What It Really Takes for Banks to Innovate Without Breaking Trust

Innovation in banking is often talked about, but rarely understood.In this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, Giovanni Everduin, Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer and Head of Ventures at Commercial Bank International, joins the couch to unpack what innovation really looks like inside a regulated bank.From legacy systems and institutional mindsets to AI, digital assets, and on-chain finance, this conversation goes beyond buzzwords to explore where real value is being created and where the industry may be getting ahead of itself.Giovanni shares why regulation can act as a catalyst for innovation, how banks and fintechs are moving from competition to partnership, and why the future of finance will be hybrid rather than fully on-chain or off-chain.A candid discussion on tokenization, stablecoins, privacy, and why understanding the problem always matters more than chasing the latest technology.🎙️ In this episode: • What innovation actually means inside a regulated bank • Why legacy systems, data, and mindsets slow transformation • How fintechs shifted from challengers to infrastructure partners • The real opportunities and misconceptions around tokenization and stablecoins • Why privacy will be critical for institutions moving finance on-chain • How banks can experiment safely without breaking trust • Why partnership-driven innovation is becoming the dominant model • What the next 3 to 5 years of banking could realistically look like👉 Watch the full conversation to understand how banks are navigating innovation without losing trust, stability, or relevance.#CouchonomicsWithArjun #BankingInnovation #Fintech #DigitalAssets #AIinBanking #Tokenization #FutureOfBanking #UAE #Leadership #FinancialServicesPARTNERSCouchonomics with Arjun Season 04 is brought to you by:Adyen → https://www.adyen.com/Thunes → https://thunes.com/Mastercard → https://mastercard.com/e& → https://www.eand.com/Digit9 → https://www.digitnine.com/SC Ventures → https://scventures.io/Hala → https://hala.com/SOCIAL LINKSArjun’s LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjunvirsingh/Couchonomics LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/couchonomics-with-arjun-singh/Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/couchonomics/Twitter → https://twitter.com/Arjun_Vir_SinghTikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@couchonomicsNewsletter → https://bit.ly/3WIOur website 👉 https://bit.ly/3jk7UH0Find us on our social media platforms: Arjun's LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjunvirsingh/ CCN LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/couchonomics-with-arjun-singh/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/couchonomics/ Twitter https://twitter.com/Arjun_Vir_Singh?s=20 TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@couchonomics Subscribe to Arjun's LinkedIn newsletter, Couchonomics Crunch: https://bit.ly/3WI4A6E

Banking in the UAE is entering a phase where digital expectations, AI, and trust are forcing banks to rethink everything from processes to culture.Arjun sits down with Dr. Bernd van Linder, CEO of Commercial Bank of Dubai, to unpack how customer experience, technology and trust are reshaping the future of banking.🎙️ In this episode:Why customer experience has become the only real competitive advantage in bankingHow digitization moved from a COVID era surprise to a baseline expectationWhy the UAE banking sector keeps evolving faster than global peersHow banks can rewire legacy systems without breaking what worksWhy fintechs are now partners, not threats, and how the best banks use themThe real impact of AI on productivity, governance and the workforceHow trust, safety and regulation shape decision making in a digital-first worldWhat the next five years of banking will look like in the region👉 Watch now to understand how customer experience, fintech partnerships, AI and trust will define the next era of banking.#CouchonomicsWithArjun #Banking #DigitalTransformation #AI #Fintech #UAE #CustomerExperience #FutureOfBanking #Leadership #InnovationPARTNERSCouchonomics with Arjun Season 04 is brought to you by:Adyen → https://www.adyen.com/Thunes → https://thunes.com/Mastercard → https://mastercard.com/E& → https://www.eand.com/Digit9 → https://www.digitnine.com/SC Ventures → https://scventures.io/Hala → https://hala.com/SOCIAL LINKSArjun’s LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjunvirsingh/Couchonomics LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/couchonomics-with-arjun-singh/Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/couchonomics/Twitter → https://twitter.com/Arjun_Vir_SinghTikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@couchonomicsNewsletter → https://bit.ly/3WI4A6EChapters00:00 The new realities of customer expectations02:00 Why UAE banks are evolving faster than global peers04:00 Customer experience as the only real competitive advantage07:00 Rewiring people and processes for a digital-first world10:00 How fintech partnerships are reshaping bank capabilities14:00 The future role of branches in a digital-first banking model18:00 Moving from legacy tech to open, integrated systems22:00 The real impact of AI on productivity, risk and governance30:00 Trust, safety and how customers choose banks today36:00 What the next 3 to 5 years of banking will look likeOur website 👉 https://bit.ly/3jk7UH0Find us on our social media platforms: Arjun's LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjunvirsingh/ CCN LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/couchonomics-with-arjun-singh/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/couchonomics/ Twitter https://twitter.com/Arjun_Vir_Singh?s=20 TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@couchonomics Subscribe to Arjun's LinkedIn newsletter, Couchonomics Crunch: https://bit.ly/3WI4A6E

Core banking is no longer a back-office topic.Cloud, payments, AI and digital assets are forcing banks to rethink the foundations of how money moves.In this episode, Arjun sits down with Vishal Dalal, Global CEO of Pismo, to unpack the evolution of modern core banking, the rise of cloud-native architectures, and why migration, resilience and payments complexity are the real bottlenecks shaping the future.From a startup getting thrown out of buildings in Brazil to powering global banks across 70 plus countries, Vishal breaks down the hard truths of building critical infrastructure in a world that expects zero downtime, instant scalability and absolute safety.In this episode:• How Pismo went from a 5,000-card pilot to powering tens of millions of accounts• Why resilience, recovery and disaster readiness are now core banking table stakes• The real challenges of migrating 200 million accounts from legacy systems• Why every country building its own payment rails increases global complexity• How stablecoins, tokenized deposits and CBDCs force a rethink of the entire backend• Why digital assets and real-time settlement are pulling core banking into a new era• How AI is reshaping migrations, operations, debugging and developer speed• Why being cloud-only opens some markets and immediately disqualifies others• How leaders should balance velocity with safety in a geopolitical environment full of risk👉 Watch now to understand the next chapter of core banking.#CouchonomicsWithArjun #Banking #CoreBanking #Fintech #Payments #Cloud #AI #DigitalAssets #Stablecoins #CBDC #Migration #FutureOfFinance #InnovationPartnersCouchonomics with Arjun Season 04 is brought to you by:Adyen → https://www.adyen.com/Thunes → https://thunes.com/Mastercard → https://mastercard.com/E& → https://www.eand.com/Digit9 → https://www.digitnine.com/SC Ventures → https://scventures.io/Hala → https://hala.com/Follow us on social mediaArjun’s LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjunvirsingh/Couchonomics LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/couchonomics-with-arjun-singh/Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/couchonomics/Twitter → https://twitter.com/Arjun_Vir_SinghTikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@couchonomicsNewsletter → https://bit.ly/3WI4A6EChapters00:00 The Pismo origin story and early Brazil journey02:00 Winning trust through a 5,000-card pilot04:00 Landing Itaú and scaling to millions of accounts06:00 Citi’s 76-country ledger and going global08:00 What modern core banking must deliver today12:00 The realities of migrating from legacy mainframes16:00 Payments rails, localization and rising global complexity20:00 How digital assets, stablecoins and CBDCs reshape the backend26:00 AI’s impact on migrations, operations and developer speed34:00 Why safety, resilience and governance Our website 👉 https://bit.ly/3jk7UH0Find us on our social media platforms: Arjun's LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjunvirsingh/ CCN LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/couchonomics-with-arjun-singh/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/couchonomics/ Twitter https://twitter.com/Arjun_Vir_Singh?s=20 TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@couchonomics Subscribe to Arjun's LinkedIn newsletter, Couchonomics Crunch: https://bit.ly/3WI4A6E

Fintech is entering a new phase where technology, regulation and global markets are reshaping value at a deeper level.Arjun sits down with Sandeep Patil, Partner and Head of Asia at QED Investors, to break down how fintech is evolving beneath the surface.🎙️ In this episode: -Why the global fintech reset isn’t over- How stablecoins are becoming the quiet rails of global trade- How AI will reshape underwriting and distribution- Why regulatory fluency is now essential for founders- Where real value creation will happen over the next 3–5 years👉 Watch now to understand how AI, stablecoins, global flows and regulation are writing the next chapter of fintech.Couchonomics with Arjun Season 04 is brought to you by our partners:Adyen → https://www.adyen.com/Thunes → https://thunes.com/Mastercard → https://mastercard.com/E& → https://www.eand.com/Digit9 → https://www.digitnine.com/SC Ventures → https://scventures.io/Hala → https://hala.com/Chapters00:00 Episode Teaser01:00 How global volatility is shaping fintech03:10 Are we through the fintech reset or not05:00 Where real value will emerge in the next 3 to 5 years06:30 Stablecoins and the rewiring of global trade09:00 How AI is reshaping underwriting, distribution and trust12:20 What categories are losing momentum17:00 AI washing vs real AI-led companies20:10 Why founders must understand regulation deeply31:00 The Middle East and Saudi. Rising themes and opportunitiesOur website 👉 https://bit.ly/3jk7UH0Find us on our social media platforms: Arjun's LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjunvirsingh/ CCN LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/couchonomics-with-arjun-singh/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/couchonomics/ Twitter https://twitter.com/Arjun_Vir_Singh?s=20 TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@couchonomics Subscribe to Arjun's LinkedIn newsletter, Couchonomics Crunch: https://bit.ly/3WI4A6E

What if the future of money isn’t about new currencies, but about rebuilding how value moves?Arjun sits down with Keith Grose, Senior Country Director at Coinbase UK, to explore how crypto is moving from hype to real infrastructure.They talk about the UK’s second-mover advantage in regulation, the role of stablecoins in global trade, and how Coinbase is building the bridge between traditional finance and the on-chain world.🎙️ In this episode:→ Why Coinbase’s mission is to increase economic freedom for a billion people→ How crypto complements, not replaces, real-time payment systems→ Why stablecoins are becoming the settlement layer for global trade→ What the UK’s second-mover advantage means for innovation→ How regulation can balance control with growth→ Why private stablecoins may move faster than CBDCs→ What it takes to make crypto secure, compliant, and trusted→ How on-chain transparency is reshaping user protection👉 Watch now to understand how crypto, regulation, and finance are converging into the next chapter of global money movement.Couchonomics with Arjun Season 04 is brought to you by our partners:Adyen → https://www.adyen.com/Thunes → https://thunes.com/Mastercard → https://mastercard.com/E& → https://www.eand.com/Digit9 → https://www.digitnine.com/SC Ventures → https://scventures.io/Hala → https://hala.com/Chapters00:00 Episode Teaser01:02 Introducing Keith Gross and Coinbase02:07 Coinbase's Mission and Crypto's Promise03:55 The Role of Regulation in Crypto04:14 Global Payment Systems and Crypto's Potential11:11 The Promise and Growth of Stablecoins13:48 Institutional Adoption and Tokenized Deposits18:50 The Future of Crypto Regulation in the UK25:18 Understanding Wholesale CBDC and Stable Coins25:39 The Role of Stablecoins in Government Bonds26:27 Yield and Regulatory Challenges of Stablecoins27:58 Coinbase's Offerings for Retail and Institutional Customers29:49 Defi Lending and Borrowing Innovations34:10 Security and Custody in Crypto Trading41:06 Regulatory Collaboration and Industry Standards46:53 Balancing Growth and Risk in Crypto48:57 Future Metrics and Tokenization Trends50:13 Conclusion and Future DiscussionsOur website 👉 https://bit.ly/3jk7UH0Find us on our social media platforms: Arjun's LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjunvirsingh/ CCN LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/couchonomics-with-arjun-singh/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/couchonomics/ Twitter https://twitter.com/Arjun_Vir_Singh?s=20 TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@couchonomics Subscribe to Arjun's LinkedIn newsletter, Couchonomics Crunch: https://bit.ly/3WI4A6E

What if the future of money isn’t about creating new currencies, but redefining what money really is?In this episode, Arjun sits down with Tony McLaughlin, CEO and Founder of Ubyx Inc, to talk about why he believes the bank account is dead and how the next version of money could live on public blockchains.They break down what stablecoins, tokenized deposits, and CBDCs really mean, and how they could quietly replace the systems we’ve used for decades.🎙️ In this episode: → Why blockchain is simply a “who owns what” machine → How stablecoins could become the new form of fiat → Why tokenization could replace ACH, SWIFT, and cards → How Ubyx is building a clearing system for the age of digital money → How stablecoins could transform global trade and cross-border payments → The balance between privacy, regulation, and innovation👉 Watch now to understand how the next phase of finance will be built on tokens, trust, and interoperability.Couchonomics with Arjun Season 04 is brought to you by our partners:Adyen → https://www.adyen.com/Thunes → https://thunes.com/Mastercard → https://mastercard.com/E& → https://www.eand.com/Digit9 → https://www.digitnine.com/SC Ventures → https://scventures.io/Hala → https://hala.com/Chapters 00:00 Episode Teaser 02:45 What Fintech Really Built: Layers on Legacy Rails 05:30 Blockchain as the “Who Owns What” Machine 09:15 Regulation, Policy, and the Shift to Public Blockchains 11:20 Stablecoins and the Irony of Perfecting Fiat Currency 15:00 The Death of the Bank Account and Rise of Tokens 17:10 CBDCs, Tokenized Deposits, and the Ancient IOU 23:00 How Ubyx Fits into the Global Clearing Puzzle 26:20 Why Banks Will Love Stablecoins for FX Revenue 32:00 The $300B E-commerce Stablecoin Opportunity 37:00 CBDCs vs. Stablecoins: Parallel Systems, Not Rivals 39:10 How Europe Should Respond to USD Stablecoins 41:00 Turning Regulation Fear into Opportunity 45:00 Privacy, Surveillance, and Life on the Ledger 47:40 Ubyx’s Journey from White Paper to Product 50:00 Building the Mastercard of Stablecoins 53:00 Lessons from an Older Founder and What Comes NextOur website 👉 https://bit.ly/3jk7UH0Find us on our social media platforms: Arjun's LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjunvirsingh/ CCN LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/couchonomics-with-arjun-singh/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/couchonomics/ Twitter https://twitter.com/Arjun_Vir_Singh?s=20 TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@couchonomics Subscribe to Arjun's LinkedIn newsletter, Couchonomics Crunch: https://bit.ly/3WI4A6E

What if the next decade of finance isn’t about disruption, but inclusion?In this episode, Arjun sits down with Sopnendu Mohanty, Group CEO of GFTN and Advisor to the Monetary Authority of Singapore, to explore how technology, policy, and people are shaping the future of global finance.🎙️ In this episode:→ The three pillars that defined the first wave of fintech: APIs, DPIs, and cloud→ Why inclusion remains the biggest unfinished story in finance→ How AI and tokenization could rebuild finance from the inside out→ Why collaboration, not disruption, will shape the next decade→ How the Middle East is emerging as a major hub for innovation and investment→ The growing role of regulators and public infrastructure in driving progress→ How the Global South can leapfrog through digital infrastructure👉 Watch now and see how the next chapter of finance is being built.Couchonomics with Arjun Season 04 is brought to you by our partners:Adyen → https://www.adyen.com/Thunes → https://thunes.com/Mastercard → https://mastercard.com/E& → https://www.eand.com/Digit9 → https://www.digitnine.com/SC Ventures → https://scventures.io/Hala → https://hala.com/Chapters00:00 Episode Highlights02:45 The Last Decade of Fintech: APIs, DPIs, and Cloud05:30 How Banks and Regulators Learned to Collaborate09:15 Why Inclusion Remains the Biggest Unsolved Problem13:40 The Next Wave: AI, Tokenization, and Quantum Security17:20 Stablecoins, Networks, and the Future of Money Movement22:05 Consumer Awareness and the Fight Against Scams26:10 Building the Global South’s Digital Infrastructure30:25 The Middle East and the New Role of the GCC35:10 GFTN’s Vision and the Future of Responsible FinanceOur website 👉 https://bit.ly/3jk7UH0Find us on our social media platforms: Arjun's LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjunvirsingh/ CCN LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/couchonomics-with-arjun-singh/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/couchonomics/ Twitter https://twitter.com/Arjun_Vir_Singh?s=20 TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@couchonomics Subscribe to Arjun's LinkedIn newsletter, Couchonomics Crunch: https://bit.ly/3WI4A6E

When money moves faster than ever, who really controls it? In this episode, Arjun sits down with Arik Shtilman, Founder and CEO of Rapyd, to explore how AI and stablecoins are rewriting the rules of global payments. From powering transactions across 100+ countries to building an AI-first infrastructure, Rapyd is proving that the next financial revolution is already underway.🎙️ In this episode:- Why payments companies that aren’t AI-first may not survive the next three years- How stablecoins are reshaping liquidity, cross-border trade, and working capital- Why banks and SWIFT are in a race to stay relevant- How Rapyd embedded stablecoins into every layer of its platform- The real battle between AI-powered fraud and AI-driven fraud prevention- What the rise of CBDCs means for the future of money movementThis isn’t a discussion about what’s coming.It’s a look at how the foundations of finance are being rebuilt in real time.👉 Watch now and discover how Rapyd is shaping the future of payments.#CouchonomicsWithArjun #Fintech #AI #Stablecoins #CrossBorderPayments #DigitalFinance #FutureOfMoney #financialinnovation Couchonomics with Arjun Season 04 is brought to you by our partners:Adyen https://www.adyen.com/Thunes https://thunes.com/Mastercard https://mastercard.com/E& https://www.eand.com/Digit9 https://www.digitnine.com/SC Ventures https://scventures.io/Hala https://hala.com/ Chapters:00:00 Episode Highlights03:00 AI and Stablecoins: The Twin Shifts05:00 How Regulation and Politics Changed Crypto08:00 Cross-Border Trade in Stablecoins12:00 Swift’s Future and Bank Partnerships16:00 Rapyd’s Stablecoin Strategy and Revenue Impact18:00 Compliance, Regulation, and Market Readiness25:00 CBDCs and the New Monetary Order30:00 Inside Rapyd’s AI Engine39:00 The Rapyd Story and Its EvolutionOur website 👉 https://bit.ly/3jk7UH0Find us on our social media platforms: Arjun's LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjunvirsingh/ CCN LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/couchonomics-with-arjun-singh/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/couchonomics/ Twitter https://twitter.com/Arjun_Vir_Singh?s=20 TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@couchonomics Subscribe to Arjun's LinkedIn newsletter, Couchonomics Crunch: https://bit.ly/3WI4A6E

What if AI ran your bank? 🤯In this episode, Arjun sits down with Quang Nguyen, CEO of Cake Digital Bank, Vietnam’s AI-first bank that’s redefining what digital finance looks like.With only 300 employees serving 6 million customers, Cake has become one of Southeast Asia’s most efficient and innovative financial institutions — proving that the future of banking is lean, intelligent, and fully automated.🎙️ In this episode:- How Cake uses AI to power 70% of its operations- Building trust through technology in a young, digital-first market- Why Vietnam is leading the next fintech wave- How Cake achieved profitability in just 3 years- What AI-first banking really means beyond the buzz This isn’t a story about the future of banking - it’s a look at what’s already here.👉 Watch now and see how AI is transforming finance from the inside out.#CouchonomicsWithArjun #Fintech #DigitalBanking #AI #Vietnam #FinancialInnovation #FutureOfFinanceCouchonomics with Arjun Season 04 is brought to you by our partners:Adyen https://www.adyen.com/Thunes https://thunes.com/Mastercard https://mastercard.com/E& https://www.eand.com/Digit9 https://www.digitnine.com/SC Ventures https://scventures.io/Hala https://hala.com/ Chapters:00:00 Episode Highlights02:22 Vietnam's Digital Transformation06:19 Building Trust in Digital Banking09:06 The Playful Brand: Cake11:46 Regulatory Landscape in Vietnam19:20 AI Integration in Banking23:26 Staffing and AI Integration24:21 Embracing AI in Operations25:22 Approach to Small Loans28:21 Deposit Strategies and Competitive Pricing29:42 Building Ecosystems and Partnerships33:16 Challenges and Opportunities in Embedded Banking36:34 Regulatory Compliance and AI39:03 The Story Behind the Name 'Cake'41:10 Future Plans and Regional Expansion43:18 Conclusion and Final ThoughtsOur website 👉 https://bit.ly/3jk7UH0Find us on our social media platforms: Arjun's LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjunvirsingh/ CCN LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/couchonomics-with-arjun-singh/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/couchonomics/ Twitter https://twitter.com/Arjun_Vir_Singh?s=20 TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@couchonomics Subscribe to Arjun's LinkedIn newsletter, Couchonomics Crunch: https://bit.ly/3WI4A6E

Over $80 trillion in global wealth is moving to a younger, more digital generation. But who will manage it—and how will AI, trust, and technology reshape investing?In this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, Caesar Sengupta, Co-Founder and CEO of Arta Finance (backed by Eric Schmidt, Peak XV, and Ribbit Capital), shares how his company is democratizing wealth management—bringing institutional-grade investing to millions worldwide.Discover how AI is redefining advice, why trust matters more than ever, and how digital platforms like Arta x Wio are changing the game for banks, advisors, and investors alike.🎧 Listen now on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts.Couchonomics with Arjun Season 04 is brought to you by our partners:Adyen https://www.adyen.com/Thunes https://thunes.com/Mastercard https://mastercard.com/E& https://www.eand.com/Digit9 https://www.digitnine.com/SC Ventures https://scventures.io/Hala https://hala.com/Chapters:00:00 Episode Highlights 01:10 Introducing Caesar Sengupta02:00 The Great Wealth Transfer03:07 Secular Forces in Wealth Creation05:38 The Myth of Democratization10:13 Retail Trading: Speculation or Wealth Building?13:33 Building Trust in Wealth Management17:25 The Role of Technology in Wealth Management24:42 Family Offices and Digital Capabilities27:57 Regulatory Challenges and Partner Expertise28:13 Designing and Offering Structured Products30:13 AI's Role in Fintech and Wealth Management33:41 AI's Impact on Wealth Strategies35:46 AI in Customer Experience and Wealth Planning42:26 Concerns and Future of AI in Wealth Management45:39 Business Strategy and Future Directions49:29 Conclusion and Final ThoughtsOur website 👉 https://bit.ly/3jk7UH0Find us on our social media platforms: Arjun's LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjunvirsingh/ CCN LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/couchonomics-with-arjun-singh/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/couchonomics/ Twitter https://twitter.com/Arjun_Vir_Singh?s=20 TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@couchonomics Subscribe to Arjun's LinkedIn newsletter, Couchonomics Crunch: https://bit.ly/3WI4A6E