IPO and Market Growth

12:33 July: The Genius Act Becomes Law

14:39 August: SEC's Groundbreaking Statement

16:35 September: Stablecoins and Staking Products

18:55 October: NFT Rulings and Market Reactions

20:50 November: OCC Trust Bank Charters

22:47 December: CFTC and Stablecoin Developments

31:01 Sky Flow: Building Fast and Secure (sponsor)

32:28 Stablecoin Reserve Regulations

34:20 Impact of the Genius Act on DeFi

35:14 Issuer Interest Prohibition and Revenue

38:09 OCC Charters and Crypto Native Firms

39:58 Stablecoin Issuer Strategies

45:14 SEC's 180 Degree Pivot

51:23 OCC Interpretive Letters and Bank Charters

54:24 Key Takeaways for 2025

57:13 Looking Ahead to 2026

01:00:53 Closing Remarks and Fraud Prevention

01:01:25 Hawk AI (sponsor)

01:02:11 Disclaimer

Traditional payment systems force companies to pre-fund accounts in multiple countries, tying up capital that earns nothing while transactions crawl through correspondent banks over days or weeks. Stablecoins offer instant settlement without pre-funding requirements, giving businesses real-time visibility into every transaction. The conversation covers practical adoption strategies, including how to test one payment corridor before scaling, and addresses regulatory clarity emerging from frameworks like the Genius Act. Geetha shares why remittance firms and cross-border payment companies are seeing immediate efficiency gains, and delivers actionable advice on calculating idle capital costs, measuring time savings, and leveraging blockchain traceability for compliance.

TAKEAWAYS:

1️⃣ Companies handling money transfers across challenging payment corridors are seeing the biggest wins right now with instant payouts.

2️⃣ Stablecoin transactions can be checked in real time so you always know exactly where your payment stands.

3️⃣ Calculate all the money sitting in foreign accounts earning zero interest; that capital could be deployed elsewhere.

4️⃣ Track exact time savings and cost reductions from your test corridor before expanding to broader implementation.

5️⃣ Every blockchain transaction creates a permanent record showing exactly where funds moved and when.

LINKS:

Guest - Geetha Panchapakesan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/geethapanchapakesan

Company - Tesser: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tesser | https://x.com/tesser_xyz

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

SUPPORTERS:

Dfns: Wallets as a service with API-first, multi-chain design secured with MPC; powers crypto payments across 50+ networks. https://dfns.co

Skyflow: Zero-trust data privacy vaults as an API to collect, secure, and tokenize personal information while keeping compliance and usability. https://skyflow.com

Hawk AI: Real-time screening, ML monitoring, and dynamic customer risk ratings to strengthen fraud and financial-crime prevention. https://hawk.ai

ABOUT:

Geetha Panchapakesan is Founder and CEO of Tesser, a payments platform enabling banks, MSBs, and PSPs to make and receive stablecoin payments with the same ease as traditional payment rails. She brings 18+ years of experience leading product and strategy at MoneyGram, Visa Direct, and Circle.

Tesser is a New York-based fintech company building stablecoin-based payments infrastructure that enables licensed financial institutions to move money across borders instantly and compliantly. The platform integrates stablecoin payment rails into existing financial systems in under a month, reducing cross-border settlement times from weeks to hours and cutting costs by up to 95%.

Tedd Huff is Founder of Voalyre, a professional services and advisory firm focused on global payments and banking. He is also a video podcast host and executive producer on the Fintech Confidential network. Over the past 25+ 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 process improvements and user experience-driven value to simplify the complexity of payments.

DD3 Media: A media creation, management, & production company delivering engaging content globally.

CHAPTERS:

00:00 Intro

01:04 Dfns: Wallets as a Service

02:12 Live from Money 2020

03:27 Pain Points of Traditional Payments

03:59 Stablecoins Change Everything

05:05 Real-World Applications

05:51 Enterprise Adoption

06:35 Educating the Market

07:44 Hype vs Reality

08:19 Proof of Value

12:34 Regulatory Uncertainty

14:05 Experimenting with Stablecoins

15:12 Skyflow: Building Fast and Secure

16:37 Lightning Round

20:25 Visa and MasterCard Expansion

22:01 Choosing the Right Stablecoin

24:17 Future of Stablecoins

28:56 Final Thoughts

30:55 Hawk AI

You hear why some BaaS programs never should have launched, how banks now review fintech partners with investor-style discipline, and what recent failures may signal about the next phase of sponsor bank risk. The group walks through real lessons from collapsed programs, missing funds, and weak unit economics, then ties those lessons to concrete steps you can take around funding, oversight, and unwind planning. If you care about BaaS, sponsor banks, or building a fintech that can survive a tougher market, this session is likely to shift how you prepare for your next partner meeting.

1️⃣ Pressure-test your BaaS idea Treat your concept like a risk team would, validate the use case, revenue model, and account growth with realistic numbers before you pitch a bank.

2️⃣ Use funding to build trust Show committed capital, sane burn, and a path beyond launch so a sponsor bank can see you are prepared to support customers for the long haul.

3️⃣ Plan for clean exits early Write reserves, unwind steps, and customer communication into your structure so a program failure does not turn into an emergency for the bank.

4️⃣ Align with bank operations Bring people, controls, and routines that fit how banks work so you feel like a responsible partner instead of another exception they must manage.

5️⃣ Budget past MVP to real scale Secure enough runway for product, compliance, and go-to-market through early scale, not just the first release, so you are less likely to stall when costs rise.

Links: 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

ABOUT AnaLiza Grandner is Executive Vice President and Chief Payments Officer at First Bank of the Lake, an internationally recognized leader in fintech banking with more than 17 years of experience. She leads the bank’s payments strategy and private-label banking efforts and has helped brands like Google Wallet, Chime, Varo, Simple, Seed, Walgreens, and Bento design and refine their products. Rodrigo Suarez is Chief Banking Officer at Piermont Bank, where he leads the bank’s high-growth client and payments businesses. He is responsible for product strategy, technology platforms, and channel delivery that support fast-moving entrepreneurial clients and keep the bank’s offering aligned with real market needs. Stephen Bishop is President of amBaaSsador, an education and advisory platform focused on embedded finance and Banking as a Service for banks and service providers. He previously held senior roles at OMB Bank building OMBX, as well as leadership positions at Jack Henry & Associates, Citi, and AT&T. Tedd Huff is the Founder and CEO of Voalyre and the creator and host of Fintech Confidential, with more than 26 years in fintech and payments advising startups and public companies on strategy, growth, and user experience. Fintech Confidential is a media platform of shows and newsletters that shares real operator stories about how money, risk, and technology products are built and scaled.

Links:

Guest

AnaLiza Grandner: https://www.linkedin.com/in/algrandner/

First Bank of the Lake: https://www.fblake.bank

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/first-bank-of-the-lake

Rodrigo Suarez: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rodrigosuarezu/

Piermont Bank: https://www.piermontbank.com

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/piermontbank

Hosts

Tedd Huff: https://www.linkedin.com/in/teddhuff/

Fintech Confidential: https://fintechconfidential.com

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

Stephen Bishop: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephenbishop1/

amBaaSsador: https://ambaassador.com

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bankingambaassador

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

Skyflow: Data privacy vault that helps keep payment and personal data off your core systems and reduces PCI scope for your teams https://skyflowsecure.com

Under: A Tool that turns static PDF applications into fast, sign-ready flows for underwriting, onboarding, and internal approvals https://under.io/ftc

Hawk AI: Real-time transaction monitoring and payment screening that uses machine learning to reduce false positives and strengthen financial crime defenses https://gethawkai.com

Guests

AnaLiza Grandner

AnaLiza Grandner is the Chief Payments Officer at First Bank of the Lake and a widely recognized leader in fintech-focused banking with more than 17 years of experience. She leads the bank’s payments strategy and its private-label banking business, drawing on a career that spans both banks and high-growth fintechs. Her work has helped major brands such as Google Wallet, Chime, Varo, Simple, Seed, Walgreens, and Bento design, launch, and refine payments programs. Before joining First Bank of the Lake, she led Banking-as-a-Service efforts at Cross River Bank and has been a featured keynote speaker at multiple global industry events.

First Bank of the Lake

First Bank of the Lake is a nationally active SBA lender with deep expertise in government-backed small business financing. From its roots in Osage Beach, Missouri, it has grown into one of the top SBA 7(a) and 504 lenders in the country, funding thousands of loans and more than a billion dollars in capital for businesses across the United States. The bank focuses on tailored SBA solutions, strong customer relationships, and a high-touch approach that helps business owners secure the funding they need to grow.

Rodrigo Suarez

Rodrigo Suarez is the Chief Banking Officer at Piermont Bank, where he is responsible for keeping the bank ahead in modern product delivery and client service. He oversees the innovation-focused banking and payments lines of business and leads strategies that support fast-growing, entrepreneurial clients. Rodrigo also manages product development, technology applications, and channel delivery so that the bank’s offerings stay aligned with the needs of scale-ups and high-growth companies.

Piermont Bank

Piermont Bank is a tech-forward commercial bank built for startups, scale-ups, and modern mid-market businesses. The bank focuses on fast decisions, flexible structures, and banking solutions designed around the pace of high-growth companies. It combines experienced bankers with modern technology to offer tailored lending, payments, and treasury services that help clients move from early growth to larger scale without getting stuck in rigid legacy processes.

Confidential Informant

Stephen Bishop

Stephen “Steve” Bishop is the President of amBaaSsador, an education and advisory platform focused on embedded finance and Banking-as-a-Service for both financial institutions and service providers. He previously led strategic growth and new initiatives at OMB Bank as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Innovation Officer, where he also helped create and build OMBX, the bank’s embedded finance brand. His background includes senior roles at Jack Henry & Associates, Citi, and AT&T, and he holds graduate degrees in operations, finance, strategy, and information management from Washington University in St. Louis.

amBaaSsador

amBaaSsador is a strategic advisory and ecosystem platform dedicated to helping banks, fintechs, and service providers succeed in embedded finance and Banking-as-a-Service. The firm focuses on clear education, practical strategy, and curated connections, giving clients a neutral place to understand market shifts and choose a path that fits their goals. Its work spans consulting, community programs, training, events, and research, all designed to turn complex BaaS questions into...]]>This inaugural Inside the Vault session was recorded live on the Money Pot stage at Money20/20 USA 2025. Tedd sits down with confidential informant Stephen, AnaLiza from First Bank of the Lake, and Rodrigo from Piedmont Bank to talk bluntly about Banking as a Service, embedded finance, and what happens when programs break under real pressure. The tone is direct, practical, and focused on what operators and sponsor banks actually care about when they decide who to work with.

You hear why some BaaS programs never should have launched, how banks now review fintech partners with investor-style discipline, and what recent failures may signal about the next phase of sponsor bank risk. The group walks through real lessons from collapsed programs, missing funds, and weak unit economics, then ties those lessons to concrete steps you can take around funding, oversight, and unwind planning. If you care about BaaS, sponsor banks, or building a fintech that can survive a tougher market, this session is likely to shift how you prepare for your next partner meeting.

1️⃣ Pressure-test your BaaS idea Treat your concept like a risk team would, validate the use case, revenue model, and account growth with realistic numbers before you pitch a bank.

2️⃣ Use funding to build trust Show committed capital, sane burn, and a path beyond launch so a sponsor bank can see you are prepared to support customers for the long haul.

3️⃣ Plan for clean exits early Write reserves, unwind steps, and customer communication into your structure so a program failure does not turn into an emergency for the bank.

4️⃣ Align with bank operations Bring people, controls, and routines that fit how banks work so you feel like a responsible partner instead of another exception they must manage.

5️⃣ Budget past MVP to real scale Secure enough runway for product, compliance, and go-to-market through early scale, not just the first release, so you are less likely to stall when costs rise.

Links: 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

ABOUT AnaLiza Grandner is Executive Vice President and Chief Payments Officer at First Bank of the Lake, an internationally recognized leader in fintech banking with more than 17 years of experience. She leads the bank’s payments strategy and private-label banking efforts and has helped brands like Google Wallet, Chime, Varo, Simple, Seed, Walgreens, and Bento design and refine their products. Rodrigo Suarez is Chief Banking Officer at Piermont Bank, where he leads the bank’s high-growth client and payments businesses. He is responsible for product strategy, technology platforms, and channel delivery that support fast-moving entrepreneurial clients and keep the bank’s offering aligned with real market needs. Stephen Bishop is President of amBaaSsador, an education and advisory platform focused on embedded finance and Banking as a Service for banks and service providers. He previously held senior roles at OMB Bank building OMBX, as well as leadership positions at Jack Henry & Associates, Citi, and AT&T. Tedd Huff is the Founder and CEO of Voalyre and the creator and host of Fintech Confidential, with more than 26 years in fintech and payments advising startups and public companies on strategy, growth, and user experience. Fintech Confidential is a media platform of shows and newsletters that shares real operator stories about how money, risk, and technology products are built and scaled.

Links:

Guest

AnaLiza Grandner: https://www.linkedin.com/in/algrandner/

First Bank of the Lake: https://www.fblake.bank

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/first-bank-of-the-lake

Rodrigo Suarez: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rodrigosuarezu/

Piermont Bank: https://www.piermontbank.com

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/piermontbank

Hosts

Tedd Huff: https://www.linkedin.com/in/teddhuff/

Fintech Confidential: https://fintechconfidential.com

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

Stephen Bishop: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephenbishop1/

amBaaSsador: https://ambaassador.com

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bankingambaassador

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

Skyflow: Data privacy vault that helps keep payment and personal data off your core systems and reduces PCI scope for your teams https://skyflowsecure.com

Under: A Tool that turns static PDF applications into fast, sign-ready flows for underwriting, onboarding, and internal approvals https://under.io/ftc

Hawk AI: Real-time transaction monitoring and payment screening that uses machine learning to reduce false positives and strengthen financial crime defenses https://gethawkai.com

Guests

AnaLiza Grandner

AnaLiza Grandner is the Chief Payments Officer at First Bank of the Lake and a widely recognized leader in fintech-focused banking with more than 17 years of experience. She leads the bank’s payments strategy and its private-label banking business, drawing on a career that spans both banks and high-growth fintechs. Her work has helped major brands such as Google Wallet, Chime, Varo, Simple, Seed, Walgreens, and Bento design, launch, and refine payments programs. Before joining First Bank of the Lake, she led Banking-as-a-Service efforts at Cross River Bank and has been a featured keynote speaker at multiple global industry events.

First Bank of the Lake

First Bank of the Lake is a nationally active SBA lender with deep expertise in government-backed small business financing. From its roots in Osage Beach, Missouri, it has grown into one of the top SBA 7(a) and 504 lenders in the country, funding thousands of loans and more than a billion dollars in capital for businesses across the United States. The bank focuses on tailored SBA solutions, strong customer relationships, and a high-touch approach that helps business owners secure the funding they need to grow.

Rodrigo Suarez

Rodrigo Suarez is the Chief Banking Officer at Piermont Bank, where he is responsible for keeping the bank ahead in modern product delivery and client service. He oversees the innovation-focused banking and payments lines of business and leads strategies that support fast-growing, entrepreneurial clients. Rodrigo also manages product development, technology applications, and channel delivery so that the bank’s offerings stay aligned with the needs of scale-ups and high-growth companies.

Piermont Bank

Piermont Bank is a tech-forward commercial bank built for startups, scale-ups, and modern mid-market businesses. The bank focuses on fast decisions, flexible structures, and banking solutions designed around the pace of high-growth companies. It combines experienced bankers with modern technology to offer tailored lending, payments, and treasury services that help clients move from early growth to larger scale without getting stuck in rigid legacy processes.

Confidential Informant

Stephen Bishop

Stephen “Steve” Bishop is the President of amBaaSsador, an education and advisory platform focused on embedded finance and Banking-as-a-Service for both financial institutions and service providers. He previously led strategic growth and new initiatives at OMB Bank as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Innovation Officer, where he also helped create and build OMBX, the bank’s embedded finance brand. His background includes senior roles at Jack Henry & Associates, Citi, and AT&T, and he holds graduate degrees in operations, finance, strategy, and information management from Washington University in St. Louis.

amBaaSsador

amBaaSsador is a strategic advisory and ecosystem platform dedicated to helping banks, fintechs, and service providers succeed in embedded finance and Banking-as-a-Service. The firm focuses on clear education, practical strategy, and curated connections, giving clients a neutral place to understand market shifts and choose a path that fits their goals. Its work spans consulting, community programs, training, events, and research, all designed to turn complex BaaS questions into practical, workable plans.

Host

Tedd Huff: Tedd Huff is the Co-Founder of Voalyre, and the President & Founder of Diamond D3, a professional services consulting firm focused on global payments and marketing. He is also a video podcast host and producer of Fintech Confidential.

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

Inside The Vault is a Fintech Confidential series for people who actually work in banking, fintech, and payments every day. It speaks to bank executives, fintech founders, product leaders, credit union leaders, sponsor banks, and the operators who sit between business, risk, and technology. The goal is simple: give you access to fintech banking moves that matter, in plain English, with enough detail that you can plug the lessons into your own work.

Each episode breaks down how banks, neo-banks, and credit unions work with fintechs to grow, stay compliant, and serve customers in real markets. You hear specific stories about product launches, pricing decisions, partnership structures, risk calls, compliance pushback, and board-level debates from people who were actually in the room. Guests walk through what got approved, what died in a committee meeting, where partnerships made real money, and where they came apart. You hear the good, the bad, the ugly, and the unfortunate, with takeaways that are likely to sharpen your next move.

The conversations go deep into core banking, embedded finance, payments, risk and compliance, and fintech partnerships without sliding into vague talking points or soft marketing. You get straight talk as operators explain what they tried, what worked, what failed, and what they would do differently if they had another shot. Some stories may suggest a fresh way to look at your roadmap, and to be fair, a few may sting a bit if you recognize your own playbook. The aim is to keep it practical and specific so you walk away with actions, not just nice phrases.

Episodes are recorded around real industry moments, including sessions at Money20/20 and conversations on stages like the Money Pot, so the content stays tied to what is actually happening in the market right now. For what it is worth, if you care about modern banking, want clear views into banks, neo-banks, credit unions, and fintech partnerships, and need candid conversations that usually stay off the record, this series is likely to be well worth your time.

Subscribe Now

If you care about modern banking, detailed breakdowns of how financial institutions work with fintechs, and partnerships that actually perform, and you want access to candid conversations that usually stay inside the vault, this series is built for you.

Subscribe now to get the first episodes as soon as they drop and stay ahead of the next wave of bank-fintech moves.

Listen on your favorite podcast platform: http://Listen.frominsidethevault.com

Watch full conversations and clips: http://watch.frominsidethevault.com

Get email recaps and future drops: http://subscribe.frominsidethevault.com

They walk through why stablecoins just crushed major card networks with $2.6 trillion in annual volume, how Western Union suddenly decided blockchain payments make sense, and what the Genius Act really means for everyone trying to operate in this space. This isn't theory. Banks are fighting to protect their turf while crypto infrastructure gets bought up for billions. The conversation covers enforcement crackdowns, court rulings that actually matter, regulatory battles over OCC charters, and why sitting this one out stopped being an option months ago.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

1️⃣ Financial institutions must evaluate make-or-buy decisions on stablecoin infrastructure before competitors capture market share as platforms offering blockchain-based payments already process volumes exceeding major card networks.

2️⃣ Developers building on Ethereum layer-2 solutions can expect 30-60% lower transaction fees after Fusaka activates December 3rd, allowing projects to adjust pricing models or capture improved margins.

3️⃣ Stablecoin issuers, custodians, payment facilitators, and exchanges face different compliance requirements based on their specific business models under the Genius Act framework.

4️⃣ Retail investors and traders experienced 60-80% losses across major meme coins during October, while newcomers like Mini U and MemeCore surged during the same downturn.

5️⃣ Businesses operating cross-border payments between Japan and international markets gain new infrastructure as institutions push toward 10 trillion yen stablecoin circulation targets.

LINKS

Host:

Tedd Huff (LinkedIn) - https://www.linkedin.com/in/teddhuff/

Voalyre - https://voalyre.com

CI (Confidential Informant):

Rob Musiala (LinkedIn) - https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertmusiala/

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

Company:

Baker Hostetler - https://www.bakerlaw.com

Fintech Confidential:

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@FintechConfidential

Website - https://fintechconfidential.com

Newsletter - https://fintechconfidential.com/newsletter

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/fintech-confidential

SUPPORTERS

Dfns - Secure wallets built right. API-first, multi-chain MPC wallet infrastructure for payments platforms, custodians, and exchanges. Request demo: fintechconfidential.com/dfns

Skyflow - Build fast without breaking privacy. Zero trust data privacy vault delivered as an API for PCI, GDPR, and SOC 2 compliance. Learn more: skyflowsecure.com

Hawk AI - Fight fraud and financial crime with real-time payment screening, AML transaction monitoring, and dynamic customer risk rating. Sign up for demo: GetHawkAI.com

About:

Guest

Confidential Informant - Robert Musiala - Partner - BakerHostetler

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. Robert also advises on a variety of 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. The inventor of two blockchain patents, he works directly with tech teams to build solutions that are compliant by design. Robert is co-leader of the Web3 and Digital Assets team at BakerHostetler.

BakerHostetler: A U.S. law firm with comprehensive blockchain practices serving clients from startups to Fortune 500 companies entering the asset class.

Host:

Tedd Huff:

Tedd Huff is the Founder of Voalyre a professional services and Advisory firm focused on global payments and banking. He is also a video podcast host and executive producer on the Fintech Confidential network.

Over the past 25+ 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

This conversation covers how Fundbox embeds financing directly into platforms like QuickBooks and Stripe, eliminating lengthy applications and delivering instant capital when business owners need it most. Prashant explains why leadership culture drives sustainable growth, how daily team huddles prevent executive isolation, and why transparent partnerships built on trust outperform traditional direct marketing. The episode reveals practical strategies for scaling fintech platforms while serving underserved small businesses with flexible, responsible lending.

1️⃣ Use continuous platform integrations that monitor business health in real time and automatically adjust credit offers as revenue grows.

2️⃣ Remove lengthy forms by using existing platform data from accounting software or payment processors to complete underwriting instantly.

3️⃣ Access immediate capital when trucks break down or equipment fails without waiting for traditional loan approval timelines.

4️⃣ Structure financing to align with actual cash flow patterns rather than rigid monthly schedules that ignore seasonal business cycles.

5️⃣ Embed financing into industry-specific software platforms to create a one-stop experience where owners never juggle multiple logins.

Get more at Fintech Confidential.com

Guest

Prashant Fuloria

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/prashant-fuloria/

Company

Fundbox

Website: https://fundbox.com/

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

X: https://x.com/Fundbox

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

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

Under: Streamlines application and underwriting with digital form processing. https://under.io/ftc

Skyflow: Zero-trust data privacy vaults as an API to secure and tokenize personal information. https://skyflowsecure.com

Dfns: Wallets as a service secured with MPC; powers crypto payments across 50+ networks. https://fintechconfidential.com/dfns

Hawk AI: Real-time screening and ML monitoring to strengthen fraud and financial-crime prevention. https://gethawkai.com

About

Prashant Fuloria is CEO of Fundbox, a product and technology leader with 25+ years of experience building platforms at Google, Facebook, and Yahoo. At Fundbox he has supported more than 500,000 SMBs and unlocked over $5 billion in working capital.

Fundbox is an embedded working capital platform built for SMBs using accounting, payments, and vertical SaaS tools. By integrating with QuickBooks, FreshBooks, and other platforms, Fundbox provides fast, flexible credit using AI-powered underwriting and real-time data.

Tedd Huff is Founder of Voalyre, a fintech advisory firm, and host of Fintech Confidential. Over 25+ years, he has contributed to FinTech startups as an Advisory Board Member, Co-Founder, and Chief Experience Officer at Global Payments, Heartland, Nuvei, and TSYS.

Chapters

00:00 Highlights

00:17 Challenges Faced by Small Businesses

00:31 Customer Segmentation Struggles

01:35 Under - Sponsor

02:05 Welcome to Leaders One-on-One

02:32 Prashant's Background

05:54 Connection to Fundbox Mission

06:33 Technology Levels Playing Field

07:55 Misunderstandings About SMBs

09:13 Trillion Dollar Opportunity

11:06 Leadership and Culture

14:29 Skyflow - Sponsor

17:55 Daily Leadership Huddles

18:53 Creating Psychological Safety

19:25 Intellectual Curiosity

21:03 Customer Segmentation

22:13 Ideal Fundbox Customer

23:34 Common Capital Use Cases

25:41 Unique Capital Uses

27:47 Embedding Financing Solutions

28:04 Cash Efficient Acquisition

30:48 Great Partners

32:10 Customer Data Decisions

34:41 Direct vs Partnership

37:45 Dfns - Sponsor

39:58 Future of Embedded Finance

42:05 Alignment of Incentives

44:35 Education and Transparency

46:58 Advice for Founders

47:55 Closing Thoughts

50:22 Hawk AI - Sponsor

51:06 Disclaimer

LINKS

Confidential Informant:

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

Firm Profile: https://www.bakerlaw.com/professionals/robert-a-musiala-jr/

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

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

Fintech Confidential

YouTube: https://fintechconfidential.com/watch

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: Wallets as a service with API-first, multi-chain design secured with MPC; powers crypto payments across 50+ networks. Request demo: https://fintechconfidential.com/dfns

Skyflow: Zero-trust data privacy vaults as an API to collect, secure, and tokenize personal information while keeping compliance and usability. Learn more: https://skyflowsecure.com

Hawk AI: Real-time screening, ML monitoring, and dynamic customer risk ratings to strengthen fraud and financial-crime prevention. Sign up for demo: https://gethawkai.com

ABOUT

Confidential Informant: Robert Musiala has worked in the crypto assets market since 2012. He has led major investigations, advised on compliance and product agreements across Web3 and NFTs, and co-leads BakerHostetler’s Web3 and assets team. He also authors The Blockchain Monitor with weekly legal insights.

BakerHostetler: A U.S. law firm advising clients from startups to Fortune 500 on blockchain-related matters, policy, compliance, and risk.

Host: Tedd Huff is Founder & CEO of Voalyre and DD3 Media and hosts Fintech Confidential, bringing clear, practical conversations on how money moves.

DD3 Media: A media creation, management, and production company delivering engaging fintech and Web3 content.

Chapters

00:00 Highlights

01:17 Dfns - Wallets as a Service (sponsor)

02:38 Kickoff

03:48 Lightning Round: Bitcoin and majors

05:15 Lightning Round: XRP, memecoins, staking pressure

06:28 Layer1 - Layer2 top News

07:29 Stable Coin Top News

09:02 Regulatory Landscape

11:38 Secuity Threats and Compliance

19:12 Bots = ~70% of the $15.6T stable coin transfers

20:37 Skyflow - Provacy Vault API (sponsor)

23:30 SEC pace and “rules of the road” setup

26:01 SEC rulemaking agenda explained

27:11 No-action letter: programmatic transfers and the Howey lens (DEPIN)

30:31 More no-action letters plus Treasury request for comments (ANPRM)

32:42 Wolfsberg guidance: bank risks and controls for stablecoin issuers

36:02 September summary: regulatory momentum and market impact

39:58 Rob's Top Three Take Aways

40:47 Tedd's Top Three Take Aways

43:22 Hawk Ai (sponsor)

44:08 Disclaimer

Tedd Huff founder & CEO of Voalyre a fintech advisory firm sits down with Jas Randhawa, founder and CEO of Strategybrix, a compliance consulting firm that serves high-growth fintechs, exchanges, and partner banks. The discussion covers the hard lessons learned from bootstrapping, the common mistakes fintech founders make, and why approaching compliance strategically can unlock growth rather than block it. Jas spent over 20 years working with major banks like Citibank, JP Morgan, Deutsche Bank, and HSBC. His background as a computer science engineer gave him an inside view of how compliance systems work, from KYC and onboarding to transaction monitoring and fraud detection.

Takeaways:

1️⃣ Prepare budget negotiations with specific numbers and risk examples so you walk in ready to win.

2️⃣ Replace compliance roadblocks with conditions for approval that define the guardrails needed to say yes safely.

3️⃣ Audit your onboarding flow against competitors to remove unnecessary friction that causes customer drop-off.

4️⃣ Create a one-page explainer showing how your AI compliance tools process data and produce outputs for regulators.

5️⃣ Build a trusted advisor network and schedule calls this week to validate major hiring and spending decisions.

Links:

Jas Randhawa: https://www.linkedin.com/in/randhawajas

Strategybrix: https://www.strategybrix.com

https://www.linkedin.com/company/strategybrix

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: Streamlines application and underwriting with digital form processing. https://under.io/ftc

Skyflow: Zero-trust data privacy vaults as an API to collect, secure, and tokenize personal information while keeping compliance and usability. https://skyflowsecure.com

Dfns: Wallets as a service with API-first, multi-chain design secured with MPC; powers crypto payments across 50+ networks. https://fintechconfidential.com/dfns

Hawk AI: Real-time screening, ML monitoring, and dynamic customer risk ratings to strengthen fraud and financial-crime prevention. https://gethawkai.com

About:

Jas Randhawa is the Managing Partner at StrategyBRIX, a boutique Risk and Compliance Consulting firm. Before StrategyBRIX, Jas was the Head of Financial Crimes and Compliance at leading fintechs, including Stripe and Airwallex. In addition, at PwC, Jas built and led the firm's Financial Crimes practice across the US West Coast. He has over 18 years of experience building and managing programs in the Compliance space.

StrategyBRIX is a boutique consulting firm specializing in risk and compliance management for fintechs, crypto platforms, and digital banks. Founded in 2021, the firm helps organizations build sustainable financial crime compliance programs that balance regulatory rigor with operational efficiency.

Tedd Huff is the Founder of Voalyre, a professional services advisory firm focused on global payments. He is also a video podcast host and executive producer on the Fintech Confidential network. Over the past 25 years, he has contributed to FinTech startups as an Advisory Board Member, Co-Founder, and Chief Experience Officer.

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

Chapters:

00:00 Highlights

01:34 Under (Sponsor)

02:03 Welcome Jas Randhawa

03:26 Bootstrapping Strategybrix

04:45 Challenges in the Banking Sector

09:36 The Importance of Customer Focus

17:29 Skyflow Privacy Vault (Sponsor)

18:45 Scaling a Consulting Firm

25:41 Building and Leading a Team

32:48 Sustaining a Consulting Business

33:50 Importance of Team Dynamics

34:30 Curiosity and Learning in Team Members

36:01 Common Compliance Mistakes

38:35 Budgeting for Risk and Compliance

40:34 Effective Compliance Negotiation

43:54 Onboarding and Compliance Design

49:18 Dfns Wallet as a Service (Sponsor)

56:59 AI and Technology in Compliance

01:03:32 Advice for FinTech Founder

01:05:06 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

01:06:40 Hawk AI (sponsor)

01:07:27 Disclaimer

Manual tasks and communication breakdowns are costing companies millions in wasted time. The core issue isn’t just sending or receiving money—it’s the chaos and disputes that slow down invoice payments and paralyze AP teams. Duncan saw that true progress means automating the entire workflow. Using the power of AI and AP automation, Lunos builds agents that handle accounts receivable at scale. These AI-powered tools negotiate, track, and resolve payment disputes without errors, never missing a detail, and supporting efficient electronic payments for modern businesses.

1️⃣ Start with monitor mode first to build trust and understand AR patterns before advancing to suggest or act modes.

2️⃣ Prevent disputes through real-time records instead of tracking payment promises in weekly spreadsheet downloads.

3️⃣ Let email handle customer communication rather than forcing customers onto new portals that create friction.

4️⃣ Use relationship-specific data for forecasting instead of broad machine learning patterns across different companies.

5️⃣ Integrate like a human worker by connecting with existing ERPs, CRMs, and communication tools without forcing massive changes.

GUEST

Duncan Barrigan LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/duncanbarrigan/

LUNOS

Website: www.lunos.ai

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lunos-ai/

FINTECH CONFIDENTIAL

Podcast: https://fintechconfidential.com/listen

Newsletter: https://fintechconfidential.com

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 - Streamlines application and underwriting with digital PDF processing - https://under.io/ftc

Skyflow - Zero trust data privacy vault with simple API calls - https://skyflowsecure.com

Hawk - AI tools for real-time fraud detection and transaction monitoring - https://gethawkai.com

ABOUT

Duncan Barrigan is a technology entrepreneur and executive. He's the Founder and CEO of Lunos, the AI partner that manages receivables just like you would. Well, how you would if you worked on it 24/7, never forgot anything and read every message ever sent to you - you get the idea.

He has spent more than a decade helping businesses get paid, previously as Chief Product Officer and Chief Growth Officer at GoCardless for eight years, playing a leading role in its rise from a UK-based direct debit provider to a global bank payments unicorn worth $2.2bn, with revenue growing for $1m to well over $100m ARR. Prior to that he worked as a consultant, leading projects advising PE & VC clients on fintech and financial services M&A and strategy at Oliver Wyman. He has an MA in Natural Sciences from the University of Cambridge.

Lunos is an AI-powered accounts receivable platform that integrates with enterprise systems to automate tracking, communication, and resolution of unpaid invoices. The system operates like a human AR agent, managing customer interactions and adapting to responses in real time.

Tedd Huff is the Founder of Voalyre a professional services and Advisory firm focused on global payments and banking. He is also a video podcast host and executive producer on the Fintech Confidential network.

Over the past 25+ 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 Highlights

01:07 Under (sponsor)

01:55 Meet Duncan Barrigan

02:50 Communication Chaos in Business

04:14 Duncan's Career Shift

05:19 The Light Bulb Moment

06:51 The Complexity of B2B Payments

09:08 Building AI to Handle Real-World Chaos

17:18 Skyflow (sponsor)

19:13 The Importance of Accurate Records

28:27 The Future of AI in B2B Payments

31:57 Advice for FinTech Founders

33:14 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

34:53 Hawk Ai (sponsor)

35:39 Disclaimer

Host Tedd Huff teams up with Confidential Informant: Robert Musiala to unpack the GENIUS Act, stablecoin rules, bank use of Lightning, market structure, compliance shifts, custody standards, and global licensing moves that shaped August.

You get what changed, why it matters now, and how to apply it. You get a clear read on why Bitcoin strength ties to supply behavior, how monthly reserve disclosures affect stablecoin design, and why a bank’s Lightning rollout cuts payment friction.

The episode also covers risk programs moving to dynamic monitoring, custody standards that require segregation and clean recovery plans, and how Hong Kong licensing impacts cross-border builds.

TAKEAWAYS

1️⃣ Document Developer Programming Decisions

2️⃣ Monitor Wyoming’s FRNT Ten Billion Threshold

3️⃣ Assess EVM Compatibility Standards:

4️⃣ Prepare for Supervisory Examinations

5️⃣ Leverage Custody Guidance Roadmaps

LINKS

Confidential Informant:

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

Firm Profile: https://www.bakerlaw.com/professionals/robert-a-musiala-jr/

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

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

Fintech Confidential

YouTube: https://fintechconfidential.com/watch

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: Wallets as a service with API-first, multi-chain design secured with MPC; powers crypto payments across 50+ networks. Request demo: https://fintechconfidential.com/dfns

Skyflow: Zero-trust data privacy vaults as an API to collect, secure, and tokenize personal information while keeping compliance and usability. Learn more: https://skyflowsecure.com

Hawk AI: Real-time screening, ML monitoring, and dynamic customer risk ratings to strengthen fraud and financial-crime prevention. Sign up for demo: https://gethawkai.com

ABOUT

Confidential Informant: Robert Musiala has worked in the crypto assets market since 2012. He has led major investigations, advised on compliance and product agreements across Web3 and NFTs, and co-leads BakerHostetler’s Web3 and assets team. He also authors The Blockchain Monitor with weekly legal insights.

BakerHostetler: A U.S. law firm advising clients from startups to Fortune 500 on blockchain-related matters, policy, compliance, and risk.

Host: Tedd Huff is Founder & CEO of Voalyre and DD3 Media and hosts Fintech Confidential, bringing clear, practical conversations on how money moves.

DD3 Media: A media creation, management, and production company delivering engaging fintech and Web3 content.

CHAPTERS

00:00 Highlights

01:15 Dfns - Wallets as a service (sponsor)

02:36 Intro

03:06 Regulatory Landscape and Institutional Adoption

03:39 Market Context

06:01 Technological Innovations in Blockchain and Finance

09:08 Stablecoins and Their Impact on Financial Systems

12:04 The Future of Banking and Digital Assets

14:52 Challenges and Opportunities in Crypto Regulation

17:51 The Evolution of Financial Institutions in the Crypto Space

29:57 Regulatory Landscape of Digital Assets

30:19 Skyflow - Privacy has an API (sponsor)

36:12 The Genius Act and Its Implications

43:48 Global Perspectives on Stablecoin Regulation

51:55 Innovation vs. Regulation in the EU

57:41 The Future of Digital Assets and Banking

59:16 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

01:00:26 Hawk AI (sponsor)

01:01:12 Disclaimer

This conversation tackles the reality that fraudsters now use deepfakes, synthetic identities, and AI-built scams while many companies still rely on outdated methods like scanning licenses. Ravi shares how the right approach can reduce onboarding time by 80%, cut fraud rates by 60%, and boost revenue by 20%. The insights go beyond security to show how stronger data, smarter compliance, and customer-focused design actually increase revenue.

TAKEAWAYS

1️⃣ Rethink Compliance

As StrategyUse compliance frameworks as tools to strengthen trust, open new markets, and support onboarding that scales growth.

2️⃣ Use Contextual Identity SignalsGo beyond static IDs.

Add phone, banking, and social signals to improve accuracy and cut false positives.

3️⃣ Design Teams Around Curiosity

Build teams that question, test, and adapt. Curiosity drives better fraud defenses and stronger customer experiences.

4️⃣ Adopt Continuous Verification Models

Move past one-time checks. Continuous verification keeps accounts secure, reduces fraud risks, and maintains trust.

5️⃣ Prioritize Deterministic Over Predictive

Choose deterministic checks for clear, real-time answers that deliver faster approvals and stronger compliance.

LINKS:

Guest: Ravi Bijlani

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

Company Website: https://kyxstart.ai

Company LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kyxstart/

X: https://x.com/KYXStart_Ai

YouTube: https://youtu.be/meoKNa_C67A

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 - Streamlines application and underwriting with digital PDF processing - https://under.io/ftc

Skyflow - Zero trust data privacy vault with simple API calls - https://skyflowsecure.com

Hawk - AI tools for real-time fraud detection and transaction monitoring - https://gethawkai.com

ABOUT:

Guest: Ravi Bijlani is the Founder & CEO of KYXStart.AI with more than 25 years in fintech. He previously served as GM at Equifax and Prove Identity. Ravi is an investor in SingularKey (acquired by Ping Identity) and holds multiple patents. He earned an MBA from Georgia Tech with Summa Cum Laude honors.

KYXStart.AI is a global identity verification platform that offers AI-powered verification, fraud detection, and compliance solutions. It is designed to improve match rates, reduce costs, and streamline onboarding with real-time data across more than 200 countries.

Host: Tedd Huff is CEO and Founder of Voalyre, a fintech advisory firm, and the host and executive producer of the FinTech Confidential network. With 25+ years in payments and fintech, Tedd has served as an advisor, co-founder, and executive, driving growth and simplifying global payment systems.

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

CHAPTERS:

00:00 Highlights

01:38 Under Sponsor

02:43 Welcome Ravi

04:47 Getting Into FinTech

06:29 Identity Verification Today

08:54 Evolution of Identity

11:05 Friction vs Security

18:27 Skyflow Sponsor

19:29 Market Dynamics

34:17 Light vs Deep Search

37:02 Success Story

40:41 Leadership Philosophy

45:07 Scaling Priorities

50:43 Future of Identity

57:01 Founder Advice

59:34 Episode Wrap

01:00:25 Hawk Sponsor

The regulatory uncertainty that kept institutional capital on the sidelines has vanished. Banking intermediaries face elimination as stablecoin issuers go direct to federal charters. International competitive pressure mounts as European regulators worry about digital dollarization risks. Meanwhile, Bitcoin hit $123,000, Ethereum corporate holdings surged 127%, and Coinbase posted a 6200% increase in average trading volume year over year.

Key Takeaways:

1️⃣ Genius Act creates first US cryptocurrency law with clear payment stablecoin framework

2️⃣ Circle filed for National Digital Currency Bank charter while Ripple pursues Fed master account access

3️⃣ Europe launched USDG under MICA regulation to counter US dollar stablecoin dominance

4️⃣ Rex Osprey launched first US ETF combining Solana spot exposure with on-chain staking rewards

5️⃣ S&P Dow Jones partnered with Centrifuge to tokenize the entire S&P 500 index

Links:

Guest:

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

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

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 provides wallets as a service with API-first, multi-chain design secured with MPC technology, powering crypto payments for major financial institutions across 50+ blockchains. Request demo: https://fintechconfidential.com/dfns

SkyFlow delivers zero-trust data privacy vaults as an API, helping you collect, secure and tokenize personal information while maintaining compliance and data usability. Learn more: https://skyflowsecure.com

Under.io streamlines application and underwriting processes by digitizing PDFs effortlessly for upload and digital signature, transforming document workflows. Get started: https://under.io/FTC

Hawk AI offers real-time payment screening, ML transaction monitoring and dynamic customer risk rating to revolutionize fraud and financial crime prevention. Sign up for demo: https://gethawkai.com

About:

Robert Musiala: Robert Musiala is a Partner and co-leader of Baker Hostetler's Web3 and Digital Assets team, one of the most comprehensive legal practices serving the blockchain and cryptocurrency industry. As lead author of the Blockchain Monitor blog, Robert provides weekly analysis of the latest trends, regulatory developments, and legal implications in the crypto space. His expertise spans digital asset compliance, regulatory strategy, and emerging technology law, making him a trusted advisor to fintech companies, blockchain startups, and traditional financial institutions navigating Web3 integration.

Baker Hostetler: Baker Hostetler is a leading U.S. law firm with over 900 attorneys providing comprehensive legal services across multiple practice areas. Their Web3 and Digital Assets team represents one of the largest and most experienced blockchain legal practices in the country, serving clients from early-stage startups to Fortune 500 companies entering the digital asset space.

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 25+ 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.

DD3 Media: A media creation, management, and production company delivering engaging content globally, specializing in fintech and Web3 storytelling that makes complex topics accessible to business leaders and industry professionals.

Chapters:

00:00 Highlights

04:33 The Genius Act and Its Implications

08:02 Market Trends and Institutional Confidence

10:05 Record Venture Capital Investments in Crypto

12:47 The Rise of ETFs and Staking Opportunities

14:38 Tokenization of Real-World Assets

18:47 Market Dynamics: Bitcoin and Ethereum Surge

24:11 The Impact of Regulatory Clarity on Market Growth

27:05 Surprising Developments in Stablecoin Issuance

34:27 Future Prospects for the Digital Asset Market

37:49 Global Stablecoin Landscape and Regulatory Implications

44:35 The Impact of the Genius Act on US Stablecoin Issuers

48:35 The Shift in Stablecoin Infrastructure and Banking Access

58:16 Competitive Strategies Among Stablecoin Issuers

1:06:50 Future Outlook for Stablecoins and Digital Assets

Three essential items that we dive into.

1️⃣ [Item 1]

2️⃣ [Item 2]

3️⃣ [Item 3]

Also, watch the entire episode on youtube.

[link here]

Links:

[Company Name]

Website:

Linkedin:

Facebook:

Instagram:

Twitter:

Youtube:

Fintech Confidential

YouTube: https://fintechconfidential.com/watch

Podcast: https://fintechconfidential.com/listen

Notifications: https://fintechconfidential.com/access

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/FTconfidential

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

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

Supporters

Support is provided by MPC 2023, the premier event for fintech leaders. This is your chance to shake hands and rub shoulders with the world's top experts in payments, loyalty, blockchain, digital currencies, cybersecurity, consumer privacy, and other emerging fintech solutions connecting you directly with the future of commerce.

If you haven't already, mark your calendars for August 23rd through the 25th and join me and Fintech Confidential at the Westin Atlanta Perimeter North.

When you sign up for FinTech confidential notifications, you will receive a discount from $50 to 100% off.

Or use this link for $50 of registration. https://mpcevent.com/FTC50

Time Stamps:

[insert timestamps from transcript]

This is a Production of Diamond D3, Media

ABOUT:

[Guest Name]: [Guest Bio]

[Company Name] : [Company info]

Tedd Huff: Tedd Huff is the Co-Founder of Voalyre, and the President & Founder of Diamond D3, a professional services consulting firm focused on global payments and marketing. He is also a video podcast host and producer of Fintech Confidential.

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

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.

Take Aways

1️⃣ Switch to Lightning Payments

2️⃣ Leverage New Banking Rules

3️⃣ Avoid Infrastructure Building

4️⃣ Target Global Markets

5️⃣ Prepare for Consolidation

Get more @ Fintech Confidential.com

Supporters

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

Links:

Graham Krizek

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

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

Nostr: graham@vlt.ge

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: Voltage@vlt.ge

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

About:

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

Links

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

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

The Rest of the Story

Takeaways:

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.

Links

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

Supporters

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

About:

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.

Chapters:

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.

Takeaways

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

Links

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

Supporters

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

About

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.

Takeaways

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

Links:

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.

Takeaways:

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.

Chapters:

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

Links:

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

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

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

Supporters

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

About:

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.

Key Highlights

🔹 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

Takeaways

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

Links:

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

Supporters

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

About:

Guest

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

In this episode of Fintech Confidential: Leaders One on One, host Tedd Huff speaks with Pascale Elie, Co-FOunder & Chairperson of Cellpay and co-founder of HaitiPay, about her work in improving financial services in LatinAmerica and the Caribbean. Pascale shares how the 2010 earthquake highlighted the need for accessible financial tools, leading to the launch of HaitiPay, Haiti’s first privately regulated fintech company. She discusses the importance of building partnerships, fostering trust, and addressing regulatory gaps to provide effective solutions.

Expanding her efforts, Pascale established Cellpay to connect diaspora funds with local economies, supporting small business investments and community development. She explains how understanding local dynamics and forming strong partnerships are essential for delivering meaningful financial services.

The conversation also covers challenges in working with traditional banks and the process of collaborating with Haiti’s central bank to create regulations that allowed fintech companies to operate independently. Pascale emphasizes practical tools like digital systems for community savings clubs, which offer secure and transparent ways for members to manage their funds.

Pascale shares advice for fintech entrepreneurs, urging them to focus on clear goals, collaborate with the right people, and adapt to unregulated markets by advocating for necessary changes. She also highlights the potential of artificial intelligence to increase efficiency and expand access to financial services, stressing that ethical use of such tools is critical.

Join Tedd Huff and Pascale Elie at the FinTech Islands Conference in Barbados from January 22-24, 2025, where they will share additional insights on improving financial services in underserved regions.

Key Highlights

 📌  How a Letter Changed Fintech in Haiti Forever

📌  Why Trust Matters More Than Tech in Financial Services

📌  The Bold Move That Made HaitiPay Stand Out

📌  The Surprising Role of the Diaspora in Local Economies

📌  The Biggest Barrier to Financial Growth Nobody Talks About

📌  What Cellpay Teaches Us About Serving Local Markets

📌  The One Question Every Fintech Founder Must Answer

📌  How Local Partnerships Became the Secret to Success

📌  How Artificial Intelligence Could Change Financial Access

📌  What Fintech Can Learn From HaitiPay’s Early Struggles

Takeaways

1️⃣ Build Trust by Prioritizing Transparency

2️⃣ Offer Instant Payment Confirmations

3️⃣ Promote Financial Literacy Programs

4️⃣ Create a Team Aligned with Your Vision

5️⃣ Digitize Savings Systems for Security and Growth

Links:

Pascale Ellie

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

X: https://x.com/PascaleElie

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pascale.elie.rene

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

CellPay

Website: https://cellpay.com

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

X: https://x.com/cellpaydotcom

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

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

Fintech Confidential

YouTube: https://fintechconfidential.com/watch

Podcast: https://fintechconfidential.com/listen

Notifications: https://fintechconfidential.com/access

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/FTconfidential

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

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

Supporters

Fintech Islands - FiX25: Use code SPKFIX25 to Save 15% and Discover the Future of Finance at FinTech Islands! From January 22–24, 2025, at the iconic Sam Lourdes Castle in Barbados, this transformative 3-day conference gathers global leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs driving change in financial services. Immerse yourself in visionary talks, hands-on workshops, and unparalleled networking opportunities to shape the future of financial access and opportunity. Don’t miss this must-attend event—register now at https://fitnechconfidential.com/fix25

HAWK: Enhance compliance with real-time monitoring and advanced AI. https://gethawkai.com for better compliance

Time Stamps:

[insert timestamps from transcript]

This is a Production of Diamond D3, Media

ABOUT:

Pascale Elie is a Haiti-native entrepreneur and co-founder of HaitiPay, Haiti’s first privately regulated fintech company. Initially launched as a mobile wallet operator, HaitiPay has grown to offer a broad range of payment solutions, including account transfers, cross-institution services, and international remittance deposits.

Pascale also co-founded and leads CellPay Corporation, a U.S.-based fintech focused on linking global remittances to local merchant networks in Latin America and the Caribbean. Using a community-driven approach, CellPay channels diaspora funds to boost local economies through earmarked transfers.

CellPay Corporation is a U.S.-based fintech company that provides payment solutions aimed at linking global remittances to local merchant networks across Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) markets. The company’s unique approach focuses on connecting diaspora funds to local economies, fostering growth through productive use of transferred money. CellPay’s mission is to boost local economies while ensuring fast, cost-efficient money transfers.

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

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

In this episode of Accrued, Tedd Huff and Colton Pond talk with Georgina Merhom, founder of Solo, about rethinking financial services by addressing the flaws in traditional credit scoring systems like Experian, Transunion and FICO. Georgina explains how Solo creates a personalized, verified financial profile for each consumer, enabling lenders to make better decisions without relying on outdated metrics or subjective trust. The discussion covers the limitations of current credit scores, the benefits of replacing them with tailored evaluations, and the importance of consumer-controlled data. Georgina also shares practical advice for entrepreneurs, emphasizing the value of flexibility and learning from market signals to achieve long-term success.

Key Highlights

• Why Credit Bureau Scores Are Outdated for Today’s Economy
• The True Cost of Collecting Financial Data
• Breaking the Bias in Banking Trust
• How Solo Turns Financial Data Into Real-Time Insights
• What Makes “One Score Fits All” a Problem?
• The Future of Financial Decisions Without Bias
• How Solo Simplifies Credit Evaluations
• Taking “No” as a Signal, Not a Setback
• What Consumers Gain With Verified Financial Data
• Why Banks Need Flexibility in Credit Scoring

Takeaways

1️⃣ Stop Depending on Outdated Credit Scores

2️⃣ Slash Costs With Smarter Verification Methods

3️⃣ Take Charge of Financial Information

4️⃣ Use “No” to Strengthen Your Strategy

5️⃣ Create Fairer Financial Systems With Verified Data

Links:

Solo

Website: https://solo.one/

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

X: https://x.com/soloapi

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJ4pCxocO64 

Georgina Merhom

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

Fintech Confidential

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

LoanPro: Enhance lending operations with LoanPro's modern core. Learn more at https://loanpro.io/demo

Skyflow, privacy platform trusted by leading financial institutions, to protect customers’ data. www.skyflowsecure.com

HAWK: Enhance compliance with real-time monitoring and advanced AI. https://gethawkai.com for better compliance

About:

Guest

Georgina Merhom: Before founding Solo, Georgina began her career as a researcher and compliance director at the G7 & G20 Information Centre. She later trained as a data scientist and investigative analyst, focusing on developing algorithms to detect illicit activity on the dark web. In 2020, she launched Zivmi, Egypt's first cross-border payments app, in collaboration with the National Bank of Egypt, offering invoice factoring services to unbanked digital freelancers. In 2022, she divested the entire venture to the National Bank.

Solo: The credit bureau of tomorrow — verified and standardized first-party customer data collection, enabling banks and lenders to identify previously invisible opportunities.

Hosts:

Tedd Huff: Tedd Huff is the CEO & Founder of Voalyre and the President & Founder of Diamond D3, a consultancy renowned for its expertise in global payments and marketing. With over two decades of experience in FinTech, Huff has played a pivotal role in shaping the industry through his contributions to various startups and established companies, focusing on growth, innovation, process improvements, and enhancing user experience in the complexity of payments. 

Colton Pond: Colton Pond is a seasoned marketing executive with a strong fintech and financial services background. In his latest role, Colton is the CMO for LoanPro's API-first lending platform, aiming to meet the increasing market demands. His track record includes a significant tenure at Truv, where he led the marketing team to achieve a 300% growth in year-over-year revenue. Colton has also held key marketing and sales positions at MX, Lucid, and HealthEquity, demonstrating his ability to drive success and innovation within the fintech sector.

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

Key Highlights

• The Key to Retaining Customers You Might Be Overlooking
• Why One-Size-Fits-All Credit Scores Could Be Holding You Back
• The Secret to Offering Financial Products Customers Actually Want
• How Expanding Your Offerings Can Keep Customers Coming Back
• What Makes a Great First Financial Product
• Why Data-Driven Decisions Beat Gut Instinct Every Time
• Breaking Down Barriers to Financial Success
• How to Balance Profitability and Customer Care
• What Most Financial Companies Get Wrong About Credit Building
• Why Lifelong Customers Start with Exceptional Service

Takeaways

1️⃣ Set Clear Expectations to Earn Trust

2️⃣ Simplify Financial Tools for Better Engagement

3️⃣ Prioritize Trust Over Immediate Profits

4️⃣ Stay Ahead by Analyzing Market Trends

5️⃣ Be Proactive in Reaching Customers

Links:

World Finance: https://www.loansbyworld.com/about

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

Ben Boyer Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-boyer-535a272/

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

Supporters LoanPro: Enhance lending operations with LoanPro's modern core. Learn more at https://loanpro.io/demo

Skyflow, privacy platform trusted by leading financial institutions, to protect customers’ data. www.skyflowsecure.com

HAWK: Enhance compliance with real-time monitoring and advanced AI. https://gethawkai.com  for better compliance

About:

Guest

Ben Boyer: Ben Boyer is a finance executive in Product Development at World Finance, previously serving as COO at Simpliphy and VP of FP&A at Newrez. He has extensive experience in portfolio management and a proven track record of enhancing client implementations and financial forecasting. Ben’s expertise reflects a commitment to creating flexible, customer-centric financial products and improving the overall customer experience.

World Finance: With over 60 years of experience and branches across 16 states, World Finance offers the stability of a large financial company and the trust of a neighborhood lender. Through personal loans, tax services, and unbeatable customer service, they help customers unlock their financial good. World Finance stands out from competitors by offering inclusive, transparent, and flexible lending solutions, with a strong focus on credit building, customer support, and comprehensive financial services, including tax preparation.

Hosts:

Tedd Huff is the Co-Founder of Voalyre and the President & Founder of Diamond D3, a consultancy renowned for its expertise in global payments and marketing. With over two decades of experience in FinTech, Huff has played a pivotal role in shaping the industry through his contributions to various startups and established companies, focusing on growth, innovation, process improvements, and enhancing user experience in the complexity of payments.

Colton Pond: Colton Pond is a seasoned marketing executive with a strong fintech and financial services background. In his latest role, Colton is the CMO for LoanPro's API-first lending platform, aiming to meet the increasing market demands. His track record includes a significant tenure at Truv, where he led the marketing team to achieve a 300% growth in year-over-year revenue. Colton has also held key marketing and sales positions at MX, Lucid, and HealthEquity, demonstrating his ability to drive success and innovation within the fintech sector.

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

In this episode of Accrued by FinTech Confidential presented by LoanPro, hosts Tedd Huff and Colton Pond discuss these issues with Jeff Adamson, co-founder and Chief Commercial Officer of the company. Jeff shares how his team built an in-house technology stack to overcome these limitations, allowing them to offer personalized credit rates and a cashback system tailored to spending habits. AI tools further enhance the platform by simplifying financial management and providing actionable insights. Despite navigating complex regulatory requirements like the Retail Payments Activity Act, the company maintains a focus on creating transparent, user-friendly products. By integrating credit, savings, investments, and more into a cohesive system, the organization delivers added value while setting a high standard for customer-focused financial services. The conversation offers practical takeaways for FinTech professionals and entrepreneurs seeking to thrive in a challenging market.

Takeaways

1️⃣ Stop Waiting for Support—Build It Yourself

2️⃣ Make Fair Lending Your Priority

3️⃣ Turn Regulations into Opportunities

4️⃣ Create Value Beyond Basic Rewards

5️⃣ Focus on Clear and Simple Communication

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

LoanPro: Enhance lending operations with LoanPro's modern core. Learn more at https://loanpro.io/demo

CheckAlt ClearingWorks: Your one-stop solution for AR needs. Learn more at https://clearingworks.com

Under.io: Revolutionize merchant applications with digital transformation. Discover more at https://under.io/ftc

Skyflow, privacy platform trusted by leading financial institutions, to protect customers’ data. www.skyflowsecure.com

HAWK: Enhance compliance with real-time monitoring and advanced AI. https://gethawkai.com for better compliance

This is a Production of Diamond D3, Media

ABOUT:

[Guest Name]: [Guest Bio]

[Company Name] : [Company info]

Tedd Huff: Tedd Huff is the Co-Founder of Voalyre, and the President & Founder of Diamond D3, a professional services consulting firm focused on global payments and marketing. He is also a video podcast host and producer of Fintech Confidential.

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

In this episode of Accrued, hosts Tedd Huff and Colton Pond engage with Ensemblex leaders Shawn Budde and Chloe Zhu to explore challenges and opportunities in lending and financial technology. The discussion highlights common pitfalls for fintech startups, such as prioritizing customer acquisition while neglecting critical processes like servicing and collections, which are essential for long-term success. The importance of clean, organized data for informed decision-making is emphasized, along with strategies to enhance operational efficiency through structured approaches. They also address the role of AI, stressing the need for human oversight to prevent errors and biases while using it as a tool to improve automation and decision-making. Practical advice is provided on meeting evolving regulatory requirements, ensuring compliance is integrated into business operations. Finally, the episode examines advanced financial practices in countries like India and Brazil, offering lessons on improving accessibility and efficiency in U.S. markets. This conversation delivers actionable insights for professionals seeking to refine their strategies in fintech and lending.

Takeaways

1️⃣ Avoid the Biggest Lending Mistake Startups Make

2️⃣ AI Won’t Fix Everything

3️⃣ Start Compliance Early to Save Time and Money

4️⃣ What’s Your Customer’s Long-Term Value

5️⃣ Look Globally to Stay Ahead

Links:

EnsembleX: https://www.ensemblex.com/

EnsembleX LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ensemblex/

Shawn Budde LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawn-budde-584aa4/

Chloe Zhu LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chloe-zhu-cfa/

 Fintech Confidential

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

LoanPro: As default rates continue to rise and margins compress in lending, financial organizations are searching for solutions that combine operational efficiency with innovation. Look no further, as LoanPro allows lenders to enhance their origination, servicing, collections, and payments using the foundation of a modern lending core. Check out loanpro.io/demo to learn how 600+ financial organizations have modernized their tech stack with LoanPro.

Skyflow, the leading data privacy platform trusted by top financial institutions. Protect your customers' data with Skyflow's innovative solutions. Get started at www.skyflowsecure.com

HAWK:AI - A game-changing approach to compliance. With real-time monitoring, adaptive learning, and advanced AI, it cuts false positives, simplifying your compliance efforts. Upgrade your surveillance with ease. Visit https://gethawkai.com for more intelligent, more effective compliance.

About:

Guest

Shawn Budde: Shawn Budde is a Principal at Ensemblex and has over 30 years of experience in consumer finance. His career includes leadership roles at Capital One, where he managed various divisions, including subprime credit cards and customer marketing. Shawn co-founded Zest AI, applying machine learning to lending decisions, and has consulted with numerous lenders to optimize their credit operations. He holds a B.A. from Columbia University and an M.B.A. from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

Chloe Zhu: Chloe Zhu is the Director of the Venture Studio at Ensemblex and brings a diverse background in investment banking, impact investing, and fintech. She has held roles at J.P. Morgan and Goldman Sachs and led new product initiatives at Mission Lane. Chloe also co-founded projects at Gestalt and Stealth. Her expertise includes building scalable credit products and managing investment portfolios, focusing on improving financial inclusion and operational efficiency in fintech.

Ensemblex: Ensemblex partners with companies worldwide to help start, scale, and improve credit products. Their clients range from fintech startups to global financial institutions. With deep expertise across every credit product, customer segment, and stage of the credit lifecycle, Ensemblex focuses on tailored business solutions, operational efficiency, and advanced analytics to meet their clients’ needs.

Host:

Tedd Huff is the Co-Founder of Voalyre and the President & Founder of Diamond D3, a consultancy renowned for its expertise in global payments and marketing. With over two decades of experience in FinTech, Huff has played a pivotal role in shaping the industry through his contributions to various startups and established companies, focusing on growth, innovation, process improvements, and enhancing user experience in the complexity of payments.

Colton Pond: Colton Pond is a seasoned marketing executive with a strong fintech and financial services background. In his latest role, Colton is the CMO for LoanPro's API-first lending platform, aiming to meet the increasing market demands. His track record includes a significant tenure at Truv, where he led the marketing team to achieve a 300% growth in year-over-year revenue. Colton has also held key marketing and sales positions at MX, Lucid, and HealthEquity, demonstrating his ability to drive success and innovation within the fintech sector.

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

Chapters:

03:27 Introducing Ensemblex Guests

06:13 Challenges in Scaling Credit Products

08:17 Common Mistakes in Lending and Credit

11:47 Importance of Servicing and Collections

15:13 Data and Analytics in Financial Services

18:08 AI in Financial Services

23:45 Regulation and AI in Lending

24:18 Challenges with Machine Learning Models

27:46 Regulatory Interactions and Compliance

29:06 Community Banks and AI Adoption

31:20 Future Opportunities in FinTech

35:53 Global Innovations and Predictions

40:49 Conclusion and Final Thought

In this episode of Fintech Confidential, recorded live at the 2024 Money 20/20 event in Las Vegas, Tedd Huff and Stephany Kirkpatrick, founder and CEO of Orum, dive into the world of money movement technology. The discussion flows naturally, covering the many ways Orum is simplifying payments and enhancing access to funds. Kirkpatrick brings a unique perspective, sharing how her background as the daughter of an immigrant and a former financial planner shaped her understanding of money access and inspired her to start Orum.

Key Highlights

🚀 Making Instant Payouts Possible for Businesses

🍩 Time to Make the Donuts

💸 Why Wait for Money Movement?

💲 Real-Time Payments Without High Costs

🔒 Making Compliance Easy

💼 The Power of Clear Pricing

📊 CFPB’s 1033 Rule and Data Access

🌐 Stablecoins in International Payments

🏗 Building a Strong Product First

🤝 Trusted Partnerships for Reliable Payments

Takeaways

1️⃣ Apply Financial Planning Insights to Your Startup Vision

2️⃣ Keep Remote Teams Engaged with Simple Tools

3️⃣ Streamline Payment Solutions with Easy APIs

4️⃣ Enhance Security in Transactions with Verification Tools

5️⃣ Choose Strong Partnerships to Boost Your Business’s Credibility

Links: 

Stephany Kirkpatrick

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephany-kirkpatrick/

Orum:

Website: https://orum.io/

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

X: https://twitter.com/hello_orum

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

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/orum.io/

Fintech Confidential

YouTube: https://fintechconfidential.com/watch

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

Supporters

Under: Transform Your Merchant Applications with Under. The Under platform revolutionizes the way ISOs handle merchant applications, offering a seamless transition to digital forms. Say goodbye to outdated processes and hello to efficiency. Discover the future of financial applications at https://under.io/ftc

CheckAlt: a game-changer in the financial world: ClearingWorks. Simplify your financial management with a one-stop solution for all your AR needs and with a single login. Intrigued? Visit https://clearingworks.com to schedule your demo today

HAWK:AI - A game-changing approach to compliance. With real-time monitoring, adaptive learning, and advanced AI, it cuts false positives, simplifying your compliance efforts. Upgrade your surveillance with ease. Visit https://gethawkai.com for more intelligent, more effective compliance.

Solvpath, an A.I.-driven customer support system that uses a visual format and self-serve technology to quickly and effectively resolve issues, resulting in satisfying support experiences for customers. Get the best customer support system for your business. Get Solvpath. Get started by visiting www.getsolvpath.com 

Skyflow, the leading data privacy platform trusted by top financial institutions. Protect your customers' data with Skyflow's innovative solutions. Get started at www.skyflowsecure.com

About:

Guest 

Stephany Kirkpatrick is the CEO and founder of Orum, a pioneering API-based company enabling instant payouts across major payment networks. With over 15 years of experience, she has led digital product initiatives at major firms like Northwestern Mutual and LearnVest. Stephany, who began her career as a certified financial planner, founded Orum in 2019 to provide immediate financial access for businesses and consumers. Driven by her background as the daughter of an immigrant, her mission centers on enhancing financial freedom and efficiency through streamlined payment solutions.

Orum is a simple API for fast, reliable payments. Orum’s API solution delivers access to rails including Same Day ACH and standard ACH – and instant bank account verification. Orum allows businesses to launch instant payments and instant bank account verification in just days, without costly bank integrations or prolonged compliance. This in turn empowers businesses and banks to launch new payment experiences that attract and monetize more customers. Founded by Stephany Kirkpatrick and led by expert fintech operators from LearnVest, Square, N26, Klarna, Marqeta, and Stash, Orum has raised over $82 million from leading investors, including Accel, Canapi, Bain Capital Ventures, Inspired Capital, Homebrew, Acrew, BoxGroup, Clocktower Ventures, Primary Ventures and American Express Ventures. We provide the technology and expertise required to power a better financial system where everyone has the freedom to build to their potential.

Host: 

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

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  creation, management, and production company that delivers engaging content globally

In this episode of Fintech Confidential’s Leaders, Tedd Huff talks with Ariel Blum, CEO of Receive, about how fintech can transform cash flow for small businesses. Receive’s unique model provides immediate, fee-free access to earned revenue, giving small businesses the “spending power” they need without relying on costly credit. Tedd and Ariel discuss the importance of simplifying financial tools, building a customer-centered company culture, and the role of regulation in supporting fintech innovation. They explore how access to essential financial tools can empower underserved entrepreneurs globally, highlighting fintech’s potential to make finance more accessible and responsive to real-world business needs.

Key Highlights

-  No Fees Just Freedom

-  Beyond Credit Scores

-  Spending Power Not Loans

-  Say Goodbye to Jargon

-  Empathy as a Business Strategy

-  Tech-Driven Liquidity

-  Smarter Business Growth

-  A New Approach to Regulation

-  Going Global with Financial Access

-  Focus on Cash Flow

Takeaways 

1️⃣ Unlock Immediate Spending Power

2️⃣ Put Empathy First in Your Business Strategy

3️⃣ Use Jargon-Free Language in Client Interactions

4️⃣ When to Consider an Interchange-Based Revenue Model

5️⃣ Look Beyond Borders for Business Growth

Links: 

Ariel Blum LinkedIn

Receive

LinkedIn

Facebook

Instagram

Fintech Confidential

YouTube

Notifications

LinkedIn

X

Instagram

Facebook

Supporters

Under: Transform Your Merchant Applications with Under. The Under platform revolutionizes the way ISOs handle merchant applications, offering a seamless transition to digital forms. Say goodbye to outdated processes and hello to efficiency. Discover the future of financial applications at https://under.io/ftc

CheckAlt: a game-changer in the financial world: ClearingWorks. Simplify your financial management with a one-stop solution for all your AR needs and with a single login. Intrigued? Visit https://clearingworks.com to schedule your demo today

HAWK:AI - A game-changing approach to compliance. With real-time monitoring, adaptive learning, and advanced AI, it cuts false positives, simplifying your compliance efforts. Upgrade your surveillance with ease. Visit https://gethawkai.com for more intelligent, more effective compliance.

Solvpath, an A.I.-driven customer support system that uses a visual format and self-serve technology to quickly and effectively resolve issues, resulting in satisfying support experiences for customers. Get the best customer support system for your business. Get Solvpath. Get started by visiting www.getsolvpath.com 

Skyflow, the leading data privacy platform trusted by top financial institutions. Protect your customers' data with Skyflow's innovative solutions. Get started at www.skyflowsecure.com

About:

Guest 

Ariel Blum,  Founder & CEO | Receive

Over the past decade, Ariel Blum has been dedicated to payment innovation, playing an instrumental role in advancing the democratization of digital payments globally. In his current role at Melio, Ariel steers large-scale partnerships and integrations with major financial institutions and tech companies to democratize B2B payment solutions for SMBs throughout the U.S.

Receive

As the first-ever Earned Revenue Access provider for SMBs, Receive’s mission is to provide the SMBs of America with on-demand liquidity anytime, anywhere, and for free.

Host: 

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

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 that delivers engaging content globally

In this episode of FinTech Confidential, host Tedd Huff and co-host Colton Pond speak with Timothy Li, CEO of LendAPI, on core strategies for fintech success. Key topics include the importance of fraud detection advancements, the need to build comprehensive products rather than features, and the role of partnerships in providing complete solutions for financial institutions. They also discuss the potential of international payments using blockchain and stresses the importance of customer feedback for relevant product development. Finally, they emphasize execution over ideas, highlighting the need to act on customer needs swiftly to remain competitive in fintech.

Key Highlights

• How Fintech Tackles Fraud: The Latest Security Trends
• Building Products, Not Features: The Key to Lasting Impact
• Partnerships: The Secret Behind Fintech Success
• International Payments: The Next Big Opportunity in Fintech
• Customer Feedback Drives Product Development
• Executing Ideas: Why Action Beats Theory in Fintech
• Fraud Prevention Tools: Enhancing Security for Financial Services
• Why Complete Solutions Win Over Piecemeal Features
• The Essential Role of Partnership in Fintech Growth
• Why Customer Listening is Fintech’s Competitive Edge

Top 5 Takeaways

1️⃣ Make Fraud Detection Your Top Priority

2️⃣ Focus on Product Fit Over Flashy Features

3️⃣ Build Partnerships to Extend Your Reach

4️⃣ Stay Customer-Centered for Lasting Success

5️⃣ Prioritize Action and Execution Over Theory

Supporters

LoanPro: As default rates continue to rise and margins compress in lending, financial organizations are searching for solutions that combine operational efficiency with innovation. Look no further, as LoanPro allows lenders to enhance their origination, servicing, collections, and payments using the foundation of a modern lending core. Check out loanpro.io/demo to learn how 600+ financial organizations have modernized their tech stack with LoanPro.

CheckAlt: a game-changer in the financial world: ClearingWorks. Simplify your financial management with a one-stop solution for all your AR needs and with a single login. Intrigued? Visit https://clearingworks.com to schedule your demo today.

Skyflow, the leading data privacy platform trusted by top financial institutions. Protect your customers' data with Skyflow's innovative solutions. Get started at www.skyflowsecure.com

Under: Transform Your Merchant Applications with Under. The Under platform revolutionizes the way ISOs handle merchant applications, offering a seamless transition to digital forms. Say goodbye to outdated processes and hello to efficiency. Discover the future of financial applications at https://under.io/ftc

HAWK:AI - A game-changing approach to compliance. With real-time monitoring, adaptive learning, and advanced AI, it cuts false positives, simplifying your compliance efforts. Upgrade your surveillance with ease. Visit https://gethawkai.com for more intelligent, more effective compliance.

This is a Production of Diamond D3, Media

ABOUT:

Timothy Li: Timothy Li is a tech entrepreneur specializing in banking technology. Throughout his career, he has worked with teams to develop mission-critical software for leading organizations like Intel and JPMorgan. Timothy is the co-founder of multiple fintech startups, including LendAPI, Magic, Alchemy, MaxDecisions, Fluid Credit, and Kuber.

LendAPI: LendAPI is a no-code, end-to-end digital onboarding platform designed to help banks, lenders, and insurance companies quickly launch digital onboarding solutions. With LendAPI, organizations can create a seamless online onboarding process in minutes, providing a suite of tools like Product Studio, Pricing Engine, and Rules Studio, all integrated into one platform.

Host:

Tedd Huff is the Co-Founder of Voalyre and the President & Founder of Diamond D3, a consultancy renowned for its expertise in global payments and marketing. With over two decades of experience in FinTech, Huff has played a pivotal role in shaping the industry through his contributions to various startups and established companies, focusing on growth, innovation, process improvements, and enhancing user experience in the complexity of payments.

Colton Pond: Colton Pond is a seasoned marketing executive with a strong fintech and financial services background. In his latest role, Colton is the CMO for LoanPro's API-first lending platform, aiming to meet the increasing market demands. His track record includes a significant tenure at Truv, where he led the marketing team to achieve a 300% growth in year-over-year revenue. Colton has also held key marketing and sales positions at MX, Lucid, and HealthEquity, demonstrating his ability to drive success and innovation within the fintech sector.

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

Timestamps:

03:47 Timothy Lee's Entrepreneurial Journey

04:44 LendAPI: Revolutionizing Onboarding

08:18 Challenges in FinTech Today

12:29 The Future of International Payments

17:56 Partnerships: The Key to Success

26:56 Key Lessons for FinTech Founders

27:14 The Importance of Execution

29:15 Inbox Zero vs. Inbox Thousands

30:44 Advice for Aspiring FinTech Founders

31:00 Building Products, Not Features

33:23 The Pitfalls of Pivoting

35:50 Investing in FinTech Companies

37:09 The Reality of Fundraising

42:20 Future of FinTech: A Realistic View

44:15 Unbundling and Rebundling in FinTech

45:05 Shoutouts to Impactful FinTech Companies

47:29 The Role of Partnerships in FinTech

49:47 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In this episode of Uncut by Fintech Confidential, host Tedd Huff discusses the FTC’s new Click-to-Cancel rule with legal expert Linda Goldstein (Baker Hostetler), Carl D’Agostino (CEO, Solvpath), and Jayare Charron (VP of Partnerships). This new rule, aimed at simplifying subscription cancellations, requires businesses to offer easy, transparent processes for consumers to opt out of services. The conversation covers the four key components of the rule: prohibiting misleading ads, ensuring clear billing disclosures, obtaining consumer consent, and simplifying cancellations.

The guests explain how businesses can adapt by implementing self-service tools, improving customer retention, and avoiding the hefty fines associated with non-compliance (up to $50,000 per violation). They also highlight the importance of using AI-driven platforms like Solvpath to enhance customer experience while staying compliant.

This episode is a must-listen for any subscription-based business looking to stay ahead of FTC regulations, reduce churn, and improve customer satisfaction.

Key Highlights

- New FTC Rules Demand Simple Cancellations

- Massive Fines Ahead for Non-Compliant Businesses

- Why Self-Service Options Are Key for Subscription Success

- Proactive Adjustments Could Save Your Business

- Retention Beats Acquisition: The Smart Strategy

- Building Trust with Transparent Billing

- Automation: The Secret Weapon for Compliance

- How Transparent Cancellation Policies Build Loyalty

- Data-Driven Strategies for Reducing Churn

- The Future of Subscription Services Depends on Complianc

Takeaways

1️⃣ Make Cancellations Effortless to Stay Compliant

2️⃣ Stop Misleading Ads Before the FTC Hits You with Fines

3️⃣ Streamline Billing Disclosures for Consumer Trust

4️⃣ Implement Self-Serve Tools for Smooth Subscription Management

5️⃣ Use Data to Prevent Cancellations Before They Happen

04:08 FTC's New Click to Cancel Rule

05:33 Legal Implications of the New Rule

05:47 Industry Experts Weigh In

07:04 Core Tenets of the FTC Rule

11:19 Changes from Proposal to Final Rule

15:42 Effective Dates and Business Adjustments

16:42 Impact on Subscription Businesses

17:10 Solvpath's Role in Adapting to Changes

21:10 Data-Driven Approaches to Reduce Churn

22:28 Challenges and Compliance Strategies

33:54 In-Person and Telephone Sales Compliance

42:56 Final Thoughts and Recommendations

43:43 Pre-Canned Solutions for Easy Compliance

43:58 The Benefits of Easy Cancellation

44:40 Understanding the Full Billing Cycle

45:11 FTC's Perspective on Cancellation

47:13 Post-Sale Strategies for Customer Retention

48:53 The Importance of Compliance

49:41 Challenges for New Advertisers

50:14 The Role of Self-Serve Automation

50:32 Impact of New Regulations on Advertisers

58:41 Long-Term Perspective on Compliance

59:57 Future Expectations in the Marketplace

01:11:10 Aligning with Card Brand Rules

01:18:51 Final Thoughts and Positive Takeaways

Links:

Solvpath: https:getsolvpath.com/

Bakerhsosltetler: https://www.bakerlaw.com/

Fintech Confidential

YouTube: https://fintechconfidential.com/watch

Podcast: https://fintechconfidential.com/listen

Notifications: https://fintechconfidential.com/access

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/FTconfidential

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

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

Supporters

Time Stamps:

[insert timestamps from transcript]

This is a Production of Diamond D3, Media

In this episode of FinTech Confidential, host Tedd Huff interviews Jordan Olivas, the founder of Harvv, a B2B accounts receivables financing platform. The conversation focuses on how Harvv is helping businesses in traditional industries, such as recreational vehicles, construction, raw materials, and consumer packaged goods, by offering innovative financial solutions that streamline their payment processes and improve cash flow. Throughout the discussion, Jordan shares valuable insights on the challenges these industries face and how Harvv’s platform addresses these issues by making the payment and financing process easier for both sellers and buyers.

Key Highlights

• Why Flexible Payment Terms Are the Key to Faster Cash Flow
• The Secret to Reducing Financial Risk with Payment Solutions
• How Automation Saves Time in Managing Payments
• Why In-House Financing Comes with Hidden Costs
• What Traditional Industries Need to Know About Payment Terms
• Why Customer Service Plays a Big Role in Payment Success
• How Tight-Margin Industries Can Improve Financial Stability
• Streamlined Onboarding Can Make or Break Payment Systems
• Why Reverse Factoring Beats Traditional Financing
• The Importance of Perseverance in Business Success

Takeaways

1️⃣ Get Paid Faster with Flexible Payment Options

2️⃣ Automate to Eliminate Manual Payment Chasing

3️⃣ Shift Credit Risk to Buyers for Safer Deals

4️⃣ Reduce Hidden Costs by Outsourcing Financing Tasks

5️⃣ Offer Multiple Payment Methods for Customer Convenience

Supporters

Under: Revolutionize merchant applications with digital transformation. Discover more at https://under.io/ftc

Skyflow, privacy platform trusted by leading financial institutions, to protect customers’ data. www.skyflowsecure.com

HAWK: Enhance compliance with real-time monitoring and advanced AI. https://gethawkai.com for better compliance.

Links:

[Company Name]

Website:

Linkedin:

Facebook:

Instagram:

Twitter:

Youtube:

Fintech Confidential

YouTube: https://fintechconfidential.com/watch

Podcast: https://fintechconfidential.com/listen

Notifications: https://fintechconfidential.com/access

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/FTconfidential

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

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

Supporters

Support is provided by MPC 2023, the premier event for fintech leaders. This is your chance to shake hands and rub shoulders with the world's top experts in payments, loyalty, blockchain, digital currencies, cybersecurity, consumer privacy, and other emerging fintech solutions connecting you directly with the future of commerce.

If you haven't already, mark your calendars for August 23rd through the 25th and join me and Fintech Confidential at the Westin Atlanta Perimeter North.

When you sign up for FinTech confidential notifications, you will receive a discount from $50 to 100% off.

Or use this link for $50 of registration. https://mpcevent.com/FTC50

This is a Production of Diamond D3, Media

ABOUT:

Jordan Olivas: Jordan is the founder of Harvv, a rapidly growing B2B factoring platform that's revolutionizing financing for traditional industries like raw materials, solar, construction, and consumer packaged goods.

Before Harvv, he founded QisstPay, which became one of the largest Buy Now, Pay Later services in Asia. Under Jordan's leadership, QisstPay partnered with over 1,000 brands, including major players like Samsung and Lenovo.

Jordan's experience spans from startups to corporate leadership roles. He's worked with some of the biggest names in fintech, including Klarna and ChargeAfter. His expertise in lending, revenue growth, and strategic partnerships has made him a sought-after leader in the industry.

Harvv: Harvv is a B2B financing platform that helps businesses improve cash flow. Offering flexible payment terms and shifting credit risk to buyers, it allows companies to get paid upfront. With seamless automation and integration with accounting software, it simplifies invoicing, reduces delays, and cuts the costs of in-house financing, enabling businesses to grow confidently.

Tedd Huff: Tedd Huff is the Co-Founder of Voalyre, and the President & Founder of Diamond D3, a professional services consulting firm focused on global payments and marketing. He is also a video podcast host and producer of Fintech Confidential.

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

Chapters

00:00 - Leaders 1:1 Jordan Olivas Preview

Introduction to the episode and guest Jordan Olivas.

03:06 - Jordan Olivas’ Journey and Harvv’s Impact

Overview of Jordan’s background and the creation of Harvv.

05:03 - Transitioning from BNPL to B2B Financing

Jordan explains his shift from consumer Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) to B2B financing.

06:45 - Challenges in B2B Financing

Discussion of the obstacles Harvv faced in traditional industries.

07:47 - Educating Traditional Industries

The importance of educating businesses about modern financing solutions.

12:47 - Sales Strategies and Market Focus

How Harvv targets sales and focuses on specific industries.

14:19 - Leveraging Technology for Cashflow

How technology and automation enhance cash flow and reduce manual work.

15:18 - Automation and Integration

Discussion of Harvv’s automation features and system integration capabilities.

20:39 - Hidden Costs of In-House Financing

Explanation of the unseen expenses businesses face with in-house financing.

21:54 - Customer Payment Challenges

Challenges businesses face with late payments and customer creditworthiness.

23:07 - Understanding Factoring in Business

Insight into how factoring works and how Harvv’s reverse factoring differs.

26:10 - Future Trends in B2B Financing

Predictions for the future of B2B financing and emerging trends.

27:27 - Innovative Solutions for Accounts Receivables

Harvv’s unique solutions for modernizing accounts receivable management.

36:18 - Risk Management in B2B Financing

How Harvv helps businesses manage financial risks effectively.

36:56 - Advice for Entrepreneurs

Jordan shares key advice for entrepreneurs about resilience and perseverance.

40:58 - Closing Thoughts and Final Words

Final reflections from Jordan on Harvv’s mission and Tedd Huff wraps up the episode.

The main focus of the discussion is about making business identity verification smoother and faster. Financial institutions are constantly trying to figure out how to trust the businesses they work with. Traditionally, this process has been slow, complicated, and full of risks. Nowadays, technology helps solve these problems by verifying business identities in real-time. The result is a more secure onboarding process, which cuts down on fraud and makes it easier for businesses to prove who they are.

What’s really cool is that it doesn’t stop at just checking identities. Companies now have tools that can keep an eye on businesses long after they’ve been verified. Instead of just doing a one-time check, financial institutions get real-time updates if something about a business changes. So if a new risk pops up or fraud becomes more likely, they’re alerted immediately. This continuous monitoring is a big win for risk management, helping financial institutions stay ahead of any potential issues.

Another important takeaway from the episode is how AI is used. There’s a lot of talk about AI in the world of fintech, but the key here is that it’s not about the technology itself—it’s about what it can do. AI makes fraud detection faster and more reliable, but what really matters is that it helps solve problems in a practical way. The conversation makes it clear that financial institutions are less interested in how fancy the tech is and more interested in whether it works efficiently. And it does—by preventing fraud and helping businesses stay compliant with regulations.

The episode also touches on what it takes to secure funding and build a successful fintech company. There’s a lot of emphasis on having a strong team and a clear vision. Investors want to see that the company can actually deliver results, and that the team behind it knows what they’re doing. This is especially important in fintech, where the stakes are high and customers expect things to work flawlessly. It’s not enough to just have a good idea—you need to prove that it can succeed in the real world.

One of the more eye-opening parts of the episode is about the future of managing identities. The idea of controlling your identity through apps is something that could make things a lot easier for everyone, from individuals to large companies. While it’s still in the early stages, the potential is clear. If done right, it could make identity verification quicker and more secure, leading to better financial access for more people.

Toward the end, they discuss some up-and-coming companies that are also making waves in fintech. There’s mention of Not K, Solo, and LoanPro—companies that are tackling big problems like fraud prevention and business lending. These are the types of companies that could really change how the financial industry operates in the future.

All in all, this episode is filled with useful information for anyone interested in fintech or business risk management. The focus is on how technology is helping solve real-world problems like fraud and compliance, and the tips on building a strong team and securing funding are especially helpful for anyone looking to break into the space. It’s definitely worth a listen if you want to understand where the industry is headed and how these challenges are being tackled with new tools and strategies.

Key Highlights

The Secret to Fraud Prevention Nobody Talks About

In this episode, you’ll learn how real-time data monitoring can help financial institutions stay ahead of fraudsters. Instead of waiting for fraud to happen, companies now have tools that keep constant track of business activities. This helps them get alerted immediately when something looks off, saving both time and money.

Why AI Isn’t the Hero of This Story

We’ve all heard about AI, but it’s not the focus here. What matters is how it’s used to solve problems. You’ll find out how AI works behind the scenes to speed up fraud detection and make identity verification smoother, without it being just a flashy headline.

How to Win Over Investors with a Solid Team

One of the biggest takeaways is that investors care more about the team behind a product than just the product itself. Learn how having the right people in place is key to securing funding, and why investors need to believe in the team’s ability to deliver results.

The Future of Identity Verification—What’s Next?

Controlling your identity through apps could soon become the norm. This segment explores how the future of identity management is changing and what it means for businesses and individuals alike. The possibilities are exciting, especially when it comes to improving security and access.

Ongoing Monitoring: The Fraud Prevention Tool You Didn’t Know You Needed

Why stop at verifying a business once? With ongoing monitoring, financial institutions get updates anytime something changes, helping them stay on top of new risks. This clip explains how this constant watch is a game-changer in risk management.

Stop Pitching AI—Start Solving Problems

Too many companies make a big deal out of using AI. But what really matters is solving the customer’s problem. In this episode, you’ll hear how focusing on real solutions, rather than technology buzzwords, is what sets successful companies apart.

How Real-Time Data Changes the Game for Fraud Prevention

The speed of fraud detection is critical. Financial institutions need to act fast to prevent losses. This highlight explains how using real-time data gives companies the edge they need to quickly catch fraud before it spirals out of control.

Raising $6.5M: What Investors Really Want to See

Jonathan breaks down how Baselayer raised $6.5 million in seed funding. This clip covers the importance of demonstrating real-world applications and having a team that can back it up, showing that investors want more than just a good idea.

The Growing Threat of Credit Stacking and Synthetic Identity Fraud

With businesses lending bigger amounts, the risk of fraud grows. This segment dives into how companies are using new tools to fight credit stacking and synthetic identities, protecting themselves from these rising threats.

Business Lending Done Right—How Companies Are Staying Safe

Lending money to businesses can be risky, but new tools are making it easier to decide who to trust. This clip looks at how businesses are using real-time analysis and ongoing monitoring to make smarter decisions when it comes to lending money.

Takeaways

1️⃣ Stick to a Long-Term Strategy

Don’t get sidetracked by short-term goals. Founders who prioritize a long-term strategy, like Baselayer does with its focus on risk management and compliance, set themselves up for sustainable success. Baselayer’s tools help fintech companies manage risks more efficiently, freeing them to focus on growth.

2️⃣ Balance Confidence with Humility for Success

Fintech founders need to believe in their vision, but they also need to listen to smarter people around them. Success comes from balancing confidence with humility, knowing when to push forward and when to lean on expert advice. Dropping your ego and accepting help is key to navigating the challenges of the fintech world.

3️⃣ Build Strong Relationships to Win in Fintech

Networking is crucial in fintech. Focus on creating genuine relationships that can help you grow your company. Whether you’re pitching to investors or partnering with other businesses, solid connections are essential to long-term success.

4️⃣ Prevent Fraud with Real-Time Monitoring

Take action by incorporating Baselayer’s real-time monitoring into your operations. Baselayer continuously tracks business activities, providing instant alerts when risks or fraud arise. This proactive approach gives your company the tools to prevent issues before they escalate, improving trust and security.

5️⃣ Prepare for the Future of Identity Control

The future of fintech could be all about controlling your identity through apps. This could dramatically reduce fraud and make financial services more accessible. Understanding these trends can help your company stay ahead of the curve.

Links:

Baselayer:

Website: https://baselayerhq.com/

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

Jonathan Awad LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jsawadd/

Fintech Confidential

YouTube: https://fintechconfidential.com/watch

Podcast: https://fintechconfidential.com/listen

Notifications: https://fintechconfidential.com/access

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/FTconfidential

Instagram:...]]>In this episode of FinTech Confidential, Tedd Huff and Colton Pond chat with Jonathan Awad, co-founder and CEO of Baselayer. They cover some pretty interesting topics around identity verification and fraud prevention for businesses, especially small and medium-sized ones. The conversation is packed with useful insights into how financial institutions are dealing with these challenges, and how new tech is changing the game for everyone involved.

The main focus of the discussion is about making business identity verification smoother and faster. Financial institutions are constantly trying to figure out how to trust the businesses they work with. Traditionally, this process has been slow, complicated, and full of risks. Nowadays, technology helps solve these problems by verifying business identities in real-time. The result is a more secure onboarding process, which cuts down on fraud and makes it easier for businesses to prove who they are.

What’s really cool is that it doesn’t stop at just checking identities. Companies now have tools that can keep an eye on businesses long after they’ve been verified. Instead of just doing a one-time check, financial institutions get real-time updates if something about a business changes. So if a new risk pops up or fraud becomes more likely, they’re alerted immediately. This continuous monitoring is a big win for risk management, helping financial institutions stay ahead of any potential issues.

Another important takeaway from the episode is how AI is used. There’s a lot of talk about AI in the world of fintech, but the key here is that it’s not about the technology itself—it’s about what it can do. AI makes fraud detection faster and more reliable, but what really matters is that it helps solve problems in a practical way. The conversation makes it clear that financial institutions are less interested in how fancy the tech is and more interested in whether it works efficiently. And it does—by preventing fraud and helping businesses stay compliant with regulations.

The episode also touches on what it takes to secure funding and build a successful fintech company. There’s a lot of emphasis on having a strong team and a clear vision. Investors want to see that the company can actually deliver results, and that the team behind it knows what they’re doing. This is especially important in fintech, where the stakes are high and customers expect things to work flawlessly. It’s not enough to just have a good idea—you need to prove that it can succeed in the real world.

One of the more eye-opening parts of the episode is about the future of managing identities. The idea of controlling your identity through apps is something that could make things a lot easier for everyone, from individuals to large companies. While it’s still in the early stages, the potential is clear. If done right, it could make identity verification quicker and more secure, leading to better financial access for more people.

Toward the end, they discuss some up-and-coming companies that are also making waves in fintech. There’s mention of Not K, Solo, and LoanPro—companies that are tackling big problems like fraud prevention and business lending. These are the types of companies that could really change how the financial industry operates in the future.

All in all, this episode is filled with useful information for anyone interested in fintech or business risk management. The focus is on how technology is helping solve real-world problems like fraud and compliance, and the tips on building a strong team and securing funding are especially helpful for anyone looking to break into the space. It’s definitely worth a listen if you want to understand where the industry is headed and how these challenges are being tackled with new tools and strategies.

Key Highlights

The Secret to Fraud Prevention Nobody Talks About

In this episode, you’ll learn how real-time data monitoring can help financial institutions stay ahead of fraudsters. Instead of waiting for fraud to happen, companies now have tools that keep constant track of business activities. This helps them get alerted immediately when something looks off, saving both time and money.

Why AI Isn’t the Hero of This Story

We’ve all heard about AI, but it’s not the focus here. What matters is how it’s used to solve problems. You’ll find out how AI works behind the scenes to speed up fraud detection and make identity verification smoother, without it being just a flashy headline.

How to Win Over Investors with a Solid Team

One of the biggest takeaways is that investors care more about the team behind a product than just the product itself. Learn how having the right people in place is key to securing funding, and why investors need to believe in the team’s ability to deliver results.

The Future of Identity Verification—What’s Next?

Controlling your identity through apps could soon become the norm. This segment explores how the future of identity management is changing and what it means for businesses and individuals alike. The possibilities are exciting, especially when it comes to improving security and access.

Ongoing Monitoring: The Fraud Prevention Tool You Didn’t Know You Needed

Why stop at verifying a business once? With ongoing monitoring, financial institutions get updates anytime something changes, helping them stay on top of new risks. This clip explains how this constant watch is a game-changer in risk management.

Stop Pitching AI—Start Solving Problems

Too many companies make a big deal out of using AI. But what really matters is solving the customer’s problem. In this episode, you’ll hear how focusing on real solutions, rather than technology buzzwords, is what sets successful companies apart.

How Real-Time Data Changes the Game for Fraud Prevention

The speed of fraud detection is critical. Financial institutions need to act fast to prevent losses. This highlight explains how using real-time data gives companies the edge they need to quickly catch fraud before it spirals out of control.

Raising $6.5M: What Investors Really Want to See

Jonathan breaks down how Baselayer raised $6.5 million in seed funding. This clip covers the importance of demonstrating real-world applications and having a team that can back it up, showing that investors want more than just a good idea.

The Growing Threat of Credit Stacking and Synthetic Identity Fraud

With businesses lending bigger amounts, the risk of fraud grows. This segment dives into how companies are using new tools to fight credit stacking and synthetic identities, protecting themselves from these rising threats.

Business Lending Done Right—How Companies Are Staying Safe

Lending money to businesses can be risky, but new tools are making it easier to decide who to trust. This clip looks at how businesses are using real-time analysis and ongoing monitoring to make smarter decisions when it comes to lending money.

Takeaways

1️⃣ Stick to a Long-Term Strategy

Don’t get sidetracked by short-term goals. Founders who prioritize a long-term strategy, like Baselayer does with its focus on risk management and compliance, set themselves up for sustainable success. Baselayer’s tools help fintech companies manage risks more efficiently, freeing them to focus on growth.

2️⃣ Balance Confidence with Humility for Success

Fintech founders need to believe in their vision, but they also need to listen to smarter people around them. Success comes from balancing confidence with humility, knowing when to push forward and when to lean on expert advice. Dropping your ego and accepting help is key to navigating the challenges of the fintech world.

3️⃣ Build Strong Relationships to Win in Fintech

Networking is crucial in fintech. Focus on creating genuine relationships that can help you grow your company. Whether you’re pitching to investors or partnering with other businesses, solid connections are essential to long-term success.

4️⃣ Prevent Fraud with Real-Time Monitoring

Take action by incorporating Baselayer’s real-time monitoring into your operations. Baselayer continuously tracks business activities, providing instant alerts when risks or fraud arise. This proactive approach gives your company the tools to prevent issues before they escalate, improving trust and security.

5️⃣ Prepare for the Future of Identity Control

The future of fintech could be all about controlling your identity through apps. This could dramatically reduce fraud and make financial services more accessible. Understanding these trends can help your company stay ahead of the curve.

Links:

Baselayer:

Website: https://baselayerhq.com/

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

Jonathan Awad LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jsawadd/

Fintech Confidential

YouTube: https://fintechconfidential.com/watch

Podcast: https://fintechconfidential.com/listen

Notifications: https://fintechconfidential.com/access

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/FTconfidential

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

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

Supporters

LoanPro: As default rates continue to rise and margins compress in lending, financial organizations are searching for solutions that combine operational efficiency with innovation. Look no further, as LoanPro allows lenders to enhance their origination, servicing, collections, and payments using the foundation of a modern lending core. Check out loanpro.io/demo to learn how 600+ financial organizations have modernized their tech stack with LoanPro.

CheckAlt: a game-changer in the financial world: ClearingWorks. Simplify your financial management with a one-stop solution for all your AR needs and with a single login. Intrigued? Visit https://clearingworks.com to schedule your demo today.

Skyflow, the leading data privacy platform trusted by top financial institutions. Protect your customers' data with Skyflow's innovative solutions. Get started at www.skyflowsecure.com

Under: Transform Your Merchant Applications with Under. The Under platform revolutionizes the way ISOs handle merchant applications, offering a seamless transition to digital forms. Say goodbye to outdated processes and hello to efficiency. Discover the future of financial applications at https://under.io/ftc

HAWK:AI - A game-changing approach to compliance. With real-time monitoring, adaptive learning, and advanced AI, it cuts false positives, simplifying your compliance efforts. Upgrade your surveillance with ease. Visit https://gethawkai.com for more intelligent, more effective compliance.

This is a Production of Diamond D3, Media

ABOUT:

Jonathan Awad: Jonathan Awad is a seasoned entrepreneur and fintech expert. As the Co-Founder and CEO of Baselayer, he focuses on enhancing fraud prevention and risk management solutions. Drawing on his background in finance and technology, Jonathan delivers cutting-edge, privacy-compliant platforms for financial institutions. His expertise spans both traditional banking and fintech, reflecting a deep commitment to advancing financial solutions through strategic partnerships and advanced technology.

Baselayer: Baselayer empowers financial institutions and government agencies to trust the small and medium-sized businesses they serve. The company uses proprietary machine learning to search government records, the web, and private databases to answer questions about compliance, risk, or fraud for any business in the United States.

Their solution suite includes tools for identity verification (Know Your Business), enhanced due diligence, fraud prevention, risk profiling, lien filing, and portfolio monitoring. Baselayer’s platform also offers unique credit stacking capabilities and an advanced repeat fraud prevention system. The platform is integrated into companies with over 30 million accounts, rating and verifying real-time applications.

Host:

Tedd Huff is the Co-Founder of Voalyre and the President & Founder of Diamond D3, a consultancy renowned for its expertise in global payments and marketing. With over two decades of experience in FinTech, Huff has played a pivotal role in shaping the industry through his contributions to various startups and established companies, focusing on growth, innovation, process improvements, and enhancing user experience in the complexity of payments.

Colton Pond: Colton Pond is a seasoned marketing executive with a strong fintech and financial services background. In his latest role, Colton is the CMO for LoanPro's API-first lending platform, aiming to meet the increasing market demands. His track record includes a significant tenure at Truv, where he led the marketing team to achieve a 300% growth in year-over-year revenue. Colton has also held key marketing and sales positions at MX, Lucid, and HealthEquity, demonstrating his ability to drive success and innovation within the fintech sector.

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

Timestamps:

00:11 Episode Highlights

04:05 Jonathan Awad's Financial World Journey

09:21 Understanding Fraud and Verification

10:22 The Business Side of Fraud Prevention

14:48 Building a Business Credit Bureau

19:09 Insights on FinTech Founding and Funding

22:15 The Future of VC Fundraising

30:01 Understanding VC Perspectives

30:58 Building Relationships with VCs

31:52 The Art of Fundraising

33:12 Strategic Product Roadmapping

35:29 AI and Machine Learning in FinTech

36:51 The Role of AI in Business Identity

38:53 Streamlining Applications with UNDER

39:23 Navigating Regulatory Challenges

42:39 Future of Identity and Fraud Prevention

46:04 The Evolution of Credit Scoring

47:47 FinTech Companies to Watch

50:05 Controversial Takes in FinTech

53:25 Closing Thoughts and Future Outlook

In this episode of Leaders One on One by Fintech Confidential, Tedd Huff talks with Scarlett Sieber, the Chief Strategy and Growth Officer at Money 20/20, about the key trends and issues shaping the fintech industry. The episode focuses on topics like fraud prevention, artificial intelligence (AI), regulations, and how fintech events like Money 20/20 help companies connect and grow.

Key Highlights

How AI is Redefining Fraud Detection

Tightening Regulations in Fintech

Super Apps Are Changing Everyday Transactions

Simplifying Cross-Border Payments

Open Banking Drives New Services

Fintech Events: More Than Just Networking

The Growing Focus on Fraud Prevention

The Power of Networking in Fintech

Flexibility Is Key for Fintech Startups

Compliance: A Growing Concern for Fintech

Takeaways

1️⃣ Leverage Competitive Networking at Conferences

2️⃣ Make the Most of Focused Content Sessions

3️⃣ Use Customer Feedback to Improve Fintech Offerings

4️⃣ Adapt to Market-Specific Models

5️⃣ Capitalize on Strategic Partnerships with Tech Giants

Supporters

Under: Revolutionize merchant applications with digital transformation. Discover more at https://under.io/ftc

Skyflow, privacy platform trusted by leading financial institutions, to protect customers’ data. www.skyflowsecure.com

HAWK: Enhance compliance with real-time monitoring and advanced AI. https://gethawkai.com for better compliance.

About:

Scarlett Sieber: Scarlett is the Chief Strategy and Growth Officer at Money20/20 and a bestselling author, having recently published "Embedded Finance: When Payments Become An Experience. Scarlett's expertise has been recognized by her appointment as a senior advisor to NASA, and her diverse career spans various roles in the finance and tech sectors. She was previously Vice President at USA where she led their newly created business development initiative and as Chief Innovation Officer of Opus Bank, she led the digital strategy and transformation for Opus and its $15B trust subsidiary, Pensco.

Money 20/20: Founded in 2011, Money20/20 creates destination shows where the most innovative people in payments, fintech, and the broader financial services industry connect. Famed for their high-impact networking, theUSA, Europe and Asia editions are regarded as unmissable by financial services professionals. Money20/20 is the space where the industry's smartest visionaries and innovators come together to create the future of money. Money20/20 is an Ascential show.

Tedd Huff: Tedd Huff is the Co-Founder of Voalyre, and the President & Founder of Diamond D3, a professional services consulting firm focused on global payments and marketing. He is also a video podcast host and producer of Fintech Confidential.

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

Chapters

00:19 Episode Highlights

02:09 Meet Scarlett Sieber

03:39 The Sneaker Contest

05:15 What Makes Money2020 Special

06:56 Scarlett's Path from Accounting to Startups

09:23 From Startups to Financial Services

13:55 The Importance of Access in FinTech

15:39 Regional Differences and Copycat Models in FinTech

21:11 The Role of Regulation in FinTech

24:23 The Impact of Technology on Regulation

26:24 The Intersection of FinTechs and Traditional Banks

29:26 Money2020 as a Platform for Announcements and Growth

32:33 Meet Tina: The Swedish PR Powerhouse

33:00 Nala's Big Break at the Press Lunch

33:28 Navigating the Ecosystem: Goals and Surprises

34:00 Global FinTech Ecosystems: A Comparative Analysis

34:28 Cross-Border Payments and LoanPro's Solution

35:09 AI and Fraud: The Asian Focus

35:28 Open Banking: Regional Differences

36:04 Super Apps and AI: The Big Topics

36:52 Structuring Content: The AI Debate

37:15 NVIDIA and Oracle: Partners in FinTech AI

37:46 Open Banking for Different Audiences

38:38 The Importance of Customer Feedback

38:55 AI in FinTech: A Feature or a Product?

40:43 The Role of Big Tech in FinTech

41:35 The Hidden Investments in AI

42:48 The Search for a FinTech Beacon

43:45 Embedded Finance: Created for FinTech vs. General Use

45:55 Facilitating Connections at Money 2020

50:02 The Importance of Planning and Downtime

51:22 Wellness and Preparation for Conferences

52:57 The Power of Follow-Through

54:12 Looking into the Future of FinTech

56:02 Advice for Startup Founders

58:44 Wrapping Up: Final Thoughts and Thanks

59:26 FinTech Confidential: Closing Remarks

Throughout the discussion, Alex emphasizes how the company focuses on customers, improves efficiency, and adapts to changes in the market.

Best Egg has grown significantly since its start in 2014. Alex explains that one of the key factors behind this growth is the company's commitment to understanding and serving its customers. By listening to what borrowers need and being flexible with repayment plans, Best Egg has been able to keep its customers satisfied and loyal.

This focus on customer experience has helped them create services that meet the needs of people from different financial backgrounds.

One of the standout points Alex mentions is how Best Egg adjusted during the COVID-19 pandemic. During this time, many people faced financial challenges, and the company responded by offering flexible repayment options to help borrowers manage their loans. This approach not only helped customers during a difficult time but also strengthened the relationship between the company and its clients.

Alex also touches on how Best Egg uses technology to improve both the efficiency of its operations and the experience of its customers. For example, they have created self-service tools that allow customers to manage their loans online. This means borrowers can adjust their payments or check their account details whenever they need to, without having to contact customer service. By making the loan process easier and more convenient, Best Egg has increased customer satisfaction while also reducing costs.

Looking forward, Alex predicts that data and personalization will play a big role in the future of lending. He believes that companies will need to use customer data to offer more tailored services that meet individual needs. This shift could make the lending process more efficient and more responsive to what customers want. While some may see this as a challenge, Alex views it as an opportunity for Best Egg to continue to grow and succeed.

Best Egg's focus on its employees also contributes to its success. Alex explains that the company works hard to ensure that its staff feels valued and supported. By keeping employee turnover low, Best Egg maintains a workforce that is experienced and dedicated to providing excellent service. This, in turn, benefits the company’s customers, as they receive help from knowledgeable and motivated employees.

Throughout the episode, Alex also discusses how the company uses advanced technology like artificial intelligence (AI) to improve its operations. For example, AI can help streamline certain tasks, allowing employees to focus on more important aspects of their work. This use of technology not only improves efficiency but also enhances the overall experience for both employees and customers.

Alex wraps up the conversation by reflecting on what lies ahead for the lending industry. He believes that personalization, the effective use of data, and a continued focus on customer service will be key factors that separate successful companies from the rest. While there will always be challenges, Best Egg is well-positioned to continue meeting the needs of its customers and growing as a company.

In summary, this episode provides a thorough look at how Best Egg has managed to succeed in a competitive industry. By focusing on customer experience, using technology to improve efficiency, and investing in its employees, the company has built a strong foundation for future success. As the lending industry evolves, Best Egg’s ability to adapt and remain customer-focused will likely keep it at the forefront of personal lending.

Key Highlights

Customer Retention Through Flexible Loan Options

Offering flexible repayment plans and easy self-service tools helps build long-term customer loyalty. This approach makes the borrowing experience smoother and more personalized, keeping clients satisfied.

Staying Competitive in the Personal Lending Market

Rather than focusing solely on interest rates, providing a streamlined service and easy management tools sets lenders apart. Flexibility in repayment options adds another layer of value for borrowers.

Artificial Intelligence Enhances Efficiency in Lending

Using AI to handle repetitive tasks allows employees to focus on improving the customer experience. This approach boosts operational efficiency while ensuring that borrowers receive better service.

The Role of Data in Shaping Future Lending Services

Personalized services driven by customer data are becoming the norm. As lending companies leverage data insights, they can offer more tailored financial products that meet the specific needs of individual borrowers.

Adapting Loan Repayment During Financial Hardships

Introducing flexible repayment options during crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, shows the importance of responding to customer needs. This adaptability strengthens borrower relationships in uncertain times.

The Rise of Self-Service Tools in Personal Finance

Self-service portals give borrowers control over their loan management. These tools make it easier for customers to adjust payments, check balances, and manage accounts without waiting for assistance, offering a faster, more convenient experience.

Employee Satisfaction Drives Better Customer Service

A company’s success often relies on keeping employees motivated and reducing turnover. Supportive work environments lead to knowledgeable, committed teams that deliver high-quality customer service.

Customer Feedback Shapes Financial Product Development

Active engagement with customer feedback ensures that lending services meet the real needs of borrowers. Adapting products based on this input keeps services aligned with customer expectations and market demands.

Combining Operational Efficiency with Excellent Service

Streamlined processes and the use of technology help maintain a balance between efficiency and customer satisfaction. By reducing the need for manual intervention, companies can lower costs while still delivering top-notch service.

Preparing for the Shift Toward Personalized Lending

As the lending industry evolves, personalization and data-driven products are becoming increasingly important. By offering more tailored solutions, lenders are positioning themselves to meet future borrower expectations.

Takeaways

1️⃣ Maximize Borrower Satisfaction with Flexible Payment Plans

Offer your customers flexibility in repayment options to increase satisfaction and build loyalty, especially during challenging financial times.

2️⃣ Leverage AI for Streamlined Operations

Implement AI to handle routine tasks, allowing your team to focus on customer-facing activities that enhance service and efficiency.

3️⃣ Use Self-Service Portals to Empower Customers

Set up self-service tools that allow customers to manage their loans independently, reducing the need for constant customer support and improving convenience.

4️⃣ Turn Customer Feedback into Product Improvements

Actively gather and apply customer feedback to fine-tune your products, ensuring they meet real needs and stay competitive in the market.

5️⃣ Keep Your Workforce Engaged to Boost Service Quality

Prioritize employee satisfaction and retention, which leads to a more motivated team that delivers better customer experiences.

Links:

Alex Rhodes

LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-rhodes-b789926/

Best Egg

Website: https://www.bestegg.com/

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

Fintech Confidential:

Listen: https://fintechconfidential.com/listen

Subscribe: 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.linkedin.com/in/alex-rhodes-b789926/

Best Egg

Website: https://www.bestegg.com/

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

Fintech Confidential:

Listen: https://fintechconfidential.com/listen

Subscribe: 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

LoanPro: As default rates continue to rise and margins compress in lending, financial organizations are searching for solutions that combine operational efficiency with innovation. Look no further, as LoanPro allows lenders to enhance their origination, servicing, collections, and payments using the foundation of a modern lending core. Check out loanpro.io/demo to learn how 600+ financial organizations have modernized their tech stack with LoanPro.

CheckAlt: a game-changer in the financial world: ClearingWorks. Simplify your financial management with a one-stop solution for all your AR needs and with a single login. Intrigued? Visit https://clearingworks.com to schedule your demo today.

Skyflow, the leading data privacy platform trusted by top financial institutions. Protect your customers' data with Skyflow's innovative solutions. Get started at www.skyflowsecure.com

Under: Transform Your Merchant Applications with Under. The Under platform revolutionizes the way ISOs handle merchant applications, offering a seamless transition to digital forms. Say goodbye to outdated processes and hello to efficiency. Discover the future of financial applications at https://under.io/ftc

HAWK:AI - A game-changing approach to compliance. With real-time monitoring, adaptive learning, and advanced AI, it cuts false positives, simplifying your compliance efforts. Upgrade your surveillance with ease. Visit https://gethawkai.com for more intelligent, more effective compliance.

About:

Guest

Alex Rhodes:   Alex Rhodes: Alex Rhodes serves as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) at Best Egg, bringing over 20 years of experience in business strategy and operations. With a career that includes leadership roles at financial giants like Barclaycard and Bank of America, Alex has a deep understanding of the lending industry. At Best Egg, he plays a key role in driving the company's customer-focused initiatives, enhancing operational efficiency, and leveraging technology to improve both employee and borrower experiences. Alex’s expertise lies in creating scalable solutions that meet the evolving demands of the financial services sector.

Best Egg: Best Egg is a leading financial technology company that specializes in providing personal loans to individuals. The company focuses on making the lending process straightforward and accessible, offering flexible repayment options and easy-to-use online self-service tools. Best Egg has originated billions of dollars in personal loans and is known for its customer-first approach, using data to personalize financial products and provide tailored solutions for borrowers. The company aims to create a seamless and efficient experience for users, helping them manage their financial needs with ease.

Host:

Tedd Huff is the Co-Founder of Voalyre and the President & Founder of Diamond D3, a consultancy renowned for its expertise in global payments and marketing. With over two decades of experience in FinTech, Huff has played a pivotal role in shaping the industry through his contributions to various startups and established companies, focusing on growth, innovation, process improvements, and enhancing user experience in the complexity of payments.

Colton Pond: Colton Pond is a seasoned marketing executive with a strong fintech and financial services background. In his latest role, Colton is the CMO for LoanPro's API-first lending platform, aiming to meet the increasing market demands. His track record includes a significant tenure at Truv, where he led the marketing team to achieve a 300% growth in year-over-year revenue. Colton has also held key marketing and sales positions at MX, Lucid, and HealthEquity, demonstrating his ability to drive success and innovation within the fintech sector.

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

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

02:57 Welcome Alex Rhodes

03:24 Alex Rhodes' Impressive Background

04:32 Transformation Journey

05:00 Success Strategies

09:30 Key Learnings

11:22 Differentiators in Personal Lending

13:21 The Secret Sauce

14:58 Self-Service Customer Engagement

16:41 Real-Life Customer Experience

18:08 Culture of Innovation

22:39 Operational Efficiency & Customer Experience

26:11 Response to COVID-19

32:50 Future of Personal Lending 

One of the central discussions revolves around the exodus of fintech founders. With many industry leaders leaving for other sectors, the conversation sheds light on the tough realities of fintech today. Increased regulatory scrutiny and a lack of investor enthusiasm are driving founders to seek opportunities outside the fintech space. Tedd and Rodney discuss what this means for the future of the industry and how remaining resilient is crucial for fintech entrepreneurs.

A major theme is how Solo Funds is disrupting traditional lending models, particularly payday loans. By allowing borrowers to set their own loan terms, Solo Funds gives users control over their financial decisions. This borrower-first approach is a stark contrast to payday loans, which often come with high fees and rigid repayment schedules. By focusing on flexibility and transparency, Solo Funds is transforming the way underserved communities access financial resources.

Another important topic is the role of transparency in building trust. The conversation highlights how Solo Funds provides borrowers with clear, upfront information on what others have paid for loans, ensuring users make informed decisions without hidden fees. This transparency not only increases borrower trust but also leads to better financial outcomes, including lower default rates. For fintech companies, transparency is presented as a key factor in earning user loyalty and reducing risk.

A recurring issue in the fintech space is the challenge of regulatory compliance. Rodney and Tedd explore how fintechs often face unclear regulations, creating roadblocks for growth. They emphasize the importance of fintech companies educating regulators and working closely with them to create a framework that supports innovation while ensuring compliance. The conversation points out that navigating the legal landscape is one of the most significant challenges for fintech startups, making collaboration with regulatory bodies a necessity for long-term success.

The episode also dives into the financial realities of launching a fintech company. Compliance and regulatory approval come with hefty costs, often in the millions, which can be a barrier for new entrants. For entrepreneurs looking to start a fintech business, understanding these hidden costs is essential. The discussion stresses that having financial backing and careful planning are critical for startups hoping to break into the competitive fintech market.

A key highlight of the conversation is Solo Funds’ status as a certified B Corporation, reflecting its commitment to social impact. Unlike profit-driven corporations, B Corps must meet high standards of social and environmental performance. This certification sets Solo Funds apart as a company focused on financial inclusion and empowering underserved communities. The conversation emphasizes how aligning business with a social mission can differentiate a company in a crowded fintech space.

An intriguing part of the discussion focuses on how Solo Funds empowers borrowers to become lenders. The platform not only helps borrowers access funds but also enables them to transition into lenders themselves over time. This unique model promotes long-term financial independence and provides a sustainable solution for users. The conversation illustrates how this approach fosters a cycle of empowerment, positioning Solo Funds as a model for creating financial autonomy.

A key takeaway for listeners is the importance of purpose-driven business strategies. Rodney emphasizes that staying committed to a core mission—such as providing financial access to underserved communities—can help companies navigate challenges and thrive. Tedd echoes this sentiment, underscoring the growing trend of fintech companies prioritizing social impact and purpose alongside profitability. For fintech entrepreneurs, aligning business goals with personal values is presented as a strategy for long-term success in an increasingly competitive industry.

Throughout the episode, Tedd and Rodney provide a comprehensive view of the current state of fintech, touching on regulatory challenges, financial transparency, and mission-driven business. Whether you are an entrepreneur, investor, or simply interested in fintech, the conversation offers valuable insights into the opportunities and obstacles shaping the future of financial technology.

Key Highlights

Why Are Fintech Founders Leaving for Netflix? 

Many fintech founders are leaving the industry, moving to companies like Netflix due to declining interest and increasing regulatory challenges. Rodney Williams highlights how these difficulties have shifted focus away from fintech and led entrepreneurs to seek opportunities elsewhere.

The Secret to Solo Funds' Borrower-Controlled Lending 

Solo Funds introduces a unique approach where borrowers have full control over their loan terms. This borrower-driven model includes decisions on loan amounts, repayment schedules, and fees, resulting in lower default rates compared to traditional lending methods.

How Solo Funds Outperforms the S&P 500 

Lenders on Solo Funds enjoy annual returns exceeding 20%, outperforming the average S&P 500 return. The platform enables individuals to earn by lending small amounts to those in need, creating an accessible and profitable investment opportunity for everyday people.

The Role of Transparency in Fintech Success 

Transparency plays a vital role in Solo Funds, allowing borrowers to view payment histories and loan terms from other users. This open approach builds trust, reduces default rates, and empowers borrowers to make informed financial decisions.

Why Regulators Struggle with Fintech 

Fintech companies like Solo Funds face challenges when dealing with regulatory bodies due to a lack of clear guidelines for new financial products. This absence of regulation often stifles growth, forcing fintechs to adapt within an uncertain legal framework.

The Real Cost of Starting a Fintech Company 

Starting a fintech company involves significant hidden costs, including compliance and regulatory approval expenses. Rodney Williams points out that securing sufficient financial backing is essential to overcome the barriers to entry in today’s market.

Why Solo Funds Is More Than a Lending Platform 

Solo Funds is designed to foster financial autonomy for underserved communities. By allowing borrowers to become lenders over time, the platform encourages a cycle of financial empowerment and self-sufficiency.

What It Means to Be a Certified B Corp in Fintech 

Solo Funds stands out as one of the few fintech companies certified as a B Corporation, reflecting its commitment to social impact. This certification aligns with its mission to provide fair, community-focused financial services, setting it apart from traditional financial institutions.

How Solo Funds Keeps Default Rates Low 

Solo Funds maintains low default rates by giving borrowers control over their loan terms. This system fosters accountability and financial responsibility, contributing to a more reliable and successful lending process.

Why Fintech Is Starving for Funding 

The fintech sector is experiencing a funding drought, with venture capitalists pulling back investments. This lack of financial support is forcing many fintech companies to shut down, highlighting the growing challenges within the industry.

Takeaways

1️⃣  Stop Letting Lenders Control the Terms

Solo Funds shows that giving borrowers control over their loan terms reduces defaults. Allowing borrowers to choose how much they borrow and when they repay leads to greater accountability and financial responsibility.

2️⃣  Boost Returns with Peer-to-Peer Lending   

Solo Funds provides lenders with a way to earn higher returns than traditional markets. By lending small amounts, everyday individuals can see significant growth in their earnings compared to other investment options.

3️⃣  Tackle Regulatory Hurdles with Empathy   

Rodney emphasizes the importance of fintech companies working with regulators, not against them. By understanding the limitations regulators face, fintech companies can foster better cooperation and create smoother pathways for growth.

4️⃣  Cut Startup Costs by Planning for Compliance   

Fintech startups must factor in the high costs of compliance and regulation from the start. Planning for these expenses early can help new companies avoid unexpected financial roadblocks down the line.

5️⃣  Turn Borrowers into Lenders for Long-Term Growth   

Solo Funds empowers borrowers to eventually become lenders. This approach not only helps individuals...]]>In this episode of FinTech Confidential’s Leaders One on One series, Tedd Huff and Rodney Williams, co-founder and president of Solo Funds, tackle key topics impacting the fintech world. The conversation explores the challenges and opportunities within the industry, providing listeners with fresh insights into financial technology and the evolution of lending models.

One of the central discussions revolves around the exodus of fintech founders. With many industry leaders leaving for other sectors, the conversation sheds light on the tough realities of fintech today. Increased regulatory scrutiny and a lack of investor enthusiasm are driving founders to seek opportunities outside the fintech space. Tedd and Rodney discuss what this means for the future of the industry and how remaining resilient is crucial for fintech entrepreneurs.

A major theme is how Solo Funds is disrupting traditional lending models, particularly payday loans. By allowing borrowers to set their own loan terms, Solo Funds gives users control over their financial decisions. This borrower-first approach is a stark contrast to payday loans, which often come with high fees and rigid repayment schedules. By focusing on flexibility and transparency, Solo Funds is transforming the way underserved communities access financial resources.

Another important topic is the role of transparency in building trust. The conversation highlights how Solo Funds provides borrowers with clear, upfront information on what others have paid for loans, ensuring users make informed decisions without hidden fees. This transparency not only increases borrower trust but also leads to better financial outcomes, including lower default rates. For fintech companies, transparency is presented as a key factor in earning user loyalty and reducing risk.

A recurring issue in the fintech space is the challenge of regulatory compliance. Rodney and Tedd explore how fintechs often face unclear regulations, creating roadblocks for growth. They emphasize the importance of fintech companies educating regulators and working closely with them to create a framework that supports innovation while ensuring compliance. The conversation points out that navigating the legal landscape is one of the most significant challenges for fintech startups, making collaboration with regulatory bodies a necessity for long-term success.

The episode also dives into the financial realities of launching a fintech company. Compliance and regulatory approval come with hefty costs, often in the millions, which can be a barrier for new entrants. For entrepreneurs looking to start a fintech business, understanding these hidden costs is essential. The discussion stresses that having financial backing and careful planning are critical for startups hoping to break into the competitive fintech market.

A key highlight of the conversation is Solo Funds’ status as a certified B Corporation, reflecting its commitment to social impact. Unlike profit-driven corporations, B Corps must meet high standards of social and environmental performance. This certification sets Solo Funds apart as a company focused on financial inclusion and empowering underserved communities. The conversation emphasizes how aligning business with a social mission can differentiate a company in a crowded fintech space.

An intriguing part of the discussion focuses on how Solo Funds empowers borrowers to become lenders. The platform not only helps borrowers access funds but also enables them to transition into lenders themselves over time. This unique model promotes long-term financial independence and provides a sustainable solution for users. The conversation illustrates how this approach fosters a cycle of empowerment, positioning Solo Funds as a model for creating financial autonomy.

A key takeaway for listeners is the importance of purpose-driven business strategies. Rodney emphasizes that staying committed to a core mission—such as providing financial access to underserved communities—can help companies navigate challenges and thrive. Tedd echoes this sentiment, underscoring the growing trend of fintech companies prioritizing social impact and purpose alongside profitability. For fintech entrepreneurs, aligning business goals with personal values is presented as a strategy for long-term success in an increasingly competitive industry.

Throughout the episode, Tedd and Rodney provide a comprehensive view of the current state of fintech, touching on regulatory challenges, financial transparency, and mission-driven business. Whether you are an entrepreneur, investor, or simply interested in fintech, the conversation offers valuable insights into the opportunities and obstacles shaping the future of financial technology.

Key Highlights

Why Are Fintech Founders Leaving for Netflix? 

Many fintech founders are leaving the industry, moving to companies like Netflix due to declining interest and increasing regulatory challenges. Rodney Williams highlights how these difficulties have shifted focus away from fintech and led entrepreneurs to seek opportunities elsewhere.

The Secret to Solo Funds' Borrower-Controlled Lending 

Solo Funds introduces a unique approach where borrowers have full control over their loan terms. This borrower-driven model includes decisions on loan amounts, repayment schedules, and fees, resulting in lower default rates compared to traditional lending methods.

How Solo Funds Outperforms the S&P 500 

Lenders on Solo Funds enjoy annual returns exceeding 20%, outperforming the average S&P 500 return. The platform enables individuals to earn by lending small amounts to those in need, creating an accessible and profitable investment opportunity for everyday people.

The Role of Transparency in Fintech Success 

Transparency plays a vital role in Solo Funds, allowing borrowers to view payment histories and loan terms from other users. This open approach builds trust, reduces default rates, and empowers borrowers to make informed financial decisions.

Why Regulators Struggle with Fintech 

Fintech companies like Solo Funds face challenges when dealing with regulatory bodies due to a lack of clear guidelines for new financial products. This absence of regulation often stifles growth, forcing fintechs to adapt within an uncertain legal framework.

The Real Cost of Starting a Fintech Company 

Starting a fintech company involves significant hidden costs, including compliance and regulatory approval expenses. Rodney Williams points out that securing sufficient financial backing is essential to overcome the barriers to entry in today’s market.

Why Solo Funds Is More Than a Lending Platform 

Solo Funds is designed to foster financial autonomy for underserved communities. By allowing borrowers to become lenders over time, the platform encourages a cycle of financial empowerment and self-sufficiency.

What It Means to Be a Certified B Corp in Fintech 

Solo Funds stands out as one of the few fintech companies certified as a B Corporation, reflecting its commitment to social impact. This certification aligns with its mission to provide fair, community-focused financial services, setting it apart from traditional financial institutions.

How Solo Funds Keeps Default Rates Low 

Solo Funds maintains low default rates by giving borrowers control over their loan terms. This system fosters accountability and financial responsibility, contributing to a more reliable and successful lending process.

Why Fintech Is Starving for Funding 

The fintech sector is experiencing a funding drought, with venture capitalists pulling back investments. This lack of financial support is forcing many fintech companies to shut down, highlighting the growing challenges within the industry.

Takeaways

1️⃣  Stop Letting Lenders Control the Terms

Solo Funds shows that giving borrowers control over their loan terms reduces defaults. Allowing borrowers to choose how much they borrow and when they repay leads to greater accountability and financial responsibility.

2️⃣  Boost Returns with Peer-to-Peer Lending   

Solo Funds provides lenders with a way to earn higher returns than traditional markets. By lending small amounts, everyday individuals can see significant growth in their earnings compared to other investment options.

3️⃣  Tackle Regulatory Hurdles with Empathy   

Rodney emphasizes the importance of fintech companies working with regulators, not against them. By understanding the limitations regulators face, fintech companies can foster better cooperation and create smoother pathways for growth.

4️⃣  Cut Startup Costs by Planning for Compliance   

Fintech startups must factor in the high costs of compliance and regulation from the start. Planning for these expenses early can help new companies avoid unexpected financial roadblocks down the line.

5️⃣  Turn Borrowers into Lenders for Long-Term Growth   

Solo Funds empowers borrowers to eventually become lenders. This approach not only helps individuals become more financially independent but also strengthens the platform's overall community by keeping capital within the system.

Links:

Rodney Williams

LinkedIn Profile: www.linkedin.com/in/rodneybwilliams

Instagram: instagram.com/rodneybwilliams

X : https://x.com/rodneybwilliams

SoLo Funds

Website: https://solofunds.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/solo-funds

Facebook: facebook.com/SoLoFundsInc

Instagram: instagram.com/solofunds

Fintech Confidential :

Listen: https://fintechconfidential.com/listen

Subscribe: 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: Transform Your Merchant Applications with Under. The

Under platform revolutionizes the way ISOs handle merchant applications,

offering a seamless transition to digital forms. Say goodbye to outdated

processes and hello to efficiency. Discover the future of financial

applications at

https://under.io/ftc

LoanPro: As default rates continue to rise and margins compress in lending, financial organizations are searching for solutions that combine operational efficiency with innovation. Look no further, as LoanPro allows lenders to enhance their origination, servicing, collections, and payments using the foundation of a modern lending core. Check out https://loanpro.io/demo  to learn how 600+ financial organizations have modernized their tech stack with LoanPro.

Skyflow, the leading data privacy platform trusted by top

financial institutions. Protect your customers' data with Skyflow's innovative

solutions. Get started at www.skyflowsecure.com

HAWK: A game-changing approach to compliance. With real-time

monitoring, adaptive learning, and advanced AI, it cuts false positives,

simplifying your compliance efforts. Upgrade your surveillance with ease. Visit

https://gethawkai.com for more intelligent, more effective

compliance.

Timestamps:

03:52 Rodney's Journey in Fintech 

04:08 Rodney's Journey from Procter & Gamble to FinTech 

05:01 Listener: The Early FinTech Venture 

09:08 Inspiration for Creating Solo Funds 

13:13 Lessons Learned from Previous Ventures 

17:35 Solo Funds' Mission and Impact 

22:27 Transparency and Borrower Choice in Solo Funds' Model 

24:41 Overcoming Skepticism: The Early Days 

25:39 Empowering Borrowers: Transparency and Control 

27:08 Regulatory Challenges and FinTech Evolution 

29:37 Navigating Regulatory Challenges in Fintech 

32:41 The Cost of Starting a FinTech 

38:34 B Corp Certification and Doing Good in Fintech 

41:25 The Future of Solo Funds and the Fintech Market 

44:20 The Importance of Purpose in FinTech 

45:36 Final Thoughts

About:

Guest

Rodney Williams:  Rodney Williams is the Co-founder of SoLo Funds, the largest community finance platform in the US. Since 2018, SoLo has surpassed 1M loans funded and redefined access to capital and returns for 1.5 million users. As the U.S.’s only Black-led Certified B Corp fintech, SoLo continues its leadership, grounded in the hope and mission of building a community that enables financial autonomy for all. Before founding SoLo, Rodney founded LISNR and led the company to over $40M in funding, numerous awards, and partnerships across retail and financial services. Rodney’s career began at Procter & Gamble in brand management, where he was a catalyst in the company’s digital strategy and social media initiatives. He has received numerous awards, including Ad Age’s 40 Under 40 in 2012 and the Cannes Gold Lion award in 2015. Rodney is a graduate of West Virginia University and Howard University and a member of the 2019 Class of Henry Crown Fellows within the Aspen Global Leadership Network at the Aspen Institute.

SoLo Funds: SoLo is the largest Black-owned personal finance app and the only Black-owned Fintech B-Corp that offers a peer-to-peer lending marketplace rooted in community, based on the idea of “people helping people.” This is also known as community finance.

Host:

Tedd Huff: Tedd Huff is the Co-Founder of Voalyre, and the President & Founder of Diamond D3, a professional services consulting firm focused on global payments and marketing. He is also a video podcast host and producer of Fintech Confidential.

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

One of the major topics is the $1.7 trillion student loan crisis. The group dives into how this debt disproportionately impacts minorities and women and examines how companies like Summer are stepping up to guide borrowers through government programs. These programs can help reduce or even forgive student loans, offering significant relief. The discussion highlights the real impact on individuals, showing how targeted support can change lives.

The importance of financial wellness in the workplace is another key area of discussion. The group underscores that more companies are recognizing the need to support their employees’ financial health. With a large portion of the workforce burdened by student loans, effective financial wellness programs are becoming essential. These programs don’t just ease financial stress—they contribute to a more satisfied and productive workforce, which benefits everyone involved.

When it comes to challenges faced by women in fintech, the conversation turns to visibility and funding. The group addresses the ongoing struggle for women to gain recognition and secure the necessary resources to succeed in the industry. They discuss the importance of initiatives that amplify the achievements of women, ensuring they get the opportunities they deserve. These efforts are crucial in building a more inclusive fintech industry.

The discussion also covers the significance of being a certified B Corporation. This certification isn’t just about status—it reflects a company’s commitment to doing business in a way that benefits society. For companies like Summer, this means designing products and services that genuinely help people manage their financial challenges, rather than just focusing on profit.

Regulation in fintech is another topic that gets a thorough examination. While regulation is often viewed as a hurdle, the group argues that it can push companies to improve their processes and better serve their customers. They explore how simplifying access to government programs can make a significant difference for borrowers, turning what might seem like a challenge into an opportunity for better service.

Finally, the group looks at the future of financial literacy and social responsibility, particularly in the workplace. They agree that employers will increasingly play a critical role in helping employees manage their finances, whether it’s through saving for retirement or paying down student loans. This approach not only benefits employees but also leads to a more engaged and productive workforce.

This episode of Accrued offers clear insights into the challenges and opportunities within fintech. Through a well-rounded discussion, Tedd, Colton, and Michelle provide valuable perspectives on how to address financial issues and promote diversity in the industry.

Key Highlights

The Hidden Impact of Student Loans on Minorities

Student loans affect everyone, but did you know minorities and women face the biggest burden? In this segment, Michelle Tran explains how Summer helps these groups by lowering or even erasing their debt. Learn how technology can make a difference in people’s lives by reducing financial stress and offering a clearer path to financial freedom.

Why Financial Wellness at Work Matters More Than You Think

Financial stress isn’t just a personal issue—it affects job performance too. Michelle Tran discusses why companies should care about their employees’ financial health. By offering wellness programs that help manage debt, companies can create a more productive and satisfied workforce. Discover the benefits of focusing on financial wellness in the workplace.

The Challenge of Funding Female Founders

Ever wondered why so few female founders get funding? Michelle Tran sheds light on this issue and shares how NYC FinTech Women is working to change the game. Through networking and recognition, this organization is helping women gain the visibility they need to secure investment and grow their businesses.

How Summer Simplifies Student Loan Forgiveness

The process of getting student loans forgiven can be complicated, but Summer makes it easy. Michelle Tran explains how the company uses technology to streamline the application process, helping borrowers access the benefits they deserve. Find out how Summer is saving people thousands by making loan forgiveness more accessible.

Certified B Corp: What It Means for You

What does it mean for a company to be a certified B Corporation? Michelle Tran breaks down how this certification ensures that Summer is committed to making a positive impact, not just profits. Learn why being a B Corp matters and how it benefits both the company and its customers.

Real-Life Success Stories from Summer

Want to hear how Summer is making a real difference? Michelle Tran shares inspiring stories of people who have significantly reduced or even eliminated their student debt thanks to Summer. These success stories highlight the power of financial wellness and the importance of accessible loan forgiveness programs.

Why Regulation Can Be Good for Fintech

Regulation often gets a bad rap, but Michelle Tran argues that it can actually drive progress. By pushing companies to comply with strict rules, regulation encourages innovation in areas like financial services. Find out how regulation has led to new solutions that make it easier for people to manage their money.

AI in Fintech: More Than Just a Buzzword

Artificial intelligence is often misunderstood, but it has real benefits, especially in fintech. Michelle Tran talks about how AI is being used to personalize financial services and make them more efficient. Learn how AI can help you manage your finances more effectively by providing tailored advice and simplifying complex tasks.

The Future of Financial Literacy: Employers Take the Lead

Who will teach us about money in the future? Michelle Tran believes employers will play a bigger role in financial education. By integrating financial planning tools into the workplace, companies can help their employees make better financial decisions. Discover how this approach can benefit both employees and businesses.

NYC FinTech Women: More Than Just a Meetup

NYC FinTech Women started as a small group but has grown into a community of over 15,000 members. Michelle Tran explains how this organization is empowering women in fintech by offering opportunities for networking, learning, and career advancement. See how this community is making a difference in the lives of women in the industry.

Takeaways

1️⃣ Join Power Networks Like NYC FinTech Women

Want to fast-track your fintech career? Get involved with communities like NYC FinTech Women. These groups are goldmines for networking, career tips, and insider support that can push your career to the next level. Don’t miss out—join today!

2️⃣ Secure That Funding: Be Bold and Get Noticed

If you’re a female founder, don’t let funding challenges hold you back. Get aggressive with your networking, target female-friendly investors, and use platforms that spotlight women entrepreneurs to boost your chances of landing that investment.

3️⃣ Double Your Money: Ask About Student Loan Perks

Is your employer offering to match your student loan payments with 401k contributions? If not, it’s time to bring it up! This simple move could grow your retirement savings while you pay off debt—talk to your HR today.

4️⃣ Get Paid What You Deserve: Ask for That Raise

Tired of being underpaid? It’s time to step up. Do your homework, know your worth, and confidently ask for the raise you deserve. A bold ask could mean a big boost to your income.

5️⃣ Crush Financial Stress with Fintech Tools

Don’t let money worries weigh you down. Use fintech apps to budget smarter, save more, and knock out debt faster. Take charge of your finances and see how it transforms your peace of mind.

Links:

Michelle Tran LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/michellektran

Summer:

Website: www.meetsummer.com

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/savewithsummer

NYC FinTech Women: https://nycfintechwomen.com

Fintech Confidential

YouTube: https://fintechconfidential.com/watch

Podcast: https://fintechconfidential.com/listen

Notifications: https://fintechconfidential.com/access

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

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

Facebook: In this episode of Accrued, Tedd Huff and Colton Pond welcome Michelle Tran from Summer. Their discussion tackles some of the most important topics in fintech today. The focus is on real-world problems and practical solutions, making the conversation both relevant and accessible to anyone interested in finance.

One of the major topics is the $1.7 trillion student loan crisis. The group dives into how this debt disproportionately impacts minorities and women and examines how companies like Summer are stepping up to guide borrowers through government programs. These programs can help reduce or even forgive student loans, offering significant relief. The discussion highlights the real impact on individuals, showing how targeted support can change lives.

The importance of financial wellness in the workplace is another key area of discussion. The group underscores that more companies are recognizing the need to support their employees’ financial health. With a large portion of the workforce burdened by student loans, effective financial wellness programs are becoming essential. These programs don’t just ease financial stress—they contribute to a more satisfied and productive workforce, which benefits everyone involved.