Robinhood Expands into Indonesia | IBM Bets $11B on AI Infrastructure | Binance Wins Major License

For episode 656 of the BlockHash Podcast, host Brandon Zemp is joined by Adam Liposky, Co-Founder and CEO of Canopy Network.Adam is creating an auto-scaling Layer 1 designed to make launching and growing blockchains as simple as deployment. Before Canopy, Adam helped scale Pocket Network into a top decentralized infrastructure protocol, onboarding 40 plus chains and growing the network to over a billion daily relays. He previously founded and exited NachoNodes, a high-performance staking operation, and later led ecosystem growth at Moonbeam during one of the toughest market cycles.📣 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+iGaming Fintech VASPs in their Travel Rule ecosystem, their no-code platform adapts to evolving threats, market demands, and global regulations. 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(2:00) Who is Adam Liposky?(10:14) Lessons from Pocket Network(13:38) What is Canopy Network?(18:43) Sumsub(20:04) Future of app ecosystems cross-chain(26:27) Canopy’s ecosystem(29:57) Canopy Network 2026 roadmap(34:09) Canopy Network website & socials🎙 Canopy Network Links: 🔗 Website: https://www.canopynetwork.org/ 🔗 X: https://x.com/CNPYNetwork 🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamliposky/ 🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/canopy-network/  📢 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.

For episode 655 of the BlockHash Podcast, host Brandon Zemp is joined by Annalea Sanders, Co-President and Board Officer for the Blockchain Security Standards Council (BSSC).The BSSC-Blockchain Security Standards Council-is the leading authority in blockchain security—setting the standards that power trust and confidence.When industry experts discuss blockchain security, not many consider nodes, but they should. If a node doesn’t operate correctly, then the risks permeate and impact the whole network, and its users. As a result, experts are placing more importance on node operation standards as a critical part of blockchain industry standards. 📣 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+iGaming Fintech VASPs in their Travel Rule ecosystem, their no-code platform adapts to evolving threats, market demands, and global regulations. 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(0:56) Who is Annalea Sanders?(3:10) What is BSSC?(6:57) Who uses the BSSC standards?(8:04) Most common failure points for nodes(11:00) Bridging cybersecurity gap(14:49) BSSC standards(19:35) Sumsub(22:39) Future standards with complimentary technologies(25:35) Node security education(26:52) BSSC roadmap for 2026(29:06) Events & conferences(30:00) Process of BSSC certification 🎙 BSSC Links: 🔗 Website: https://www.blockchainssc.org/ 🔗 X: https://x.com/blockchainssc 🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/blockchain-security-standards-council 🔗 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BlockchainSecurityStandardsCou  📢 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.

In today’s BlockHash Morning Brief, we break down fresh signals from the SEC and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) pointing toward a more coordinated U.S. framework for crypto, banking, and digital asset infrastructure. While not deregulation, this shift toward standardization could unlock institutional participation and reduce long-standing uncertainty. We also dive into the AI profit debate now dominating Wall Street. After weeks of volatility, analysts and tech leaders are reframing AI as a long-term infrastructure investment rather than a short-term earnings driver. That recalibration is forcing markets to reprice risk across tech, crypto, and emerging innovation. Plus, we explore how AI governance, safety standards, and chip strategy are becoming central policy priorities in Washington — signaling that AI is now being treated as critical infrastructure, not just software. In this episode:• What SEC & OCC alignment means for U.S. crypto markets• Why regulatory clarity matters more than “friendly” rules• The AI profit reality check hitting tech stocks• How markets are repricing risk across equities and crypto• Why crypto continues to trade like a high-beta tech asset• What builders and investors should watch next (0:00) Intro(0:18) SEC & OCC coordinating on Crypto(1:31) AI leaders push back on profit panic(2:25) AI regulation is trending(3:05) Macro & equities snapshot(3:44) Crypto & emerging tech market(5:24) What to watch for this week

For episode 654 of the BlockHash Podcast, host Brandon Zemp is joined by Jason Dehni of BlackOpal.BlackOpal is an on-chain asset management and payments platform bridging investment-grade yield with emerging market receivables. The problem they’re solving is twofold: High-quality merchants in emerging markets pay above-market premiums for working capital, not because they're risky, but because legacy banking is expensive, slow, and opaque. Meanwhile, institutional capital in developed markets is starved for low-risk emerging market yield.BlackOpal specializes in credit card receivables, underwriting based on historical and real time transactions, and acquiring them via short-duration True Sale structures. Credit risk is further minimized through repayment by AA+ counterparties like Visa and Mastercard, resulting in near zero credit default. Currency risk is hedged via Non-Deliverable Forwards (NDFs). ⏳ Timestamps: (0:00) Introduction(0:51) Who is Jason Dehni?(3:03) What is Black Opal?(6:15) Gemstone vs. LiquidStone II(8:27) User protection & transparency(10:43) What makes Black Opal unique?(13:15) Where are Black Opal’s products available?(15:04) Future opportunities in the Digital Asset market(19:35) Tokenization in the near future(23:50) Black Opal roadmap 2026(25:49) Events & conferences(27:08) Black Opal website & socials 🎙 BlackOpal Links: 🔗 Website: https://www.blackopal.finance/ 🔗 X: https://x.com/blackopal_fi 🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/blackopalprivatecredit/ 🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasondehni/  📢 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.

For episode 653 of the BlockHash Podcast, host Brandon Zemp is joined by Erik Balsbaugh, Executive Director of Open Frontier and Board Member Austin Campbell.Open Frontier is on a mission to promote responsible financial innovation while ensuring strong regulatory guardrails, countering Wall Street and big tech, and stopping bad actors. Finance is evolving, and progressive voices need a seat at the table.📣 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+iGaming Fintech VASPs in their Travel Rule ecosystem, their no-code platform adapts to evolving threats, market demands, and global regulations.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(1:02) Who are Erik Balsbaugh & Austin Campbell?(12:53) Misinformation of Crypto(19:58) Genius Act & impact on crypto(26:44) Sumsub(27:26) U.S. lags in Financial Technology(32:38) Importance of State legislature around Crypto(40:01) Open Frontier roadmap 2026(42:58) Crypto education & events(44:57) Open Frontier website & socials 🎙 Open Frontier Links: 🔗 Website: https://openfrontier.us/ 🔗 X: https://x.com/Open_Frontier 🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erik-balsbaugh/ 🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jesseaustincampbell/ 🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/open-frontier/  📢 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.

Bitcoin slips under $90,000 as markets react to rising concerns over AI profitability and slowing earnings from major tech firms. In today’s BlockHash Morning Brief, we break down why risk appetite is shifting, how AI spending forecasts are impacting both equities and crypto, and what traders should watch as volatility increases.We also cover the launch of a new Prediction Markets Coalition—featuring Kalshi, Crypto.com, Coinbase, Robinhood, and Underdog—aimed at creating a unified regulatory framework for event markets in the U.S. This could become one of the biggest new frontiers in fintech and blockchain.Plus: OpenAI explores dedicated AI devices and on-device small models, signaling a major shift toward ambient, personalized, real-time AI experiences that don’t rely solely on cloud compute. (0:00) Intro(0:32) Bitcoin Drops below $90K(1:56) Prediction Market Coalition(3:14) OpenAI Dedicated AI Devices(4:12) Marco Equities Snapshot(5:11) Crypto & Emerging Tech Market(6:10) What to Watch

For episode 652 of the BlockHash Podcast, host Brandon Zemp is joined by Justin Havins, the DeFi Ecosystem Lead for Katana Network.Katana puts users first: delivering higher real yields through concentrated liquidity, redistributed chain revenue, and productive bridged assets.📣 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+iGaming Fintech VASPs in their Travel Rule ecosystem, their no-code platform adapts to evolving threats, market demands, and global regulations.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(1:00) Who is Justin Havins?(3:32) What is the Katana Network?(7:52) Modularity(10:25) Katana ecosystem(12:13) AI Agents & DeFi(15:31) AI for coding(16:35) Developer experience on Katana(18:30) Next wave of blockchain infrastructure innovation(21:39) Sumsub(22:22) Thoughts on privacy solutions(25:45) Katana Network roadmap 2026(29:10) Cat Staking?(31:33) Events & conferences(32:38) Katana website & socials 🎙 Katana Network Links: 🔗 Website: https://katana.network/ 🔗 X: https://x.com/katana 🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-h-4b277132/ 🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/katananetwork/ 🔗 Discord: https://discord.com/invite/katananetwork  📢 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.

For episode 651 of the BlockHash Podcast, host Brandon Zemp is joined by Andrew Sobko, CEO of Argentum AI, an Enterprise level ready AI-powered compute marketplace.Andrew Sobko is a serial entrepreneur with a background in building transformative marketplaces. He founded one of the fastest-growing companies in America, recognized by the Financial Times and honored by Goldman Sachs' Builders & Innovators award. Andrew has raised over $200 million from leading global investors including Sequoia Capital, Brookfield, and others.📣 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+iGaming Fintech VASPs in their Travel Rule ecosystem, their no-code platform adapts to evolving threats, market demands, and global regulations.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(0:53) Who is Andrew Sobko?(5:50) Argentum Marketplace(9:28) Advantages of Argentum(13:58) Trust & validation for Argentum clients(14:37) Sumsub(16:00) Argentum Token(18:50) How to contribute compute(19:42) Future of Enterprise AI(22:05) Argentum roadmap for 2026(25:03) Events & conferences(25:30) Website & socials 🎙 Argentum AI Links: 🔗 Website: https://argentum-ai.com/ 🔗 X: https://x.com/Argentum_AI 🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-sobko-662231102/ 🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/argentum-ai/  📢 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.

For episode 650 of the BlockHash Podcast, host Brandon Zemp is joined by Kyle Sonlin, President of the Global Settlement Network.Global Settlement's blockchain allows for payments, tokenization and stablecoin solutions to empower financial institutions and governments to integrate blockchain and digital assets into their business in a secure, compliant, and interoperable way—all in one place. 📣 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 transactionmmonitoring, as well as full Travel Rule compliance with over 1,800+iGaming Fintech VASPs in their Travel Rule ecosystem, their no-code platform adapts to evolving threats, market demands, and global regulations.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(1:18) Who is Kyle Sonlin?(3:26) What is Global Settlement Network?(8:26) Importance of stablecoins in the future(10:53) Friction points in TradFi(11:37) Sumsub(12:04) Is Quantum a threat to Crypto?(13:30) Global Settlement Network at Blockchain Futurist(15:34) How to contact GSN 🎙 GSN Links: 🔗 Website: https://globalsettlement.com/ 🔗 X: https://x.com/GSXnetwork 🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kylesonlin/ 🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/globalsettlement/  📢 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.

Today on BlockHash: Robinhood goes global — entering Indonesia’s booming crypto market, IBM drops $11 B for data-infrastructure firm Confluent to power the AI boom, and Binance earns the first global crypto license under Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM). Get the full breakdown on what this means for crypto, AI, and emerging tech — and why institutional money could be on the move. 🎧Robinhood’s entry into Indonesia / crypto-broker acquisition https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/robinhood-enter-indonesia-with-brokerage-crypto-trader-acquisition-2025-12-08/?utm_source=chatgpt.com IBM acquires Confluent for $11 B to build AI data infrastructure https://www.reuters.com/legal/transactional/ibm-buy-confluent-11-billion-deal-cloud-computing-drive-2025-12-08/?utm_source=chatgpt.com Binance obtains global license under ADGM regulatory framework https://m.economictimes.com/markets/binance-becomes-first-crypto-exchange-to-secure-global-license-under-adgm-framework/articleshow/125831004.cms?utm_source=chatgpt.com