Couchonomics with Arjun
Decoding the New World Order of Finance - Unfiltered, global, weekly
As tectonic shifts reshape the financial world, Couchonomics continues to explore the trends transforming commerce, capital, and culture. This season, we expand our lens - building on our deep focus in the MENA region while bringing in voices, stories, and innovations from around the globe.
Why? Because the future of finance is no longer regional - it’s interconnected.
Whether it’s AI in Asia, tokenization in Europe, or fintech policy experiments in Africa, today’s financial shifts cross borders, industries, and disciplines.
Whether you’re in the industry or just fintech-curious, tune in weekly as we decode the big moves, bold ideas, and brilliant minds shaping tomorrow’s economy.
Episodes drop weekly. Arabic subtitles available on YouTube: youtube.com/@couchonomicswitharjunsingh438
Learn more: www.couchonomics.com
Season 4 supported by:
Adyen | Mastercard | SC Ventures | Thunes | Hala | e& | Digit 9
About the host:
Arjun's expertise covers a broad range of areas including Fintech, Payments, Digital Assets, Embedded Finance, Application of Emerging Technologies, and the Emergence of New Business Models within the Financial Services Sector in the MEA region and globally.
Arjun is deeply engaged in the Tech Start-Up ecosystem. He serves as a passive investor, advisory board member, and a notable commentator on the rapidly evolving scene.
In recognition of his impactful contributions, Arjun was honored as a Top Voice of the region by LinkedIn in 2020.
Learn more at www.couchonomics.com.
Episodes
180 episodes
When Hackers Understand Banks Better Than Banks Understand Hackers
Cybersecurity is no longer just a technical issue, it is now a human, business, and financial system challenge.In this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, Arjun is joined by Ralph Echemendia, Ethical Hacker and Cyber Security Expert, fo...
What Happens When Trading Infrastructure Starts Changing the System
Before a trading app reaches a user, there is an entire system underneath it doing the real heavy lifting.In this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, Arjun is joined by Yoshi Yokokawa, Co-Founder and CEO of Alpaca, for a sharp and wide-...
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What Happens When Stablecoins Start Competing With Banks?
Money is no longer just held. It is moving, earning, and quietly reshaping the system around it.In this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, Arjun is joined by Anton Golub, Founding Member of RWA Labs, for a sharp, grounded conversation ...
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Can Stablecoins Scale Without Expanding Systemic Risk?
Fraud is not new. But the scale, speed, and sophistication have changed.In this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, Arjun is joined by Navin Gupta, CEO of Crystal Intelligence, and Nick Smart, Chief Intelligence Officer at Crystal Intel...
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How AI Agents and Stablecoins Are Reshaping Modern Banking
Is banking really changing at the core, or are we just putting better apps on old rails?In this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, Arjun is joined in studio by Jayesh Patel, CEO of Wio Bank PJSC, to unpack what real transformation insi...
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How Tokenization and Stablecoins Will Change Money Movement
Technology is changing what people expect from money, and stablecoins are turning that into reality.In this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, Arjun is joined from New York by Stephen Richardson (CSO and Head of Banking at Fireblocks) ...
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Why Japan’s Payments Are About to Change Fast
Japan is often seen as a “mature” financial market.But the real story is in what’s quietly shifting underneath.In this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, Arjun is joined from Tokyo by Pieter Franken (Co-Founder & CEO at GFTN Ja...
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How Deep Payments Infrastructure Creates Real Fintech Advantage
Payments in emerging markets are often discussed as infrastructure.But the real differentiation happens in how deeply payments are embedded into business operations.In the final episode of this special Qatar Development Bank series ...
What It Really Takes to Launch a Fintech in Qatar
Financial innovation in the GCC is often framed around payments, licenses, and launch timelines.But the harder work happens long before a product goes live.In this special Qatar Development Bank series of Couchonomics with Arjun, Ar...
What It Takes to Scale a Tech Company Like Snoonu From Qatar
Most startup stories focus on what companies become.This one focuses on how they are built.In this special Qatar Development Bank series of Couchonomics with Arjun, Arjun sits down in Doha with Hamad Al-Hajri, Founder and CEO of Sno...
Why Ecosystem Design Matters More Than Funding in Startup Growth
Innovation ecosystems in the GCC are often judged by funding numbers and startup announcements.But the real work happens in how institutions, capital, and regulation move together.In this special Qatar Development Bank series of Cou...
What the Data Actually Says About Venture Capital in MENA
Venture capital is often discussed through funding totals and headline deals.But the real signal sits underneath the numbers.In this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, Arjun is joined by Philip Bahoshy, Founder and CEO of MAGNiTT, t...
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What It Really Takes to Build World-Class Startups Outside Silicon Valley
Startup success is often explained through geography, capital, or timing.But the real story is about people, resilience, and long-term commitment.In this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, Arjun is joined by Allen Taylor, Managin...
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How Allica Bank Is Rebuilding SME Banking From Scratch
Banking innovation usually gets reduced to apps and features.But the real changes are happening underneath.In this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, Richard Davies, CEO of Allica Bank, joins the couch to talk about how challenge...
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What It Really Takes for Banks to Innovate Without Breaking Trust
Innovation in banking is often talked about, but rarely understood.In this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, Giovanni Everduin, Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer and Head of Ventures at Commercial Bank International, joins the couc...
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How CBD Is Reshaping Banking in the UAE
Banking in the UAE is entering a phase where digital expectations, AI, and trust are forcing banks to rethink everything from processes to culture.Arjun sits down with Dr. Bernd van Linder, CEO of Commercial Bank of Dubai, to unpack how ...
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How One Platform Went From 5,000 Cards to Powering Global Banks
Core banking is no longer a back-office topic.Cloud, payments, AI and digital assets are forcing banks to rethink the foundations of how money moves.In this episode, Arjun sits down with Vishal Dalal, Global CEO of Pismo, to unpac...
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How AI and Stablecoins Are Rewiring the Future of Fintech
Fintech is entering a new phase where technology, regulation and global markets are reshaping value at a deeper level.Arjun sits down with Sandeep Patil, Partner and Head of Asia at QED Investors, to break down how fintech is evolving b...
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Why Stablecoins Could Redefine Global Trade and Banking
What if the future of money isn’t about new currencies, but about rebuilding how value moves?Arjun sits down with Keith Grose, Senior Country Director at Coinbase UK, to explore how crypto is moving from hype to real infrastructure....
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The End of Bank Accounts: How Money Is Moving On-Chain
What if the future of money isn’t about creating new currencies, but redefining what money really is?In this episode, Arjun sits down with Tony McLaughlin, CEO and Founder of Ubyx Inc, to talk about why he believes the bank account is d...
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The Next Decade of FinTech: AI, Tokenization & Quantum Finance
What if the next decade of finance isn’t about disruption, but inclusion?In this episode, Arjun sits down with Sopnendu Mohanty, Group CEO of GFTN and Advisor to the Monetary Authority of Singapore, to explore how technology, policy, an...
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How AI and Stablecoins Are Rewriting Payments
When money moves faster than ever, who really controls it? In this episode, Arjun sits down with Arik Shtilman, Founder and CEO of Rapyd, to explore how AI and stablecoins are rewriting the rules of global payments. From p...
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When AI Becomes the Banker: Inside Vietnam’s Cake Digital Bank
What if AI ran your bank? 🤯In this episode, Arjun sits down with Quang Nguyen, CEO of Cake Digital Bank, Vietnam’s AI-first bank that’s redefining what digital finance looks like.With only 300 employees serving 6 million custome...
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The Future of Wealth: AI, Trust & the Great $80 Trillion Shift
Over $80 trillion in global wealth is moving to a younger, more digital generation. But who will manage it—and how will AI, trust, and technology reshape investing?In this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, Caesar Sengupta, Co-Founder ...
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Latin America’s Fintech Giant: The Rise of PicPay with 60M Users
Episode 150 of Couchonomics with Arjun is here — and it’s a milestone.For the very first time, we go to Latin America. My guest: Eduardo Chedid, CEO of PicPay — Brazil’s biggest super app and one of the fastest-scaling fintechs in the w...
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