From Libra to AGI: Christian Catalini on the Future of Money

From Libra to AGI: Christian Catalini on the Future of Money

Libra learnings, Bitcoin, Stablecoins, AI agents and the next financial infrastructure In this episode of Bitcoin, Fiat & Rock’n’Roll, co-host Jonas Gross and guest host Jonathan Knoll welcome Christian Catalini, one of the key architects behind Facebook’s Libra project, former head economist at Meta, co-founder of Lightspark, founder of the MIT Crypto Economics Lab, and one of the most influential voices at the intersection of digital money, stablecoins, Bitcoin, and artificial intelligence. The conversation begins with Libra: why it was built, why it failed, and why many of its core ideas are now resurfacing in today’s stablecoin regulation and infrastructure debates. Catalini reflects candidly on the project’s ambitions, its mistakes, its regulatory battles, and its lasting influence on frameworks such as the Genius Act. What looked premature in 2019 may now be becoming the foundation for the next phase of financial infrastructure. From there, the discussion turns to the rapidly changing stablecoin landscape. Catalini explains why banks, payment networks, fintechs, and crypto-native companies are moving toward tokenized deposits, neutral stablecoin networks, and interoperable payment rails. The episode explores the role of the US dollar, the future of euro stablecoins, Europe’s regulatory challenges under MiCA, and why open, programmable infrastructure could reshape global payments. The second half of the episode moves into AI and AGI. Drawing on his recent work on the economics of AGI, Catalini introduces the idea of verification as the central bottleneck in an economy where machines can generate endless output but humans still need to judge quality, safety, and trustworthiness. The conversation covers the future of junior jobs, education, financial services, AI agents, and why the next wave of innovation may depend on combining human judgment with increasingly powerful machine capabilities. Finally, the episode returns to Bitcoin and open networks. Catalini shares his view on Bitcoin’s role as infrastructure, the risks of quantum computing, and why the original crypto vision of openness and interoperability still matters. A wide-ranging conversation on Libra’s legacy, stablecoins, AI, Bitcoin, and the future architecture of money. May News Episode on Stablecoins in Europe: [https://bfrr.info/stablecoins-in-europe-consortia-bulls-vs-central-bank-bears-monthly-briefing] Christian Catalini LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ccatalini/] Full paper “Some simple economics of AGI” [https://arxiv.org/pdf/2602.20946] Summary “Some simple economics of AGI” [https://x.com/ccatalini/status/2026311784421036223?s=20] Forbes Article “Babysitting the Slop” [https://www.forbes.com/sites/christiancatalini/2026/03/18/babysitting-the-slop/] Bitcoin, Fiat & Rock’n’Roll Website [https://www.bfrr.de/] Bitcoin, Fiat & Rock’n’Roll Telegram Channel [https://t.me/+jA3nMkERPtc5YjQ0] ---------------------------------------- Point Zero Forum*: Join us in Zurich on 23–25 June 2026 at the Point Zero Forum, the annual gathering of 2,000+ policymakers, central bankers, regulators, and industry leaders at the intersection of finance, technology, and policy: Click here [https://registration.pointzeroforum.com/2026/register?ref=BFRR2026&code=BFRR2026&c_7164712=41966045®_type_id=1063177]. Use the code "BFRR2026" to get 30% off the full-price Industry Pass. BFRR is proud media partner of the event. Relai*: Buy Bitcoin with Relai—you can do a one-time purchase or savings plan: Click here [https://relai.ch/rock/]. Use the referral code "ROCK" to reduce transaction fees by 0.1% while supporting Bitcoin, Fiat & Rock’n’Roll. Value4Value Podcast Streaming: Support our podcast by listening to our episodes on the Fountain Podcast App. This way, if you wish, you can support us "Value4Value" while listening to the podcast. You can find us on the Fountain Podcast App here: Click here [https://fountain.fm/show/wNv0vSPWzu8Gh7bZTorB] Disclaimer: The content of this podcast reflects the private opinions of the hosts, serves exclusively for general information purposes and does not constitute investment advice. Always remember: Do your own research—inform yourself before making any investment decisions, such as buying Bitcoin. First try to understand what Bitcoin is and how to store it. This podcast does not provide financial advice. Note that the co-hosts might be invested in crypto assets. Read more on our website: Click here [https://www.bfrr.de/disclaimer/] ---------------------------------------- All links marked with "*" are affiliate links. If you use these links for purchase, the podcast receives a small share of the revenue without any additional costs to you. On the contrary, affiliate links often include discount promotions, so you can even save money. We would appreciate it if you use these links to support us. Thank you very much!

Building the Bridge: How Public-Private Dialogue Shapes Financial Architecture

GFTN’s Pat Patel on convening regulators, banks, and innovators to turn pilots into production-ready financial architecture. What happens when the next generation of financial infrastructure is shaped not by a single technology, but by the convergence of stablecoins, tokenization, artificial intelligence and, eventually, quantum computing? In this episode of Bitcoin, Fiat & Rock’n’Roll, Michael Blaschke and Stefan Grasmann speak with Pat Patel, CEO of the Global Finance & Technology Network (GFTN), about the forces rewiring global finance. Patel’s career has taken him from building the UK’s Faster Payments infrastructure at VocaLink to launching Money20/20 Europe, joining the Monetary Authority of Singapore and developing platforms for public-private dialogue. Today, he is a key figure behind the Singapore FinTech Festival and the Point Zero Forum in Zurich. The conversation explores why successful innovation depends on more than good technology. Timing, capital, regulation and the ability to translate between central banks, commercial banks, fintechs, crypto-native firms and software companies all play a role. Patel explains why the next technology cycle will be defined by AI, tokenization and quantum, and why their interplay could transform the architecture of financial services rather than simply add another layer to existing systems. The episode also examines the shifting stablecoin landscape. The United States is setting the pace, Europe is debating sovereignty, African markets are exploring local stablecoin models and regulators worldwide are confronting questions around cross-border corridors, reserves and interoperability. The discussion then turns to agentic finance: a future in which AI agents initiate transactions, manage workflows and interact with digital money under rules that are still being written. Ahead of the Point Zero Forum 2026, Patel shares what policymakers and industry leaders need to debate now: how different forms of digital money can coexist, how regulation can move from products to activities and how global finance can become more interoperable without creating new walled gardens. Bitcoin, Fiat & Rock’n’Roll Website [https://www.bfrr.de/] Bitcoin, Fiat & Rock’n’Roll Telegram Channel [https://t.me/+jA3nMkERPtc5YjQ0] Pat Patel on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/pat-patel-elevandi/] Michael Blaschke on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-michael-r-blaschke] Stefan Grasmann on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sgrasmann/] ---------------------------------------- Point Zero Forum: Join us in Zurich on 23–25 June 2026 at the Point Zero Forum, the annual gathering of 2,000+ policymakers, central bankers, regulators, and industry leaders at the intersection of finance, technology, and policy: Click here [https://registration.pointzeroforum.com/2026/register?ref=BFRR2026&code=BFRR2026&c_7164712=41966045®_type_id=1063177]. Use the code "BFRR2026" to get 30% off the full-price Industry Pass. BFRR is proud media partner of the event. Relai: Buy Bitcoin with Relai—you can do a one-time purchase or savings plan: Click here [https://relai.ch/rock/]. Use the referral code "ROCK" to reduce transaction fees by 0.1% while supporting Bitcoin, Fiat & Rock’n’Roll. Value4Value Podcast Streaming: Support our podcast by listening to our episodes on the Fountain Podcast App. This way, if you wish, you can support us "Value4Value" while listening to the podcast. You can find us on the Fountain Podcast App here: Click here [https://fountain.fm/show/wNv0vSPWzu8Gh7bZTorB] Disclaimer: The content of this podcast reflects the private opinions of the hosts, serves exclusively for general information purposes and does not constitute investment advice. Always remember: Do your own research—inform yourself before making any investment decisions, such as buying Bitcoin. First try to understand what Bitcoin is and how to store it. This podcast does not provide financial advice. Note that the co-hosts might be invested in crypto assets. Read more on our website: Click here [https://www.bfrr.de/disclaimer/] ---------------------------------------- All links marked with "*" are affiliate links. If you use these links for purchase, the podcast receives a small share of the revenue without any additional costs to you. On the contrary, affiliate links often include discount promotions, so you can even save money. We would appreciate it if you use these links to support us. Thank you very much!

From PayPal to Stellar: The Journey of Jose Fernandez da Ponte

Stablecoins, tokenization, agentic payments and the future of financial infrastructure on Stellar Stablecoins are moving beyond crypto markets and becoming part of the financial system’s core infrastructure. In this episode of BFRR’s Digital Money Interview Series, co-host Jonas Gross and guest host Jonathan Knoll speak with José Fernández da Ponte, President and Chief Growth Officer at the Stellar Development Foundation and former Head of Blockchain and Digital Currencies at PayPal. Drawing on two decades in payments, banking and fintech, José explains why blockchain technology could reshape financial rails that still rely on decades-old systems. He describes blockchains as “Linux for payments”: open-source, permissionless infrastructure on which institutions, developers and fintech companies can build new products step by step. The conversation explores why stablecoins are gaining momentum now, from regulatory clarity and institutional confidence to emerging use cases in cross-border payments, treasury, payroll and commerce. José also discusses tokenized real-world assets and the shift in institutional conversations: the question is no longer whether assets such as money market funds can be tokenized, but how they can be distributed, used as collateral and integrated into markets. A major focus is Stellar’s role in institutional finance, including the announcement that DTCC plans to make tokenized assets available on Stellar. José explains what institutions look for in a blockchain: speed, liquidity, uptime, compliance tooling, risk controls and openness. The discussion then turns to agentic commerce. As AI agents begin to transact at machine speed, payment systems may need to support micropayments, streaming payments and higher transaction volumes. Finally, José outlines why privacy will be essential for on-chain payments and how configurable privacy, confidential tokens and selective disclosure could reconcile transparency with compliance. A conversation about rebuilding financial infrastructure from first principles — and why the future of money may depend on open, institutional-grade networks. Jose Fernandez da Ponte LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jose-fernandez-da-ponte-a46ba81/] DTCC & Stellar Announcement [https://stellar.org/case-studies/dtcc] Stellar Q1 2026 Report [https://stellar.org/blog/foundation-news/q1-2026-execution-at-network-scale] Stellar Website [https://stellar.org/] Bitcoin, Fiat & Rock’n’Roll Website [https://www.bfrr.de/] Bitcoin, Fiat & Rock’n’Roll Telegram Channel [https://t.me/+jA3nMkERPtc5YjQ0] ---------------------------------------- Point Zero Forum: Join us in Zurich on 23–25 June 2026 at the Point Zero Forum, the annual gathering of 2,000+ policymakers, central bankers, regulators, and industry leaders at the intersection of finance, technology, and policy: Click here [https://registration.pointzeroforum.com/2026/register?ref=BFRR2026&code=BFRR2026&c_7164712=41966045®_type_id=1063177]. Use the code "BFRR2026" to get 30% off the full-price Industry Pass. BFRR is proud media partner of the event. Relai: Buy Bitcoin with Relai—you can do a one-time purchase or savings plan: Click here [https://relai.ch/rock/]. Use the referral code "ROCK" to reduce transaction fees by 0.1% while supporting Bitcoin, Fiat & Rock’n’Roll. Value4Value Podcast Streaming: Support our podcast by listening to our episodes on the Fountain Podcast App. This way, if you wish, you can support us "Value4Value" while listening to the podcast. You can find us on the Fountain Podcast App here: Click here [https://fountain.fm/show/wNv0vSPWzu8Gh7bZTorB] Disclaimer: The content of this podcast reflects the private opinions of the hosts, serves exclusively for general information purposes and does not constitute investment advice. Always remember: Do your own research—inform yourself before making any investment decisions, such as buying Bitcoin. First try to understand what Bitcoin is and how to store it. This podcast does not provide financial advice. Note that the co-hosts might be invested in crypto assets. Read more on our website: Click here [https://www.bfrr.de/disclaimer/] ---------------------------------------- All links marked with "*" are affiliate links. If you use these links for purchase, the podcast receives a small share of the revenue without any additional costs to you. On the contrary, affiliate links often include discount promotions, so you can even save money. We would appreciate it if you use these links to support us. Thank you very much!

Stablecoins in Europe: Consortia Bulls vs. Central Bank Bears | Monthly Briefing

Europe’s stablecoin race, Lagarde’s doubts, and Washington’s Clarity Act push. Stablecoins are no longer a niche topic in digital finance. They are rapidly becoming a strategic question for banks, regulators and technology providers on both sides of the Atlantic. In this BFRR news episode, the hosts are joined once again by Maximilian Vargas from Blockstories to examine the most important developments of May. The discussion begins in Europe, where the Qivalis banking consortium has expanded significantly. With 37 participating banks from 15 countries, the initiative combines institutional credibility, distribution power and substantial funding. But can a large banking consortium turn these advantages into a widely used euro stablecoin, or will governance, licensing and go-to-market challenges slow it down? The episode also explores AllUnity’s multi-currency strategy and its move into agentic payments. As AI agents begin to transact autonomously, programmable and regulated stablecoins could become an important bridge between machine-to-machine commerce and the traditional financial system. Across the Atlantic, Circle is pursuing a different path. Its Arc blockchain signals a push toward vertical integration: instead of relying solely on third-party rails, the stablecoin issuer wants to build infrastructure for a tokenized financial economy. The hosts discuss what this means for Circle, Coinbase and the wider race to own the payment layer of the internet. The debate then turns to regulation. Christine Lagarde’s critical remarks highlight concerns around financial stability and monetary policy transmission, while the European Commission’s MiCA consultation opens the door to potential improvements. In the United States, the Clarity Act is gaining momentum but remains far from a done deal. Bitcoin, Fiat & Rock’n’Roll Website [https://www.bfrr.de/] Bitcoin, Fiat & Rock’n’Roll Telegram Channel [https://t.me/+jA3nMkERPtc5YjQ0] Knowledge Bite Michael: IMF paper “Making Stablecoins Stable” [https://www.imf.org/en/publications/wp/issues/2026/04/10/making-stablecoins-stable-575348?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_term=2026-04-29&utm_campaign=Digital+Euro+Association+News] Knowledge Bite Jonas: ECB LinkedIn Post [https://www.linkedin.com/posts/grossjonas_ecb-digitaleuro-share-7463114751989080065-iXIJ?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAACrbu_EBW7M4BlvfP26crTAy7pLCSNYfCMg] Knowledge Bite Max: Institutional Crypto Lending Report [https://docsend.com/view/mfdsmswg6d54cgbb] Knowledge Bite Max: Spanish Digital Assets Ecosystem Report [https://docsend.com/view/9cwh7dckekn8tz63] ---------------------------------------- Point Zero Forum: Join us in Zurich on 23–25 June 2026 at the Point Zero Forum, the annual gathering of 2,000+ policymakers, central bankers, regulators, and industry leaders at the intersection of finance, technology, and policy: Click here [https://registration.pointzeroforum.com/2026/register?ref=BFRR2026&code=BFRR2026&c_7164712=41966045®_type_id=1063177]. Use the code "BFRR2026" to get 30% off the full-price Industry Pass. BFRR is proud media partner of the event. Relai: Buy Bitcoin with Relai—you can do a one-time purchase or savings plan: Click here [https://relai.ch/rock/]. Use the referral code "ROCK" to reduce transaction fees by 0.1% while supporting Bitcoin, Fiat & Rock’n’Roll. Value4Value Podcast Streaming: Support our podcast by listening to our episodes on the Fountain Podcast App. This way, if you wish, you can support us "Value4Value" while listening to the podcast. You can find us on the Fountain Podcast App here: Click here [https://fountain.fm/show/wNv0vSPWzu8Gh7bZTorB] Disclaimer: The content of this podcast reflects the private opinions of the hosts, serves exclusively for general information purposes and does not constitute investment advice. Always remember: Do your own research—inform yourself before making any investment decisions, such as buying Bitcoin. First try to understand what Bitcoin is and how to store it. This podcast does not provide financial advice. Note that the co-hosts might be invested in crypto assets. Read more on our website: Click here [https://www.bfrr.de/disclaimer/] ---------------------------------------- All links marked with "*" are affiliate links. If you use these links for purchase, the podcast receives a small share of the revenue without any additional costs to you. On the contrary, affiliate links often include discount promotions, so you can even save money. We would appreciate it if you use these links to support us. Thank you very much!

The Convergence of Capital Markets and Blockchain

How Clearstream Sees the Future of Financial Infrastructure In this episode of Bitcoin, Fiat & Rock’n’Roll, Stefan Grasmann speaks with Thilo Derenbach, Head of Sales & Business Development Digital Securities Services at Clearstream, about how financial market infrastructure is evolving through digitisation, tokenisation, and blockchain technology. The conversation offers a rare inside perspective from one of Europe’s most important post-trade infrastructure providers and explores how traditional financial institutions are preparing for a hybrid future between legacy and on-chain markets. Thilo explains the role of Deutsche Börse Group, Clearstream, D7, Crypto Finance, 360X and related initiatives, outlining how the group is building digital-first but hybrid infrastructure for both traditional and blockchain-native market participants. The discussion covers the growing convergence between TradFi and Web3, including Deutsche Börse’s investment into Kraken, partnerships with Ondo and stablecoin issuers, and the broader strategic shift towards interoperable digital capital markets. Stefan and Thilo also discuss recent industry developments such as DTCC’s tokenisation initiative and Bullish acquiring Equiniti for USD 4.2 billion. A major focus of the episode is collateral mobility and the future reuse of assets across digital markets. Thilo explains why institutional clients increasingly demand more efficient collateral usage, why tokenised securities alone are not enough, and how blockchain technology could fundamentally improve the movement and mobilisation of assets across trading, settlement and custody environments. The episode concludes with a forward-looking discussion on hybrid infrastructure, 24/7 markets, AI-driven financial systems and why the next years may represent a decisive phase in the digitisation of global financial markets. Bitcoin, Fiat & Rock'n'Roll Website [https://www.bfrr.de/] Bitcoin, Fiat & Rock'n'Roll Telegram Channel [https://t.me/+jA3nMkERPtc5YjQ0] Co-host LinkedIn profile [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sgrasmann/] Guest LinkedIn profile [https://www.linkedin.com/in/thilo-derenbach-2102031/] ---------------------------------------- Point Zero Forum*: Join us in Zurich on 23–25 June 2026 at the Point Zero Forum, the annual gathering of 2,000+ policymakers, central bankers, regulators, and industry leaders at the intersection of finance, technology, and policy: Click here [https://registration.pointzeroforum.com/2026/register?ref=BFRR2026&code=BFRR2026&c_7164712=41966045®_type_id=1063177]. Use the code "BFRR2026" to get 30% off the full-price Industry Pass. BFRR is proud media partner of the event. Relai*: Buy Bitcoin with Relai – you can do a one-time purchase or savings plan: Click here [https://relai.ch/rock/]. Use the referral code "ROCK" to reduce transaction fees by 0.1% while supporting Bitcoin, Fiat & Rock'n'Roll. Value4Value Podcast Streaming: Support our podcast by listening to our episodes on the Fountain Podcast App. This way, if you wish, you can support us "Value4Value" while listening to the podcast. You can find us on the Fountain Podcast App here: Click here [https://fountain.fm/show/wNv0vSPWzu8Gh7bZTorB] Disclaimer: The content of this podcast reflects the private opinions of the hosts, serves exclusively for general information purposes and does not constitute investment advice. Always remember: Do your own research - inform yourself before making any investment decisions, such as buying Bitcoin. First try to understand what Bitcoin is and how to store it. This podcast does not provide financial advice. Note that the co-hosts might be invested in crypto assets. Read more on our website: Click here [https://www.bfrr.de/disclaimer/] ---------------------------------------- All links marked with "*" are affiliate links. If you use these links for purchase, the podcast receives a small share of the revenue without any additional costs to you. On the contrary, affiliate links often include discount promotions, so you can even save money. We would appreciate it if you use these links to support us. Thank you very much!