Turning Bitcoin into the Future of Finance - Willem Schroé

Episode Topic: Graham Krizek, Founder of Voltage, joins PayPod to discuss how the Lightning Network is transforming Bitcoin from a slow and expensive currency into a scalable, real-time payment solution. He explains how Voltage helps businesses adopt Lightning infrastructure easily, and how trends like AI and stablecoins are pushing Bitcoin into mainstream use. Graham also explores the regulatory shifts and real-world applications that are unlocking Bitcoin's potential beyond just a store of value. Lessons You'll Learn: Why Bitcoin alone isn't practical for everyday transactions   How the Lightning Network enables instant, low-fee global payments   What role stablecoins and AI agents will play in the future of Bitcoin   How Voltage removes the complexity of Lightning adoption for companies   Why regulation and narrative shifts are accelerating mainstream crypto use About Our Guest: Graham Krizek is the Founder of Voltage, a company building infrastructure to make Bitcoin and the Lightning Network accessible for businesses and developers. With over a decade in the crypto space, Graham's mission is to simplify Bitcoin payments and unlock real-world use cases. Voltage provides plug-and-play APIs that allow companies to integrate Bitcoin payments in days—not months—without hiring crypto engineers. Topics Covered: The pain points of traditional Bitcoin transactions   Lightning Network: speed, cost savings, and scalability   Stablecoins on Bitcoin using Taproot Assets   AI agents and microtransactions as Lightning's killer use cases   Regulatory trends impacting Lightning adoption

Episode Topic:Jarek Sygitowicz, co-founder of Authologic, joins PayPod to discuss how digital identity is being reinvented. From legacy systems to identity wallets and AI-enhanced security, Jarek maps out how businesses can stay compliant, secure, and conversion-optimized in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. Lessons You'll Learn: Why traditional identity verification methods are obsolete How AI and cryptography are shaping secure onboarding The role of identity wallets in improving UX and trust How fintechs can future-proof their compliance stack What global businesses need to know about ID regulations About Our Guest:Jarek Sygitowicz is the co-founder of Authologic, a company revolutionizing identity verification for the digital age. With a Stripe-like API model, Authologic aggregates ID verification sources worldwide—from bank auth to biometrics—to help companies stay compliant and user-friendly. Jarek brings a global perspective, drawing on experience across Europe, the U.S., and beyond. Topics Covered: Legacy vs. modern identity infrastructure AI-powered fraud prevention and verification The rise of global identity wallets UX, compliance, and conversion rate optimization Orchestrating identity systems across geographies

 Episode Topic: Baxter Lanius, CEO of Alternative Payments, joins PayPod to discuss the slow adoption of modern payment methods in the B2B sector, the role of AI in speeding up invoicing, and how alternative payment solutions can help businesses get paid faster. Baxter also explores the intersection of fintech and industries like construction and logistics, highlighting opportunities to improve payment workflows. Lessons You'll Learn: Why the B2B payments market still relies on checks How AI can help automate invoicing and streamline payment workflows The challenges of bringing blue-collar industries into the digital payments era Why some industries are hesitant to adopt new fintech solutions How Alternative Payments is modernizing B2B transactions and enabling faster payments About Our Guest: Baxter Lanius is the CEO of Alternative Payments, a startup revolutionizing B2B payment workflows. With a focus on AI-driven solutions, Baxter's company is dedicated to modernizing the payment experience for industries that still rely on outdated systems, like checks. Prior to founding Alternative Payments, Baxter had a role on the board of Giordano's Pizza, where he learned the value of strong branding and customer loyalty. Baxter is passionate about using technology to improve business efficiency and financial transparency. Topics Covered: The challenges of legacy B2B payment systems The potential of AI in fintech Embedded finance and vertical SaaS solutions Overcoming barriers to fintech adoption in traditional industries  

Episode Topic: Willem Schroé, founder of Botanix Labs, joins PayPod to reveal how Bitcoin is becoming the foundation for a decentralized financial future. Learn how Ethereum-style smart contracts and DeFi applications are now possible on Bitcoin via the Spiderchain—without giving up Bitcoin's security or decentralization. Lessons You'll Learn: How the Spiderchain turns Bitcoin into a programmable financial layer Why Bitcoin yield is now possible—paid in Bitcoin, not tokens The future of interest-free Bitcoin-backed loans and stablecoin trading How Bitcoin can become a global financial operating system by 2100 Why governments can't stop Bitcoin—and why they shouldn't try   About Our Guest: Willem Schroé is the founder of Botanix Labs, the company behind the Spiderchain, a decentralized Bitcoin Layer 2 enabling smart contracts and DeFi. A national champion in mathematics and a researcher in cryptography, Willem's passion for Bitcoin was ignited during his time in Saudi Arabia, where he witnessed financial repression and inflation firsthand. Now, he's on a mission to bring open, decentralized financial infrastructure to the world, starting with Bitcoin. Topics Covered: Bitcoin as programmable money Layer-2 innovation via the Spiderchain Interest-free lending and stablecoin DeFi Bitcoin staking and yield generation Financial sovereignty and inclusion through decentralization  

 Episode Topic: Daniel Schalla from Mattermost joins PayPod to discuss how financial institutions can better prepare for and respond to cybersecurity incidents. With tools designed for secure collaboration and workflow management, Mattermost helps companies meet regulatory demands while ensuring that they remain in control of their data. Lessons You'll Learn: How to respond quickly and effectively to cyber incidents Why automating workflows can improve your incident response The importance of regular tabletop exercises for cybersecurity preparedness How to balance automation and human decision-making in security processes Understanding compliance requirements like the SEC's new 4-day rule About Our Guest: Daniel Schalla is a cybersecurity expert at Mattermost, a collaboration platform designed for high-security, regulated industries. He brings deep expertise in incident response, workflow automation, and the unique challenges faced by financial institutions in maintaining compliance. Mattermost's platform is used by leading organizations in finance, defense, healthcare, and more, helping them streamline communication and response to critical security events. Topics Covered: Key vulnerabilities affecting financial institutions today How Mattermost supports secure collaboration and incident management The role of automation in security incident response  

Episode Topic: Joris Delanoue, co-founder and CEO of Fairmint, joins PayPod to explain how blockchain is disrupting private equity and fundraising. With cap tables becoming programmable, Fairmint is helping founders, investors, and communities escape legacy systems and embrace decentralized, on-chain ownership. Lessons You'll Learn: Why today's private equity system is outdated   How smart contracts can replace PDFs and spreadsheets   What Open Cap Table Format means for fintech innovation   Why solving compliance is the ultimate edge in crypto   How community ownership can become a norm, not an exception About Our Guest:Joris Delanoue is the CEO and co-founder of Fairmint, a company revolutionizing private equity by turning cap tables into blockchain-based smart contracts. With deep experience in SaaS, compliance, and crypto, Joris is leading Fairmint's mission to decentralize ownership and enable programmable equity for startups. Fairmint is backed by a coalition of legal and fintech leaders reshaping the rails of finance. Topics Covered: Legacy issues with equity and cap tables   Tokenizing ownership and on-chain liquidity   Compliance and regulatory clarity in the U.S.   The Open Cap Table Format (OCF) movement   UX innovation and the future of crypto adoption

Episode Topic: Megan Knab, CEO of Franklin Payroll, joins PayPod to talk about the evolution of payroll and payments in a crypto-native world. From overcoming debanking to leveraging programmable payroll, Megan outlines a clear vision for a decentralized financial infrastructure powered by stablecoins and blockchain. Lessons You'll Learn: How debanking affects legitimate crypto businesses Why stablecoins are key to operational efficiency The role of programmable payroll in a global workforce How AI can simplify and automate U.S. tax logic Why fintech's future may not include traditional banks About Our Guest: Megan Knab is the CEO and founder of Franklin Payroll, a self-custodial payroll platform helping companies process payroll in both fiat and crypto. A former Wall Street accountant and CFO at a crypto startup, Megan saw firsthand the inefficiencies in handling multi-currency payroll. This inspired her to build Franklin, a company now processing millions each month and reshaping payroll through blockchain, stablecoins, and smart automation. Topics Covered: Debanking and crypto company challenges Stablecoins as modern financial rails Self-custodial, programmable payroll AI and tax code automation  

Episode Topic: Louis Hoch, CEO of Usio, joins PayPod to discuss the future of payments, including embedded payment solutions, real-time payments, and the intersection of biometrics and AI in transforming the payments landscape. He shares how flexibility, customer-centricity, and innovation will drive the next wave of payment systems. Lessons You'll Learn: Why embedded payments are revolutionizing commerce The importance of flexibility in payment channels How real-time payments are reshaping transaction dynamics The role of AI and biometrics in future payment security About Our Guest: Louis Hoch is the CEO of Usio, a company that specializes in embedded payment solutions for a wide variety of industries, including fintech and government entities. Usio provides diverse payment channels from traditional checks to cutting-edge technology like FedNow, offering flexibility and agility in payment systems. Louis is a thought leader in the fintech industry, driving innovation in payment solutions. Topics Covered: Embedded Payments and Workflow Integration B2B Payments Challenges Real-Time Payments: FedNow and Future Trends Biometrics and AI in Payment Systems Flexibility and Customization in Payment Solutions  

Episode Topic: Ken Stott, Field CTO at Hasura, joins PayPod to explore how modern fintech leaders can navigate trust, regulation, decentralization, and AI in today's data landscape. He explains how intelligent agents, semantic layers, and universal data access are shaping the next generation of financial data architecture. Lessons You'll Learn: Learn why regulators and AI demand the same data semantics, how decentralization shapes real-world data stacks, and how Hasura's tools help derive value without overhauling systems. About Our Guest: Ken Stott is the Field CTO at Hasura, bringing decades of data strategy experience to the table. He's helping businesses transition to decentralized, AI-powered data ecosystems by implementing Hasura's semantic-driven, API-first stack. Ken's insights bridge regulatory needs, operational demands, and technological possibilities. Topics Covered: Semantics, AI, and regulatory compliance Intelligent data agents and task automation Decentralization and modern data realities API-first ecosystems and orchestration Hasura's universal data access layer and PromptQL  

 Episode Topic: Andrew Jamison, CEO of Extend, joins PayPod to explore the revolution of B2B payments through virtual cards. From legacy system hurdles to modern API solutions, Andrew discusses how businesses can embed smarter, safer, and more efficient payments without a full tech overhaul. Lessons You'll Learn: Why embedded finance is the future, how virtual cards simplify spend management, the impact of Covid on payment habits, and how AI and APIs are reshaping finance roles and infrastructure. About Our Guest: Andrew Jamison is the CEO and Co-Founder of Extend, a company reimagining the way businesses manage and deploy virtual cards. With a background at American Express and SAP, Andrew combines enterprise strategy with fintech agility. Extend partners with banks to modernize card systems through APIs—without needing to change core infrastructure. Topics Covered: Strategic lessons from American Express   How Extend builds over, not against, legacy systems   Best use cases for virtual cards across industries   Covid's role in accelerating digital payments and SaaS adoption   Regulation and fragmentation in the U.S. payment landscape   The future of embedded payments, AI, and automation