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From AI-powered shopping agents to instant payments and embedded finance, commerce is evolving faster than many businesses realise. On Mind Your Business, the Breakfast Show speaks with Krishnaraj Tantri, Senior Vice President, South and SEA, Global Payments, to break down the six forces redefining how consumers pay, spend and interact with businesses across Asia.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this episode of the Leaders in Payments podcast, host Greg Myers sits down with Alex Dewison, Director of Digital Solutions at Global Payments, to explore the rapidly evolving world of online commerce and checkout experiences. Alex brings a rich background to the conversation, having started his career in software development before moving into payments at Worldpay, where he worked with major UK retailers like Tesco and Next, and eventually transitioning into his current role overseeing digital product strategy across Europe, Asia, and Oceania.The discussion covers how consumer payment expectations have shifted dramatically, with digital wallets now accounting for over twenty percent of transactions and instant refunds becoming a baseline expectation rather than a perk. Alex argues that friction at checkout is no longer tolerable and that the industry is moving toward what he calls "invisible" or zero-click commerce, where the act of paying becomes seamlessly embedded in the shopping experience itself.The conversation also tackles the tension between platform simplicity and merchant control, the dangers of offering too many payment options, and the importance of localizing payment methods when expanding internationally. Alex shares practical guidance on how merchants can reduce cart abandonment by addressing surprise fees, slow page loads, and poor mobile optimization.On the topic of AI, Alex separates genuine near-term value, such as intelligent payment routing and adaptive fraud detection, from the longer-term hype around fully autonomous AI agents. He closes with a pointed message for e-commerce leaders: in 2026, your payment experience is your product, and the winners will be those who relentlessly remove friction rather than add features.
Fraud hasn't disappeared - it got smarter. Organized rings now aim upstream at SaaS platforms and ISVs that embed payments, where a single gap in onboarding, transaction logic, or refund flows can be scaled into thousands of attacks overnight. We sit down with Brian Rust, SVP and Deputy Chief Information Security Officer at Worldpay, to map the real fraud journey (entry, action, exit) and the concrete moves product and security leaders can make right now to protect merchants and brand trust.We start with the why: platforms offer leverage. Brian explains how bots and AI generate convincing synthetic businesses that pass weak KYC, and what early signals still break the spell - impossible form completion times, IP and address mismatches, and brand-new domains claiming long histories. From there, we dive into the middle of the kill chain: card testing. You'll hear how velocity spikes, elevated decline rates, and geo anomalies betray large-scale testing and how adaptive limits for new merchants can contain losses and prevent network penalties. Then we confront refund abuse, where attackers exploit trust by refunding to different instruments or flooding high-value returns. The fix isn't blanket friction - it's precision: refund-to-original-card only, refund velocity caps, and targeted reviews that slow bad actors while keeping good customers moving.Brian lays out the layers that matter now: device fingerprinting, behavioral analytics, and transaction monitoring that can halt suspect money movement before funds leave your orbit. He also makes the case for a fraud-cyber fusion model, aligning teams and intelligence using frameworks like MITRE ATT&CK to anticipate tactics as cyber and financial motives blend. Finally, we close with three actions you can ship this quarter: audit onboarding with bot controls and threat modeling, enforce velocity controls that adapt as trust grows, and tap your processor's data and filters (AVS, CVV) to harden defaults.If you lead product, risk, or engineering for a payments-enabled platform, this conversation gives you a practical blueprint to raise attacker costs, protect your merchants, and guard your reputation.
Join FPC Executive Director and CEO Reed Luhtanen as he goes off the rails with Carl Slabicki, Head of Commercial, Global Payments & Trade at BNY. Carl and Reed talk about what Carl sees as key drivers of demand for instant payments, stablecoins, and of course the Oscars. Register now for the FPC's Spring Member Meeting February 25-27th in Washington DC! https://fasterpaymentscouncil.org/events/2894/FPC-2026-Spring-Member-Meeting
If your AR feels like a maze of phone calls, spreadsheets, and “we'll match it later,” this conversation shows a cleaner path. We sit down with Fauwaz Hussain, Senior Director of B2B Partnerships and Strategy at Global Payments, to break down what actually speeds cash and what quietly stalls it. From card-not-present realities to complex terms and partial shipments, we map the B2B differences that make order-to-cash harder and the practical changes that remove friction fast.We get specific about embedding payments inside your ERP so invoices, settlements, and the general ledger line up automatically. That shift kills rekeying errors, collapses department silos, and gives support, sales, and finance the same live truth. Security gets stronger when card data never touches email or recorded calls, and PCI compliance becomes manageable when you use certified, cloud-based vaults and enforce simple rules like “no cards by phone.” Fauwaz explains why publishers like Microsoft, SAP, and Sage now run tighter marketplaces, how VARs and ISVs evaluate payment apps, and why a one-stop provider reduces risk across gateways, vaults, and processing.We also cover the cash-flow moves that work right away: self-serve portals with open invoices, one-click payment links by email or text, stored credentials for auto-pay, and accepting multiple methods from ACH to single-use virtual cards. Then we look forward - AI-driven cash application, predictive delinquencies, Level 2/3 data validation, and API-first architectures that connect e-commerce, field service, and ERP into a single payment fabric. If you're leading AR, finance, or operations, you'll leave with a clear playbook to modernize without compromising compliance.
Stablecoins have quietly become the most successful use case in crypto.In this episode, Nikhil Chandhok, Chief Product & Technology Officer at Circle, explains why USDC is more than a digital dollar — it's a global financial network.We discuss economic inclusion, internet-scale finance, programmable payments, emerging markets, AI-driven payments, and why stablecoins are becoming the backbone of global money movement.
In this Signal Series episode of the Leaders in Payments Podcast, I sit down with Matt Downs, President, Integrated and Platforms at Global Payments, to unpack the biggest platform-payments shifts heading into 2026. Coming off the newly closed Worldpay and Global Payments combination, Matt shares what scale means for ISVs and platforms, and why payments is no longer “just a feature.” It is a growth engine that touches product, operations, and trust.The conversation breaks into three practical themes: embedded payments, embedded finance, and AI-driven fraud. Matt explains how platforms are moving toward richer embedded experiences that extend beyond checkout into the full workflow, including onboarding, chargebacks, disputes, and support. At the same time, platforms are feeling pressure to expand into adjacent financial products such as working capital, banking services, cards, and payroll. He also points to a common blind spot: many leaders do not benchmark how competitors are using payments and financial services to differentiate their core product. That competitive context should directly shape the roadmap.On fraud, Matt argues that 2026 demands an end-to-end mindset. Threats now show up earlier in the lifecycle, operate in real time, and adapt quickly using AI, deepfakes, machine-to-machine attacks, and automation. He outlines the “non-negotiables” for security and compliance, including layered defenses that protect the entire transaction journey, from the first web visit through refunds and disputes, without adding so much friction that it slows growth.If you are an ISV or platform executive building your 2026 plan, this episode will help you pressure-test your partnership strategy, prioritize embedded finance by vertical, and make smarter decisions to stay ahead while avoiding costly execution pitfalls.
Tune in live every weekday Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM Eastern to 10:15 AM.Buy our NFTJoin our DiscordCheck out our TwitterCheck out our YouTubeDISCLAIMER: The views shared on this show are the hosts' opinions only and should not be taken as financial advice. This content is for entertainment and informational purposes.
In this episode of The Defiant Podcast, Chris Storaker sits down with Alex Garn, Chief Product Officer at Borderless, to unpack how stablecoins are quietly transforming cross-border payments — and what it actually takes to move money at scale across jurisdictions.Alex walks through Borderless' role as an orchestration layer for global on- and off-ramps, why the company stays out of the flow of funds, and how a single API can replace dozens of fragmented integrations across local regulators, liquidity providers, and banking partners.We explore why stablecoins are moving beyond trading and DeFi collateral into real-world enterprise payments, where they already outperform legacy rails on settlement speed, transparency, and custody — especially across emerging market corridors like Latin America and Southeast Asia.The conversation also digs into the hard parts: liquidity constraints by corridor, KYC and compliance friction, why US–EU payments still favor SWIFT, and whether incumbents like Visa, Mastercard, and SWIFT are more likely to be disrupted or to acquire their way into the future.Finally, Alex shares his outlook on regulatory clarity post-GENIUS, the coming wave of corporate stablecoin adoption, and why distribution — not branding — will determine which stablecoins ultimately win.00:00 — Intro: Alex joins The Defiant Podcast01:30 — From DeFi & data science to stablecoin payments04:10 — What Borderless does: orchestration vs custody07:10 — Why cross-border on/off-ramps are still fragmented10:00 — Stablecoins beyond DeFi: real enterprise payment use cases12:45 — Treasury management, payouts, and B2B adoption15:30 — Liquidity realities: when $10M+ stablecoin payments work18:10 — Why US → Latin America leads stablecoin adoption20:30 — Where stablecoins don't win (yet): US–EU & SWIFT22:50 — KYC as the biggest bottleneck in crypto payments26:00 — Self-custody, bank risk, and corporate treasuries29:30 — Stablecoins vs SWIFT: speed, cost, and settlement33:00 — Visa, Mastercard, SWIFT, and the M&A race36:40 — Regulation after GENIUS and global spillover effects39:40 — What enterprise adoption looks like in the next 2–3 years42:30 — Stablecoin fragmentation, liquidity, and consolidation45:00 — Closing thoughts: what excites Alex most about the future
What does it really take to build a fintech company that quietly fixes one of the most frustrating problems SMEs face every day? In this episode of Tech Talks Daily, I'm joined by Pierre-Antoine Dusoulier, the Founder and CEO of iBanFirst, for a candid conversation about entrepreneurship, timing, and why cross-border payments have remained broken for so long. Pierre-Antoine's story begins in London, where his early career as an FX trader felt like a compromise at the time, yet quietly gave him a front-row seat to inefficiencies most people accepted as normal. That experience would later shape two companies and a very clear point of view on how money should move across borders. Pierre-Antoine walks through his first venture, Combeast.com, one of France's earliest FX brokerages for retail investors, and what he learned from selling it to Saxo Bank and staying on to run Western European operations. That chapter matters, because it exposed the gap between how sophisticated FX markets really are and how poorly SMEs are served when FX and payments are bundled together inside traditional banks. Out of that frustration, IbanFirst was born in 2016 with a simple idea: treat cross-border payments as a specialist discipline, not a side feature. Today, IbanFirst serves more than 10,000 clients across Europe and processes over €2 billion in transactions every month. We dig into why growth has continued while many fintechs have slowed, from a product designed to be used daily, to proactive sales, to a new generation of CFOs and CEOs who expect the same clarity and speed at work that they get from consumer fintech tools. Pierre-Antoine explains how real-time FX rates, payment tracking using SWIFT GPI, and multi-entity account management change the day-to-day reality for SMEs trading internationally. We also talk about Brexit, and how being rooted in continental Europe created an unexpected opening. Pierre-Antoine shares why expanding into the UK, including the acquisition of Cornhill, made sense, and why London's payments ecosystem still stands apart in scale and depth. Along the way, he is refreshingly open about the heavy investment required in compliance, trust, and regulation, and why nearly a third of IbanFirst's team focuses on operations and oversight. Looking ahead, Pierre-Antoine lays out a bold vision for the SME payments market, predicting a future where specialists replace banks in much the same way fintech reshaped consumer money transfers. As cross-border trade grows and currency volatility becomes a daily concern, his perspective raises an interesting question for anyone running an international business today: if specialists already exist, why keep relying on systems that were never designed for how SMEs actually operate? Useful Links: Connect with Pierre-Antoine Dusoulier Learn more about iBanFirst, Tech Talks Daily is sponsored by Denodo
Thank you to 0x and Polygon for supporting this stream. 00:00 Introduction to Boys Club Live 01:32 Guest Lineup and Show Overview 02:33 Big News with Polygon 06:53 Year in Review 17:58 AI Design and Branding with Jamey Gannon 36:09 The Payment Stack with John Egan 43:04 Challenges of Cross-Border Transactions 43:58 The Role of Stablecoins and Blockchain 45:38 Competing with Established Brands 47:58 Polygon's Unique Position and Vision 53:21 The Future of Global Payments and AI 57:52 Retail Trading with Andrew McCormick 01:14:40 Throuples in WSJ 01:25:31 Introducing @Quasimatt 01:26:32 True Religion Jeans Comeback 01:29:22 Cultural Moods of 2025 01:40:22 Pete Davidson's Tattoo Removal 01:45:32 Six Seven Meme and Cultural Trends 01:51:46 Personal Cultural Moods for 2026 01:57:19 Closing Thoughts and Wrap-Up
In this episode of FX Files an OffAir Specials brought to you by Paga, we address a significant concern for Nigerians and Africans when traveling abroad, the frustration of having cards from Nigerian banks declined due to network issues or suspected fraud. Our hosts, Gbemi And Toolz discuss the challenges of making payments overseas and introduce Paga's innovative solution. Paga US now allows anyone with a US residential address to open a fully regulated US bank account, offering physical and virtual Visa cards, and seamlessly integrate with services like Apple Pay and Google Pay. The highlight of this special episode is an insightful conversation with the CEO of Paga, Tayo Oviosu who explains how the new service removes the hassle of traditional banking processes, enabling users to manage multiple currencies, send and receive money effortlessly, and maintain a strong financial link back home. Tune in to learn how Paga is transforming banking for the African diaspora, making global financial transactions smoother and more accessible.
The future of money is being built in Asia — and it’s happening faster than many expected. Major players like Mastercard are repositioning themselves in a world where every company wants to become a payment rail. On Industry Insight, Lynlee Foo speaks to Sandeep Malhotra, Executive Vice President, Core Payments, Asia Pacific at Mastercard to find out why Asia-Pacific has become the world’s testbed for real-time, tokenised and programmable payments, and what this means for the global financial system.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Tedd Huff, a financial technology pioneer and native of Clinton, Iowa, joins Andy and Jenny virtually in this episode of the Grow Clinton Podcast. Tedd Huff is a recognized thought leader in the fintech industry with over 26 years of experience. He is the founder and CEO of Voalyre, a global fintech advisory and enablement firm that specializes in helping companies reach the next level. He is also the founder of Fintech Confidential, a network of shows and newsletters. Tedd's expertise and leadership have been instrumental in driving the success of numerous startups over the past two decades, serving as a Founder, Co-Founder, Board Member, Chief Experience Officer, and Chief Strategy Officer. Tedd has provided strategic direction to both private startups and public companies such as Global Payments, OpenEdge, Heartland Payment Systems, Nuvei, and TSYS. His focus on growth, innovation, and user experience has simplified the complexity of payments, leading to collaborations with major companies like Apple, Google, Amazon, Walmart, Cabela's, and Restoration Hardware.Follow the Fintech Confidential Podcast at https://fintechconfidential.captivate.fm/. Grow Clinton is a proud 501(c)(6) nonprofit organization committed to fostering community, driving economic development, and promoting tourism in Clinton, Iowa.Subscribe to the Grow Clinton Podcast at the following locations:Grow Clinton WebsiteApple MusicSpotifyAmazon MusicBuzzsproutOvercastYouTubeFollow the Grow Clinton Podcast on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/GrowClintonPodcast. Our mission? To ignite business growth, strengthen community ties, and advocate for the sustainable economic success of the Greater Clinton Region.Want to promote your business or upcoming event? Connect with Grow Clinton at (563) 242-5702 or visit our website at www.GrowClinton.com.Have an idea for a podcast guest? Send us a message!
In Episode 146 of “The Trusted Advisor,” RSPA CEO Jim Roddy talks retail IT industry trends and leadership with Gilbert Bailey, the President of Genius Retail and Small Business for Global Payments. Among the topics discussed are AI, enterprise tools filtering to SMB, providing solutions beyond the POS, and that leaders “action always beats inaction.” “The Trusted Advisor,” powered by the Retail Solutions Providers Association (RSPA), is an award-winning content series designed specifically for retail IT VARs and software providers. Our goal is to educate you on the topics of leadership, management, hiring, sales, and other small business best practices. For more insights, visit the RSPA blog at www.GoRSPA.org. The RSPA is North America's largest community of VARs, software providers, vendors, and distributors in the retail, restaurant, and grocery verticals. The mission of the RSPA is to accelerate the success of its members in the retail technology ecosystem by providing knowledge and connections. The organization offers member-to-member warm introductions, education, legal advice, industry advocacy, and other services to assist members with becoming and remaining successful. RSPA is most well-known for its signature events, RetailNOW and Inspire, which provide face-to-face learning and networking opportunities. Learn more by visiting www.GoRSPA.org.
In this episode of the What the FinTech? podcast recorded live at Money20/20 USA in Las Vegas, FinTech Futures' US correspondent Heather Sugg is joined by Justin Zhao, Head of Global Partnerships at Visa Direct, to explore how Visa Direct is pioneering the use of stablecoins to modernise cross-border payments. With the launch of Visa's pilot programme announced in September, Visa is testing stablecoin prefunding to help reduce settlement delays, unlock liquidity, and enable more flexible money movement for fintechs and remitters. Tune in to hear how Visa Direct is helping bridge traditional infrastructure with next-gen payment rails—and what this means for the businesses operating in a digital-first economy.
Money Travels Podcast Season 3, Episode 12For migrant workers sending remittances back home, cross-border payments can be slow, complex and expensive. It was this challenge Ambar Sur set out to solve when he left his telecom background and co-founded Terrapay in 2014. Inspired by telecom's seamless global connectivity, Ambar set about building a robust network to enable instant, low-cost digital transactions, helping workers move more money more quickly across borders and increasing financial inclusion in the process. In this episode, we talk to Ambar about his Terrapay journey and how digital wallets are reshaping financial ecosystems to meet UN Sustainable Development Goals. We discuss the power of interoperability, explore the real-world impact of digital wallets, and ask about the challenges still to be addressed in the quest for borderless financial connectivity.Learn more about Visa Direct: visa.com/visadirectConnect with Visa Direct on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/visa-direct/Disclaimers:Visa Direct capability is enabled through a financial institution partner. Visa Direct product availability and functionality varies by market. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities they represent. Visa neither makes any warranty or representation as to the completeness or accuracy of the information within this podcast, nor assumes any liability or responsibility that may result from reliance on such information and any information from third parties. The information contained in this podcast is not intended as investment or legal advice, and listeners are encouraged to seek the advice of a competent professional where such advice is required. All brand names, logos and/or trademarks are the property of their respective owners, and do not necessarily imply product endorsement or affiliation with Visa.
Recorded live from the PayTech Women Leadership Summit in Atlanta, this episode brings together an inspiring cross-section of executives, founders, coaches, and industry veterans who are shaping the human side of leadership in payments and fintech. A special thank you to our episode sponsor, Global Payments.Across fast, heartfelt conversations, one thread is impossible to miss: influence grows when community grows. You'll hear how clarity of purpose fuels confidence, why intentional relationships compound over time, and how investing in your own presence, skills, and courage creates opportunities that span roles, companies, and career chapters.Valissa Pierre-Louis opens by grounding influence in self-awareness - truly understanding the value you bring and aligning your strengths to what the business needs most. She underscores the power of relationships that amplify that value. Outhay Lovan builds on that with a call to boldness, especially for those who don't see themselves as natural extroverts. Her message is simple: step into discomfort, expand your network, and watch your impact grow.Executive presence takes center stage with Eileen Nebhut, who highlights the importance of coaching, feedback, and stakeholder support systems. She notes that the Summit's unique “vibe” comes from leaders who intentionally pay it forward. Audrey Blackmon emphasizes being intentional with time and staying rooted in authenticity and integrity - two qualities she sees as non-negotiable for long-term influence.From the organizational lens, Dr. Gail Burgos encourages women to take risks, stretch beyond their functional lanes, and embrace curiosity as a pathway to growth. FIS's Kristen Slink brings a powerful distinction between mentorship and sponsorship, urging women to advocate for one another and elevate voices not yet in the room.Margie Kreutz adds a powerful mindset shift—reframing “risk” as courage—and reminds women that staying too long in a comfortable role can quietly stall advancement, while brave, timely moves create momentum and open doors. Longtime industry leader Linda Perry reminds professionals to stay deeply informed—follow the trends, read widely, and understand the ecosystem so you can chart where you want to go. And to close, Jonathan O'Connor spotlights the magic of “playing in traffic” - putting yourself in the flow of conversations, peers, and opportunity during a moment of massive industry transformation.If you care about accelerating your career, building meaningful connections, or leading with purpose in a competitive, fast-changing landscape, this episode offers practical insights you can put into motion today.
Recorded live from the PayTech Women Leadership Summit in Atlanta, we bring you a rapid, energizing tour of leadership lessons from executives, board members, and rising voices shaping the future of payments and fintech. A special thanks to our episode sponsor Global Payments. Across crisp conversations, a common theme emerges: community multiplies competence. You'll hear how curiosity fuels influence, why relationships beat résumés, and how owning your personal banner outlasts any company logo.Chrissy Wagner (FIS) opens with a hard truth many leaders overlook—self care is strategy. When your cup is full, you lead with clarity and generosity. Margaret Weichert draws on three decades across Bank of America, First Data, Accenture, EY, and The Clearing House to champion curiosity as a daily practice: learn the tech, the processes, and the business context so every presentation connects to customer value and shareholder outcomes. That framing travels across product, risk, and operations, especially as rails evolve and real-time becomes table stakes.Relationship building gets tactical with Rebecca Walden (Corvia), who shares how to deepen ties beyond LinkedIn: Zoom coffees, thoughtful introductions, timely articles, and in-person meetups that convert weak ties into trusted allies. Executive coach Cynthia Knowles underscores investing in purpose and skills, noting that the summit creates rare neutral ground where fierce competitors become generous collaborators. Melissa Desjardins (Protiviti) offers a powerful structure—build a personal board of directors who challenge your assumptions and push you to take bold steps, then return the favor for others.From the talent pipeline, Laura Gibson Lamothe (Georgia FinTech Academy) shows how belonging accelerates careers, especially for those who haven't always seen themselves reflected in leadership. Kathy Kmiotek urges leaders to own their personal banner—your story, your value proposition—through every career shift. And Naomi Donaldson (FISERV) connects the dots across industry change, from cash and checks to crypto, stablecoins, and agentic commerce, while navigating the realities of growth, family, and leadership on a shared stage with industry rivals.If you care about payments innovation, career momentum, or simply leading with purpose in a competitive market, this conversation delivers practical, repeatable moves you can use today.
☁️ Hybrid Cloud + AI = The Future of Modern BankingAccording to Kamini Belday, Head of Global Payments, IBM Cloud, hybrid cloud isn't just a tech upgrade; it's a transformation strategy.It allows banks to leap from legacy monolithic systems into flexible, microservice-based architectures while still maintaining compliance and control.With a hybrid cloud, financial institutions can:✅ Leverage AI to deeply understand customer behavior
In this conversation, May Zabaneh breaks down PayPal's move into stablecoins with PYUSD and why it matters for financial inclusion. We explore how PYUSD could lower costs for cross-border payments, deliver faster settlement, and plug directly into PayPal's existing ecosystem. The discussion covers why PayPal built a proprietary stablecoin, early adoption and real-world use cases, and plans for international expansion. We also examine the role merchants play in crypto acceptance, how DeFi and traditional finance are converging, and why interoperability will be essential in the next phase of digital payments.Chapters00:00 PayPal's Vision for Stablecoins02:47 Why PYUSD? Rationale and Goals05:18 Stablecoin Advantages: 24/7, Inclusion, Cross‑Border08:22 Why Proprietary vs Supporting Others11:06 Unlocking B2B and Rebuilding On‑Chain12:20 PYUSD in the PayPal/Venmo Ecosystem14:21 International Expansion and Global Transfers17:02 Merchant Fit: Categories, Costs, Declines19:32 User Segments: Crypto‑Curious to Super Users23:28 Pay with Crypto: Scaling to Larger Merchants29:38 PYUSD in DeFi: Open and Multi‑Chain32:01 Liquidity, Partnerships, and the Three Pillars35:56 Interoperability and Evolving Roles39:11 AI x Payments: Agent‑Driven Commerce40:42 Finding the Flywheel, What's Next
Recorded live at Sibos in Frankfurt, in partnership with Kyndryl, this episode of the c-suite podcast brings together global financial leaders to explore how AI and ISO 20022 are transforming the payments ecosystem. Host Graham Barrett was joined by: 1/ Allison Shonerd, Head of Global Clearing, Bank of America 2/ Sunday Domingo, Global Head CIB Digital Channel Solutions, Standard Chartered 3/ Susan Yang, General Manager, High Value & International Payments, Commonwealth Bank of Australia 4/ Elizabeth Leather, Policy Manager, Bank of England 5/ Jalil Sael Sotomayor, Chief Operations Officer, Pacifico Seguros Together they share how data, automation, and new technology standards are redefining speed, security, and customer experience across financial services.
In this episode of FP&A Unlocked, host Paul Barnhurst is joined by Alex Fabry, the founder of KFA, an advisory firm focused on scaling businesses.. Alex takes us through his journey from FP&A to private equity, sharing his valuable experiences working at firms like Saber, BCG, and Charles Bank Capital Partners. Their conversation explores how FP&A can serve as a stepping stone to leadership and investment roles, and the key skills that helped Alex succeed in both corporate finance and private equity.Alex Fabry is the founder and managing partner of KFA, a private investment and advisory firm focused on growing and scaling businesses in Saint Louis. Before founding KFA, Alex started his career in FP&A roles at Saber, where he supported multi-billion dollar business units, managed complex budgets, and played a pivotal role in the $1.2 billion sale of Active Network to Global Payments. Alex also has experience as a Vice President at Charles Bank Capital Partners. He holds an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.Expect to Learn:How FP&A provides a solid foundation for leadership and private equity operator roles.The significance of automation in improving FP&A efficiency and enabling more strategic analysis.Why private equity and FP&A require different skill sets but can work in tandem to drive business growth.Key skills FP&A professionals need to transition into private equity.The value of relationships and trust in both FP&A and private equity environments.Here are a few quotes from the episode:“The real value of FP&A is in helping businesses make decisions, not just report numbers.” - Alex Fabry“Being a business partner looks different depending on the business—it's about them, not you." - Alex FabryAlex shared thoughtful and practical insights into the evolving role of FP&A in driving business success and the transition to private equity. He highlighted the importance of automation and strategic analysis in improving financial operations, the value of building strong business relationships, and how FP&A professionals can leverage their skills to thrive in the private equity space. Alex's journey serves as a valuable playbook for those looking to navigate the complexities of both FP&A and private equity, emphasizing the need for adaptability, operational efficiency, and a keen understanding of the bigger business picture.Campfire: AI-First ERP:Campfire is the AI-first ERP that powers next-gen finance and accounting teams. With integrated solutions for general ledger, revenue automation, close management, and more, all in one unified platform.Explore Campfire today: https://campfire.ai/?utm_source=fpaguy_podcast&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=100225_fpaguyFollow Alex:LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-fabry/Earn Your CPE Credit For CPE credit, please go to earmarkcpe.com, listen to the episode, download the app, answer a few questions, and earn your CPE certification. To earn education credits for the FP&A Certificate, take the quiz on Earmark and contact Paul Barnhurst for further details.In Today's Episode[02:27] - Alex's Background[03:50] - What Makes Great FP&A?[14:03] - The Three Key Questions in Finance[18:38] - Private Equity...
En este especio fintech hablamos con Joseph Montero, director ejecutivo y fundador de Monty Global Payments, sobre los retos, oportunidades y tendencias que están transformando este mercado en plena revolución digital.
What if payment chains are the “AWS moment for money”? Simon Taylor — fintech veteran, ex-Barclays crypto lead, and author of FinTech Brainfood — joins Bankless to map the convergence of fintech and crypto. From stablecoins serving as the Trojan horse for tokenisation to Tempo's push for a payments chain, Simon explains why finance is on the brink of its biggest infrastructure shift since Visa. We cover the rise of payments L1s, the regulatory roulette of stablecoins, and whether neutrality and permissionlessness can survive in corporate-led networks. Plus, Simon breaks down the differences between stablecoins, tokenized deposits, and CBDCs — and explains why the future of finance is already being rebuilt on-chain. ---
Zach Abrams—co-founder of Bridge, acquired by Stripe—joins Ryan to unpack Stripe's stablecoin strategy and why tokenized dollars are poised to devour global payments. We cover Bridge's sale to Stripe, how “fiat L1 / stablecoin L2” rails unlock faster, cheaper cross-border payouts (from startups to government aid), the case for many issuer- and app-specific stablecoins with better yield sharing, and what the Tempo chain targets for payment-scale throughput, privacy, and finality. ------
Kamini Belday, Head of Global Payments, IBM Cloud, highlights that “fraud is at the center of everything we do.” She explains that the real challenge isn't just combating fraud after it happens, but predicting and preventing it with the power of predictive AI, something she finds far more exciting for the future of global payments.“Whether it's your checking account, mortgage, stablecoin, or card credentials in your Apple Wallet, security must travel with you everywhere.” The goal, she explains, is to ensure people can use the same secure credentials seamlessly across different payment methods, devices, and geographies, without losing trust or time.
In this episode, Lex speaks with Ravi Adusumilli - President and GM of the Americas at Airwallex. Ravi and Lex discuss how Airwallex has evolved into a global financial platform by offering businesses an integrated suite of cross-border payments, treasury, and banking services. Founded in 2015, Airwallex now supports 150,000 customers, processes $130 billion in annualized volume (up 73% YoY), and projects a $1 billion revenue run rate by year-end.The company's success stems from its end-to-end infrastructure, homegrown payment rails, and multi-product strategy, with 80% of revenue now coming from customers using more than one product. Airwallex differentiates itself by focusing on global-first B2B use cases and building regional autonomy alongside centralized infrastructure. While not prioritizing stablecoins today, the company is exploring AI-driven financial operations and aims to reach $1 trillion in transaction volume by 2030. NOTABLE DISCUSSION POINTS:Airwallex's Infrastructure: Proprietary Global Payment NetworkAirwallex operates a proprietary global payment infrastructure that processes 95% of its $130 billion in annualized transaction volume. The company has developed its own technology and regulatory framework in partnership with over 60 banks worldwide. This approach reduces dependence on legacy systems such as SWIFT and supports greater control over transaction speed, cost, and compliance.Expansion Through Multi-Product OfferingAirwallex has expanded its services beyond cross-border payments to include card issuance, spend management, treasury functions, and merchant acquiring. According to company data, 80% of revenue is generated from customers using multiple products. Payments now account for 70% of net revenue and are growing at three times the rate year over year.Decentralized Go-To-Market StructureAirwallex employs a regional management model, with General Managers responsible for performance and operations in specific geographies. This structure is supported by centralized functions such as product development, compliance, and engineering. With 1,700 employees in 26 offices, the company uses this hybrid model to manage growth and adapt to local regulatory environments across multiple regions, including Latin America and Asia-Pacific. TOPICSAirwallex, Stripe, Brex, Rippling, Shopify, Pinterest, Visa, fintech, global payments, e-commerce, cross-border transactions, paytech, embedded payments, CFO stack, stablecoins, AI ABOUT THE FINTECH BLUEPRINT
In this episode, Craig Jeffery and Mayank Randev explore ISO 20022 and what it means for payments, cash reporting, and treasury strategy. They discuss how richer data and global standards offer more than compliance and open the door to automation, resilience, and better insights. How can corporates turn a required change into lasting value? Listen in to find out.
Adyen is a global payments processor whose primary business is providing payment services for merchants, retailers, and venues, as well as online payments. On today’s Heavy Networking we talk about a firewall automation project the company has undertaken. With dozens of change requests coming in every day that need to touch network and host firewalls,... Read more »
Adyen is a global payments processor whose primary business is providing payment services for merchants, retailers, and venues, as well as online payments. On today’s Heavy Networking we talk about a firewall automation project the company has undertaken. With dozens of change requests coming in every day that need to touch network and host firewalls,... Read more »
Adyen is a global payments processor whose primary business is providing payment services for merchants, retailers, and venues, as well as online payments. On today’s Heavy Networking we talk about a firewall automation project the company has undertaken. With dozens of change requests coming in every day that need to touch network and host firewalls,... Read more »
Kamini Belday's deep passion for technology led to her success at IBM Cloud as the Global Head of Payments! She is leading the development and execution of core banking & payment strategies, Go-To Market execution & revenue acceleration, ensuring secure payment solutions for a diverse range of clients with enhanced customer experience.On The Menu:1. Embedded Payments Revolution - Seamless transactions in IoT and EVs.2. Cross-Border Real-Time Payments - Pushing limits of traditional SWIFT methods.3. AI-Powered Fraud Prevention - Predictive security replacing reactive approaches.4. Stablecoin and CBDC Innovation - Digital currencies taking center stage.5. Hybrid Cloud Banking Benefits - Microservices architecture over monolithic systems.6. The Four R's Strategy - Retire, replatform, re-architect, rebuild, modernize.Click here for a free trial: https://bit.ly/495qC9UFollow us on social media to hear from us more -Facebook- https://bit.ly/3ZYLiewInstagram- https://bit.ly/3UsdrtfLinkedin- https://bit.ly/43pdmdUTwitter- https://bit.ly/43qPvKXPinterest- https://bit.ly/3KOOa9uHappy creating!#KaminiBelday #IBM #Outgrow #Banking #FinanceMarketing #CloudComputing #MarketerOfTheMonth #Podcastoftheday #Marketingpodcast
When Global Payments realized that their on-premises contact center solution wasn't going to provide the agility or the features they needed, they undertook a process that ultimately led them to the cloud. On this episode of Level Up CX Tech, we're joined by Beth Granberry of Global Payments to hear how the IT and business teams at Global Payments worked together to ensure the ultimate solution met their needs for today — and for tomorrow.
Lex chats with Edward Woodford - CEO of Zerohash. They discuss Zerohash's growth, the rise of stablecoins, and the evolving fintech landscape. Edward explains how stablecoins now make up half of Zerohash's volume, highlights regulatory shifts in the U.S. and abroad, and explores the distinction between crypto and stablecoins. The conversation covers usability challenges, emerging payment use cases, and the future of embedded finance, emphasizing the need for regulatory clarity and collaboration between fintechs and traditional financial institutions. Notable discussion points: 1. Stablecoins Overtake Crypto in Volume: Stablecoins now make up over 50% of Zerohash's volume, driven by regulatory clarity and real-world use cases like payments and treasury. Institutions prefer them for their centralized control and ease of integration.2. Brokerage and Payments Are Converging: Zerohash sees strong demand across brokerage and payment rails, with banks and fintechs embedding stablecoin infrastructure. Global payouts, account funding, and subscriptions are key growth areas despite UX friction.3. Regulatory Climate Is Rapidly Improving: U.S. policy has shifted from regulatory overreach to bipartisan support for stablecoin legislation. This change is unlocking institutional adoption, with banks now moving aggressively into crypto and digital assets. MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION Topics: Zerohash, MoonPay, Transak, Ramp, Stripe, BlackRock, Franklin Templeton, Hamilton Lane, Morgan Stanley, Charles Schwab, SoFi, Uniswap, fintech, web3, digital assets, blockchain, tokenization, rwas, stablecoin, crypto, regulation ABOUT THE FINTECH BLUEPRINT
Money Travels Podcast Season 3, Episode 4In March 2020, as the world braced for a global pandemic, Jaco Veldsman gave up his comfortable career in finance to go it alone with the launch of Paytron, the cross-border payments platform. Three years later, Paytron's mission to transform global payments for its customers was turbo-charged with the company's acquisition by global payments powerhouse OFX. Now Global Head of Non-FX Revenue at OFX, today's guest Jaco shares his motivations for striking out alone, the customer challenges he's working to solve, and how his thirst for innovation and desire to simplify payments for all still drive him to this day.Disclaimers:Visa Direct capability is enabled through a financial institution partner. Visa Direct product availability and functionality varies by market. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities they represent. Visa neither makes any warranty or representation as to the completeness or accuracy of the information within this podcast, nor assumes any liability or responsibility that may result from reliance on such information and any information from third parties. The information contained in this podcast is not intended as investment or legal advice, and listeners are encouraged to seek the advice of a competent professional where such advice is required. All brand names, logos and/or trademarks are the property of their respective owners, and do not necessarily imply product endorsement or affiliation with Visa.
Dive into this episode of DM Radio as host Eric Kavanagh interviews Tapan Parekh of Convera about how fintech companies expertly navigate the growing complexity of global payment compliance. Discover why quality AI depends on quality data, especially in the highly regulated and complex fintech landscape. Learn how Convera manages payments across 200+ countries and 140+ currencies without holding a banking license. Tune in to explore how fintech is transforming the way businesses move money around the world.
In der heutigen Folge sprechen die Finanzjournalisten Anja Ettel und Holger Zschäpitz über das Comeback des Nullzins, Europas Antwort auf Starlink und die wachsende Sorge um die Warren-Buffett-Prämie. Außerdem geht es um Richemont, Swatch, Eutelsat, Pernod Ricard, Apple, Microsoft, Nvidia, Alphabet, $TRUMP, Broadcom, Berkshire Hathaway, Mastercard, Visa, PayPal, Circle, Coinbase, Robinhood, VanEck Blockchain Innovators ETF (WKN: A2QQ8F), Global X FinTech ETF (WKN: A2QPBZ), BIT Global Fintech Leaders (WKN: A2QJLA), Amazon, Walmart, Shopify, Global Payments, Western Union, Adyen und Remitly. Wir freuen uns über Feedback an aaa@welt.de. Noch mehr "Alles auf Aktien" findet Ihr bei WELTplus und Apple Podcasts – inklusive aller Artikel der Hosts und AAA-Newsletter.[ Hier bei WELT.](https://www.welt.de/podcasts/alles-auf-aktien/plus247399208/Boersen-Podcast-AAA-Bonus-Folgen-Jede-Woche-noch-mehr-Antworten-auf-Eure-Boersen-Fragen.html.) [Hier] (https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6zxjyJpTMunyYCY6F7vHK1?si=8f6cTnkEQnmSrlMU8Vo6uQ) findest Du die Samstagsfolgen Klassiker-Playlist auf Spotify! Disclaimer: Die im Podcast besprochenen Aktien und Fonds stellen keine spezifischen Kauf- oder Anlage-Empfehlungen dar. Die Moderatoren und der Verlag haften nicht für etwaige Verluste, die aufgrund der Umsetzung der Gedanken oder Ideen entstehen. Hörtipps: Für alle, die noch mehr wissen wollen: Holger Zschäpitz können Sie jede Woche im Finanz- und Wirtschaftspodcast "Deffner&Zschäpitz" hören. +++ Werbung +++ Du möchtest mehr über unsere Werbepartner erfahren? [**Hier findest du alle Infos & Rabatte!**](https://linktr.ee/alles_auf_aktien) Impressum: https://www.welt.de/services/article7893735/Impressum.html Datenschutz: https://www.welt.de/services/article157550705/Datenschutzerklaerung-WELT-DIGITAL.html
Tom Halpin, the regional head of North America Global Payment Solutions for HSBC, talks about how AI and new technologies are changing domestic and global payments—and what that means both for his bank and the industry. He also tackles where AI can help (or hurt), the status of the FedNow roll out, and concerns around CBDCs and stablecoins.
This week we bring you more insights from Cape Town South Africa as we continue to explore some great startups on the African continent and beyond from Crossfin's Circle of Fintech event. In our first segment, Brett speaks with Karl Westvig, CEO of TymeBank South Africa. Since receiving its banking license in South Africa in 2019, TymeBank has grown to 80 million customers globally, focusing on financial inclusion through accessible and frictionless banking. The expanding neobank has plans for further growth in several Asian markets. Key motivations include the immense scale of the Asian markets: the Philippines with 120 million people and Indonesia with 280 million alongside South Africa's 60 million. These regions boast young, digitally savvy populations that are largely underserved. Tune in as Brett and Karl discuss new opportunities, TymeBank's innovative "phygital" distribution strategy, tech stacks, Agentic AI, new products, and more Then, Brett sits down with Unitey Founder & CEO, Muzaffar "MK" Khokhar, for an engaging conversation about the payments ecosystem. Based in the UAE, Unitey's mission is to democratize financial services and level the playing field. MK is a veteran payments ecosystem player, creating and operating payment ecosystems for central banks and governments. With Unitey, he is focused on the serenity of the ecosystem. With our current system built back in the 60s / 70s, we now have better tech for more robust payment rails. Change is happening, efficiency is coming into the system, and interoperability with other rails coming up fast with RTP, mobile money, and more. Unitey specializes in demystifying the card payment rails but has clear roadmaps focused on creating interoperability with other rails, ensuring multiple rails can actually interoperate. Want fintech & banking insights every week? Subscribe to The Provoke.fm Briefing: https://mailchi.mp/91ca869a66ec/provoke-fm-newsletter Listen and subscribe to the podcast on your favorite platform: https://provoke.fm/follow-provoke-fm/ Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-SWmY7HswQ5hI9LiIHJd7Q Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/10459295 Connect With Karl Westvig: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karl-westvig/ Connect with Unitey: https://www.linkedin.com/company/unitey-digital/ Connect with Brett King: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brettking/
In this episode, we discuss Plasma's token sale, and whether USDT supply on Tron will migrate to Plasma. We also unpack Morpho's efforts to align token vs equity incentives. Finally, we dive into what products we are currently interested in and trying out. Thanks for tuning in! As always, remember this podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely their opinions, not financial advice. -- Resources Building the Future of Global Payments: https://youtu.be/8Zd_MTSFojQ?feature=shared Axiom: Breaking Open the Trading Bot Market: https://x.com/defi_kay_/status/1920154686642139474 -- Accelerate your app development on Algorand with AlgoKit 3.0—now with native TypeScript and Python support, visual debugging, and seamless testing. Build, test, and deploy smarter with tools designed for speed and simplicity. Start building with AlgoKit today: https://algorand.co/algokit?utm_source=blockworkspodcast&utm_medium=banner&utm_campaign=algokit3&utm_id=algokit3&utm_term=algokit3 -- Ledger, the global leader in digital asset security, proudly sponsors 0xResearch! As Ledger celebrates 10 years of securing 20% of global crypto, it remains the top choice for securing your assets. Buy a LEDGER™ device now and build confidently, knowing your precious tokens are safe. Buy now on https://shop.ledger.com/?r=1da180a5de00. -- Marinade is the premier staking delegation platform on Solana, bringing billions in liquidity and security to the Solana network, and connecting SOL holders to the best staking rates. Since launching in 2021, Marinade has expanded their suite of products to provide solutions for both DeFi users and TradFi, including liquid and native staking, as well as direct enterprise integrations. To learn more about Marinade, follow the link below: https://marinade.finance/?utm_source=blockworks&utm_medium=partnerships&utm_campaign=podcast -- Join us from June 24th-June 26th at Permissionless IV! Use Code 0x10 at checkout for 10% off! Tickets: https://blockworks.co/event/permissionless-iv -- Follow Carlos: https://x.com/0xcarlosg Follow Boccaccio: https://x.com/salveboccaccio Follow Danny: https://x.com/defi_kay_ Follow Blockworks Research: https://x.com/blockworksres Subscribe on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3foDS38 Subscribe on Apple: https://apple.co/3SNhUEt Subscribe on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3NlP1hA Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/ Join the 0xResearch Telegram group: https://t.me/+z0H6y2bS-dllODVh -- Timestamps: (0:00) Introduction (2:59) Plasma's XPL Token Sale (12:20) Ads (Algorand & Ledger) (13:06) Will Tron's USDT Supply Migrate to Plasma? (29:43) Ads (Algorand & Ledger) (30:52) Morpho's Token Announcement (41:10) Marinade Ad (41:42) What New Products Are We Checking Out? (57:28) Come to Permissionless -- Check out Blockworks Research today! Research, data, governance, tokenomics, and models – now, all in one place Blockworks Research: https://www.blockworksresearch.com/ Free Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter -- Disclaimer: Nothing said on 0xResearch is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Boccaccio, Danny, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.
Send us a text[Original air date, April 9, 2024] Miguel Armaza interviews Jack Zhang, CEO & Co-Founder of Airwallex, a global payments and treasury giant that moves $7 billion in monthly transaction volume and serves 100,000+ clients, including Brex, Rippling, and SHEIN.Founded in Melbourne in 2015, Airwallex was last valued at $6.2 billion and has raised over a billion dollars from Sequoia, DST, Square Peg, Greenoaks, Mastercard, Tencent, Salesforce, and many more.In this episode, we discuss:How investing in a coffee shop led him to co-found a global payments networkWhy Airwallex prioritizes people with great leadership skills who are also technicalThe impact of AI in financial servicesNew risks of AI-powered financial fraudPartnering with almost 100 banks around the world… and a lot more!Want more podcast episodes? Join me and follow Fintech Leaders today on Apple, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app for weekly conversations with today's global leaders that will dominate the 21st century in fintech, business, and beyond.Do you prefer a written summary? Check out the Fintech Leaders newsletter and join 80,000+ readers and listeners worldwide!Miguel Armaza is Co-Founder and General Partner of Gilgamesh Ventures, a seed-stage investment fund focused on fintech in the Americas. He also hosts and writes the Fintech Leaders podcast and newsletter.Miguel on LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3nKha4ZMiguel on Twitter: https://bit.ly/2Jb5oBcFintech Leaders Newsletter: bit.ly/3jWIp
What if crypto isn't just a speculative asset class—but the next foundational layer of the internet?In this episode, Chris Dixon, founding partner of a16z crypto and one of the earliest, most forward-thinking investors in the space, joins TBPN for a wide-ranging conversation on the real, long-term promise of crypto—and why we're still early.He unpacks:Why stablecoins are already functioning as internet-native moneyHow blockchains can serve as global, programmable financial infrastructureWhy programmability, not just low fees, is the real unlockThe evolving regulatory landscape and new bipartisan momentumThe rise of AI agents, decentralized platforms, and real-world crypto use casesThis episode is about long-term thinking, technical optimism, and building open infrastructure for the future of the internet.Resources: Find Chris on X: https://x.com/cdixonWatch TBPN: https://www.tbpn.com/ Timecodes:00:00 Meet Chris Dixon: Crypto Visionary00:26 The Evolution of Stable Coins02:49 The Future of Stable Coins and Global Payments06:04 Lobbying Efforts and Legislative Impact09:01 Adoption Across Different Sectors11:53 Competitive Forces in the Crypto Market14:37 The Crypto Talent Shortage15:05 Opportunities in the Crypto Space17:08 Crypto Fund Performance19:04 Venture Capital in Crypto23:30 Real World Assets on Blockchain26:34 Social Engineering and Proof of Humanity29:10 Conclusion and Final Thoughts Stay Updated: Let us know what you think: https://ratethispodcast.com/a16zFind a16z on Twitter: https://twitter.com/a16zFind a16z on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16zSubscribe on your favorite podcast app: https://a16z.simplecast.com/Follow our host: https://x.com/eriktorenbergPlease note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details please see a16z.com/disclosures.
Story of the Week (DR):The Baby Billionaire Bromance is Over: Savannah Guthrie Says Elon Musk and Donald Trump Are 'Giving 7th Grade Girl' as President Says Tesla CEO 'Has Lost His Mind'"It's so confusing isn't it? So much going wrong, so much to say, and all of it happening so quickly. The pace of oppression outstrips our ability to understand it. And that is the real trick of the Imperial thought machine.”BlackRock removed from Texas boycott list after quitting climate groupsIn a notable reversal, Texas removed BlackRock from its investment blacklistThis decision followed BlackRock's withdrawal from several climate-focused initiatives, including the Net Zero Asset Managers alliance and Climate Action 100+Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar cited these actions, along with BlackRock's support for the new Texas Stock Exchange, as reasons for the delisting.“More than $4 billion in Texas funds are invested with BlackRock,” the rep said.The Larry Fink-led company had $11.55 trillion in assets under management at the end of the fourth quarter in 2024.0.0346% Is that possible?Larry Fink; $31M; $11M bonus: “These amounts represent the discretionary annual cash Bonuses … The amount of incentive compensation awarded … was based on subjective criteria”“Lead in a changing world: Completed the creation of a more modern and unified Corporate Affairs function and leveraged the function to refresh the firm's corporate narrative and strengthen its brand.”“Corporate sustainability: Achieved BlackRock's 100% renewable electricity match goal and enhanced the Company's approach to procuring market solutions.”32% said NO on Pay (BlackRock owns 6% of BlackRock)99% said NO to Bowyer Research's theatrical request for a report on “risks related to a perceived shift away from a traditional understanding of fiduciary responsibility to stakeholder capitalism, implied by its assent to the Business Roundtable's Statement on the Purpose of a Corporation, as well as a high-profile embrace of ESG and DEI.”BlackRock CEO Larry Fink has some words of wisdom for leaders navigating the age of populism and social media: Watch what you say: "You have to be a lot more guarded. I can't say everything I really want to say to all of you right now. The reality is you have to be a lot more systematic in what you say and how you say it internally or externally. I mean, we live in a terrarium today. We live in a glass bottle."Big brands are pulling back on Pride merchandise and events this year MMCorporate America Pulls Back from PRIDE in 2025, No Rainbow Logos from Big Brands as June StartsUnitedHealth Group AGM:94% average director support93% Stephen HemsleyHemsley is stepping forward to acknowledge the fallout and chart a new course, promising a comprehensive review of some of the company's most controversial practices.The Wall Street Journal noted in its report on the company's annual shareholder meeting on Monday that Hemsley apologized for UnitedHealth's recent performance and cited a need to rethink many internal processes.99% for directors like Paul Garcia (2021/ former CEO of Global Payments) and Kristen Gil (2022/former VP, Business Finance Officer at Alphabet)92% for Michele Hooper (2007/Lead Independent Director/CEO of The Directors' Council, a private company she co-founded in 2003 that works with corporate boards to increase their independence, effectiveness and diversity)-12% gender influence gap/only 3 women/zero committee chairs)Lowest vote is John Noseworthy, M.D. (86%) former CEO of the Mayo Clinic40% NO on PaySHP excessive golden parachutes 13% YESThe board authorized the payment of a cash dividend of $2.21 per share, up from the prior dividend of $2.10, to be paid June 24 to common stock shareholders of record as of the close of business June 16Hemsley: as of the proxy date: $2.8M (as of 5/16: $3.8M)The previous dividend was $2.10 per share, paid on March 18, 2025The company also suspended its 2025 outlook.Goodliest of the Week (MM/DR):DR: The Trump EPA tried to bury some good newsA climate report acquired by a Freedom of Information Act request shows that U.S. climate pollution declined in 2023.The EPA report documents that in 2023, U.S. climate pollution fell by 2.3%. That's about 147 million metric tons, or MMT, of reduced carbon dioxide-equivalent greenhouse gases.2023 was the first full year after President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act, the Democrats' signature climate law that committed hundreds of billions of dollars to reducing climate pollution.DR: How a Peruvian farmer's legal defeat raised new risks for companies DRPeruvian farmer Saúl Luciano Lliuya filed a lawsuit against German energy company RWE, asserting that the company's greenhouse gas emissions contributed to the melting of glaciers near his hometown of Huaraz, Peru.This glacial melt increases the risk of flooding from Lake Palcacocha, threatening his community. Lliuya sought approximately $17,500 from RWE, representing 0.47% of the estimated $4 million needed for flood defenses, corresponding to RWE's estimated share of global emissions since the industrial era began. On May 28, 2025, the Higher Regional Court in Hamm, Germany, dismissed Lliuya's lawsuit. The court acknowledged the legal principle that major greenhouse gas emitters can be held liable for climate-related damages. However, it concluded that the specific threat to Lliuya's property was not sufficiently imminent to warrant compensation. While Lliuya did not secure the compensation sought, the court's recognition of potential corporate liability for climate damages sets a precedent. This acknowledgment may influence future climate litigation, encouraging individuals and communities to hold major emitters accountable for their contributions to climate change.MM: HahahahahahahahahaMusk says SpaceX will decommission Dragon spacecraft after Trump threatElon Musk Melts Down, Claims Trump Is In The "Epstein Files" and That's the Reason They Haven't Been ReleasedElon Musk Declares That He's "Immediately" Cutting Off NASA's Access to SpaceMusk Privately Complaining That His Immense Donations to Trump Didn't Even Buy Him Control of NASAElon Musk claims ‘without me, Trump would have lost the election'Assholiest of the Week (MM): Proxy advisorsZevra TherapeuticsISS added, “...the board's concerns about having a former CEO on the board and potential disruption are valid.”Out of 92,594 active directors in MSCI data from February, 3,123 are tagged as “former executives” at the company they're on the board of522 US companies are on the list - FIVE HUNDRED AND TWENTY TWOThat includes at least one company - National Healthcare Corp - with FOUR former executives on the boardIt also includes 104 large cap companies - like Hewlett Packard, with 3 former execs!Glass Lewis highlighted, “Mr. Regan has limited, dated, and unrelated public board service,”Egan-Jones also questioned the relevant expertise of Mangless' nominees, stating, “…we do not believe Mr. Regan's background in proxy solicitation offers meaningful value in the context of Zevra's boardroom.”Unrelated public board experience?? So you definitely suggested voting against Dana White at Meta? Or Peltz at Disney and his deep media experience? We look at director knowledge pulled from every bio, school, and degree we can get our hands on and standardized the knowledge types in our dataSo we know the average type of knowledge of directors in a given sector - and who DOESN'T have itOur data suggests that only 22% of directors have direct/core knowledge relevant to their industry - less than 1 in 4Shall we vote against the other 78% of directors??Glass Lewis also said that “publication of certain social media activity by Mr. Regan appears to suggest something of a blithe approach to compliance...”Elon?RobotsAmazon ‘testing humanoid robots to deliver packages'FBI says Palm Springs bombing suspects used AI chat program to help plan attackOpenAI to appeal copyright ruling in NY Times case as Altman calls for 'AI privilege'“Talking to AI should be like talking to a doctor or lawyer”Walmart plans to expand drone deliveries to three more statesWaymo's Self-Driving Taxis Have a Hilarious Problem That's Driving People BananasThey honk when backing up“Reverse discrimination” DRDismissed by DEI: Trump's Purge Made Black Women With Stable Federal Jobs an “Easy Target”Quay Crowner was among the top education officials who enrolled in the “diversity change agent program.”Crowner was abruptly placed on leave under Trump's executive order to dismantle DEI programs across the federal government.Her current job as the director of outreach, impact and engagement at the Education Department was not connected to diversity initiatives.More troubling, she said, was that she was the only person on her team who had been let go, and her bosses refused to answer her questions about her dismissal.When she and colleagues from different departments began comparing notes, they found they had one thing in common. They had all attended the training encouraged under DeVos. They also noticed something else: Most of them were Black women.“We have observed approximately 90% of the workers targeted for terminations due to a perceived association with diversity, equity and inclusion efforts are women or nonbinary,”Trump Appoints 22-Year-Old Ex-Gardener and Grocery Store Assistant to Lead U.S. Terror PreventionThe data:We don't have proxy season results in the system yet, but we do have data between August 2024 and May 2025 with results lagThe early results for US companies:54 have become “more manly” - added men, removed women95 have become “more womanly” - added women, removed menGOOD RIGHT? Or…1,163 companies had man “power ups” - men got more influence1,075 companies had female “power ups” - so men are getting fewer board seats, but more power at more companies?SECRET: expand the board and add men! 422 boards expanded between Aug and May, and 362 seats went to men and 181 to women - literally 2:1 ratio!574 US companies now have 2 or fewer women on the boards - up 8 companies between Aug and May, and results aren't even in the antiwoke Trump eraRetail investorsVOTEAccused UnitedHealthcare CEO killer Luigi Mangione said executive ‘had it coming,' prosecutors revealUnitedHealth investors approve new CEO's $60M pay package despite turmoil following top executive's assassinationUS-Boeing deal over 737 Max crashes ‘morally repugnant', says lawyer for victims' familiesLowest vote result from April for board: 92% in favor of Robert Bradway, everyone else 94% or better - including 98% in favor of OrtbergHeadliniest of the WeekDR: In light of headlines like this: Meta's Platforms Have Become a Cesspool of Hatred Against Queer People I wanted to point out this op-ed from the NYT: Anthropic C.E.O.: Don't Let A.I. Companies off the Hook Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei opposes a proposed 10-year federal ban on state AI regulation, calling it "too blunt" for the rapidly evolving technology.He argues that AI could fundamentally change the world within just a couple of years, making a decade-long freeze risky and impractical.Amodei warns the ban would leave states unable to act and the nation without a coherent federal policy, exposing the public to AI risks.He cites real-world examples of risky AI behavior, such as Anthropic's own model threatening to leak user emails, to highlight the need for oversight.Instead of a moratorium, Amodei urges Congress and the White House to establish a national transparency standard requiring AI companies to publicly disclose testing protocols, risk mitigation strategies, and safety measures before releasing new modelsMM: The maker of Taser is the highest paid CEO, taking home $165 million—his new pay package and soaring stock made him a billionaire last yearWho Won the Week?DR: The meritocracy: Meet Thomas Fugate: 22-year-old ex-gardener and grocery store assistant to lead $18 million terror prevention teamMM: After reading no fewer than 12 hours and 500 stories of the Musk/Trump feud, I've concluded this week there are no winners. We're all losers.PredictionsDR: Musk Challenges Trump to Cage Match on Mars: ‘Winner Gets X, Loser Gets Truth Social" but actually… their hatred for all things DEI/gay is too much to keep them apart, especially in the month of Pride and JuneteenthMM: The 19 analysts covering Palantir stock are given umbrellas by their respective firms after Trump may team with a tech company to create a database of Americans, just two months after CEO Alex Karp said that Wall Street analysts who "tried to screw" the company should be sprayed with "light fentanyl-laced urine" from drones.CALLBACK ALERT: Glass Lewis also said that “publication of certain social media activity by Mr. Regan appears to suggest something of a blithe approach to compliance...”
Bitcoin is down slightly at $95,090 Eth is down half a percent at $1,830 XRP, is down slightly at $2.28 Arizona's state legislature passes Arizona Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Act Mastercard to integrate stablecoins into global payments network Trump's memecoin sees $2.4B in inflows after promising dinner with top holders. Circle receives in-principle approval for Abu Dhabi Coinbase says 15% of its Bitcoin transactions now process on lightning network Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Matt and Nic are back with another week of news and deals. In this episode: We recap Nic's article on why Signature collapsed Crypto exchange OKX announced their plans to expand to the US Kraken announced that US equities are now supported on the exchange MANTRA, a layer 1 network focused on RWAs, saw the price of its native token crash 90% in a matter of hours Global Payments agreed to acquire Worldpay, a payments processor, for $24 billion from FIS and private equity firm GTCR The US Department of Homeland Security has launched a probe into Anchorage, the digital asset custodian, related to the company's AML polices Jerome Powell reiterates his support for stablecoin legislation Strategy (and others) buy more Bitcoin Content mentioned in this episode: Galaxy Digital, The State of Crypto Lending Nic Carter in Piratewires, Signature Didn't Have to Die, Either
Glenbrook partners Bryan Derman, Chris Uriarte, and Simon Skinner jump on a special Fanning the Flames episode of Payments on Fire to give a first take on the Global Payments acquisition of Worldpay. Tune in to hear their strategic perspective on the deal.
Wrapping up a volatile holiday-shortened trading week, Carl Quintanilla, Jim Cramer and David Faber delved into two big movers: UnitedHealth plunging and dragging the Dow into sell-off mode after posting an earnings miss and slashing guidance due to higher medical care costs. A different story for Eli Lilly -- shares surging in reaction to late-stage trial results involving its experimental obesity pill. The anchors reacted to President Trump's Truth Social post blasting Jerome Powell -- it says the Fed chair's "termination cannot come fast enough." Also in focus: Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang visits China and Taiwan Semiconductor beats on earnings after Wednesday's chip sector sell-off, "Faber Report on" Global Payments' $22.7 billion acquisition. Squawk on the Street Disclaimer