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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.
Couchonomics with Arjun
The New Rails of Money: Stablecoins, CBDCs & Tokenisation
Stablecoins are no longer on the sidelines — they’re stepping into the core of global finance.
In this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, we're joined by Dante Disparte, Chief Strategy Officer & Head of Global Policy at Circle, for his second appearance on the show. Speaking from Washington, DC, Dante brings a timely perspective on how digital finance is evolving — and why it matters now more than ever.
We unpack:
- Stablecoins as real financial infrastructure for payments, remittances, and cross-border flows
- How smart regulation acts as a catalyst for trust, adoption, and institutional capital
- CBDCs and tokenisation — separating hype from substance, and where they’ll truly reshape markets and inclusion
- Why MENA is emerging as a global hub for digital assets, with the UAE leading from the front
If you want to understand how money itself is being rebuilt — not just the apps we use, but the foundations beneath the system — this conversation with Dante is essential listening.
🎧 Watch and listen now on YouTube, Spotify & Apple Podcasts.
Couchonomics with Arjun Season 04 is brought to you by our partners:
Adyen https://www.adyen.com/
Thunes https://thunes.com/
Mastercard https://mastercard.com/
E& https://www.eand.com/
Digit9 https://www.digitnine.com/
SC Ventures https://scventures.io/
Hala https://hala.com/
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Digital Assets and Policy
00:54 Welcoming the Guest: Dante Disparte
02:35 Stablecoins: Current State and Future Prospects
03:05 Regulatory Changes and Their Impact
06:21 Exploring Use Cases for Digital Assets
16:29 The Role of Banks and Stablecoins
24:46 Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs)
28:15 The Genius Act: Opportunities and Risks
29:59 The Resilience of Digital Assets
30:37 The Genius Act: A Legislative Proposal
31:20 Stablecoins and Market Stability
31:55 The Role of Stablecoins in the Banking System
32:54 Guardrails and Systemic Risk
33:45 Tokenized Treasuries vs. Stablecoins
35:48 Concerns About Tether
38:05 The Genius Act and Global Regulatory Harmonization
40:41 Corporate Stablecoins and Market Adoption
49:00 Circle's IPO and Long-Term Vision
53:03 Circle Payment Network (CPN) and Financial Inclusion
Our website 👉 https://bit.ly/3jk7UH0
Find us on our social media platforms:
- Arjun's LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjunvirsingh/
- CCN LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/couchonomics-with-arjun-singh/
- Instagram https://www.instagram.com/couchonomics/
- Twitter https://twitter.com/Arjun_Vir_Singh?s=20
- TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@couchonomics
Subscribe to Arjun's LinkedIn newsletter, Couchonomics Crunch: https://bit.ly/3WI4A6E
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