Building Sorbet: MENA's First On-Chain Neobank (Maher Ayari)

Building Sorbet: MENA's First On-Chain Neobank (Maher Ayari)

In this episode, we're joined by Maher Ayari, co-founder of Sorbet, a stablecoin-powered fintech building what it calls the region's first on-chain neobank for the MENA market. We dig into how a freelancer payments problem in Riyadh turned into a broader thesis for stablecoin-based settlement, why the UAE and Saudi Arabia rank among the top global remittance corridors despite currencies already pegged to the dollar, and how Sorbet is navigating one of the world's more conservative regulatory environments while building alongside the Saudi Central Bank's evolving stance on digital assets. From the "stablecoin sandwich" model of plugging into providers like Bridge and Circle, to the strategic shift toward owning liquidity rails directly, we explore how Sorbet is repositioning from B2C freelancer payments toward a Mercury-style B2B financial operating system for businesses across Saudi and the wider region. We also unpack the just-announced OpenUSD consortium, what it signals about the USDC-versus-USDT dynamic, and why distribution, not issuance, may be the hardest problem in stablecoins today.Follow Stablecoin Partners Stablecoin Partners: https://www.stablecoinpartners.com/ StableCheck: https://www.stablecoinstandard.com/stablecheck SorbetWebsite: https://mysorbet.io/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mysorbet/ Maher: https://sa.linkedin.com/in/maher-ayari Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Sorbet and the MENA Region02:58 Maher's Journey and the Birth of Sorbet06:06 The Evolution of Stablecoins in the MENA Region09:01 Challenges and Opportunities in Building in the GCC11:55 The Role of Stablecoins in Remittances14:46 Understanding the Unique Needs of the MENA Market17:58 The Future of Stablecoins and Financial Infrastructure21:02 Target Customers and Business Model of Sorbet24:15 Transitioning to B2B Financial Solutions29:11 The Evolution of Stablecoins in the MENA Region35:40 Innovative Financial Products and Market Positioning39:20 The Impact of OpenUSD on the Stablecoin Landscape46:33 Navigating the Future of Stablecoins and Regulation

Inside the UAE's First Central Bank-Licensed Stablecoin: Building AECoin (Ramez Rafeek)

In this episode, we're joined by Ramez Rafeek, General Manager of AED Stablecoin LLC, the issuer of AECoin, the UAE's first Dirham-backed stablecoin, licensed directly by the Central Bank of the UAE. We dig into what it actually took to build a regulated stablecoin from scratch alongside a central bank, how the escrow-backed, one-to-one Dirham peg works day to day, and why AECoin's daily reporting and monthly attestation model sets a different bar for transparency. From government fee payments and merchant adoption to a standout use case, topping up your wallet with crypto and spending it instantly as AECoin, we explore how real-world distribution was won across retail, institutional, and B2B channels. We also examine the broader Dirham stablecoin landscape, how the UAE's central bank licensing differs from free-zone regimes like VARA and ADGM, and where Ramez sees digital Dirham adoption heading by 2030.Follow Stablecoin Partners Stablecoin Partners: https://www.stablecoinpartners.com/ StableCheck: https://www.stablecoinstandard.com/stablecheck AE CoinWebsite: https://aecoin.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ad-coinuae/ Ramez: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ramez-rafeek-18651541/ Chapters 00:00 Introduction to AECoin and Its Significance03:04 Regulatory Framework and Compliance in the UAE11:50 Impact of Regulation on Innovation12:21 Competitive Landscape of Stablecoins in the UAE15:35 Use Cases and Adoption of AECoin20:21 Future of AECoin and Market Demand26:01 Vision for the Future of Digital Payments in the UAE30:42 Conclusion and Resources for AECoin

When Money Moves Itself: Agentic Payments and the Future of Cross-Border Finance (Pritpal Shokar)

In this episode, we're joined by Pritpal Shokar, Head of Product for Digital Assets at Thunes, to explore what it really takes to build stablecoin infrastructure at a global scale. We dig into how digital money is evolving across borders, why stablecoins and e-money aren't as interchangeable as they seem, and where tokenized deposits fit into the picture. From liquidity challenges in cross-border payments to the UK's shifting regulatory landscape, we examine the friction points that still define international finance, and how programmable money could eliminate them. We also look ahead to the emerging world of agentic payments, where AI-driven transactions demand new thinking around trust, oversight, and the role of the treasurer. Follow Stablecoin Partners: - Stablecoin Partners: https://www.stablecoinpartners.com/ - StableCheck: https://www.stablecoinstandard.com/stablecheck Thunes: - Website: https://www.thunes.com/ - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thunespayments/ - Pritpal: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pritpal-shokar/ Presented in partnership with Nephos Group [https://www.nephosgroup.com/] Proud sponsors of the Stablecoin Standard Podcast, Nephos Group is the specialist accountancy and advisory firm for stablecoin issuers. From proof of reserves and attestations to stablecoin accounting and compliance support, they help digital asset businesses build the financial rigour that institutional adoption demands. Learn more at nephosgroup.com.

The asset leg and the money leg of on-chain finance (Will Beeson & Jack Chong)

In this episode, we’re joined by Will Beeson (Multiliquid) and Jack Chong (Checker) to unpack where the money layer and asset layer of on‑chain finance collide. We explore how stablecoins and tokenized real‑world assets are converging, why liquidity remains the biggest bottleneck at institutional scale, and how infrastructure players are solving access, settlement, and distribution challenges. This is a deep dive into the future of financial markets, where cash, assets and payments operate on a single, always‑on system. Follow Stablecoin Partners Stablecoin Partners: https://www.stablecoinpartners.com/ [https://www.stablecoinpartners.com/] StableCheck: https://www.stablecoinstandard.com/stablecheck [https://www.stablecoinstandard.com/stablecheck] Multiliquid Multiliquid: https://multiliquid.xyz [https://multiliquid.xyz] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/willbeeson/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/willbeeson/%5C] X: https://x.com/will_beeson [https://x.com/will_beeson] Checker Checker: https://checker.finance [https://checker.finance] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jack-chong/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jack-chong/]

Title: From Net 30 to Net 30 Minute settlement (Ran Grushkowsky)

In this episode, Ran Grushkowsky, Co‑Founder and CEO of MassPay, breaks down why global payout systems are still fundamentally broken—and what it takes to fix them. We explore how MassPay built payout infrastructure across 230+ countries, why optionality in how people get paid is the real unlock, and how payouts are evolving from a cost centre into a revenue driver. We also dive into stablecoins as a settlement rail, embedded compliance, and what enterprise-scale payments really look like under the hood. Follow Stablecoin Partners Stablecoin Partners: https://www.stablecoinpartners.com/ [https://www.stablecoinpartners.com/] StableCheck: https://www.stablecoinstandard.com/stablecheck [https://www.stablecoinstandard.com/stablecheck] MassPay MassPay: https://masspay.io [https://masspay.io] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rangrushkowsky/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/rangrushkowsky/] X: https://x.com/MassPay_io [https://x.com/MassPay_io]