Bitcoin.com News Interviews

Latest Episodes:

Lorien Gabel, CEO of Figment | Powering 8% of Solana and 5% of Ethereum: Inside Institutional Staking & the Future of Crypto Infrastructure | Bitcoin.com News Podcast Sep 07, 2025

Show notes

Lorien Gabel (@loriengabel), Co-Founder and CEO of Figment, joins Frederick Munawa (@FrederickMunawa) on the Bitcoin.com News Podcast to uncover the unseen backbone of blockchain infrastructure — institutional staking.

With Figment responsible for 7–8% of Solana blocks and nearly 5% of Ethereum blocks, Gabel reveals what it really takes to secure the world’s leading proof-of-stake networks. He shares insights from four decades in tech, beginning with Canada’s first ISPs to now running one of the largest crypto infrastructure companies in the world.

The conversation dives deep into how institutional staking operates, what’s next for U.S. regulatory clarity, and why the next 60 days could be pivotal for crypto compliance and innovation. Gabel also explains why the real story isn’t just about staking rewards — it’s about building reliable, transparent, and institution-grade infrastructure that powers the decentralized web.

• How Figment powers a significant share of Solana and Ethereum blocks
• The inner workings of institutional staking and validator networks
• U.S. regulatory clarity and the 60-day countdown to major updates
• Lessons from building early internet infrastructure to blockchain systems
• Why decentralization depends on professionalized staking infrastructure

A must-listen for crypto infrastructure builders, institutional investors, and developers exploring how staking, regulation, and infrastructure are shaping the next phase of the blockchain economy.

🎙️ Host: Frederick Munawa – Bitcoin.com News Podcast
💼 Guest: Lorien Gabel – Co-Founder & CEO, Figment
🔗 Learn more: bitcoin.com | figment.io | @loriengabel | @FrederickMunawa

💡 In this episode:🎧

How Your Crypto Could Work for You Without Selling | Anvil CEO Sep 06, 2025

Show notes

🎙️ What if your Bitcoin or Ethereum could unlock payments, credit, and new financial opportunities—without ever being sold?

In this episode, Frederick from Bitcoin.com sits down with Maximillian Schwartz, CEO of Anvil Research Labs, to explore how onchain collateral could connect digital assets with traditional finance.

They discuss how Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other cryptocurrencies can be used as verifiable collateral, how Anvil is building infrastructure for crypto-backed payments, and why onchain guarantees could transform lending, credit lines, and business transactions.

With more than $85 million in collateral shortly after launch, Anvil is working to expand the utility of digital assets beyond simply holding, trading, or selling them.

Topics include:

Using crypto as onchain collateral
Bitcoin and Ethereum-backed lending
Crypto payment infrastructure
Credit lines secured by digital assets
Onchain guarantees for businesses
The future of crypto in traditional finance

🎧 Be sure to subscribe on your favorite podcast app for more conversations with industry leaders, economists, and builders shaping the future of crypto and finance.

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Pauline Shangett, CSO of ChangeNOW | “You’re Not Decentralized on Big Cloud” — DeFi Myths, CeDeFi & Building for Real Users | Bitcoin.com News Podcast Sep 05, 2025

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Pauline Shangett, Chief Strategy Officer at ChangeNOW, joins David Sencil (@_dsencil) at Bitcoin Asia to cut through the noise on decentralization, infrastructure, and what it takes to serve real users at scale.

“If you’re building on centralized cloud, you’re not truly decentralized.” Shangett explains the hidden centralization risks across today’s Web3 stack, why CeDeFi can bridge usability and trustlessness, and how ChangeNOW approaches onboarding, custody, and compliance without sacrificing self-sovereignty.

From lost Bitcoin recoveries to pragmatic infra choices, this is a sober look at what actually works — and what doesn’t — when taking crypto mainstream.

• Why most “DeFi” quietly relies on centralized cloud
• CeDeFi as a realistic path to mass adoption
• ChangeNOW’s user-first design for swaps, fiat ramps & custody
• Frameworks for resilience beyond the cloud vs. hardware meme
• How to onboard real people, not just crypto insiders

A must-listen for builders, infra teams, and DeFi pragmatists who want decentralization that survives contact with reality.

🎙️ Host: David Sencil – Bitcoin.com News Podcast
💼 Guest: Pauline Shangett – Chief Strategy Officer, ChangeNOW
🔗 Learn more: bitcoin.com | changenow.io

💡 In this episode:🎧

Chris Maurice, CEO of Yellow Card | Fixing $100 Fees on $200 Transfers — How Stablecoins Are Revolutionizing African Remittances | Bitcoin.com News Podcast Sep 05, 2025

Show notes

“How is it still 50% of your remittance in fees?” asks Chris Maurice, Co-Founder and CEO of Yellow Card, in this powerful conversation with Frederick Munawa (@FrederickMunawa) on the Bitcoin.com News Podcast.

Maurice explains how traditional banking systems are still failing millions across Africa, where a $200 transfer can cost up to $100 in fees — and how Yellow Card’s stablecoin-powered network is changing that reality. Operating across 20+ African countries, Yellow Card is bringing low-cost cross-border payments, crypto-powered banking alternatives, and financial inclusion to one of the world’s fastest-growing regions.

This episode dives into the remittance crisis, the role of stablecoins like USDC, and how digital assets can slash costs, accelerate settlement, and empower local economies without relying on legacy intermediaries.

• Why remittance fees in Africa remain shockingly high
• How stablecoins are transforming payments and banking access
• Yellow Card’s mission to build crypto rails for the real world
• The regulatory and infrastructure challenges across African markets
• The future of on-chain financial inclusion and remittance innovation

A must-listen for crypto builders, fintech founders, and policy leaders exploring how blockchain and stablecoins can deliver real financial freedom where traditional systems have failed.

🎙️ Host: Frederick Munawa – Bitcoin.com News Podcast
💼 Guest: Chris Maurice – Co-Founder & CEO, Yellow Card
🔗 Learn more: bitcoin.com | yellowcard.io | @chrismaurice | @YellowCard_App

💡 In this episode:🎧

Matt Hougan, CIO of Bitwise | Why Institutions Are Piling Into Bitcoin and How ETFs Are Changing Everything | Bitcoin.com News Podcast Sep 04, 2025

Show notes

Matt Hougan, Chief Investment Officer at Bitwise Asset Management, joins Frederick Munawa (@FrederickMunawa) on the Bitcoin.com News Podcast to explain why institutions are flooding into Bitcoin — and how ETF structures are unlocking unprecedented access for traditional investors.

Hougan breaks down the macro and market forces behind this wave of institutional adoption, from inflation and monetary policy to the growing realization that Bitcoin is digital gold. He also unpacks how Bitcoin ETFs work, why they’ve become the preferred entry point for financial advisors and fund managers, and what it means for Bitcoin’s next major growth phase.

This episode goes beyond the headlines to explore the mechanics of ETF wrappers, the liquidity transformation they create, and why the convergence of Wall Street and crypto is reshaping the future of investing.

• Why institutions are finally allocating to Bitcoin
• The mechanics and advantages of Bitcoin ETFs
• How ETFs bridge the gap between TradFi and crypto
• What this institutional influx means for Bitcoin’s price and adoption
• Bitwise’s outlook on Bitcoin’s next major market cycle

A must-listen for investors, fund managers, and crypto enthusiasts seeking to understand how ETFs and institutional capital are driving Bitcoin’s mainstream financial integration.

🎙️ Host: Frederick Munawa – Bitcoin.com News Podcast
💼 Guest: Matt Hougan – Chief Investment Officer, Bitwise Asset Management
🔗 Learn more: bitcoin.com | bitwiseinvestments.com | @Matt_Hougan | @BitwiseInvest

💡 In this episode:🎧

Carlos Domingo, CEO of Securitize | Why Tokenized Commodities, Stablecoins, and Treasuries Are Booming | Bitcoin.com News Podcast Sep 03, 2025

Show notes

Carlos Domingo, CEO and Co-Founder of Securitize, joins the Bitcoin.com News Podcast to unpack the explosive growth of tokenized real-world assets (RWAs) — from commodities and dollar stablecoins to U.S. Treasuries and private credit funds.

Domingo explains how blockchain technology is transforming traditional finance by bringing on-chain transparency, instant settlement, and global access to markets once reserved for institutions. He dives into the success of Apollo’s new private credit fund, which raced to $100 million in tokenized assets, and reveals why the next wave of crypto adoption is being driven by regulated, yield-bearing assets rather than speculation.

This episode explores how Securitize is leading the integration between TradFi and DeFi, making tokenized securities accessible to individual investors while meeting strict compliance standards — a key step toward mainstream adoption of on-chain finance.

• Why tokenized Treasuries and private credit are surging
• The $100M Apollo fund and what it signals for institutional DeFi
• How Securitize bridges blockchain with regulated finance
• The rise of yield-bearing stablecoins and tokenized commodities
• What’s next for real-world asset tokenization in 2025

A must-listen for investors, builders, and policymakers looking to understand how tokenization is rewriting capital markets and why Bitcoin, stablecoins, and RWAs are converging into the future of global finance.

🎙️ Host: Bitcoin.com News Podcast
💼 Guest: Carlos Domingo – CEO & Co-Founder of Securitize
🔗 Learn more: bitcoin.com | securitize.io | @carlosdomingo

💡 In this episode:🎧

Austin Federa, Co-Founder of DoubleZero | Why Solana Could Hit a Million TPS — But Not on Today’s Internet | Bitcoin.com News Podcast Sep 02, 2025

Show notes

Austin Federa, Co-Founder of DoubleZero and former Head of Strategy at Solana Foundation, joins Bitcoin.com News Lead David Sencil (@_dsencil) to discuss why the next leap in blockchain scalability won’t happen on today’s internet.

In this episode, Federa reveals how DoubleZero is building a dedicated physical fiber network for crypto — infrastructure capable of supporting millions of transactions per second (TPS) for networks like Solana. He explains how latency, congestion, and centralized choke points in the existing internet are limiting blockchain performance — and how DoubleZero’s low-latency mesh could unleash a new generation of on-chain applications from finance to gaming.

Federa also shares his journey from leading communications at Solana to co-founding DoubleZero, diving into lessons learned from Solana’s rapid growth and the broader challenge of scaling Web3 beyond today’s hardware and network bottlenecks.

• Why Solana’s scalability is limited by today’s internet
• How DoubleZero is building physical internet for crypto
• What a million-TPS blockchain actually enables
• Lessons from Solana’s rise and infrastructure challenges
• The path toward a decentralized physical layer for Web3

A must-listen for builders, network engineers, and crypto innovators exploring how infrastructure, latency, and hardware will determine the next era of blockchain scalability — and why the future of crypto might depend on rebuilding the internet itself.

🎙️ Host: David Sencil – Bitcoin.com News Podcast
💼 Guest: Austin Federa – Co-Founder of DoubleZero
🔗 Learn more: bitcoin.com | doublezero.network | @Austin_Federa | @_dsencil

💡 In this episode:🎧

Levon Hovsepyan, BetConstruct | Turning iGaming Rewards Into Revenue-Generating NFTs | Bitcoin.com News Podcast Sep 01, 2025

Show notes

What if your gaming bonus didn’t just reward you once — but kept earning?

In this episode of the Bitcoin.com News Podcast, Levon Hovsepyan of BetConstruct joins David Sencil (@_dsencil) to explore how NFTs are redefining loyalty, engagement, and rewards in the iGaming industry.

Hovsepyan breaks down how BetConstruct is pioneering a new model where player bonuses become yield-bearing NFTs, creating real economic utility instead of one-off perks. By connecting Web3 assets to iGaming revenue streams, BetConstruct is bridging blockchain innovation with one of the world’s largest entertainment markets.

From tokenized loyalty systems to NFT-based earnings models, this conversation reveals how Web3 is transforming gaming into an ownership-driven economy where every reward can generate ongoing value.

• How BetConstruct is tokenizing iGaming loyalty programs
• Turning player bonuses into yield-generating NFTs
• The shift from speculation to real NFT utility
• Web3 infrastructure powering the next phase of online gaming
• Why NFTs could reshape the economics of player engagement

A must-listen for Web3 builders, NFT innovators, and gaming entrepreneurs exploring how blockchain, rewards, and tokenized value are reshaping digital entertainment and user ownership.

🎙️ Host: David Sencil – Bitcoin.com News Podcast
💼 Guest: Levon Hovsepyan – BetConstruct
🔗 Learn more: bitcoin.com | betconstruct.com | @betconstruct | @_dsencil

💡 In this episode:🎧

Adam Bergman, Founder of IRA Financial | How Every American Can Invest in Bitcoin Tax-Free Through a Self-Directed IRA | Bitcoin.com News Podcast Aug 26, 2025

Show notes

Adam Bergman, Founder and CEO of IRA Financial, joins the Bitcoin.com News Podcast to explain how Americans can invest in Bitcoin and other crypto assets — completely tax-free — using self-directed retirement accounts.

As a former tax attorney and one of the nation’s leading experts on self-directed IRAs, Bergman has helped more than 25,000 clients manage over $5 billion in assets, empowering investors to take control of their retirement savings through tax-advantaged structures. He breaks down how self-directed IRAs and Solo 401(k)s allow individuals to legally invest in Bitcoin, Ethereum, DeFi, and alternative assets while preserving tax benefits traditionally limited to stocks and bonds.

In this episode, Bergman discusses the regulatory landscape, the tax code opportunities that most investors overlook, and how crypto fits into a diversified retirement portfolio. He also shares insights from his nine books on tax-efficient investing, explaining why he believes Bitcoin belongs in every long-term wealth strategy.

• How self-directed IRAs unlock crypto and Bitcoin investments tax-free
• The difference between Traditional, Roth, and Solo 401(k) structures
• Legal and IRS-compliant strategies for holding Bitcoin in retirement
• Why diversification and self-custody are key to modern portfolio design
• The future of crypto adoption in U.S. retirement planning

A must-listen for investors, financial advisors, and crypto enthusiasts seeking practical, legal strategies to build wealth tax-free while gaining exposure to Bitcoin and digital assets.

🎙️ Host: Bitcoin.com News Podcast
💼 Guest: Adam Bergman – Founder & CEO of IRA Financial
🔗 Learn more: bitcoin.com | irafinancial.com | YouTube: IRA Financial

💡 In this episode:🎧

Paolo Ardoino, CEO of Tether | Bitcoin, Stablecoins, AI, and the Future of Financial Freedom | Bitcoin.com News Podcast Aug 15, 2025

Show notes

Paolo Ardoino, CEO of Tether, joins Bitcoin.com News Lead David Sencil (@_dsencil) for an in-depth conversation on how coding, Bitcoin, and stablecoins intersect to drive financial freedom and global inclusion.

From his early days as a developer to leading one of the most influential companies in crypto, Ardoino shares the story behind Tether’s evolution — and how USDT has become a lifeline for unbanked communities worldwide. He also breaks down the latest in stablecoin regulation, AI integration, and Bitcoin infrastructure investments, revealing how Tether is bridging digital assets with the real economy.

This episode offers rare insight into Ardoino’s philosophy on open-source development, financial sovereignty, and why Bitcoin’s resilience remains the cornerstone of decentralized innovation.

• How Paolo Ardoino’s coding roots shaped his crypto vision
• The role of stablecoins in expanding global financial access
• Bitcoin’s enduring strength and Tether’s investment in infrastructure
• Why AI and blockchain are converging faster than ever
• The path toward financial freedom through decentralization

A must-listen for developers, policymakers, and crypto enthusiasts who want to understand how Bitcoin, stablecoins, and open technology are laying the groundwork for a freer global financial system.

🎙️ Host: David Sencil – Bitcoin.com News Podcast
💼 Guest: Paolo Ardoino – CEO of Tether
🔗 Learn more: bitcoin.com | tether.to | @paoloardoino | @Tether_to

💡 In this episode:🎧

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