Digital Fiat That Never Sleeps: Stablecoin Developments in Payment
Permissionless, programmable, and global—money has a new operating system.
Audio is streamed directly from the publisher (audio.podigee-cdn.net) as published in their RSS feed. Play Podcasts does not host this file. Rights-holders can request removal through the copyright & takedown page.
Show Notes
In this solo episode of BFRR – Bitcoin, Fiat & Rock ‘n’ Roll, Manuel dives deep into the fast-evolving world of stablecoins—their structure, use cases, and the challenges that stand between them and mass adoption in traditional finance.
Manuel begins by exploring what makes stablecoins unique compared to traditional account-based money such as bank deposits or fintech balances like PayPal or Venmo. The key difference? Stablecoins are bearer instruments on public blockchains—digital cash anyone can hold and transfer without needing an account, provided they're not on a blacklist.
From there, Manuel examines the regulatory developments across the globe—especially in the EU, US, and Asia—that are bringing stablecoins under the umbrella of regulated financial instruments. Manuel also touches on the debate around whether stablecoins should be yield-bearing, and how that impacts their use as a store of value versus a medium of exchange.
Next, Manuel moves into the real-world use cases—from crypto trading and remittances to B2B and B2C payments, merchant ecosystems, and interbank settlement. You'll hear insights into current adoption trends, including figures from recent studies by BCG and Castle Island Ventures, which estimate payments-based stablecoin volume ranging between $6B and $100B/month.
Finally, Manuel tackles the infrastructure and regulatory hurdles still holding stablecoins back: the need for efficient on/off ramps (the “stablecoin sandwich”), compliance with the travel rule, lack of bulk payment capabilities, and the risks of unintended dollarization in emerging markets.
Whether you're new to digital assets or deep in the crypto weeds, this episode offers a comprehensive overview of the state of stablecoins in payments—where we are today and where we might be heading.
BCG Study: Five killer tests to gauge their potential
Artemis Study: Stablecoin payments from the ground up
BFRR E346: Scaling B2B Stablecoin Payments: SAP’s Digital Currency Hub
Bitcoin, Fiat & Rock'n'Roll Website
Bitcoin, Fiat & Rock'n'Roll Telegram Channel
Relai*: Buy Bitcoin with Relai – you can do a one-time purchase or savings plan: Click here. 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
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
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!