Show notes
For episode 703 of the BlockHash Podcast, host Brandon Zemp is joined by Stephen Sikes, COO of Public Investing.
Public.com is an all-in-one investing platform designed to make financial markets accessible to everyone through a mobile-first app. Originally known for introducing commission-free fractional stock trading, Public has expanded into a multi-asset platform allowing users to invest in stocks, ETFs, crypto, corporate bonds, and Treasuries, while offering AI-powered insights and a high-yield cash account.
📣 This episode is brought to you by Sumsub.
Sumsub is a leading full-cycle verification platform purpose-built for the crypto industry, chosen by 8 out of 10 of the biggest global exchanges. It helps VASPs, exchanges, and DeFi platforms prevent fraud, stay compliant, and scale globally. From instant KYC and KYB to automated crypto transaction monitoring, as well as full Travel Rule compliance. With over 1,800+ VASPs in their Travel Rule ecosystem, their no-code platform adapts to evolving threats, market demands, and global regulations.
Trusted by over 4,000 clients in fintech and crypto, Sumsub combines blockchain intelligence, identity verification, and behavioral fraud detection in a single orchestration layer. This allows you to screen, score, and monitor at every step of the customer journey without adding friction for trusted users.
You can learn more about Sumsub at https://sumsub.com
Check out Sumsub’s YouTube channel here: https://bit.ly/SubscribeToSumsub
⏳ Timestamps:
(0:00) Sumsub
(0:44) Introduction
(2:30) Who is Stephen Sikes?
(4:36) What is Public Investing?
(5:32) Crypto IRAs
(12:22) Other investment products
(14:54) Business & Trust accounts
(15:47) Agentic brokerage
(20:59) Role of AI Agents in investments in the future
(24:14) Best time to develop & build with AI
(24:51) Sumsub
(25:35) Public Investing
(26:22) Crypto market in 2026
(32:11) Impact of regulations on Crypto market
(34:32) Public Investing roadmap
(36:00) Events & conferences
(37:40) Socials & community
🎙 Public Investing Links:
🔗 Website: https://public.com/
🔗 X: https://x.com/public
🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephensikes/
🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/publichello/
🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/publicapp/
🔗 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@public
📢 Disclaimer:
None of our content constitutes, nor is intended to act as financial advice. It’s important to always do your own research and due diligence before making any investment decision. Digital Assets and Cryptocurrencies are highly volatile and carry a considerable amount of risk.
📣 This episode is brought to you by Public Investing
Paid ad. Brokerage services by Open to the Public Investing Inc, member FINRA & SIPC. This information is for educational purposes only and is not tax or investment advice. Consult your tax advisor for individual considerations. Crypto IRAs are self-directed individual retirement accounts offered and custodied by Alto Trust Co, a New Mexico trust company. Information about retirement accounts on Public is for educational purposes only and is not tax or investment advice. Visit the IRS website at https://www.irs.gov/ for more information on the limitations and tax benefits of IRAs. Crypto is highly speculative and involves significant risk, including loss of principal. Cryptocurrencies are not protected by FDIC or SIPC. See our Crypto Risk Disclosures at https://public.com/custodian-account-agreement for additional information.
See terms of Match Program. Matched funds must remain in your account for at least 5 years. Match rate and other terms are subject to change at any time.
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