339: Global Settlement’s Ryan Kirkley on Interoperability, CBDCs, and Why Stablecoins Aren’t Enough

Ryan Kirkley has been building in crypto since 2013—across protocol development and regulatory compliance. In this episode, we go deep on why true asset ownership is still broken in today’s financial system, why stablecoins aren’t a long-term solution for global commerce, and how Global Settlement Network is approaching interoperability by upgrading existing infrastructure instead of trying to replace it.Key timestamps[00:00:00] Intro: Global Settlement Network + what we cover[00:01:00] Ryan’s journey: crypto since 2013 + compliance background[00:03:00] The thesis: interoperability + regulatory realities[00:04:00] What the financial system lacks: real asset ownership[00:05:00] Why stablecoins aren’t enough globally: autonomy + FX frictions [00:07:00] Primary customers: governments, banks, commodity groups [00:09:00] Why they win deals: regulatory fluency + “upgrade, not replace” [00:10:00] Privacy + compliance: sidechains + ZK rolldowns + vault model [00:12:00] What’s live: tokenization studio + volume metrics + testnet [00:14:00] 2025 trend: fragmentation; 2026 trend: interoperability + consolidation [00:16:00] Regions: HK/Singapore momentum; biggest adoption potential in Africa [00:18:00] USD outlook: slow multipolar shift, not overnight collapse [00:23:00] 12-month roadmap: public testnet, stablecoin studio, TGE window [00:28:00] Ask: partnerships + top engineering talentConnecthttps://globalsettlement.com/https://www.linkedin.com/company/globalsettlement/https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryankirkley/DisclaimerNothing mentioned in this podcast is investment advice and please do your own research. It would mean a lot if you can leave a review of this podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share this podcast with a friend.Get featuredBe a guest on the podcast or contact us – https://www.web3pod.xyz/

In this episode, I’m joined by Konstantin from GrantiX, a platform connecting crypto donors with social entrepreneurs who need funding to scale real-world impact.We talk about what’s broken in traditional philanthropy (opacity, inefficiency), why Web3 tools can improve coordination, and what it takes to onboard projects that may have never used crypto before.Key timestamps[00:00:00] Intro: GrantiX + Web3 philanthropy [00:01:00] Konstantin’s background: TradFi + social entrepreneurship[00:02:00] What’s broken in philanthropy: transparency + efficiency gaps [00:05:00] Simple explanation: GrantiX as a bridge between donors + projects [00:07:00] Why now: market timing + growing real-world focus [00:09:00] Early categories: education + empowering women in developing markets [00:12:00] Biggest risk: onboarding + education for non-crypto projects [00:13:00] Monetization: platform + services layer [00:15:00] Why Web3: incentives + community-driven programs [00:17:00] Hardest users: low-tech regions; onboarding plan[00:20:00] Scaling vision: large philanthropy market opportunity [00:22:00] How to get involved: links shared in show notesConnecthttps://grantix.com/https://www.linkedin.com/company/grantix/https://www.instagram.com/grantix_sofi/DisclaimerNothing mentioned in this podcast is investment advice and please do your own research. It would mean a lot if you can leave a review of this podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share this podcast with a friend.Get featuredBe a guest on the podcast or contact us – https://www.web3pod.xyz/

In this episode, I’m joined by Howard Wu, co-founder of Aleo and CEO of Provable.We dive into programmable privacy, why transparent stablecoins break real-world finance, how Aleo enables private yet compliant smart contracts, and what it will take to bring institutions on-chain. We also explore AI agents, crypto payments, and where privacy actually matters in practice.Key Timestamps[00:00:00] Intro: Howard’s background and Aleo’s focus on programmable privacy [00:02:00] From Bitcoin mining to ZK research at Berkeley[00:03:00] Aleo’s core thesis: privacy + programmability[00:05:00] Why stablecoins need privacy and compliance[00:09:00] The broken UX of transparent wallets [00:11:00] How Aleo’s ZK smart contracts work[00:14:00] Provable’s role in the Aleo ecosystem [00:17:00] Institutional use cases: payments, payroll, trading[00:21:00] Privacy vs convenience in the real world [00:28:00] Roadmap: private stablecoins and integrations[00:35:00] AI agents, crypto, and the future of payments[00:40:00] Aleo’s ask: builders, partners, and collaboratorsConnecthttps://aleo.org/https://www.linkedin.com/company/aleohq/https://x.com/AleoHQhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/1howardwu/https://x.com/1HowardWuDisclaimerNothing mentioned in this podcast is investment advice and please do your own research. It would mean a lot if you can leave a review of this podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share this podcast with a friend.Get featuredBe a guest on the podcast or contact us – https://www.web3pod.xyz/

In this episode, I’m joined by Albert Prat, founder of B Brands and BeToken.Albert runs five profitable e-commerce brands doing ~€20M/year, and is tokenizing company equity under European regulation to raise capital, grow inventory, and expand into bigger markets like Germany. We also talk loyalty/community tokens, e-commerce growth levers, and what it takes to compete on delivery speed and supply.Key Timestamps[00:00:00] Intro: BeToken + €20M/year e-commerce brands [00:01:00] Albert’s background and the five brands [00:02:00] Why tokenize equity: inventory + growth capital [00:04:00] Primary market now, secondary market coming [00:07:00] Utility token idea: community + rewards across brands [00:08:00] Lockups, liquidity pool, and investor protections [00:10:00] Onboarding: custodied wallets + KYC [00:13:00] Growth plan: stock, Germany, direct website sales [00:16:00] Marketing that works: influencers for fitness brands [00:18:00] E-commerce trends: speed, logistics, competition [00:21:00] 2026 roadmap: raise, list, expand, grow revenue [00:23:00] Targets: €35M next year, €100M longer termConnecthttps://betoken.io/https://x.com/betoken_iohttps://x.com/betoken_globalhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/albert-prat-asensio-29980b68/https://x.com/AlbertP0170DisclaimerNothing mentioned in this podcast is investment advice and please do your own research. It would mean a lot if you can leave a review of this podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share this podcast with a friend.Get featuredBe a guest on the podcast or contact us – https://www.web3pod.xyz/

In this episode, I’m joined by Joe Rey (Founder & CCO), Oliver Fuselier (COO & CMO), Mykola Smorgun (CTO) from Popology Network.We talk about why curation might matter more than AI in a world of infinite content, how Popology uses a “meta search” to pull media from multiple platforms into curated popcasts, and how they aim to decentralize digital rights management by making users the curators and ledger operators.We also cover influencer-brand sponsorship selection, permissioned data ownership, and what they’re raising to scale the platform.Key Timestamps[00:00:00] Intro: Popology’s mission – redesigning the attention economy, curation, and decentralized DRM. [00:02:00] Joe + Oliver’s background: Decades in film/music video production and why they moved into Web3. [00:07:00] Finding the CTO: Why they needed “30,000 ft” technical architecture to scale the vision. [00:10:00] Core product: Meta search + drag/drop curation into popcasts across multiple content platforms. [00:11:00] DRM angle: Users become the “operators” by curating and ledgering content. [00:14:00] “Pathologists”: Viewers earn tokens and become members by engaging and logging in. [00:18:00] Big debate: Swipe algorithms vs intentional curation (and how they gamify adoption). [00:31:00] Monetization: Sponsorship ads + permissioned data marketplace + subscription tier.[00:47:00] Ask: Influencers/marketers + private sale (two rounds) leading into a larger public raise.Connecthttps://www.popologynetworks.com/https://www.linkedin.com/company/popology-corporation/about/https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-rey-7539415/https://x.com/Joe_Reyhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/oliverfuselier/https://x.com/OFuselierDisclaimerNothing mentioned in this podcast is investment advice and please do your own research. It would mean a lot if you can leave a review of this podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share this podcast with a friend.Get featuredBe a guest on the podcast or contact us – https://www.web3pod.xyz/

In this episode I talk with Ryan from Toroa Group, a New Zealand-based founder building across tokenised funds and vault strategies, title-backed property tokens, and NZD/AUD stablecoins.We cover why stablecoins are still the clearest product-market fit, why non-USD stablecoins matter for smaller countries, how to tokenize title instead of fund units, and how they work with existing funds to offer tokenized fund access to DAOs, foundations and on-chain natives.Ryan also shares his “follow the demand, don’t force education” philosophy and how tokenised assets are now able to provide utility over and above the legacy versions which is supercharging mainstream adoption. Key Timestamps[00:00:00] Tokenization reality: Tokens don’t create liquidity by magic – the product still has to solve a real problem.[00:02:00] Ryan’s background: From med tech and audiology into educating NZ on Web3 and then full-time tokenization.[00:05:00] Toroa’s focus: On-chain financial products, NZD/AUD stablecoins, property tokens and tokenized funds.[00:07:00] Non-USD stablecoins: Why NZD/AUD stables matter for cross-border flows and monetary sovereignty.[00:10:00] Title-based property: Tokens tied to property title, not shares, avoiding financial-product status and paying rent in stablecoins.[00:17:00] Tokenized feeders: Letting funds offer regulated exposure in token form to DAOs, foundations and family offices.[00:20:00] Demand > preaching: They focus on inbound demand from funds already being asked for tokenized access.[00:26:00] Roadmap & raise: Moving group structure to the UK, aiming for a future listing, and raising a £500k pre-Series A.Connecthttps://www.toroa.xyz/https://www.linkedin.com/company/toroagroup/https://x.com/toroagrouphttps://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanjohnsonhunt/DisclaimerNothing mentioned in this podcast is investment advice and please do your own research. It would mean a lot if you can leave a review of this podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share this podcast with a friend.Get featuredBe a guest on the podcast or contact us – https://www.web3pod.xyz/

L1 blockchains have gone through every hype cycle: ICOs, NFTs, gaming, metaverse, now AI. But what actually survives?In this episode, I speak with Alexander Zahnd, CEO of Zilliqa, an L1 that launched in 2017 and recently became fully EVM-compatible. Alex shares his journey from a decade in Swiss TradFi and treasury/regulatory projects into DeFi, and how that shaped his views on financial rigor, regulation and long-term blockchain adoption.Key Timestamps[00:00:00] Mercenary DeFi users: Alex explains why liquidity follows the highest incentives and why this is a problem for long-term protocol sustainability.[00:01:00] From Swiss banks to Zilliqa: A decade in TradFi, treasury and regulation, discovering DeFi as “finance without intermediaries,” and joining Zilliqa four years ago.[00:05:00] L1 landscape today: How Zilliqa moved from sharding-focused scalability to full EVM compatibility, and why EVM + SVM gravity is consolidating general-purpose L1s.[00:08:00] Narrative chasing vs. building: ICOs, gaming, NFTs, metaverse, AI—all tried at Zilliqa; why chasing every hype is fragile and a clear, durable North Star matters.[00:11:00] AI x blockchain: Alex uses AI tools daily but is skeptical of forced “AI + chain” narratives until real, organic use cases emerge.[00:13:00] Real institutional adoption: Institutions aren’t allergic to crypto; they’re allergic to operational and regulatory uncertainty. Why audit-ready, compliant infra will be a major driver.[00:14:00] Where DeFi still has upside: Derivatives, perps, structured products, on-chain treasuries, RWAs, and permissioned DeFi rails for institutions and KYC’d wallets.[00:17:00] Token design lessons: Tokens should coordinate and power utility flows, not exist purely for price appreciation or quick fundraising.[00:20:00] Price vs fundamentals: How token price is the easiest visible metric, but often detached from real usage—unlike equities, where mature analyst coverage helps.[00:24:00] Lowering dev friction: Why Zilliqa’s EVM compatibility and AI-assisted tooling matter for non-engineer builders to prototype and ship ideas faster.[00:28:00] On-chain LEIs with Liechtenstein: A government-backed initiative for blockchain-verifiable legal entity identifiers as a bridge between TradFi and Web3.[00:29:00] Alex’s ask: Strategic partnerships, institutional integrations and long-range alliances around regulated, EVM-based infrastructure.Connecthttps://zilliqa.com/https://www.linkedin.com/company/zilliqa/https://x.com/zilliqaDisclaimerNothing mentioned in this podcast is investment advice and please do your own research. It would mean a lot if you can leave a review of this podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share this podcast with a friend.Get featuredBe a guest on the podcast or contact us – https://www.web3pod.xyz/

AI demand for GPUs is exploding – and most of that capacity is locked inside underused data centers.In this episode, I talk with Mark from Aethir, a decentralized GPU cloud that aggregates idle, enterprise-grade GPUs into a global network. We discuss how Aethir feels like AWS on the front end but works like “Airbnb for data centers” behind the scenes, why compute demand outpaces supply, and how they keep latency low across 90+ countries.Mark also explains Aethir’s token and revenue model, their work with EigenLayer, and why he believes solo founders now have superpowers in an AI-native world.Nothing in this episode is financial or investment advice.Key timestamps[00:00:00] Intro: Sam introduces Mark and Aethir’s decentralized GPU cloud.[00:01:00] Mark’s journey: From oil and gas infra and biotech to building GPU infrastructure for AI.[00:04:00] What Aethir is: AWS-style GPU cloud on the front end, “Airbnb for data centers” on the back end.[00:06:00] Enterprise-only GPUs: Why they only use data-center-grade hardware and no consumer devices.[00:07:00] Exploding demand: GPU demand 6–8x supply, with inference-heavy apps driving the next wave.[00:14:00] Global coverage: 90+ countries and routing users to nearby nodes for low latency.[00:31:00] Business model: 20% protocol fee, 80% to GPU hosts, plus token rewards and staking for large clusters.[00:39:00] Solo founder era: Why one-person AI-native companies will be extremely powerful.[00:41:00] Mark’s message: Focus on projects with strong fundamentals and keep building through cycles.Connecthttp://aethir.com/https://www.linkedin.com/company/aethir-limited/https://x.com/AethirCloudhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/markrydon/https://x.com/MRRydonDisclaimerNothing mentioned in this podcast is investment advice and please do your own research. It would mean a lot if you can leave a review of this podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share this podcast with a friend.Get featuredBe a guest on the podcast or contact us – https://www.web3pod.xyz/

Bitcoin isn’t just something you buy and hold anymore – it can be an engine for a real on-chain economy.In this episode, I’m joined by Hunter from Terahash, a true crypto OG with a decade in the industry and a past life as Justin Sun’s right hand on ecosystem development at Tron. We talk about his journey from Oculus and VR to traveling the world for Tron, seeing firsthand how stablecoins and Bitcoin are helping people escape inflation in places like Turkey.Hunter then breaks down how Terahash is tokenizing Bitcoin hash rate (THS) to give individuals and institutions direct exposure to the “engine” of Bitcoin, generating daily BTC yield while helping miners secure upfront capital and stay efficient – even in bear markets. We also dive into energy, AI’s growing demand for power, building sustainable mining incentives, and his candid advice for founders on community and ecosystem growth.Key Timestamps[00:00:00] Why Hunter stayed in crypto: From chasing profits to believing in decentralization and “power to the people.”[00:02:00] Oculus & the early Metaverse: Working at Meta/Facebook demoing VR before “metaverse” was even a buzzword.[00:03:30] From extra money to a mission: How Telegram/Discord communities shifted his mindset from trading to ideology.[00:04:30] Tron, Tether & Turkey: Seeing people use USDT on Tron as an inflation hedge and safe haven from collapsing fiat.[00:06:00] Bitcoin as a museum piece: Why just “buy, hold, pray, sell” is not enough for the future of Bitcoin.[00:07:00] What Terahash does: Turning Bitcoin into an economy by tokenizing hash rate and opening access to BTC’s “engine.”[00:08:30] Hype vs real yield: Why most DeFi yields are inflationary and unsustainable – and how hash rate–backed yield is different.[00:11:00] THS token explained: 1 THS = 1 terahash of real BTC hash rate, on-chain transparency and Chainlink oracles.[00:14:00] Daily BTC payouts: How buying THS routes mining rewards to your wallet while miners get upfront capital and stability.[00:17:00] Energy, geography & expansion: US-based mining today, plus interest in El Salvador, Bhutan and global low-cost energy hubs.[00:19:00] AI vs Bitcoin for energy: Why AI and data centers are driving an energy and metals (silver, gold) crunch.[00:21:00] Fixing mining: Tokenized hash rate as a way to support miners, create yield, and reduce fear of 4-year cycles and bear markets.[00:23:00] Ecosystem dev 101: Hunter’s advice to founders – be present, be transparent, live in Telegram, and mix fun with progress.[00:26:00] Roadmap: Dual-token model (THS + HASH), going multi-chain, BTC L2s, Solana, Tron and upcoming launches in 30–60 days.[00:28:00] The ask: Mission-aligned investors, hires, partners and community members – “there’s a place in Terahash for everyone.”[00:29:30] Wrap-up & call to founders: How to connect with Terahash and why we’ll revisit their journey in 6–12 months.Connecthttps://terahash.xyz/https://www.linkedin.com/company/terahash-xyz/https://www.linkedin.com/in/ibeatwallstreet/DisclaimerNothing mentioned in this podcast is investment advice and please do your own research. It would mean a lot if you can leave a review of this podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share this podcast with a friend.Get featuredBe a guest on the podcast or contact us – https://www.web3pod.xyz/

In this episode I talk with Wes from Technotainment, who’s building what he calls Streaming 2.0 — a new model for Hollywood that combines content, community, and commerce, powered by Web3 and AI.We break down why the traditional subscription/ads model is failing in an infinite-content world, how micro-casting lets each show own its audience and revenue, and how tokens can route value directly between advertisers, creators, and fans.Wes also shares how AI-generated films, live experiences, and gamified fan engagement could reshape both studios and creators over the next decade.Key Timestamps[00:00] What’s Broken in Hollywood Wes explains why the 1970s subscription/ads model doesn’t work in a world of infinite content, channels, and attention fragmentation.[00:02] Wes’ Journey into Web3 & Entertainment From bootstrapping in Malta, ICO days, and Quizando to meeting the founder of MTV/Nickelodeon and starting Technotainment.[00:09] “Bringing Hollywood On-Chain” Explained Not just putting video on-chain: routing value directly between advertisers, content, and fans via tokens, and cutting out layers of middlemen.[00:11] New Revenue Stack for Content Freemium first episodes, pay-per-episode, affiliate sales from clickable items in scenes, merch, live events, digital assets, and gamification.[00:17] Micro-Casting & Decentralized Streaming Each show as its own “mini Netflix”: owning audience, data, and revenue while plugging into many distribution platforms instead of one gatekeeper.[00:20] Competing with TikTok & UGC Why Technotainment bakes community directly into the viewing experience: feeds, second screens, and rewarding fans who create content around shows.[00:23] AI Content, Live Experiences & Commerce AI-generated movies, content as a commerce engine, and why live experiences and stage shows become even more valuable in an AI world.[00:36] Roadmap & AskToken generation plans, launch timeline, university partnerships, and what Technotainment is looking for: creators, game builders, IP, and Web3 communities.Connecthttps://www.technotainment.com/https://www.linkedin.com/company/technotainment-streaming-media-inc/https://x.com/_technotainmenthttps://www.linkedin.com/in/wesleyellul/https://x.com/SurWessDisclaimerNothing mentioned in this podcast is investment advice and please do your own research. It would mean a lot if you can leave a review of this podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share this podcast with a friend.Get featuredBe a guest on the podcast or contact us – https://www.web3pod.xyz/