blockCAST PODCAST

PRYPCO, Joseph El Am, General Manager, with Anton Golub and Demetrios Zamboglou - 25

Joseph El Am, General Manager of PRYPCO, joins Anton Golub and Dr. Demetrios Zamboglou for a deep dive into what Real-World Asset tokenization actually looks like when it leaves theory and starts touching title deeds, liquidity, regulation, and real investors in Dubai. Joseph explains how PRYPCO became the first platform in the region to tokenize a title deed in partnership with Dubai Land Department, why old SPV-heavy structures were too slow and too operationally complex, and how direct title-deed tokenization changes ownership, access, and investor experience. We unpack marketplace liquidity, seller flows, onboarding, KYC, fiat rails, and why tokenized real estate should not be confused with high-volatility crypto trading. Joseph walks through ownership limits, investor voting after five years, yield expectations, property sourcing, and how PRYPCO is building a broader real-estate stack around mortgages, fractional ownership, and digitized access to property in the UAE. We also get into why XRP was chosen at this stage, why long-term vision is chain-agnostic, and how other Emirates and international jurisdictions are now watching closely. A practical and forward-looking episode on tokenized real estate, investor protection, liquidity design, and why Dubai is setting the pace for real-world asset infrastructure.

Deribit, Luuk Strijers, CEO, with Anton Golub & Demetrios Zamboglou – 24

Luuk Strijers, CEO of Deribit, joins Anton Golub and Dr. Demetrios Zamboglou for an inside look at building crypto’s leading options venue and what Coinbase’s acquisition means for product, scale, and institutional trust. We unpack Deribit’s 85% institutional mix, $266B monthly volumes, why BTC options dominate, how DVO (Deribit Volatility) and vol futures fit market structure, and what it takes to quote thousands of strikes in real time. We go deep on matching engines, co-lo, market-maker dynamics, roadmap cadence, and the integrations now underway across custody, KYC/AML, wallets, and AI-driven tooling as Deribit aligns with Coinbase’s “most trusted” mandate. A sharp, trading-first conversation on liquidity, risk, and where derivatives go next.

Innovation City (ex RakDAO), Paul Dawalibi‏, CEO, with Anton Golub & Demetrios Zamboglou – 23

Paul Dawalibi‏, CEO of Innovation City in Ras Al Khaimah, joins Anton Golub and Dr. Demetrios Zamboglou on blockCAST podcast for a wide-ranging conversation on how free zones are evolving and why the next chapter of tech, AI, digital assets, Web3, gaming, robotics, and health tech in the UAE may be written in RAK. Paul explains why free zones, rather than tourism, have historically been the UAE’s economic engine and why the traditional free zone model is due for disruption. He outlines Innovation City’s ambition to build a Silicon Valley style hub driven by ecosystem building, density of intensity, and sector specific enablement, moving beyond the standard license, visa, and desk formula to actively support founders and scale ups. The discussion covers competition and collaboration across free zones, what founders actually need to succeed including bankability, compute, labs, publishing, and streamlined compliance, how AI is changing entrepreneurship by lowering barriers while increasing noise, and why gaming, virtual worlds, and digital experiences may become one of the fastest growing parts of the economy as automation expands. A practical and forward looking episode on innovation ecosystems, founder success, and why Ras Al Khaimah is emerging as one of the most compelling growth stories in the region.

Laser Digital, Jez Mohideen, Co-Founder & CEO with Anton Golub & Dr Demetrios Zamboglou – 22

Jez Mohideen, Co-Founder and CEO of Laser Digital, joins Anton Golub and Dr. Demetrios Zamboglou for an in-depth conversation on building institutional-grade digital-asset infrastructure. Beginning his career in investment banking and quantitative trading, Jez brings decades of experience across fixed income, hedge funds, and global capital markets into the digital-asset space. He shares how Laser Digital was built with a clear institutional focus; spanning custody, liquidity provision, financing, asset management, tokenization, and DeFi, backed by strong governance, risk management, and regulatory alignment. The discussion explores market structure, derivatives, tokenized funds and RWAs, stablecoins, AI-driven trading, and the balance between transparency and liquidity. A focused and insightful discussion on institutional adoption, regulation, and why the UAE has emerged as a global hub for digital assets and on-chain finance.

ROSTRO Group, Michael Ayres, Group CEO & Partner with Anton Golub & Demetrios Zamboglou – 21

Michael Ayers, Group CEO and Partner of Rostro Group, joins Anton Golub and Dr. Demetrios Zamboglou for a sharp conversation on building and scaling a modern brokerage group. Starting his career in the City of London during the 2008 financial crisis, Michael’s trajectory led him to lead a global, multi-asset firm spanning CFDs, securities, futures, and prime-of-prime solutions. He shares how Rostro expanded from small teams to a 260-person international organisation through strategic acquisitions, a strong people-first culture, and clear leadership principles. The discussion also covers automation and AI, multi-asset growth, digital-asset ambitions, and why Dubai has become a magnet for fast-growing financial institutions. A concise and insightful look at the mindset, culture, and execution behind building a resilient financial group.