Around The Coin

Why Stablecoins Succeed Where Banks Struggle - Arnold Lee | ATC #608

Host Stephen Sargeant [https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephen-brent-sargeant-cams/] interviews Arnold Lee [https://www.linkedin.com/in/arnoldhlee/], CEO and co-founder of Sphere Labs [https://spherepay.co/], about building stablecoin-enabled payment infrastructure during the 2022 downturn and focusing on real end-user needs rather than “stablecoin” narratives. Arnold explains how Sphere helps businesses move money cross-border faster and cheaper by optimizing banking and compliance plumbing, especially in emerging markets where correspondent banking is weak and documentation expectations don’t match local realities. He discusses learning from events like Luna/Terra and FTX, reading the Bank Secrecy Act to understand why bank requirements exceed written regulations, and why compliance and localized data (IDs, real-time payment systems like Pix/UPI) can determine whether transactions clear. They cover geopolitics and supply-chain volatility as drivers of adoption, the evolving provider landscape, and Arnold’s skepticism about near-term agentic AI payments hype.   We are also available via: * Around The Coin — Official Website [https://www.aroundthecoin.com/] * Buzzsprout [https://aroundthecoin.buzzsprout.com/] * Apple Podcast [https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/around-the-coin/id805021615] * Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/45k32XWYX3sR4zBVXxvDhf] * Player FM [https://player.fm/series/around-the-coin] * Quora [https://aroundthecoin.quora.com/] * Medium [https://medium.com/around-the-coin] * X [https://twitter.com/aroundthecoin]  * Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/aroundthecoin/] * LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/around-the-coin/] * Tiktok [https://www.tiktok.com/@aroundthecoinpodcast] * Soundcloud [https://soundcloud.com/aroundthecoin]

Are You Reporting Crypto Taxes Correctly? - Lawrence Zlatkin & Wendy Walker | ATC #607

Join host Stephen Sargeant [https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephen-brent-sargeant-cams/] interviews Lawrence Zlatkin [https://www.linkedin.com/in/lawrence-zlatkin-880417b/], Vice President of Tax at Coinbase [https://www.coinbase.com/], and Wendy Walker [https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendy1099/], Vice President of Regulatory Affairs at Sovos [https://sovos.com/], about the fast-changing tax and regulatory landscape for digital assets heading into 2026. They discuss the rollout of US crypto information reporting including Form 1099-DA, the challenges of incomplete cost basis when assets move across wallets and platforms, and the growing burden of high-volume reporting including stablecoin activity, gas fees, and dust transactions. They compare the US approach with global frameworks like CARF and note the lack of parity with traditional finance and the risks of over-reporting and privacy and surveillance concerns. They also cover IRS modernization, real-time and transaction-level validation trends abroad, and how AI could help sift massive datasets and improve compliance and efficiency, plus advice for new tax professionals to pair tax expertise with technology.   We are also available via: * Around The Coin — Official Website [https://www.aroundthecoin.com/] * Buzzsprout [https://aroundthecoin.buzzsprout.com/] * Apple Podcast [https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/around-the-coin/id805021615] * Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/45k32XWYX3sR4zBVXxvDhf] * Player FM [https://player.fm/series/around-the-coin] * Quora [https://aroundthecoin.quora.com/] * Medium [https://medium.com/around-the-coin] * X [https://twitter.com/aroundthecoin]  * Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/aroundthecoin/] * LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/around-the-coin/] * Tiktok [https://www.tiktok.com/@aroundthecoinpodcast] * Soundcloud [https://soundcloud.com/aroundthecoin]

AI Changing Crypto Compliance and Security - Rick Harmsen | ATC #606

In this episode of the Around The Coin Podcast, host Stephen Sargeant [https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephen-brent-sargeant-cams/] is joined by Rick Harmsen [https://www.linkedin.com/in/harmsen/], CTO of DataExpert [http://], to compare key takeaways from two conferences happening at the same time: Chainalysis Links in New York and ECC in Cannes. They discuss the growing convergence of AI, regulation, tokenization, stablecoins, and compliance across both developer and blockchain analytics communities, including how DeFi protocols are increasingly “front-running” regulation by building compliance programs early. Rick shares insights on Chainalysis’ new AI investigation product, the importance of data transparency, and the risks of over-relying on AI without investigative skill. They also cover investigation costs, side-event culture, law enforcement request verification, and preview DataExpert’s upcoming Digital Experience event in Stockholm bringing together law enforcement and private-sector investigators.    We are also available via: * Around The Coin — Official Website [https://www.aroundthecoin.com/] * Buzzsprout [https://aroundthecoin.buzzsprout.com/] * Apple Podcast [https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/around-the-coin/id805021615] * Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/45k32XWYX3sR4zBVXxvDhf] * Player FM [https://player.fm/series/around-the-coin] * Quora [https://aroundthecoin.quora.com/] * Medium [https://medium.com/around-the-coin] * X [https://twitter.com/aroundthecoin]  * Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/aroundthecoin/] * LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/around-the-coin/] * Tiktok [https://www.tiktok.com/@aroundthecoinpodcast] * Soundcloud [https://soundcloud.com/aroundthecoin]

Retail Crypto Trading Is Driving Markets - Vugar Usi | ATC #605

In this episode of the Around The Coin podcast, host Stephen Sargeant [https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephen-brent-sargeant-cams/] sits down with Vugar Usi [http://https:/www.linkedin.com/in/usithetalk/], CEO of MEXC [https://www.mexc.com/], to discuss his path from traditional finance and marketing to running a global crypto exchange. Vugar explains what makes MEXC stand out—serving 40M users across 170+ markets with a 99% retail user base, a “list-first” approach with 3,000+ projects, and near-zero fees that he says returned $1.1B to customers last year. They explore retail trends like tokenized real-world assets (stocks, gold, oil) and shorter, sharper market cycles, plus key risks in leverage trading such as liquidation and slippage. Vugar also covers MEXC’s new prediction market, fragmented global regulation, proof-of-reserves publishing, and a $100M Guardian Fund with plans to grow it. The conversation closes on exchanges evolving into finance super apps and marketing’s focus on user attention, retention, and trust.    We are also available via: * Around The Coin — Official Website [https://www.aroundthecoin.com/] * Buzzsprout [https://aroundthecoin.buzzsprout.com/] * Apple Podcast [https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/around-the-coin/id805021615] * Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/45k32XWYX3sR4zBVXxvDhf] * Player FM [https://player.fm/series/around-the-coin] * Quora [https://aroundthecoin.quora.com/] * Medium [https://medium.com/around-the-coin] * X [https://twitter.com/aroundthecoin]  * Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/aroundthecoin/] * LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/around-the-coin/] * Tiktok [https://www.tiktok.com/@aroundthecoinpodcast] * Soundcloud [https://soundcloud.com/aroundthecoin]

How Tokenized Assets Work in Crypto Markets? - Ran Goldi | ATC #604

Stephen Sargeant [https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephen-brent-sargeant-cams/] interviews Ran Goldi [https://www.linkedin.com/in/rangoldi/], SVP of Payments & Network at Fireblocks [https://www.fireblocks.com/], revisiting his earlier prediction that stablecoins would become a dominant payments rail and discussing 2025 as a breakout year for stablecoins. Rand shares lessons from algorithmic trading and First Digital’s rapid 2017 growth, followed by a severe downturn that forced him to cut the team from 70 to 7, and how founder resilience and long-term belief shaped his decisions. He argues stablecoins will keep growing short term but may eventually be displaced by tokenized deposits and new bank-led frameworks, with stablecoins remaining important for certain cross-border uses. Rand explains why Fireblocks was the right acquirer, outlines Fireblocks’ core use cases (secure wallets, treasury/ops orchestration, and ecosystem network), highlights newer areas like vetted on/off-ramp partner coverage, reconciliation via Trusts, and non-custodial wallets via Dynamic, and reflects on institutional adoption, interoperability challenges, AI-driven product velocity, and the next wave toward tokenized real-world assets.   We are also available via: * Around The Coin — Official Website [https://www.aroundthecoin.com/] * Buzzsprout [https://aroundthecoin.buzzsprout.com/] * Apple Podcast [https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/around-the-coin/id805021615] * Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/45k32XWYX3sR4zBVXxvDhf] * Player FM [https://player.fm/series/around-the-coin] * Quora [https://aroundthecoin.quora.com/] * Medium [https://medium.com/around-the-coin] * X [https://twitter.com/aroundthecoin]  * Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/aroundthecoin/] * LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/around-the-coin/] * Tiktok [https://www.tiktok.com/@aroundthecoinpodcast] * Soundcloud [https://soundcloud.com/aroundthecoin]