The Fintech Blueprint

Lex chats with Christian Catalini, co-founder and chief strategy officer of Lightspark - a company aiming to break down global payment barriers, throwing its weight behind a new standard intended to make payments as easy as sending an email. Christian kicks off by discussing his career in blockchain and academia, as well as the challenges and opportunities in the fintech industry. He explains how he became interested in crypto through his research on crowdfunding and how he later focused on Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies. Catalini also discusses the importance of decentralized governance and the potential of Bitcoin as a global payment network. He introduces Lightspark's products, including Lightspark Predict and Universal Money Addresses (UMA), which aim to make Lightning Network more efficient and user-friendly for cross-border money movement. He emphasizes the need for compliance and regulatory clarity in the crypto industry and highlights the role of various partners in facilitating on and off-ramps between digital assets and traditional payment systems. MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION Lightspark's Website: https://bit.ly/3uQ0Nw1Christian's LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3UVwBu3 Topics: blockchain, crypto, cryptocurrency, Bitcoin, Digital Assets, AI, cross border, payments, lightning network Companies: Lightspark, Diem, Libra, Meta Fintech, MIT, MIT Cryptoeconomics Lab ABOUT THE FINTECH BLUEPRINT 🔥Subscribe to the Fintech Blueprint newsletter to stay at the forefront of Fintech and DeFi: https://bit.ly/3hyhlC2 🤝 Partner with Fintech Blueprint through sponsorships: https://bit.ly/3UZllsV 👉 Twitter: https://twitter.com/LexSokolin TIMESTAMPS 1’22: Bridging Worlds: From Academic Inquiry to Entrepreneurial Action in the Crypto and Crowdfunding Era 7’12: Innovating at the Intersection: From the Creative Destruction Lab to the Cryptoeconomics Lab at MIT 13’00: Designing Stability: The Economic Architecture and Vision Behind the Diem Experiment 18’37: Governance and Trust in Crypto: Navigating the Complex Landscape from Diem to Bitcoin 25’42: Money as a Public Good: The Evolutionary Path of Bitcoin and Digital Assets in the Global Economy 31’57: Unleashing Potential: Crypto and AI's Complementary Forces in Shaping the Future of Open Source Technology 37’02: Universal Money Addresses: Revolutionizing Global Transactions with Seamless, Compliant, and Real-Time Payments 41’31: UMA and Bitcoin: Simplifying Cross-Border Payments with a Global, Liquidity-Driven Settlement Layer 46’49: Integrating Innovations: How UMA Partners Enable Smooth Cross-Border Payments Through Bitcoin Liquidity and Local Infrastructure 50’14: The channels used to connect with Chris & learn more about Lightspark Disclaimer here — this newsletter does not provide investment advice and represents solely the views and opinions of FINTECH BLUEPRINT LTD.Contributors: Lex, Laurence, Matt, Farhad, Mike, DaniellaWant to discuss? Stop by our Discord and reach out here with questions.

Lex chats with Shelby Austin, co-founder and CEO of Arteria AI - Arteria AI is an AI-focused company that develops a contract lifecycle management platform for end-to-end digital contracting. Shelby kicks off by discussing her career journey and the development of her company, which focuses on solving documentation challenges in the financial services industry using artificial intelligence (AI). Shelby explains that Arteria AI uses a combination of people and technology to streamline document management processes, such as onboarding, contract generation, and data organization. The company leverages a variety of AI models, both open-source and proprietary, to analyze and generate documents. Shelby emphasizes the importance of user-centric design and practical application of AI in solving real problems for financial institutions. She also discusses the challenges and opportunities of working with large financial firms, including data security and integration with existing infrastructure. MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION Arteria AI's Website: https://bit.ly/3SLtWArShelby's LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3I11568 Topics: AI, Artificial Intelligence, ChatGPT, documentation, finance, analytics, contract processing Companies: Arteria AI, Arteria, Deloitte, OpenAI ABOUT THE FINTECH BLUEPRINT 🔥Subscribe to the Fintech Blueprint newsletter to stay at the forefront of Fintech and DeFi: https://bit.ly/3hyhlC2 🤝 Partner with Fintech Blueprint through sponsorships: https://bit.ly/3UZllsV 👉 Twitter: https://twitter.com/LexSokolin TIMESTAMPS 1’23: From Law to Innovation: Shelby Austin's Journey Through Legal Grind to Tech Entrepreneurship 6’41: Digitizing Diligence: Pioneering Data Management in Legal Workflows 9’10: From Legal Documents to AI Frontiers: Navigating the Transition into Technological Leadership at Deloitte 17’27: Reimagining Documentation: The Genesis of Arteria and the Evolution of Financial Services Solutions 22’32: Simplifying Complexity: Arteria's Solutions for Streamlining Documentation and Compliance Processes 26’44: Transforming Documentation: Arteria's Multimodal Approach to Financial Services Paperwork 32’03: Crafting AI Solutions in Finance: Navigating the Landscape of Models Beyond the Hype 36’16: Building Bridges in Finance: Exploring the Complex Landscape of AI Integration with Major Financial Firms 39’25: The channels used to connect with Shelby & learn more about Arteria AI Disclaimer here — this newsletter does not provide investment advice and represents solely the views and opinions of FINTECH BLUEPRINT LTD.Contributors: Lex, Laurence, Matt, Farhad, Mike, DaniellaWant to discuss? Stop by our Discord and reach out here with questions.

Lex chats with Rachel Lin, the Co-Founder & CEO of SynFutures, a decentralized derivatives trading platform. Lin discusses her background in traditional finance and her transition into the fintech and cryptocurrency industry. She explains her experience working in structured derivative sales and trading at Deutsche Bank, where she interacted with clients such as hedge funds and corporates who used derivatives for speculative purposes, hedging, and arbitrage. Lin then moved to fintech company Alipay, where she learned about blockchain technology and became interested in the potential of decentralized finance. She later joined Matrixport, a centralized platform, before starting her own decentralized derivatives platform, SynFutures. Lin explains that decentralized platforms offer transparency and the ability for anyone to become a market maker or service provider, while centralized platforms require more configuration and rely on market makers. She also discusses the growth potential of decentralized derivatives and the current dominance of speculation in the crypto derivatives market. Lin believes that as digital economies grow, the usage of blockchain and derivatives for economic purposes will also increase. MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION SynFuture's Website: https://bit.ly/3OCDRaa Topics: crypto, digital assets, investment, blockchain, AMM, DeFi, CeFi, Liquidity, hedging, arbitrage, derivatives, perps, synthetic Companies: Synfutures, Alipay, Matrixport, DYDX, GMX, Synthetix, Deutsche Bank, Uniswap ABOUT THE FINTECH BLUEPRINT 🔥Subscribe to the Fintech Blueprint newsletter to stay at the forefront of Fintech and DeFi: https://bit.ly/3hyhlC2 🤝 Partner with Fintech Blueprint through sponsorships: https://bit.ly/3UZllsV 👉 Twitter: https://twitter.com/LexSokolin TIMESTAMPS 1’23: Trading Illusions for Insights: Navigating the Complex World of Financial Derivatives 6’35: Hedging Needs vs. Market Speculation: Deciphering the Derivatives Landscape 10’54: Institutional to Retail: Transitioning Through Chinese Fintech and Cryptocurrency Markets 16’16: SynFutures: Unlocking Decentralized Derivatives Trading for All 20’54: Synthetic Derivatives and Leverage: Amplifying Trades on Decentralized Platforms 26’56: DeFi Derivatives: AMM Liquidity, Competition, and the Future of Synthetic Trading 32’13: The promise of Crypto Derivative Markets: Beyond Speculation - Hedging, Arbitrage, and the Promise of Digital Economies 35’00: The channels used to connect with Rachel & learn more about SynFutures Disclaimer here — this newsletter does not provide investment advice and represents solely the views and opinions of FINTECH BLUEPRINT LTD.Contributors: Lex, Laurence, Matt, Farhad, Mike, DaniellaWant to discuss? Stop by our Discord and reach out here with questions.

Lex chats with Stan Miroshnik, founder and managing partner of 10Squared Capital, discusses his early experiences in financial services and his journey into the world of digital assets and crypto. He talks about the challenges of navigating the ICO market and the importance of price discipline in investing. Miroshnik also shares his insights on the current state of the market and the opportunities he sees in sectors such as infrastructure, consumer applications, data analytics, and financial services. He also discusses the potential of security tokens and real-world asset tokenization. MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION 10Squared Capital's Website: https://bit.ly/3ShddVmStan's LinkedIn profile: https://bit.ly/3w8kO0S Topics: crypto, digital assets, venture capital, investment, blockchain, ICO, tokenization Companies: TenSquared Capital, 10THoldings, 10T, 10SQ, Animoca, Coatue, Tiger, Civic ABOUT THE FINTECH BLUEPRINT 🔥Subscribe to the Fintech Blueprint newsletter to stay at the forefront of Fintech and DeFi: https://bit.ly/3hyhlC2 🤝 Partner with Fintech Blueprint through sponsorships: https://bit.ly/3UZllsV 👉 Twitter: https://twitter.com/LexSokolin TIMESTAMPS 1’28: Navigating the Financial Landscape: From Soviet Childhood to Blockchain Innovation 4’03: Transitioning from Soviet Roots to Global Finance: A Journey Through Capital Markets and the Emergence of Digital Assets 11’07: Emergence of Russian Capital Markets: Navigating the Complexities of Financial Evolution and Integration 15’15: Bitcoin and the Birth of a New Capital Market: Pioneering Digital Asset Investment Banking 19’13: Compliance Complexity in 2024: Navigating the Evolving Landscape of Digital Asset Regulation 23’25: Reflecting on the ICO Market: Balancing Innovation, Speculation, and the Evolution of Digital Assets 27’53: From ICOs to Institutional Investment: Charting the Evolution of Digital Asset Markets with 10T Holdings and TenSquared Capital 32’18: Assessing Growth Stage Investments in the Digital Asset Space: Navigating the Challenges of Valuation and Opportunity in 2021-2022 35’24: Identifying Emerging Leaders in Digital Assets: A Look at Key Sectors and Companies Shaping the 2024 Market Landscape 36’25: Exploring the Future of Digital Assets: Exploring Infrastructure, Consumer Applications, and Financial Services in the Blockchain Ecosystem 43’04: The channels used to connect with Stan & learn more about TenSquared Capital Disclaimer here — this newsletter does not provide investment advice and represents solely the views and opinions of FINTECH BLUEPRINT LTD.Contributors: Lex, Laurence, Matt, Farhad, Mike, DaniellaWant to discuss? Stop by our Discord and reach out here with questions.

Lex chats with Jerome Le Luel, founder and CEO of TRIVER - a London-based startup that uses open banking data and AI to provide short-term working capital to SMEs. To kick off, Jerome discusses the application of AI in fintech lending for small businesses. He explains that traditional banks have struggled to automate lending decisions for SMEs due to regulatory constraints and manual underwriting processes. However, with the emergence of open banking and the ability to access transaction-level data, fintech companies like TRIVER can use data science to automate underwriting decisions and provide instant capital to small businesses. TRIVER's platform allows SMEs to apply for short-term financing in a few clicks, using bank data and credit bureau information to make lending decisions. The capital comes from a combination of equity and debt raised by TRIVER, and the company is also exploring partnerships with non-financial institutions to embed its technology and offer instant capital to their SME clients. MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION TRIVER's Website: https://bit.ly/3OiT1RNJerome's LinkedIn profile: https://bit.ly/3ubNWUz Topics: Fintech, lending, SME, SME finance, Open Banking, Underwriting, API Companies: TRIVER, Funding Circle, Barclays, Barclaycard, Capital One ABOUT THE FINTECH BLUEPRINT 🔥Subscribe to the Fintech Blueprint newsletter to stay at the forefront of Fintech and DeFi: https://bit.ly/3hyhlC2 🤝 Partner with Fintech Blueprint through sponsorships: https://bit.ly/3UZllsV 👉 Twitter: https://twitter.com/LexSokolin TIMESTAMPS 1’29: From analytics to innovation: Pioneering credit card strategies in the UK with Capital One 4’13: Segmentation and innovation: How Capital One's early customer insights revolutionized consumer finance 9’19: Scaling financial services: Lessons in clarity, efficiency, and rigorous execution from Capital One's rapid growth 14’53: From challenger to major player: Navigating the shift to large-scale operations in financial services at Barclaycard 18’59: Risk management in lending: Balancing uncertainty, reward, and scaling in financial services 26’44: Innovating in Fintech: Leveraging flexibility and focus to outpace traditional banking at Funding Circle and TRIVER 31’37: Entrepreneurship and innovation: The impact of organizational culture and talent on Fintech advancements 33’53: Solving short-term SME finance challenges: TRIVER's innovative approach leveraging data science and open banking 40’23: Real-time SME underwriting: Leveraging transaction data and open banking for effective financial decisions at TRIVER 41’53: Empowering SMEs with instant capital: TRIVER's seamless integration of tech, data, and finance for efficient working capital solutions 46’02: The channels used to connect with Jerome & learn more about TRIVER Disclaimer here — this newsletter does not provide investment advice and represents solely the views and opinions of FINTECH BLUEPRINT LTD.Contributors: Lex, Laurence, Matt, Farhad, Mike, DaniellaWant to discuss? Stop by our Discord and reach out here with questions.

Lex chats with David Minarsch, co-founder and CEO of Valory - a team focused on providing research, products, and services at the intersection of multi-agent systems (MAS) and distributed ledger technology (DLT), one of them being Autonolas - a platform that offers an open-source software stack and an on-chain protocol, facilitating secure operations and incentivizing autonomous application development. In this episode, David discusses the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and crypto networks. He explains that Valory is focused on building autonomous systems that connect to blockchain networks. David highlights the importance of AI agents in the future, as they can specialize in different roles and provide valuable services. He also discusses the launch of the Autonolas protocol on Gnosis chain, which allows for the creation of prediction markets and the coordination of autonomous services. David believes that autonomous agents will become the primary daily active users of crypto, providing a new user experience and abstraction for humans. MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION Valory's Website: https://bit.ly/4b3xuWPDavid's LinkedIn profile: https://bit.ly/3S5EF8n Topics: DLT, Distributed ledger technology, ai, blockchain, smart contract, game theory, autonomation, DAO, generative AI, crypto, economics Companies: Valory, Autonolas, Fetch.ai, OLAS, Gnosis, Cosmos ABOUT THE FINTECH BLUEPRINT 🔥Subscribe to the Fintech Blueprint newsletter to stay at the forefront of Fintech and DeFi: https://bit.ly/3hyhlC2 🤝 Partner with Fintech Blueprint through sponsorships: https://bit.ly/3UZllsV 👉 Twitter: https://twitter.com/LexSokolin TIMESTAMPS 1’34: Mathematics to Game Theory: A Journey Through Academia and the Intricacies of Human Behavior 4’03: Network Games and Equilibria: Exploring Graph Theory and Game Theory in Economics at Cambridge 7’31: Quantitative Abstractions and Intuition: Navigating the Complexity of Equilibria in Economic Systems 12’08: From Academic Theory to Real-World Application: The Impact of Crypto Networks on Economic Modeling and Experimentation 16’17: Mathematics in Governance: Transforming Data for Constituency Insights and Political Decision-Making 19’04: From Human Insights to Blockchain Innovation: The Evolution of Fetch.ai and the Role of Autonomous Agents 23’36: Defining Autonomous Agents: The Evolution and Impact of AI-Driven Software Agents in Complex Systems 30’48: Agent Ownership and Automation: Exploring the Spectrum and Implications of Autonomous AI Systems 35’16: Autonolas Protocol and Valory Launch: Revolutionizing Autonomous Services and DAO Governance on the Gnosis Chain 39’44: Governance Through AI: Understanding the Role of Autonomous Agents in DAO Decision-Making and Proposal Analysis 43’34: OLAS Protocol on Gnosis Chain: Pioneering Autonomous Agents in Prediction Markets and DAO Governance 50’15: Envisioning the Future: The Rise of Autonomous Agents and AI in Crypto and Economic Systems 55’01: The channels used to connect with David & learn more about Valory Disclaimer here — this newsletter does not provide investment advice and represents solely the views and opinions of FINTECH BLUEPRINT LTD.Contributors: Lex, Laurence, Matt, Farhad, Mike, DaniellaWant to discuss? Stop by our Discord and reach out here with questions.

Lex chats with Steve McLaughlin, CEO and founder of FT Partners - the premier financial technology investment bank, and Jon Lear, president and co-founder of Fintech Meetup - the leading fintech conference in the world today. They discuss the early days of fintech, the growth and evolution of the industry, and the current market trends. They also touch on the definition of fintech and its boundaries, as well as the sectors that are seeing the most activity and opportunity in the coming year. They highlight the importance of networks, infrastructure, and emerging markets in driving innovation and growth in fintech. MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION FT Partners' Website: https://bit.ly/3vEVbEGFintech Meetup's Website: https://bit.ly/48NuzjiSteve's LinkedIn profile: https://bit.ly/48P6AAmJon's LinkedIn profile: https://bit.ly/3Sgz7cs Topics: fintech, finance, financial technology, Investment Banking, Blockchain, crypto, paytech, insurtech, infrastructure Companies: FT Partners, Fintech Meetup, NASDAQ, ETrade, EarthPort, Visa, Mastercard, JP Morgan, Goldman Sachs, Stripe, Worldcoin, Intuit ABOUT THE FINTECH BLUEPRINT 🔥Subscribe to the Fintech Blueprint newsletter to stay at the forefront of Fintech and DeFi: https://bit.ly/3hyhlC2 🤝 Partner with Fintech Blueprint through sponsorships: https://bit.ly/3UZllsV 👉 Twitter: https://twitter.com/LexSokolin TIMESTAMPS 2’21: From Goldman Sachs to FT Partners: Steve McLaughlin's Journey Through the Evolution of Fintech 6’39: Digital Finance Evolution: Steve expands on the Enduring Impact of Early Fintech Companies 9’35: Traversing the Fintech Landscape: Jon Lear’s journey from Procter & Gamble to Fintech Entrepreneurship and Beyond 15’58: Repeating Patterns in Fintech: Exploring Persistent Challenges and Innovations in Financial Technology 20’59: Defining Fintech: Navigating the Blurred Lines of Financial Technology in Today's Evolving Market 28’57: Emerging Ecosystems: How New Technologies Reshape Traditional Financial Services and Create Unique Economic Spheres 32’56: Fintech in Focus: Insights from Fintech Meetup on Market Dynamics, Innovation, and the Shift Towards Infrastructure 36’22: Risk Assessment in Fintech: Evaluating Current Market Dynamics and Venture Capital Trends in the Financial Sector 40’36: Navigating Challenges in Fintech: The Complex Dynamics of M&A and Growth Strategies Amid Market Volatility 43’39: Emerging Trends in Fintech: Identifying Growth Opportunities and Innovations in Blockchain and Payments 45’38: Future Fintech Frontiers: Uncovering Growth Sectors and Geographical Opportunities in the Financial Industry 50’57: The channels used to connect with Jon & learn more about Fintech Meetup 51’10: The channels used to connect with Steve & learn more about FT Partners Disclaimer here — this newsletter does not provide investment advice and represents solely the views and opinions of FINTECH BLUEPRINT LTD.Contributors: Lex, Laurence, Matt, Farhad, Mike, DaniellaWant to discuss? Stop by our Discord and reach out here with questions.

Lex chats with Jeff Boortz, the Chief Product Officer of Blockstream. Blockstream is a company at the forefront of Bitcoin ecosystem development, and they discuss the new developments and innovations in the Bitcoin space. Boortz talks about his career background, including his time at Google, and how he transitioned to Blockstream. They also discuss the skills and differences between tech companies like Google and financial institutions when it comes to product management. Boortz explains the concept of decentralization in building software products and how it applies to Google's organizational structure. They then dive into Blockstream's core business, which includes advancing the Bitcoin protocol, building layer 2 technology like the Lightning Network, providing mining and co-location services, and developing self-custody products like wallets. They discuss the scale and usage of the Liquid Network, a sidechain implementation by Blockstream, and its potential for programmability and representing other assets. They also touch on the future of Bitcoin and the potential paths for development, particularly in the financial markets. MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION Blockstream's Website: https://bit.ly/3tzZ2CkJeff's LinkedIn profile: https://bit.ly/3tzZ3pS Topics: Bitcoin, layer-2, blockchain, ethereum, crypto, cryptocurrency, Protocol, L2 Companies: Blockstream, Bitcoin, Lightning Network, Google, Liquid Network, Blockstream Green, Ethereum, Product ABOUT THE FINTECH BLUEPRINT 🔥Subscribe to the Fintech Blueprint newsletter to stay at the forefront of Fintech and DeFi: https://bit.ly/3hyhlC2 🤝 Partner with Fintech Blueprint through sponsorships: https://bit.ly/3UZllsV 👉 Twitter: https://twitter.com/LexSokolin TIMESTAMPS 1’44: From web development to Google: Jeff’s journey through technology and his evolution from software developer to shaping business strategies 6’03: Integrating tech in finance vs. core technology companies: Insights on skill sets and product development 13’17: Blockstream's mission and portfolio: Rethinking trust in financial transactions with Bitcoin and layer 2 technologies 16’52: Blockstream's core business: Building protocols and tools for Bitcoin-connected networks and services 20’27: Liquid Network's scale and programmability: Exploring blinded transactions and asset representation on Blockstream's sidechain 24’09: Bitcoin's evolution since 2009: Balancing decentralization with development and the institutional investment narrative 29’20: Lightning Network's progress: Enhancing Bitcoin's scalability and adoption through Layer 2 solutions 33’37: Lightning Network adoption: Balancing user convenience and enterprise applications in Bitcoin's Layer 2 37’24: Bitcoin's evolving ecosystem: Exploring Ordinals, inscriptions, and the surging interest in programmable assets 41’18: Reimagining financial markets: Blockstream's vision for trust-minimized finance and the path to equitable systems 43’45: The channels used to connect with Jeff & learn more about Blockstream Disclaimer here — this newsletter does not provide investment advice and represents solely the views and opinions of FINTECH BLUEPRINT LTD.Contributors: Lex, Laurence, Matt, Farhad, Mike, DaniellaWant to discuss? Stop by our Discord and reach out here with questions.

Lex chats with Yat Siu, co-founder and chairman of Animoca Brands - a global leader in blockchain and gaming that is working to provide property rights for virtual assets via NFTs and related technologies. Yat discusses his journey into technology and gaming, as well as the intersection of gaming and decentralized finance. He shares his early experiences with technology, including writing MIDI software in the 1980s and discovering the power of online communities. Additionally, Yat discusses the shift from Web2 to Web3 and the importance of ownership and interoperability in gaming. He highlights the potential for virtual goods and NFTs to become platforms for building experiences and creating network effects. Yat emphasizes the need for trust and transparency in the gaming industry and the potential for Web3 to democratize ownership and create new opportunities for gamers. MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION Animoca Brands' Website: https://bit.ly/47Vv3UDYat's LinkedIn profile: https://bit.ly/3NvEtxT Topics: Web3, crypto, blockchain, DeFi, NFT, NFTFi, Metaverse, tokens, gaming, GameFi, Web2 Companies: Animoca Brands, Animoca, ConsenSys, Dapper Labs, CryptoKitties, Axiom Zen, Minecraft, Sandbox, Mocaverse ABOUT THE FINTECH BLUEPRINT 🔥Subscribe to the Fintech Blueprint newsletter to stay at the forefront of Fintech and DeFi: https://bit.ly/3hyhlC2 🤝 Partner with Fintech Blueprint through sponsorships: https://bit.ly/3UZllsV 👉 Twitter: https://twitter.com/LexSokolin TIMESTAMPS 1’28: Journey into tech: Yat Siu reflects on his early experiences with gaming, MIDI software, and the transformative impact of online communities 6’49: From early internet anonymity to Web3's shared value: The evolution of online identity and the power shift in data dynamics 15’30: Digital identity and data monopolies: Exploring the tension between privacy and community in the evolution from Web2 to Web3 21’04: Building Animoca Brands: Yat Siu on his journey from a mobile gaming pioneer to championing user empowerment in the digital world 27’37: Collaborative creation: The genesis of CryptoKitties and the emergence of Dapper Labs from the early days of NFT gaming 31’02: Gaming as a platform: The evolution of gaming experiences and the rise of interoperability in the digital asset ecosystem 37’48: Digital economy's growth: The transition from virtual goods in gaming to a democratic, capitalist Metaverse 40’48: Exploring digital economies: The intersection of Web3 adoption and gaming, and the evolution of user engagement 49’22: The channels used to connect with Yat & learn more about Animoca Disclaimer here — this newsletter does not provide investment advice and represents solely the views and opinions of FINTECH BLUEPRINT LTD.Contributors: Lex, Laurence, Matt, Farhad, Mike, DaniellaWant to discuss? Stop by our Discord and reach out here with questions.

Lex chats with Ed Maslaveckas, the founder and CEO of Bud, a FinTech company focused on data aggregation and artificial intelligence in financial services. They discuss the evolution of Bud's business model, the atmosphere of the FinTech industry in the UK, the challenges of data enrichment and customer insight, and the potential of AI agents and generative AI in transforming financial products. Maslaveckas highlights the value of accurate transaction data in reducing call center costs, improving lending decisions, and enabling personalized marketing. He also emphasizes the importance of automation and co-piloting in enhancing the customer experience and increasing efficiency in financial organizations. MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION Bud's Website: https://bit.ly/3TjBWueEd's LinkedIn profile: https://bit.ly/3TaEsTE Topics: Fintech, open banking, embedded banking, banking, API, GenAI, AI, generative ai, artificial intelligence, data aggregation Companies: Bud, Bud Financial, Plaid, Salesforce, Yodlee, mint.com ABOUT THE FINTECH BLUEPRINT 🔥Subscribe to the Fintech Blueprint newsletter to stay at the forefront of Fintech and DeFi: https://bit.ly/3hyhlC2 🤝 Partner with Fintech Blueprint through sponsorships: https://bit.ly/3UZllsV 👉 Twitter: https://twitter.com/LexSokolin TIMESTAMPS 1’18: Evolution of Ed’s fintech career: The journey from tech enthusiast to influencing the UK's vibrant financial technology scene 6’32: From consumer app to B2B platform: Bud's evolution amidst the neobank wave and the challenges of data integration in fintech 14’14: Decoding customer insights in fintech: Mastering data enrichment and unlocking personalized financial solutions 20’58: Unlocking transaction data's potential: How advanced AI is transforming financial institutions' approach to customer insights 23’19: Transforming financial services with AI: Bud's role in enhancing banks' transaction analysis and customer engagement strategies 30’57: AI and financial well-being: Navigating the balance between automation and user comfort in personal finance apps 37’01: Redefining workflows in banking: The integration of AI agents for enhanced enterprise efficiency and customer engagement 41’59: Shaping the future of fintech: How generative AI and advanced data capabilities are transforming financial services 45’37: The channels used to connect with Ed & learn more about Bud Disclaimer here — this newsletter does not provide investment advice and represents solely the views and opinions of FINTECH BLUEPRINT LTD.Contributors: Lex, Laurence, Matt, Farhad, Mike, DaniellaWant to discuss? Stop by our Discord and reach out here with questions.

Lex chats with Dan Finlay, co-founder of MetaMask, and Dean Tribble, CEO of Agoric, about the future of wallet strategy and the underlying technological changes in the Web3 space. They discuss the growth and usage of MetaMask, the philosophy behind its development, and the core dimensions in which they have tried to grow the wallet. They also talk about the concept of "Snaps," which allows developers to extend the functionality of MetaMask using JavaScript. The conversation touches on the potential of interconnecting different blockchains and the importance of user consent and security in the Web3 ecosystem. They also discuss the role of AI in wallets and the potential for users to have their own trusted AI companions. Overall, the discussion highlights the importance of building a more seamless and secure infrastructure in Web3 and the potential for innovation and integration in the space. MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION Agoric's Website: https://bit.ly/3GnHcFoMetaMask's Website: https://bit.ly/3T1vGqYDean's LinkedIn profile: https://bit.ly/3Rptf03Dan's LinkedIn profile: https://bit.ly/3RoPpjb Topics: Web3, wallet, blockchain, interoperability, AI, smart contracts Companies: MetaMask, Agoric, Snaps, Cosmos, JavaScript, Secret Network ABOUT THE FINTECH BLUEPRINT 🔥Subscribe to the Fintech Blueprint newsletter to stay at the forefront of Fintech and DeFi: https://bit.ly/3hyhlC2 🤝 Partner with Fintech Blueprint through sponsorships: https://bit.ly/3UZllsV 👉 Twitter: https://twitter.com/LexSokolin TIMESTAMPS 1’46: Web3's evolution and challenges: A conversation with Daniel Finlay on MetaMask's progress and future 6’52: Exploring Web3's potential: The role of MetaMask’s developer focus, safety, and the innovative Snaps platform in shaping the future 11’20: Revolutionizing wallets and Web3: Breaking down the role of JavaScript and secure confinement in enhancing user experience and innovation 17’32: Expanding Web3 development: How JavaScript and lightweight sandboxing in MetaMask unlock new possibilities for developers 19’52: Enhancing Web3 security and usability: The role of hardened JavaScript in simplifying and securing the development process 24’00: Expanding developer horizons in Web3: Understanding the impact of Snaps in MetaMask for creating diverse and innovative applications 28’20: Unifying Web3 ecosystems: How MetaMask and Agoric facilitate seamless integration and cross-chain functionality for developers and users 37’12: Crafting the future of Web3 interfaces: How MetaMask, Snaps and Agoric are paving the way for advanced cross-chain connectivity and AI integration Disclaimer here — this newsletter does not provide investment advice and represents solely the views and opinions of FINTECH BLUEPRINT LTD.Contributors: Lex, Laurence, Matt, Farhad, Mike, DaniellaWant to discuss? Stop by our Discord and reach out here with questions.

Lex chats with Christopher Pallotta - founder and CEO of Templum, a company focused on alternative investments and private markets. Pallotta discusses his background in technology and investing, as well as the journey of Templum and its transformation into becoming the operating system for private markets and alternative assets. He explains how Templum's technology, broker-dealer and alternative trading system (ATS) capabilities enable the trading of regulated private securities in a compliant manner. Pallotta also discusses the growing demand for alternative assets and the role of liquidity in driving adoption. He highlights the potential for alternative assets to outperform traditional markets and the need for liquidity mechanisms in the alternative asset space. Finally, Pallotta shares his vision for the future, where alternative assets become more accessible and investing in them becomes as ubiquitous as investing in public equities. MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION Templum's Website: https://bit.ly/3GfLr63Christopher's LinkedIn profile: https://bit.ly/47O2sjy Topics: fintech, hedge fund, REIT, ETF, finance, real world assets, RWA, tokenization, alternative assets Companies: Templum, Raptor Group, Eniac, 8VC, New York Stock Exchange, NASDAQ ABOUT THE FINTECH BLUEPRINT 🔥Subscribe to the Fintech Blueprint newsletter to stay at the forefront of Fintech and DeFi: https://bit.ly/3hyhlC2 🤝 Partner with Fintech Blueprint through sponsorships: https://bit.ly/3UZllsV 👉 Twitter: https://twitter.com/LexSokolin TIMESTAMPS 1’22: From business school to blockchain: A journey into tech and investment 6’12: The liquidity journey: Navigating markets from illiquid to fractionalized assets 8’47: Templum today: Powering alternative asset markets and beyond 12’13: Demystifying infrastructure: Public equities vs. alternative asset markets 14’57: Revolutionizing private asset markets: Templum's Shopify-inspired solution 17’12: Unifying the world of alternative assets: Templum's central operating system 20’03: Unlocking demand: The shift towards alternative assets in investment portfolios 22’18: Democratizing investment: The rise of alternative assets in retail portfolios 26’18: The expanding alt-finTech ecosystem: Templum's position in liquidity and access 28’39: Unlocking liquidity: The market implications of tradable alternative assets 31’16: The evolution of portfolio composition: A future with 60% alternatives and 40% ETFs? 33’10: The future of real-world asset tokenization: Trends, insights, opportunities, and challenges 37’50”: The channels used to connect with Chris & learn more about Templum Disclaimer here — this newsletter does not provide investment advice and represents solely the views and opinions of FINTECH BLUEPRINT LTD.Contributors: Lex, Laurence, Matt, Farhad, Mike, DaniellaWant to discuss? Stop by our Discord and reach out here with questions.

Lex chats with Eva Shang, CEO of Legalist - a technology-powered investment firm specialising in alternative assets. Shang discusses her company's strategies in litigation finance, bankruptcy, and government receivables. She explains that Legalist uses technology and data analysis to identify investment opportunities in the legal space. Shang also discusses the challenges and complexities of underwriting litigation cases and the importance of human judgment in the process. She highlights the need for uncorrelated sources of return in the investment landscape and the potential for technology to transform other asset classes. Shang also expresses caution about retail investors entering alternative investment spaces without proper knowledge and understanding of the risks involved. MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION Legalist's Website: https://bit.ly/46masHpEva's LinkedIn profile: https://bit.ly/49GENmD Topics: fintech, hedge fund, litigation finance, asset management, alternative investments, AI, artificial intelligence, underwriting, investment Companies: Legalist, Y-Combinator, LexisNexis ABOUT THE FINTECH BLUEPRINT 🔥Subscribe to the Fintech Blueprint newsletter to stay at the forefront of Fintech and DeFi: https://bit.ly/3hyhlC2 🤝 Partner with Fintech Blueprint through sponsorships: https://bit.ly/3UZllsV 👉 Twitter: https://twitter.com/LexSokolin TIMESTAMPS 1’23”: Overview of Legalist's Asset Management Strategies 2’31”: Litigation Finance: Core Strategy and Operation 6’20”: Integration of Data Analysis and Technology in Litigation Finance 9’37”: Early Development of Legalist’s Technology at Y-Combinator 14’59”: Transition from Legal Analytics to Litigation Finance 18’22”: Investment Process and Decision Making in Legalist 24’33”: Challenges and Innovations in Data-Driven Litigation Funding 27’24”: Growth and Expansion of Legalist Since 2019 31’51”: The Future of Alternative Investments and Legalist's Role 35’09”: The channels used to connect with Eva & learn more about Legalist Disclaimer here — this newsletter does not provide investment advice and represents solely the views and opinions of FINTECH BLUEPRINT LTD.Contributors: Lex, Laurence, Matt, Farhad, Mike, DaniellaWant to discuss? Stop by our Discord and reach out here with questions.

Lex chats with Guy Young - the CEO and Founder of Ethena Labs, the crypto infrastructure company building USDe which is the first-ever scalable stablecoin not reliant on existing banking institutions alongside a permissionless 'internet bond'. They discuss Ethena, a new protocol for the synthetic dollar, and the market dynamics around Ethereum and the concept of the internet bond. Young explains his background in distressed investing and the risks and mistakes commonly seen in financial services. They also delve into the mechanics of the perpetuals market and the funding rates, as well as the scalability and risks associated with Ethena. Young highlights the potential for the synthetic dollar to replace bonds in traditional bank accounts and the value of a crypto-native solution with different risk profiles. MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION Ethena's Website: https://bit.ly/3MDR1TdGuy's LinkedIn profile: https://bit.ly/46gDDM4 Topics: crypto, blockchain, defi, ethereum, perpetual swaps, stablecoin, synthetic dollar, steth, usde Companies: Ethena Labs, Ethena, Cerberus, BitGet, Binance, ByBit ABOUT THE FINTECH BLUEPRINT 🔥Subscribe to the Fintech Blueprint newsletter to stay at the forefront of Fintech and DeFi: https://bit.ly/3hyhlC2 🤝 Partner with Fintech Blueprint through sponsorships: https://bit.ly/3UZllsV 👉 Twitter: https://twitter.com/LexSokolin TIMESTAMPS 1’20”: Strategic Investments: Distressed Assets and Value Opportunities in Financial Services 4’19”: Analyzing Collapse: The Underlying Mistakes Leading to Financial Institution Failures 6’22”: Market Missteps and Innovation: The Human Element in Financial Risks and the Allure of Crypto Markets 9’37”: Decoding Value and Innovation: The Dynamics of Ethereum Economics and the Future of DeFi Tokens 16’40”: Balancing Returns and Risks: Understanding Ethereum's Capital Market Structure and the Role of Perpetual Swaps 21’47”: Synthetic Leverage in Crypto Markets: Analyzing the Persistent Tilt in Funding Rates and the $30 Trillion Perpetuals Phenomenon 25’26”: Strategic Hedging with ETH: Understanding the Perpetual Market Mechanics and Identifying the Risks 28’30”: Exchange Relations and Risk Mitigation: Balancing Volume and Counterparty Exposure in Perpetual Markets 31’42”: Impact of Scale on Ether: Assessing the Price Dynamics of Synthetic Assets and Their Influence on the Underlying Market 36’23”: Exploring Synthetic Stability: The Mechanics of Crypto-Native Dollars and the Potential for Traditional Market Integration 40’50”: The channels used to connect with Guy & learn more about Ethena Disclaimer here — this newsletter does not provide investment advice and represents solely the views and opinions of FINTECH BLUEPRINT LTD.Contributors: Lex, Laurence, Matt, Farhad, Mike, DaniellaWant to discuss? Stop by our Discord and reach out here with questions.

Lex chats with Sam Bobley, founder and CEO of Ocrolus - a fintech infrastructure company that powers underwriting processes for lenders like SoFi, Lending Club, and Enova. In this episode Sam starts off by sharing how he got started in entrepreneurship at a young age and the influence of his father, who was a serial entrepreneur. Bobley explains how Ocrolus focuses on document automation using OCR technology and the challenges they faced in the early days. He also discusses the evolution of machine vision and the improvements in handling semi-structured and unstructured documents. Bobley highlights the importance of vertical-specific solutions and the integration of AI technologies into financial services. He shares the company's experience during the COVID-19 pandemic and the pivot they made to focus on the Paycheck Protection Program. Bobley emphasizes the need for transparency, focusing on the big picture, and having a support system to navigate the challenges of entrepreneurship. He rounds off the episode discussing the trends he sees in the industry, including the rise of large language models and the adoption of cashflow-based underwriting. MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION Ocrolus's Website: https://bit.ly/3QHYoeNSam's LinkedIn profile: https://bit.ly/3SrC7TU Topics: artificial intelligence, ai, machine vision, OCR, LLM, machine learning, automation, fintech, embedded banking Companies: Ocrolus, Plaid, OpenAI, Google, Amazon, AWS, OnDeck ABOUT THE FINTECH BLUEPRINT 🔥Subscribe to the Fintech Blueprint newsletter to stay at the forefront of Fintech and DeFi: https://bit.ly/3hyhlC2 🤝 Partner with Fintech Blueprint through sponsorships: https://bit.ly/3UZllsV 👉 Twitter: https://twitter.com/LexSokolin TIMESTAMPS 1’22”: Early entrepreneurial insights: Money's role Sam’s upbringing and fintech's influence 5’15”: The dawn of image recognition: Founding a company on the cusp of AI advancements 12’23”: Building the ideal product: The journey to a four-hour turnaround time 19’48”: The evolution of machine vision: From early days to cutting-edge capabilities 26’34”: Enhancing the developer experience: A deep dive into integration and seamless interactions 34’02”: Navigating the journey of building Ocrolus: Inflection points, growth, and challenges 38’48”: Staying resilient through business challenges: Advice for entrepreneurs from a seasoned founder 40’28”: Maintaining leadership resilience: Strategies for navigating the roller coaster of entrepreneurship 44’42”: Future trends in AI and embedded finance: Insights from a tech entrepreneur 46’21”: The channels used to connect with Sam & learn more about Ocrolus Disclaimer here — this newsletter does not provide investment advice and represents solely the views and opinions of FINTECH BLUEPRINT LTD.Contributors: Lex, Laurence, Matt, Farhad, Mike, DaniellaWant to discuss? Stop by our Discord and reach out here with questions.

Lex chats with Matt Bivons, the founder and CEO of Canopy, a modern digital lending company. Bivons discusses his background in fintech and his journey from being a product designer to starting his own company. He explains the importance of designing products for others and how he identified a gap in the market for a lending infrastructure solution. Bivons also talks about the evolution of the digital lending sector and the role of infrastructure companies in enabling fintech innovation. He shares his vision for the future of Canopy and the opportunities in the commercial lending space. MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION Canopy's Website: https://bit.ly/3Fwvg3YMatt's LinkedIn profile: https://bit.ly/3QyIu6x Topics: fintech, lending, API, Paas, credit, loan servicing, digital lending Companies: Canopy, Earnest, GreenSky, Stripe, Kabbage, YC ABOUT THE FINTECH BLUEPRINT 🔥Subscribe to the Fintech Blueprint newsletter to stay at the forefront of Fintech and DeFi: https://bit.ly/3hyhlC2 🤝 Partner with Fintech Blueprint through sponsorships: https://bit.ly/3UZllsV 👉 Twitter: https://twitter.com/LexSokolin TIMESTAMPS 1’37”: From self-design to universal solutions: A founder's journey 7’01”: Fostering empathy in product design: Balancing personal and market problems 10’25”: Marketing strategies & cost of acquisition in fintech: Insights from Earnest and GreenSky 17’45”: Expanding horizons: Gaining experience and expertise at GreenSky 22’24”: From insight to action: Building Canopy from scratch 25’58”: Navigating the go-to-market challenge: Insights from Canopy's founding journey 31’25”: Canopy's current landscape: Scale, competencies, and customer base 34’20”: Shaping the future of digital lending: Market evolution and exciting prospects 40’02”: The channels used to connect with Matt & learn more about Canopy Disclaimer here — this newsletter does not provide investment advice and represents solely the views and opinions of FINTECH BLUEPRINT LTD.Contributors: Lex, Laurence, Matt, Farhad, Mike, DaniellaWant to discuss? Stop by our Discord and reach out here with questions.

Lex chats with Nassim Eddequiouaq and Riyaz Faizullabhoy - Co-Founders of Bastion - a transaction and Web 3 orchestration company that aims to provide infrastructure for businesses to build user-friendly experiences on top of blockchain technology. The founders, Nas and Riyaz, have a background in security and have worked together for several years at companies like Docker, Anchorage, and Facebook. They believe that custodial wallets offer the best user experience and are focused on building a platform that allows businesses to issue wallets seamlessly to their users. Bastion also offers a smart transaction routing system that optimizes transactions and reduces costs. Both Nas and Riyaz see custodial services as a starting point for users, with the goal of eventually allowing them to graduate to self-custody. They emphasize the importance of security, compliance, and user experience in their platform. MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION Bastion's Website: https://bit.ly/3M8B6wbNassim's LinkedIn profile: https://bit.ly/46UYe9gRiyaz's LinkedIn profile: https://bit.ly/3M5UGJi Topics: crypto, payments, custody, Web3, Web2, cybersecurity, decentralization, wallets, user experience, security Companies: Bastion, Libra, Meta, Andreessen Horowitz, a16z, Docker, Anchorage Digital, Facebook ABOUT THE FINTECH BLUEPRINT 🔥Subscribe to the Fintech Blueprint newsletter to stay at the forefront of Fintech and DeFi: https://bit.ly/3hyhlC2 🤝 Partner with Fintech Blueprint through sponsorships: https://bit.ly/3UZllsV 👉 Twitter: https://twitter.com/LexSokolin TIMESTAMPS 1’13”: From digital security to working on Facebook’s Libra project: The journey of Riyaz and Nas 7’09”: The Rationality of Digital Adversaries: A Look at Cybersecurity Challenges 9’45”: The Convergence of Decentralization and Corporate Ambitions: A Deep Dive into the Libra Project 16’52”: From Operator to Investor: Navigating the Crypto Space at Andreessen Horowitz 21’50”: Unlocking Crypto Security: The Mission of Bastion and its Innovative Approach 27’48”: Empowering Developers: How Bastion Fits into the Crypto Infrastructure Ecosystem 32’40”: Simplifying User Interactions: The Role of Bastion in Crypto Transactions and custody 38’51”: Data and the Future: Navigating the Possibilities of Web 3 Custodianship 41’02”: The channels used to connect with Riyaz and Nas & learn more about Bastion Disclaimer here — this newsletter does not provide investment advice and represents solely the views and opinions of FINTECH BLUEPRINT LTD.Contributors: Lex, Laurence, Matt, Farhad, Mike, DaniellaWant to discuss? Stop by our Discord and reach out here with questions.

Lex chats with Adam Felesky, CEO and co-founder of Portage - an investment firm focused on fintech and financial services. Felesky discusses his background in finance and tech, his experience as an entrepreneur, and the investment opportunities he sees in the fintech sector. He emphasizes the importance of understanding the nuances of different verticals within fintech and the potential for incumbent transformation in the industry. Felesky also discusses the current market environment for fintech investments and the challenges and opportunities it presents. He suggests that M&A activity and buyouts may play a role in the recovery of the fintech market and advises investors to be prepared for companies to stay private longer. MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION Portage's Website: https://bit.ly/3ttPRmOAdam's LinkedIn profile: https://bit.ly/3Fi0ThE Topics: investment, investment management, fintech, M&A, ETFs, venture capital, vc, private equity, roboadvisor, AI Companies: Portage, Wealthsimple, Alan, Betterment, Wealthfront ABOUT THE FINTECH BLUEPRINT 🔥Subscribe to the Fintech Blueprint newsletter to stay at the forefront of Fintech and DeFi: https://bit.ly/3hyhlC2 🤝 Partner with Fintech Blueprint through sponsorships: https://bit.ly/3UZllsV 👉 Twitter: https://twitter.com/LexSokolin TIMESTAMPS 1’21”: From early passion to industry pioneer: The journey of ETF entrepreneurship in 2005 8’29”: The intersection of asset allocation and individual investments: Navigating two worlds in wealth management 11’41”: Exploring the robot-driven dynamics of fund complexes, trading firms, and quant hedge funds 18’25”: Unpacking the Wealthsimple investment: From founding to differentiation in the digital investing wave 21’04”: Navigating investment stages: Assessing startups from seed to series A 27’33”: Valuation challenges in fintech: The blurred traction and market trends 30’02”: From entrepreneur to investor: Mastering the art of saying no 32’59”: Fintech's future: Portage Ventures' promising themes and market structure insights 37’53”: Assessing risk and the credit cycle: A conversation on market perspectives 41’12”: Unlocking growth potential: Strategies for overcoming valuation challenges in fintech 44’59”: The channels used to connect with Adam & learn more about Portage Disclaimer here — this newsletter does not provide investment advice and represents solely the views and opinions of FINTECH BLUEPRINT LTD.Contributors: Lex, Laurence, Matt, Farhad, Mike, DaniellaWant to discuss? Stop by our Discord and reach out here with questions.

Lex chats with Chandini Jain, founder and CEO of artificial intelligence company Auquan. Together, Lex and Chandini discuss the use of AI in financial services. Jain explains that AI can help optimize information flow and improve decision-making by efficiently processing and analyzing large amounts of data. Jain highlights the importance of accuracy in AI models, particularly in the financial industry where incorrect information can have significant consequences. She introduces the concept of retrieval augmented generation (RAG) AI, which combines retrieval systems and generative models to provide accurate and credible answers to user queries. Jain also mentions that Auquan has published a white paper on RAG AI and offers a LinkedIn newsletter with frequently updated data points. MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION Auquan's Website: https://bit.ly/46j7GU2Chandini's LinkedIn profile: https://bit.ly/3PHDj2x Topics: artificial intelligence, AI, generative AI, capital markets, fintech, deep learning, LLM, Natural language models Companies: Auquan, Optiver, Apple, Meta, ChatGPT, RAG AI, Andreessen Horowitz, A16z ABOUT THE FINTECH BLUEPRINT 🔥Subscribe to the Fintech Blueprint newsletter to stay at the forefront of Fintech and DeFi: https://bit.ly/3hyhlC2 🤝 Partner with Fintech Blueprint through sponsorships: https://bit.ly/3UZllsV 👉 Twitter: https://twitter.com/LexSokolin TIMESTAMPS 1’22”: Navigating Flying High: From Career Beginnings to Tackling Complex Problems 6’49”: Exploring Capital Markets: Finding Alpha and Transitioning to Entrepreneurship 15’20”: Building an Investment Solution: From Concept to Market-Ready Product 21’55”: Unlocking Private Equity Deal Insights: How to Leverage Auquan’s AI Services 26’37”: Demystifying AI in Financial Services: Core Trends and Model Insights 35’09”: Unlocking the Semantic Cosmos: AI Breakthroughs and Evolution in Knowledge Representation 41’24”: AI in Financial Services: Navigating the Bayesian Landscape of Probability and Accuracy 45’03”: The channels used to connect with Chandini & learn more about Auquan Disclaimer here — this newsletter does not provide investment advice and represents solely the views and opinions of FINTECH BLUEPRINT LTD.Contributors: Lex, Laurence, Matt, Farhad, Mike, DaniellaWant to discuss? Stop by our Discord and reach out here with questions.

Lex chats with Arik Shtilman, CEO of Rapyd - a leading fintech-as-a-service platform. In this episode, Shtilman discusses his background in technology and financial services, as well as the journey of building Rapyd into a leading payment company. He talks about the challenges of starting a consumer payment company and the pivot to becoming a fintech-as-a-service platform. Shtilman explains the importance of building a global business and the need for a platform that enables companies to build financial services at scale. He also discusses the growth of different products within Rapyd, such as the wallet and payment collection capabilities, and the importance of serving marketplace structures. Shtilman shares insights on failure modes in fintech, including the challenges of onboarding SMB clients and the complexities of high-velocity payment processing in the cloud. He also discusses the impact of COVID-19 on the fintech sector and the outlook for financial recovery. Finally, Shtilman highlights the increasing role of developers in the buying process and the importance of building relationships with developers through developer communities and tailored documentation. MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION Rapyd's Website: https://bit.ly/3EVv0eiArik's LinkedIn profile: https://bit.ly/45efpBg Topics: fintech, fintech-as-a-service, payments, VOIP, Cloud, API, embedded banking Companies: Rapyd, PayPal, Brex, RobinHood, Stripe ABOUT THE FINTECH BLUEPRINT 🔥Subscribe to the Fintech Blueprint newsletter to stay at the forefront of Fintech and DeFi: https://bit.ly/3hyhlC2 🤝 Partner with Fintech Blueprint through sponsorships: https://bit.ly/3UZllsV 👉 Twitter: https://twitter.com/LexSokolin TIMESTAMPS 1’22”: Navigating the early career: Entering technology and financial services 5’03”: Global business expansion: Strategies and expanding geographical reach, touching on Rapyd 8’33”: Evaluating opportunities: The quest for the ideal fintech platform 10’41”: Identifying the gap: Exploring unmet needs in the fintech platform landscape 15’52”: Landing marquee clients: The go-to-market journey of a fintech platform 19’12”: Driving growth: Exploring fintech product expansion and the mechanics of cross-border payments 25’02”: Beyond borders: Navigating the payments landscape and the global e-money licensing surge 28’46”: Investing in marketplace structures: Admired companies, lessons learned, and avoiding fintech failure modes 34’44”: COVID acceleration and financial recovery in fintech: Navigating strategic direction errors and shifting landscapes 38’42”: Empowering developers: Rapyd's role in the shift from financiers to developers 41’25”: The channels used to connect with Arik & learn more about Rapyd Disclaimer here — this newsletter does not provide investment advice and represents solely the views and opinions of FINTECH BLUEPRINT LTD.Contributors: Lex, Laurence, Matt, Farhad, Mike, DaniellaWant to discuss? Stop by our Discord and reach out here with questions.

Lex chats with Cynthia Kleinbaum Milner, CMO at MoneyLion - a mobile banking and financial membership platform that integrates spending, saving, borrowing, and investing tools to empower consumers towards better financial wellness. Kincking off the conversation, Cynthia delves into the intricacies of charting a career in the ever-evolving landscape of digital transformation, sharing her transition from brand marketing to holistic marketing. As they navigate through industry insights, Cynthia provides a closer look at the challenges and strategies of targeting different sectors and personas, as well as marketing at scale across various business verticals. A significant portion of the discussion revolves around MoneyLion's journey. Cynthia charts the evolution of the platform, highlighting its transformation from its early days to a renowned digital banking platform, underscoring its core value proposition. This leads to an insightful conversation on the growth, valuation, and shifting fintech market trends that have shaped MoneyLion's trajectory. Cynthia goes on to detail the importance of financial literacy within the app, focusing on content evolution and user value. She further discusses the nuances of content discovery, the company's revenue model, and the balance between engagement and profitability. Navigating the tricky waters of financial influencers, Cynthia stresses the importance of balancing content quality with regulatory compliance. The podcast culminates with a forward-looking view, as Cynthia sheds light on MoneyLion's strategic priorities in the upcoming years. MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION MoneyLion's Website: https://bit.ly/45YHQVlCynthia's LinkedIn profile: https://bit.ly/460jn1S Topics: Fintech, marketing, brand, e-commerce, customer lifecycle, embedded finance, brand, Marketplace Companies: MoneyLion, Walmart, Bonobos, Nestle, Gilt Groupe, Even Financial, Malka, ZenDrive ABOUT THE FINTECH BLUEPRINT 🔥Subscribe to the Fintech Blueprint newsletter to stay at the forefront of Fintech and DeFi: https://bit.ly/3hyhlC2 🤝 Partner with Fintech Blueprint through sponsorships: https://bit.ly/3UZllsV 👉 Twitter: https://twitter.com/LexSokolin TIMESTAMPS 1’16”: Charting a Career Journey: From Brand Marketing to Digital Transformation 8’49”: Industry Insights: Navigating Diverse Sectors and Targeting Personas 13’47”: Marketing at Scale: Strategies for Diverse Business Verticals 17’00”: The Evolution of MoneyLion: From Inception to Digital Banking, touching on its core value proposition 25’09”: The Unfolding Story of MoneyLion: Deciphering the Growth and Valuation journey Amidst evolving Fintech Market Trends 28’14”: Financial Literacy Engagement in the App: Content, Evolution, and User Value 31’30”: Content Discovery and Revenue Mix: Driving Engagement and the Core Economic Model 35’12”: Financial Influencers and Regulatory Considerations: Balancing Content Quality and Compliance 40’09”: The Future of MoneyLion: Company's Strategic Focus in the Coming Years 41’30”: The channels used to connect with Cynthia & learn more about MoneyLion Disclaimer here — this newsletter does not provide investment advice and represents solely the views and opinions of FINTECH BLUEPRINT LTD.Contributors: Lex, Laurence, Matt, Farhad, Mike, DaniellaWant to discuss? Stop by our Discord and reach out here with questions.

Lex chats with Pete Townsend, Managing Director of the Techstars Web3 Accelerator - one of the largest pre-seed investors and accelerator programs in the world. Pete kicks off the conversation by sharing his career journey, from early experiences in finance to the present, highlighting the evolution of finance, where technologists have emerged as key wealth creators. Their discussion covers successful go-to-market strategies in the blockchain industry and reevaluates these strategies in fintech over the past decade. They delve into aligning employee incentives with digital transformation in traditional financial enterprises before transitioning to Pete's role at Techstars, where startups are accelerated and innovation thrives. The conversation concludes with reflections on the ever-evolving Web3 landscape, considering market lessons and shifting trends. Pete also explores positioning for the future amid consumer discretionary spending and the selection of startups within the accelerator. MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION Techstars' Website: https://bit.ly/3EHx4qnPete's LinkedIn profile: https://bit.ly/3sSuV8B Topics: Web3, investment banking, finance, Web3, crypto, Blockchain, tokenomics, VC, accelerator, incubator, VR, Metaverse Companies: Techstars, Fidelity, 11:FS, BNP Paribas, Norio Ventures, ALT21, Meta ABOUT THE FINTECH BLUEPRINT 🔥Subscribe to the Fintech Blueprint newsletter to stay at the forefront of Fintech and DeFi: https://bit.ly/3hyhlC2 🤝 Partner with Fintech Blueprint through sponsorships: https://bit.ly/3UZllsV 👉 Twitter: https://twitter.com/LexSokolin TIMESTAMPS 1’47”: Building a Career: Foundational Experiences and Early Jobs 8’50”: Evolution of Finance: From Machinery to Technologists as Wealth Creators 15’59”: Cracking the Code: Successful Go-to-Market Strategies in the Blockchain Industry 24’19”: Reevaluating the Go-to-Market Strategy in the Fintech Industry: Lessons from the Past Decade 30’34”: Incentivizing Innovation: Aligning Employee Motivation with Digital Transformation in Financial Enterprises 32’42”: Venturing into Techstars: Accelerating Startups and Nurturing Innovation 40’05”: Reassessing Web3: Learning from Market Performance and Shifting Trends 45’28”: Positioning for the Future: Navigating Consumer Discretionary Spending and Startup Selection in the Accelerator 51’46”: The channels used to connect with Pete & learn more about Techstars Disclaimer here — this newsletter does not provide investment advice and represents solely the views and opinions of FINTECH BLUEPRINT LTD.Contributors: Lex, Laurence, Matt, Farhad, Mike, DaniellaWant to discuss? Stop by our Discord and reach out here with questions.

Lex chats with Caitlin Long, CEO of Custodia Bank (formerly Avanti Financial Group) - a Wyoming payment system provider and a custodian of digital assets required to fully comply with Know Your Customer, Anti-Money Laundering, and related laws and regulations. Together they delve into the fascinating world of fintech, US banking history, and the evolution of banking and payment networks. Starting with Caitlin's early experiences in finance and the unique dynamics of the US banking industry, they explore the controversies and historical context surrounding the US Central Bank. They touch upon centralization in banking, the unintended consequences of regulatory compliance, and how technology trends have shaped the industry. The conversation then shifts to the founding principles of Custodia Bank and its mission. Caitlin also discusses the evolving role of card networks in payment rail integration and how Custodia Bank fits into the open macro economy, emphasizing client focus and ecosystem integration. This podcast provides valuable insights into the past, present, and future of the US financial industry. MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION Custodia Bank's Website: https://bit.ly/3Z6ZALrCaitlin's LinkedIn profile: https://bit.ly/44KwXVD Topics: Bitcoin, crypto, blockchain, finance, banking, Wyoming, macroeconomics, treasury management, fintech, monetary policy Companies: Custodia Bank, The Fed, Salomon Brothers, FTX ABOUT THE FINTECH BLUEPRINT 🔥Subscribe to the Fintech Blueprint newsletter to stay at the forefront of Fintech and DeFi: https://bit.ly/3hyhlC2 🤝 Partner with Fintech Blueprint through sponsorships: https://bit.ly/3UZllsV 👉 Twitter: https://twitter.com/LexSokolin TIMESTAMPS 1’25”: Early lessons in finance: A journey into financial services and understanding industry stressors 5’05”: Unraveling the uniqueness of the US banking industry: A historical perspective and future trends 10’38”: A glimpse into the history of the US Central Bank: Controversies and evolution 22’25”: Centralization in banking: Unintended consequences of regulatory compliance and technology trends 30’38”: The inception of Custodia: Mission and ideation 36’02”: Heralding a new era: Card networks' evolution in payment rail integration 41’10”: Custodia's role in the open macro economy: Client focus and ecosystem integration 47’13”: The channels used to connect with Caitlin & learn more about Custodia Bank Disclaimer here — this newsletter does not provide investment advice and represents solely the views and opinions of FINTECH BLUEPRINT LTD.Contributors: Lex, Laurence, Matt, Farhad, Mike, DaniellaWant to discuss? Stop by our Discord and reach out here with questions.

Lex chats with Farouk Ferchichi, the President of Data and Analytics at Envestnet - supplies financial and wealth management technology and services to financial institutions. Farouk starts off by delving into the journey of understanding data and analytics. The conversation explores the challenges and dynamics of embracing quantitative decision-making across industries, emphasizing the transformative power of Yodlee in financial data aggregation. Farouk explains how Yodlee's scope has evolved from Personal Financial Management (PFM) to encompassing brokerage, spending, and credit data. Lex and Farouk also discuss the diversification of distribution by integrating payments and banking data beyond the advisory experience. Farouk provides valuable insights into navigating fintech market dynamics, striking a balance between payment trends and asset-based stories. The discussion culminates in a vision for revolutionizing financial identity through unifying data and enabling personalized decisions with AI. MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION Envestnet's Website: https://bit.ly/3r03h95Yodlee's Website: https://bit.ly/45ucdT8Farouk's LinkedIn profile: https://bit.ly/3L75W7A Topics: Data, analytics, AI, embedded finance, aggregation, machine learning, AI, deep learning, neural networks, PFM, Wealth management Companies: Envestnet, Yodlee, Amazon ABOUT THE FINTECH BLUEPRINT 🔥Subscribe to the Fintech Blueprint newsletter to stay at the forefront of Fintech and DeFi: https://bit.ly/3hyhlC2 🤝 Partner with Fintech Blueprint through sponsorships: https://bit.ly/3UZllsV 👉 Twitter: https://twitter.com/LexSokolin TIMESTAMPS 1’40”: Journey to understanding data and analytics: Definitional experiences and core insights 10’12”: Embracing quantitative decision-making: Challenges and dynamics across industries 15’15”: The power of Yodlee: Evolution and impact in financial data aggregation 23’16”: Expanding Yodlee’s scope: Evolution from PFM to aggregating brokerage, spending, and credit data 26’12”: Diversifying distribution: Integrating payments and banking data beyond the advisory experience 27’54”: Navigating fintech market dynamics: Balancing payment trends and asset-based stories34’23”: Revolutionizing financial identity: Unifying data and enabling Personalized decisions with AI 36’36”: The channels used to connect with Farouk & learn more about Envestnet and Yodlee Disclaimer here — this newsletter does not provide investment advice and represents solely the views and opinions of FINTECH BLUEPRINT LTD.Contributors: Lex, Laurence, Matt, Farhad, Mike, DaniellaWant to discuss? Stop by our Discord and reach out here with questions.

Lex chats with Aman Behzad, Managing Partner of Royal Park Partners - A group of Corporate Finance advisors focused on Fintech. Amas kicks off the conversation talking about his early experiences in banking and his strategic focus on financial institutions, the discussion covers the dynamics of investment banking, the success vectors in fintech at Financial Technology Partners and Royal Park Partners, and the ongoing innovations shaping capital markets. Together, they analyze fintech's performance, addressing its volatility, beta, and unique factors. The conversation shifts to the changing landscape of valuation dynamics in fintech, transitioning from rapid blitzscaling to a more rational approach in multiples. The discussion concludes by unraveling exit strategies, encompassing M&A, IPOs, and the intricate world of SPACs, highlighting their dynamics, performance, and underlying influencing factors. This podcast offers a condensed exploration of the multifaceted fintech realm through Aman Behzad's expertise. MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION Royal Park Partner's Website: https://bit.ly/3svb5A7Aman's LinkedIn profile: https://bit.ly/45n80Rd Topics: fintech, corporate advisory, crypto, SPAC, IPO, Investment banking, capital markets, M&A, venture capital, private equity Companies: Royal Park Partners, Marco Polo Partners ABOUT THE FINTECH BLUEPRINT 🔥Subscribe to the Fintech Blueprint newsletter to stay at the forefront of Fintech and DeFi: https://bit.ly/3hyhlC2 🤝 Partner with Fintech Blueprint through sponsorships: https://bit.ly/3UZllsV 👉 Twitter: https://twitter.com/LexSokolin TIMESTAMPS 1’19”: Exploring the banking journey: Early experiences and focus on financial institutions 4’11”: Deconstructing investment banking: Balance of financial analysis, strategy, and sales 6’09”: Fintech investment banking: Success vectors at Financial Technology Partners and Founding Royal Park 11’35”: Reimagining Fintech: The Evolution of Capital Markets and Ongoing Innovations 18’39”: Analyzing Fintech's Performance: Volatility, Beta, and Idiosyncratic Factors 23’25”: Shifting Valuation Dynamics: From Blitzscaling to Rationality in Fintech Multiples 28’58”: Navigating Exit Strategies: M&A, IPOs, and SPACs in Fintech 34’41”: Unraveling the SPAC Market: Dynamics, Performance, and Factors Influencing Value 37’09”: The channels used to connect with Aman & learn more about Royal Park Partners Disclaimer here — this newsletter does not provide investment advice and represents solely the views and opinions of FINTECH BLUEPRINT LTD.Contributors: Lex, Laurence, Matt, Farhad, Mike, DaniellaWant to discuss? Stop by our Discord and reach out here with questions.

Lex chats with Paolo Ardoino, CTO of Bitfinex (one of the largest crypto exchanges) and Tether (a US-dollar pegged stablecoin). Paolo kicks off reflecting on his journey into the crypto space and the pivotal role of technology, community, and opensource in his learning. The discussion navigates through Bitcoin's diverse potentials, Bitfinex's growth, and the intricate challenges of crypto exchanges. Paolo emphasizes the importance of learning from past industry mistakes to guide future strategies. Tether's origin story is explored, shedding light on its initial architecture, on-ramp process, and strategies to manage banking counterparty risk. A significant aspect discussed is stablecoin usage dynamics, where Paolo delves into the primary customers—ranging from institutional demand to market makers and retail onboarding. The episode concludes with insights into Bitfinex and Tether's future directions. MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION Bitfinex's Website: https://bit.ly/3QFgzCoTether's Website: https://bit.ly/3ElM90NPaolo's LinkedIn profile: https://bit.ly/45zFBak Topics: crypto, web3, stablecoins, crypto exchanges, custody, banking, T-Bills Companies: BitFinex, Tether, USDT, Poloniex, Bittrex, Binance, Bitcoin, Omni Layer, Copper ABOUT THE FINTECH BLUEPRINT 🔥Subscribe to the Fintech Blueprint newsletter to stay at the forefront of Fintech and DeFi: https://bit.ly/3hyhlC2 🤝 Partner with Fintech Blueprint through sponsorships: https://bit.ly/3UZllsV 👉 Twitter: https://twitter.com/LexSokolin TIMESTAMPS 1’37”: Laying the foundation: Early experiences and technological DNA in the crypto sphere 11’35”: The motivating forces: Tech's role in building, exploration, and human progress 14’49”: Embracing Bitcoin's multifaceted potential: From asset class to economic infrastructure 18’35”: The complexity of crypto exchanges: Grasping the scale of trading activity on Bitfinex and vertically integrated challenges 26’02”: Learning from exchanges' mistakes: Industry evolution and future strategies 30’01”: Tether's inception and early architecture: Addressing volatility in crypto transactions 35’02”: Tether's on-ramp process: Early days and acquiring Tether, banking counterparty risk, and risk mitigation strategies 42’36”: Stablecoin usage dynamics: Institutional demand, market makers, and retail onboarding 46’26”: The channels used to connect with Paolo & learn more about Bitfinex and Tether Disclaimer here — this newsletter does not provide investment advice and represents solely the views and opinions of FINTECH BLUEPRINT LTD.Contributors: Lex, Laurence, Matt, Farhad, Mike, DaniellaWant to discuss? Stop by our Discord and reach out here with questions.

Lex chats with Asaf Horesh - General Partner at Vintage Investment Partners - who invest in the leading venture funds and growth-stage technology companies that are spearheading disruptive innovation. Asaf shares insights into his venture journey, highlighting core lessons in becoming a successful investor. Emphasizing the significance of people and recognizing signals of success, Asaf delves into the essence of venture investing. He unveils a key strategy flywheel that drives venture success and further examines the venture asset class, including returns, cycles, and strategic positioning. Additionally, he sheds light on identifying hidden gems in investments beyond conventional metrics. Asaf discusses the impact of industry-specific funds on venture performance and dives into the challenges and dynamics of the current venture landscape, particularly addressing issues related to valuation storms, overhang, and the evolution of the DPI metric. MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION Vintage Investment Partners' Website: https://bit.ly/444yNAqAsaf's LinkedIn profile: https://bit.ly/4456T75 Topics: Investment, Venture Capital, fintech, growth equity, private equity, crypto, Web3 Companies: VintageIP, Vintage Investment Partners, Softbank, Andreessen, iZettle, Creandum ABOUT THE FINTECH BLUEPRINT 🔥Subscribe to the Fintech Blueprint newsletter to stay at the forefront of Fintech and DeFi: https://bit.ly/3hyhlC2 🤝 Partner with Fintech Blueprint through sponsorships: https://bit.ly/3UZllsV 👉 Twitter: https://twitter.com/LexSokolin TIMESTAMPS 1’26”: Asaf’s venture journey: From early engagements to core lessons, and what makes a good investor 6’14”: The essence of venture investing: People and signals of success 12’40”: Driving venture success: A core strategy flywheel 16’17”: Understanding the venture asset class: Returns, cycles, and positioning 21’27”: Identifying hidden gems: Uncovering factors beyond access and past performance 25’56”: Navigating industry focus: Impact of industry-specific funds on venture performance 35’03”: Venture landscape and challenges: Overcoming valuation storms and overhang, and breaking down DPI 41’17”: The channels used to connect with Asaf & learn more about Vintage Investment Partners Disclaimer here — this newsletter does not provide investment advice and represents solely the views and opinions of FINTECH BLUEPRINT LTD.Contributors: Lex, Laurence, Matt, Farhad, Mike, DaniellaWant to discuss? Stop by our Discord and reach out here with questions.

Lex chats with Aron Alexander - CEO, and Founder of Runa - a digital value infrastructure and network that enables people to pay and get paid by anyone, anywhere, instantly. The discussion delves into the founding story of Runa, which was inspired by insights from commerce experiences. Together Lex and Aron explore the significance of payment networks and loyalty programs in aligning incentives for merchants and providers. Runa's integration, impact, and impressive numbers in simplifying payments for merchants are unveiled. The conversation also covers the industry structure of third-party gift card providers, considering concentration, diversity, and geographic impact. The decision-making process behind building a global API layer and the mechanism of cross-border money movement are discussed. Aron dives into international transactions, scale, and the best customer use case—an embedded finance layer for business-to-consumer payouts. The growth strategy and revenue model are explored, focusing on incentives for success. The episode concludes with an insightful discussion about alternative forms of value, including equity shares, cryptocurrencies, and NFTs, and how Runa embraces alternative assets to mitigate volatility and facilitate seamless transactions. MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION Runa's Website: https://bit.ly/45coLOsAron's LinkedIn profile: https://bit.ly/3QrdAgF Topics: payments, paytech, infrastructure, cryptocurrency, digitalization, embedded finance Companies: Runa, WeGift, PayPal, TransferWise, CoinBase, Twilio ABOUT THE FINTECH BLUEPRINT 🔥Subscribe to the Fintech Blueprint newsletter to stay at the forefront of Fintech and DeFi: https://bit.ly/3hyhlC2 🤝 Partner with Fintech Blueprint through sponsorships: https://bit.ly/3UZllsV 👉 Twitter: https://twitter.com/LexSokolin TIMESTAMPS 1’19”: Unveiling the founding story: How commerce insights led to startup ideation 7’36”: Understanding the role of payment networks and loyalty programs: Aligning incentives for merchants and providers 12’34”: Introducing Runa: Integration, impact, and numbers in simplifying payments for merchants 17’52”: Decoding the industry structure of third-party gift card providers: Concentration, diversity, and geographic impact 20’16”: Building a global API layer: Navigating the choice of wide coverage vs. deep focus 24’20”: Mechanisms of cross-border money movement: Understanding infrastructure, risk, and partnerships 27’16”: Handling international transactions and scale: Bank accounts, volumes, and consumer impact 30’17”: Exploring the best customer use case: An embedded finance layer for business-to-consumer payouts 33’01”: Understanding the growth strategy and revenue model: Structuring incentives for success 36’14”: Exploring alternative forms of value: Role of equity shares, cryptocurrencies, and NFTs in the business 39’13”: Embracing alternative assets: Mitigating volatility and facilitating seamless transactions 40’59”: The channels used to connect with Aron & learn more about Runa Disclaimer here — this newsletter does not provide investment advice and represents solely the views and opinions of FINTECH BLUEPRINT LTD.Contributors: Lex, Laurence, Matt, Farhad, Mike, DaniellaWant to discuss? Stop by our Discord and reach out here with questions.

Lex chats with Emma Kerr - Senior Vice President, Head of Strategic Partnerships, Europe at Visa - one of the world's largest payment networks. In this episode, Emma unravels Visa's comprehensive definition of commerce and the nuances of being a merchant. She shares her remarkable journey within Visa and the evolution of payment networks over time. The discussion delves into the intriguing concept of the "network-of-networks," exploring Visa's strategic position amidst the ever-changing landscape of payments, including the emergence of crypto and Web3. Emma sheds light on the exciting world of Web3 commerce, where utility, value, and digital objects converge. They discuss the significant value of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and digital object wrappers, and how they shape the future of the crypto industry. As they look ahead, they predict the evolution of digital objects and crypto payments, envisioning a shift from primitives to highly interactive software and the seamless integration of crypto into payment rails. The episode concludes with Emma offering insights into Visa's forward-thinking strategy to navigate the multi-rail payments landscape and maintain hyper-relevance in this dynamic and complex space. MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION Visa's Website: https://bit.ly/3Owc5MOEmma's LinkedIn profile: https://bit.ly/3Kjr3DD Topics: Payments, crypto, paytech, NFT, web3, commerce, network, payment network, payment rail, E-commerce Companies: Visa, USDC, VisaNet, Visa B2B Connect ABOUT THE FINTECH BLUEPRINT 🔥Subscribe to the Fintech Blueprint newsletter to stay at the forefront of Fintech and DeFi: https://bit.ly/3hyhlC2 🤝 Partner with Fintech Blueprint through sponsorships: https://bit.ly/3UZllsV 👉 Twitter: https://twitter.com/LexSokolin TIMESTAMPS 1’12”: Unpacking Visa's definition of commerce and merchant: Understanding the scope and qualifications 5’14”: Unveiling Emma’s journey within Visa: Exploring her career progression and during the evolution of payment networks 11’36”: Navigating the network of networks: Visa's position in the evolving landscape of payments and the categorization of crypto and Web3 16’09”: Exploring Web3 commerce: The intersection of utility, value, and digital objects 20’15”: Unraveling the value of NFTs: Why non-fungible tokens and digital object wrappers matter 22’44”: Breaking down the future of NFTs and crypto: Scaling, interoperability, and evolving value propositions 25’56”: Predicting the future of digital objects and crypto payments: From primitives to interactive software & integrating crypto into payment rails 29’25”: Constructing the future of crypto infrastructure: USDC integration and layer 2 solutions 31’55”: Navigating the multi-rail payments landscape: Visa's strategy for staying hyper relevant 33’29”: The channels used to connect with Emma & learn more about Visa Disclaimer here — this newsletter does not provide investment advice and represents solely the views and opinions of FINTECH BLUEPRINT LTD.Contributors: Lex, Laurence, Matt, Farhad, Mike, DaniellaWant to discuss? Stop by our Discord and reach out here with questions.

Lex chats with Leif Abraham, Co-CEO and Founder of Public - Public.com is an investing platform that helps people be better investors. Members can build a diverse portfolio of stocks, funds, and crypto within a single platform. In this episode, Leif delves into his journey through design, creativity, and venture, including early career insights in video game web development. Together, Lex and Leif discuss the prescience of "Pay with a Tweet" and its connections to attention, payments, and Web3. Leif navigates his career path from community and advertising to FinTech, leading to investments and the connection to Public. They explore scaling in the digital brokerage market amidst fierce competition and tailwinds. Balancing engagement and financial health, Leif shares how Public crafts the optimal user experience. The conversation covers integrating diverse financial instruments, Public's commission-free trading model, and the revolutionary "Alpha" AI feature. They also touch on how Public's financial bot handles unusual queries. The podcast concludes with a discussion about connecting with Leif and learning more about Public. MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION Public's Website: https://bit.ly/43CUNSHLeif's LinkedIn profile: https://bit.ly/44VfGtm Topics: Fintech, banking, investments, artificial intelligence, AI, trading Companies: Public, Fiverr, AND CO, ChatGPT, Alpha, Morningstar, Coinbase ABOUT THE FINTECH BLUEPRINT 🔥Subscribe to the Fintech Blueprint newsletter to stay at the forefront of Fintech and DeFi: https://bit.ly/3hyhlC2 🤝 Partner with Fintech Blueprint through sponsorships: https://bit.ly/3UZllsV 👉 Twitter: https://twitter.com/LexSokolin TIMESTAMPS 1’38”: Journey through design, creativity, and venture: Early career insights & video game web development 5’31”: The prescience of Pay with a Tweet: Early connections between attention, payments, and web3 9’28”: Navigating the career path from community and advertising to FinTech: The journey to investments and the connection to Public 13’57”: Entering the digital brokerage market in 2019: Scaling in a landscape of fierce competition and tailwinds 19’18”: Navigating the challenges of building for the "active-ish" persona: Understanding the market shape and crafting the right experience 22’41”: Constructing the optimal user experience: Balancing engagement and financial health 24’54”: Navigating the product journey: Integrating diverse financial instruments & market infrastructure 29’18”: Exploring business model differentiation: Public's approach to commission-free trading 33’52”: Revolutionizing financial insights: Unveiling Alpha, Public's AI feature 38’07”: Interpreting emotional boundaries: How Public's financial bot handles unusual queries 45’33”: The channels used to connect with Leif & learn more about Public Disclaimer here — this newsletter does not provide investment advice and represents solely the views and opinions of FINTECH BLUEPRINT LTD.Contributors: Lex, Laurence, Matt, Farhad, Mike, DaniellaWant to discuss? Stop by our Discord and reach out here with questions.

Lex chats with Sankaet Pathak, the founder and CEO of Synapse - the largest regulated banking-as-a-service platform that provides payment, card issuance, deposit, lending, compliance, credit and investment products as APIs to more than 18 million end users. In this episode, Sankaet delves into his journey that led him to fintech and the decision to build a robust financial infrastructure. Together, Lex and Sankaet explore the value of modular architecture in dissecting financial infrastructure and the role of middleware in distribution. Reflecting on the global demand for the US dollar in crypto markets, and assessing its implications. Sankaet shares key metrics for evaluating Synapse's scale and success and discusses revenue generation and cost alignment in the FinTech space. They analyze market dynamics, the impact of COVID, and navigating the regulatory landscape. MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION Synapse's Website: https://bit.ly/3DiUT6YSankaet's LinkedIn profile: https://bit.ly/3Da8jCx Topics: BaaS, API, Open Banking, payments, banking, Fintech, Embedded Finance Companies: Synapse, SynapseFi, Stripe, Square ABOUT THE FINTECH BLUEPRINT 🔥Subscribe to the Fintech Blueprint newsletter to stay at the forefront of Fintech and DeFi: https://bit.ly/3hyhlC2 🤝 Partner with Fintech Blueprint through sponsorships: https://bit.ly/3UZllsV 👉 Twitter: https://twitter.com/LexSokolin TIMESTAMPS 1’21”: Journey into fintech: Understanding the founder's background, skills, and motivation for building a banking infrastructure company 5’45”: From consumer play to financial infrastructure: The decision to build a foundational layer in the fintech landscape 10’31”: Dissecting financial infrastructure: The value of modular architecture and the challenges of integrating traditional banking services 15’45”: Envisioning the role of middleware: Banks as distribution mechanisms through third-party applications 20’52”: Examining the global demand for the dollar in crypto markets: Reflecting on the US role and implications for crypto companies 25’55”: Evaluating Synapse's scale and success: Key metrics for progress and growth 28’02”: Balancing Synapse’s business economics: Revenue generation, cost alignment, and pricing strategies in the FinTech space 31’30”: Analyzing market dynamics: Impact of COVID, growing demand, competitive landscape, and future outlook in embedded finance 37’37”: Navigating the regulatory landscape: Addressing challenges and fostering stability in a transforming financial industry 41’39”: The channels used to connect with Sanket & learn more about Synapse Disclaimer here — this newsletter does not provide investment advice and represents solely the views and opinions of FINTECH BLUEPRINT LTD.Contributors: Lex, Laurence, Matt, Farhad, Mike, DaniellaWant to discuss? Stop by our Discord and reach out here with questions.

Lex chats with Sandy Carter, COO at Unstoppable Domains - a company on a mission to create user-owned, digital identity for every person on the planet. Sandy opens up about her journey from big tech companies - IBM and Amazon, to the realm of Web3 and crypto. Together, Lex and Sandy discuss the challenges of navigating large tech companies and the innovative services offered by Unstoppable Domains. Sandy explains the concept of non-custodial data, the process of acquiring a blockchain identity, and the importance of digital truth in the age of AI. The conversation concludes with an exploration of metaverse economics, highlighting the underlying business activities in digital exchanges. MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION Unstoppable Domains' Website: https://bit.ly/3NHDzO7Sandy's LinkedIn profile: https://bit.ly/3O11p8P Topics: crypto, blockchain, web3, metaverse, identity, AI, deepfakes, generative AI Companies: Unstoppable Domains, IBM, Amazon, AWS, Ethereum, Venmo, Metamask, LinkedIn ABOUT THE FINTECH BLUEPRINT 🔥Subscribe to the Fintech Blueprint newsletter to stay at the forefront of Fintech and DeFi: https://bit.ly/3hyhlC2 🤝 Partner with Fintech Blueprint through sponsorships: https://bit.ly/3UZllsV 👉 Twitter: https://twitter.com/LexSokolin TIMESTAMPS 1’31”: Exploring professional background: Key experiences and journey to Web3 and crypto 6’51”: Navigating large tech companies: Challenges and insights from senior roles in IBM and Amazon 12’17”: Discovering Web3 and journey to Unstoppable Domains: Understanding the product and service offering 19’28”: Unpacking non-custodial data and digital identity: How Unstoppable Domains facilitates access across multiple platforms 23’02”: Acquiring an Unstoppable Domain: Understanding the role of MetaMask, NFTs, and smart contracts in establishing a blockchain identity 31’12”: Confronting digital reality: The increasing importance of digital truth verification in an AI-driven world 36’17”: Balancing power: Navigating the intersection of AI giants and Web3's open source data authenticity mission 39’24”: Assessing metaverse economics: Unraveling the business sector and activity underlying digital exchanges and objects 44’53”: The channels used to connect with Sandy & learn more about Unstoppable Domains Disclaimer here — this newsletter does not provide investment advice and represents solely the views and opinions of FINTECH BLUEPRINT LTD.Contributors: Lex, Laurence, Matt, Farhad, Mike, DaniellaWant to discuss? Stop by our Discord and reach out here with questions.

Lex chats with Jeff Dorman, CIO at Arca - an asset management firm that creates and manages institutional grade products using crypto and blockchain technology. Together they discuss key aspects of crypto finance, starting with Jeff's transition into crypto from investment banking, and then delving into the impact of the Fed on financial markets and institutional investment on digital asset trends. Jeff shares insights on the role of digital assets in the context of Ray Dalio's civilizational expansion and debt cycle model and the current macroeconomic landscape. The conversation shifts to the realm of Web3 and DeFi, examining investment challenges amidst market fluctuations. Jeff and Lex further explore token design and regulatory constraints, with a focus on GMX, and discuss the potential of DAO treasuries in the context of activist investing. MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION Arca's Website: https://bit.ly/3pv7iBDJeff's LinkedIn profile: https://bit.ly/3psSOlJ Topics: macroeconomics, The Fed, Ray Dalio, Web3, DeFi, Tokenomics, Inflation, DAO, Finance, Markets Companies: Arca, FTX, Alameda, BNB, Binance, GMX, Aragon, NASDAQ ABOUT THE FINTECH BLUEPRINT 🔥Subscribe to the Fintech Blueprint newsletter to stay at the forefront of Fintech and DeFi: https://bit.ly/3hyhlC2 🤝 Partner with Fintech Blueprint through sponsorships: https://bit.ly/3UZllsV 👉 Twitter: https://twitter.com/LexSokolin TIMESTAMPS 1’14”: Transition into crypto: Reflecting on previous experiences and discussing the draw to Arca 6’12”: Dominance of the Fed in financial markets: Exploring the obsession with monetary policy and its impact on fundamental analysis 10’35”: Examining correlations in the digital asset space: The impact of institutional investment on portfolio management and market trends 16’26”: Assessing the role of digital assets amidst civilizational expansion and debt cycle: A discussion on Ray Dalio's model and its implications for the current macroeconomic environment 20’35”: Seeking a macro perspective: An insight into the current economic state, predictions for the upcoming year, and the potential impact of inflation 26’23”: Unraveling Web3 and DeFi: Investigating unemployment rates, assessing the performance of Defi protocols, and the challenge of investing amidst fluctuating market conditions 35’26”: Exploring token design and regulatory constraints: An insight into GMX and the implications of value accrual mechanisms 39’11”: Activist investing in Decentralized Autonomous Organizations: Unleashing the potential of DAO treasuries 45’05”: Broadening stakeholder reach in the new financial system: The power of token governance in protocol development 47’44”: The channels used to connect with Jeff & learn more about Arca Disclaimer here — this newsletter does not provide investment advice and represents solely the views and opinions of FINTECH BLUEPRINT LTD.Contributors: Lex, Laurence, Matt, Farhad, Mike, DaniellaWant to discuss? Stop by our Discord and reach out here with questions.

Lex chats with Sasha Orloff, CEO and Co-founder of Puzzle - “the first smart accounting software,” which combines a streaming financial data platform that’s connected to a general accounting ledger. Sasha starts the conversation detailing his journey from traditional banking to fintech entrepreneurship. Reflecting on the early days of fintech, contrasting the East and West Coast perspectives, and sharing his experiences from leading innovative fintech ventures like LendUp. The conversation dives into the future of fintech, discussing the transition into autonomous accounting, the rise and fall of Personal Financial Management (PFM) tools, and the integration of natural language processing into quantitative software. The duo also contemplates the nature of rules in language models, the dichotomy between deterministic and probabilistic models in AI, and the future of intelligent software. The episode concludes with Sasha sharing various channels to connect with him and learn more about Puzzle. MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION Puzzle's Website: https://bit.ly/3NKuO6YSasha's LinkedIn profile: https://bit.ly/3Pt3pHX Topics: Fintech, AI, artificial intelligence, machine learning, GenAI, Accounting, Software, LLM, embedded finance Companies: Puzzle, Puzzle Financial, Mission Lane, LendUp, ChatGPT, Brex, Stripe, Plaid ABOUT THE FINTECH BLUEPRINT 🔥Subscribe to the Fintech Blueprint newsletter to stay at the forefront of Fintech and DeFi: https://bit.ly/3hyhlC2 🤝 Partner with Fintech Blueprint through sponsorships: https://bit.ly/3UZllsV 👉 Twitter: https://twitter.com/LexSokolin TIMESTAMPS 1’43”: The evolution from traditional banking to fintech entrepreneurship: Exploring personal journey and the early days of fintech 7’10”: The East vs West Coast perspective in fintech's infancy: Analyzing venture investments, startup culture, and the birth of innovative fintech ventures like LendUp 12’36”: Deciphering the keys to fintech success: The role of mobile distribution, underwriting capabilities, and capital flow in shaping lending ventures 18’23”: Transitioning into the realm of autonomous accounting: The genesis of Puzzle and its inevitable emergence in the fintech landscape 22’41”: Reflecting on the evolution of fintech: Assessing the impact of financial data accessibility, manufacturing financial products, and mistakes in early accounting software ventures 28’23”: The rise and fall of Personal Financial Management (PFM) tools: Evaluating consumer adoption, value proposition, and the role of autonomous accounting in fintech's future 34’47”: Exploring the integration of natural language processing into quantitative software: The role of language models in user experience and backend operations 39’04”: Deciphering the nature of rules in language models: Deterministic vs. Probabilistic approaches in accounting software 41’59”: Speculating the future of AI: A dichotomy between deterministic structures and probabilistic models in building intelligent software 46’10”: The channels used to connect with Sasha & learn more about Puzzle Disclaimer here — this newsletter does not provide investment advice and represents solely the views and opinions of FINTECH BLUEPRINT LTD.Contributors: Lex, Laurence, Matt, Farhad, Mike, DaniellaWant to discuss? Stop by our Discord and reach out here with questions.

Lex interviews seasoned fintech expert Teana Baker-Taylor - Circle VP of Policy and Regulatory Strategy EMEA. Circle began as a peer-to-peer payments technology company that now manages stablecoin USDC, a cryptocurrency the value of which is pegged to the U.S. dollar. Teana discusses her journey from traditional finance to the frontier of blockchain and crypto exchanges. Together Lex and Teana explore the tangible economic impacts of banking and navigate the complex digital asset landscape, focusing on the unique role of USDC as a leading stablecoin. Additionally, they touch on the underlying mechanics of USDC and the intrinsic investment risks in the stablecoin space. Concluding by pondering the potential of stablecoins like USDC in the emerging metaverse, a new digital realm with endless possibilities. MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION Circle's Website: https://bit.ly/3CwWfL5Teana's LinkedIn profile: https://bit.ly/3Nw8yxF Topics: crypto, blockchain, tokenization, web3, defi, stablecoins, metaverse, AR/VR Companies: Circle, USDC, Eurocoin, Terra Luna, Metamask, Apple ABOUT THE FINTECH BLUEPRINT 🔥Subscribe to the Fintech Blueprint newsletter to stay at the forefront of Fintech and DeFi: https://bit.ly/3hyhlC2 🤝 Partner with Fintech Blueprint through sponsorships: https://bit.ly/3UZllsV 👉 Twitter: https://twitter.com/LexSokolin TIMESTAMPS 2’38”: Tracing Teana’s professional journey: From traditional finance to innovative blockchain and crypto exchange operations 5’14”: Exploring the true purpose of banks: Bridging the gap between abstract finance and tangible economic activity 9’48”: Decoding the digital asset space: A deep dive into the function, philosophy and criticisms of crypto exchanges 15’58”: Unraveling USDC: Understanding its creation, uses, and its novel role as a cash equivalent and unit of account on a payment rail 20’10”: Differentiating stablecoins: Examining redemption processes, collateralization practices, and the existence of investment risk 21’11”: Exploring the underlying mechanics of USDC: The role of bank-held dollars in stablecoin operations 24’47”: Envisioning the role of money in the metaverse: The use cases and potential dominance of stablecoins in emerging digital spaces 28’11”: The channels used to connect with Teana & learn more about Circle and USDC Disclaimer here — this newsletter does not provide investment advice and represents solely the views and opinions of FINTECH BLUEPRINT LTD.Contributors: Lex, Laurence, Matt, Farhad, Mike, DaniellaWant to discuss? Stop by our Discord and reach out here with questions.

Lex interviews Ashwin Kumar - Stripe's Head of Startups for Banking-as-a-Service. Stripe is a financial technology (FinTech) company based in San Francisco, CA, whose software allows individuals and businesses to make and receive payments online. In this episode, Lex and Ashwin explore Stripe's strategic positioning in the transformative world of fintech. From unraveling Stripe's core mission and approach, Ashwin and Lex provide an enlightening comparison with Amazon's strategy, shedding light on Stripe's unique ability to integrate across platforms for exponential reach. Additionally, Ashwin and Lex touch on the rich understanding of embedded finance and Banking-as-a-Service, key insights into the pivotal role of banking partnerships, and the evolving dynamics of fintech startups in the market landscape. MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION Stripe's Website: https://bit.ly/3NvD9LXAshwin's LinkedIn profile: https://bit.ly/3X1bNjW Topics: Payments, Banking-as-a-service, banking, fintech, embedded finance, BaaS Companies: Stripe, Chime, Karat, Ramp, Apple ABOUT THE FINTECH BLUEPRINT 🔥Subscribe to the Fintech Blueprint newsletter to stay at the forefront of Fintech and DeFi: https://bit.ly/3hyhlC2 🤝 Partner with Fintech Blueprint through sponsorships: https://bit.ly/3UZllsV 👉 Twitter: https://twitter.com/LexSokolin TIMESTAMPS 1’18”: Understanding Stripe: Deciphering the core bet, its mission, and defining the concept of a digital company 3’18”: Defining the landscape of fintech: The role of stripe in niche user group services, embedding financial services in SaaS companies, and the evolution towards becoming a financial services arm 6’43”: Exploring Stripe's unique position in the industry: The exponential reach through platform integrations, a comparative study with Amazon's strategy, and the unfolding of Stripe's architectural framework for third party utilization 12’14”: Distribution to the long tail and solving the last mile problem: Differentiating between embedded finance and Banking-as-a-Service, and understanding the relationship with underlying regulated financial entities 17’15”: Expanding the role of Banks in embedded finance: Regulatory perspectives, compliance work, and the impact of the shrinking U.S. banking sector 18’17”: Stripe's vision for Bank partnerships: Diversifying distribution and empowering financial institutions in the era of centralizing forces 21’04”: Observing the evolution of fintech: Changes in quality, screening, and focus of emerging tech companies seeking cutting-edge fintech solutions 22’08”: Strategies for fintech startups: Considering distribution, value addition and comprehensive business models for sustainable growth and success in the financial technology landscape Disclaimer here — this newsletter does not provide investment advice and represents solely the views and opinions of FINTECH BLUEPRINT LTD.Contributors: Lex, Laurence, Matt, Farhad, Mike, DaniellaWant to discuss? Stop by our Discord and reach out here with questions.

Lex interviews Alisa Chinedu of Remita - a payment solution platform that helps individuals and businesses make and receive payments, pay bills, and manage their finances; making it key to supporting the Nigerian payments and fintech ecosystem. discussing the company's role in enhancing the Nigerian fintech ecosystem. Alisa delves into Remita's functionality, strategic corporate partnerships, and its integral position in commerce and e-commerce. The discussion then proceeds to analyze Nigeria's banking system's dynamics and mobile banking's significance, focusing on Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD). The conversation touches on the economic implications of COVID-19, the transition to digital currency, and the intricacies of eNaira, Nigeria's Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC). They discuss Remita's role in eNaira's adoption, the application of CBDC in social services, and the banking sector's perspective on CBDC. The interview concludes with a future-oriented exploration of eNaira's adoption, market penetration, and the multichannel approach to CBDC distribution. MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION Remita's Website: https://bit.ly/3OUWbMQAlisa's LinkedIn profile: https://bit.ly/42n16t1 Topics: Payments, Paytech, CBDC, Digital Wallets, Fintech, Banking Companies: Remita, eNaira, SpeedWallet ABOUT THE FINTECH BLUEPRINT 🔥Subscribe to the Fintech Blueprint newsletter to stay at the forefront of Fintech and DeFi: https://bit.ly/3hyhlC2 🤝 Partner with Fintech Blueprint through sponsorships: https://bit.ly/3UZllsV 👉 Twitter: https://twitter.com/LexSokolin TIMESTAMPS 1’29”: Remita: what it is, what it does, how it got started, and how it works with corporates 3’31”: Exploring Nigerian digital payment systems: A closer look at Remita and its role in commerce and E-commerce 6’26”: Understanding the dynamics of the banking system: An exploration of banking concentration, consumer banking situations, and the integration of digital wallets 9’03”: Exploring mobile wallets and smartphone access: Understanding digital funds transfers, population coverage, and the role of USSD in mobile banking 12’09”: Dissecting merchant codes and regulatory landscapes: Understanding the interface between feature phones, financial institutions, and mobile money providers amidst government regulation 16’32”: Deciphering Nigeria's economic landscape: Insights into inflation, impact of COVID-19, and the transition from cash to digital currency amidst economic fluctuation 21’06”: Delving into eNaira: Understanding CBDC adoption, wallet accessibility, transaction volume, and user experience amidst evolving digital currency landscape 24’39”: Remita's role in eNaira adoption: Understanding the integration process, contribution to design ideation, and the function of financial agents in product distribution 28’35”: CBDC and social services: Examining government utilization of digital currency for welfare distribution, transaction tracking, and understanding the underlying technical infrastructure 33’04”: Exploring bank relations with CBDC: Assessing retail and wholesale models, potential disintermediation concerns, and bank perspectives on eNaira adoption 35’21”: Envisioning the future of eNaira: Assessing current adoption, potential for market penetration, and the multichannel approach to CBDC distribution 39’52”: The channels used to connect with Alisa & learn more about Remita Disclaimer here — this newsletter does not provide investment advice and represents solely the views and opinions of FINTECH BLUEPRINT LTD.Contributors: Lex, Laurence, Matt, Farhad, Mike, DaniellaWant to discuss? Stop by our Discord and reach out here with questions.

Lex chats with Eric Barbier, CEO of Triple-A. Triple-A operates as a crypto payment gateway that allows businesses to accept crypto payments. In this discussion, Eric and Lex discuss the origins and growth of Triple-A, detailing its evolution and journey through the complex world of cryptocurrency payments. Eric delves into the intricacies of building a successful crypto payments infrastructure, from risk management and liquidity to the significance of robust banking relationships and compliance frameworks. From charting his entrepreneurial path and reflecting on the roles of different players in creating value networks, to drawing comparisons between his past and current ventures, Eric concludes with strategies for connecting and learning more about TripleA's revolutionary role in broad-scale commerce. MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION Triple-A's Website: https://bit.ly/3II37cdEric's LinkedIn profile: bit.ly/3MC59vl Topics: Fintech, payments, paytech, crypto, commerce, ecommerce Companies: Triple-A, TransferTo, Thunes, Bitcoin, Ethereum, Mpesa ABOUT THE FINTECH BLUEPRINT 🔥Subscribe to the Fintech Blueprint newsletter to stay at the forefront of Fintech and DeFi: https://bit.ly/3hyhlC2 🤝 Partner with Fintech Blueprint through sponsorships: https://bit.ly/3UZllsV 👉 Twitter: https://twitter.com/LexSokolin TIMESTAMPS 1’14”: Triple-A: what it is, what it does, how it got started, and how it has evolved over time 4’23”: Unraveling the Crypto Payments Journey: Initial Asset Considerations, Building the Merchant Network, and Understanding the Evolution of Commerce 8’41”: Navigating the Crypto Commerce Landscape: Exploring Product Market Fit, Go-to-Market Strategies, and the Impact of Geographical and Market Volatility on Adoption 13’59”: The Blueprint of Crypto Payments: Exploring Infrastructure, Risk Management, and Liquidity in Digital Asset Transactions 18’16”: Mitigating Risks in Crypto Commerce: Unveiling the Importance of Banking Relationships, Enhanced Due Diligence, and Robust Compliance Frameworks in Last-Mile Settlements 22’16”: Exploring the Penetration of Crypto in Broad-Scale Commerce: Visualizing Expansion Strategies and Assessing Potential Limitations in Market Availability 24’28”: Tracing the Entrepreneurial Journey: Insights from Thunes and the Shift from Telecommunications to Value Transfer Networks 30’03”: The Confluence of Different Players in Creating Value Networks: Reflecting on the Roles of Telcos, Banks, Card Networks, and Tech Firms in Money Movement Evolution 32’25”: Leveraging Market Demands in the Evolution of Payment Systems: A Comparative Analysis of Thunes and TripleA's Approaches to Cross-Border Payments 34’51”: The channels used to connect with Eric & learn more about Triple-A Disclaimer here — this newsletter does not provide investment advice and represents solely the views and opinions of FINTECH BLUEPRINT LTD.Contributors: Lex, Laurence, Matt, Farhad, Mike, DaniellaWant to discuss? Stop by our Discord and reach out here with questions.

Lex chats with Anish Acharya - a general partner at Andreessen Horowitz. Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) is a venture capital firm in Silicon Valley, California, that backs bold entrepreneurs building the future through technology. Anish and Lex analyze the impact and adoption of disruptive platform shifts, before charting a journey through FinTech from innovative startups to high-profile acquisitions. Additionally, shedding light on Credit Karma's growth strategies and user behavior. Finishing off with a discussion of the future of FinTech, envisioning a landscape transformed by AI integration, Web 3.0 convergence, and innovative investment strategies that uncover non-traditional opportunities in financial services and consumer sectors MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION A16z's Website: https://bit.ly/3olOrIzAnish's LinkedIn profile: https://bit.ly/438tqjt Topics: Fintech, web3, mobile, generative AI, AI, Artificial intelligence, social Companies: a16z, Andreessen Horowitz, Google, Social Deck, Snowball, Credit Karma, ChatGPT, Facebook, Google ABOUT THE FINTECH BLUEPRINT 🔥Subscribe to the Fintech Blueprint newsletter to stay at the forefront of Fintech and DeFi: https://bit.ly/3hyhlC2 🤝 Partner with Fintech Blueprint through sponsorships: https://bit.ly/3UZllsV 👉 Twitter: https://twitter.com/LexSokolin TIMESTAMPS 1’54”: Anish’s foundational experiences with early stage startups & what pulled him towards entrepreneurship 7’05”: Reflecting on SocialDeck's beginnings: early hypotheses, insights from Facebook APIs and mobile behavior patterns, and the evolution of reality 12’22”: Analyzing modern platform Shifts: a deep dive into adoption rates and Disruptive Impact" 17’04”: Journey into FinTech: from mobile startups to Google and Credit Karma acquisitions - A founder's tale of innovation and acquisition Interests 20’14”: Insights from scaling Credit Karma: understanding consumer behavior and navigating the financial life of its users 25’08”: Walking the ethical tightrope in FinTech: balancing paternalistic products and dopamine-driven loops, lessons from Credit Karma and A16z 29’19”: The challenges of active and social-following copy investor platforms: examining the successes and shortcomings of companies like Covestor, Wealthfront, eToro, and M1 Finance 31’26”: Evolving the investment thesis at Andreessen Horowitz: reflections on a journey shaped by COVID, Web 3.0, NFTs, and the rise of generative AI 38’15”: The Future of FinTech: envisioning AI-integrated investment plugins and their potential role in Big Tech - insights from an Andreessen Horowitz GP 40’35”: The Convergence of AI and Web 3.0: exploring the future of privacy, digital ownership, and personalized AI agents in the evolving technological landscape 42’36”: Investing beyond the mainstream: uncovering under-the-radar opportunities in financial services and consumer sectors 44’39”: The channels used to connect with Anish & learn more about A16z Disclaimer here — this newsletter does not provide investment advice and represents solely the views and opinions of FINTECH BLUEPRINT LTD.Contributors: Lex, Laurence, Matt, Farhad, Mike, DaniellaWant to discuss? Stop by our Discord and reach out here with questions.

Lex chats with Jacqueline Kennedy, Chief Operating Officer at Quicknode - a Web3 infrastructure platform, that helps developers and businesses build, launch, and scale blockchain-powered applications (dApps). In this episode, Jackie and Lex touch on understanding cloud infrastructure companies like DigitalOcean and AWS, understanding developer, client needs and commercial outcomes across different lines of the Web3 infrastructure business, and a deep dive into the confluence of computational and financial value in Web3. Finishing off on navigating the Multichain Future and evaluating dependencies, challenges, and future prospects of Web3 vs Big Tech. MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION Quicknode's Website: https://bit.ly/3nYHbCrJackie's LinkedIn profile: https://bit.ly/3MjHCRa Topics: Web3, infrastructure, big tech, NFT, blockchain, API, development, DApps Companies: Quicknode, Blockdaemon, AWS, DigitalOcean ABOUT THE FINTECH BLUEPRINT 🔥Subscribe to the Fintech Blueprint newsletter to stay at the forefront of Fintech and DeFi: https://bit.ly/3hyhlC2 🤝 Partner with Fintech Blueprint through sponsorships: https://bit.ly/3UZllsV 👉 Twitter: https://twitter.com/LexSokolin TIMESTAMPS 1’34”: From Law School to Crypto Entrepreneurship - The journey and early experiences explained 5’04”: Deciphering Risk - perspectives from legal profession and entrepreneurship 8’23”: Understanding Infrastructure Companies - Customer approach and principles at DigitalOcean and Amazon 14’20”: Introducing QuickNode - Functionality, use case, and the journey towards its creation 16’57”: Unveiling the Web3 Infrastructure User Base - Developer interests and market personas 21’32”: Diverse API Usage - Understanding client needs and commercial outcomes across different lines of business 26’08”: Decoding Economic Models for Web3 Infrastructure Companies - pricing, value generation, and potential business models 31’42”: The Intersection of Finance and Technology - A deep dive into the confluence of computational and financial value in Web3 34’11”: Navigating the Multichain Future - Understanding the dynamics and implications for Web3 from QuickNode's perspective 37’35”: Web3 and Big Tech - Evaluating dependencies, challenges, and future prospects in the intersection of the industries 40’38”: The channels used to connect with Jackie & learn more about Quicknode Disclaimer here — this newsletter does not provide investment advice and represents solely the views and opinions of FINTECH BLUEPRINT LTD.Contributors: Lex, Laurence, Matt, Farhad, Mike, DaniellaWant to discuss? Stop by our Discord and reach out here with questions.

In this conversation, we chat with Alain Meier, the Head of Identity at Plaid. Plaid builds a data transfer network that powers fintech and digital finance products. Plaid's product, a technology platform, enables applications to connect with users’ bank accounts. Alain has spent the past decade problem-solving in all things digital identity. He was a founding member of the Stanford Bitcoin Group and went on to start identity verification company Cognito, which was acquired by Plaid. Topics: fintech, digital finance, platform, identityBrands: Plaid, Cognito, Stanford, Bitcoin ABOUT THE FINTECH BLUEPRINT🔥Subscribe to the Fintech Blueprint newsletter to stay at the forefront of Fintech and DeFi: https://bit.ly/3hyhlC2🤝 Partner with Fintech Blueprint through sponsorships: https://bit.ly/3UZllsV👉 Twitter: https://twitter.com/LexSokolin Disclaimer here — this newsletter does not provide investment advice and represents solely the views and opinions of FINTECH BLUEPRINT LTD.Contributors: Lex, Laurence, Matt, Farhad, Mike, DaniellaWant to discuss? Stop by our Discord and reach out here with questions.

Lex chats with David Hoare, the CTO and co-founder of Codat - a universal API platform that connects small businesses to banks and other financial platforms. Together they discuss the value behind data aggregation, API integrations, SME enablement via APIs and the complexities involved in connecting large institutional businesses to API platforms. Additionally, Dave breaks down how the COVID-19 pandemic created an unexpected opportunity for Codat to help large banks deliver funds to smaller businesses in need of financial assistance. He also emphasizes the importance of buying APIs via API platforms like Codat rather than building it in-house, and so much more! MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION Codat's Website: https://bit.ly/3LfoYZ1Dave's LinkedIn profile: https://bit.ly/3HnvV90 Topics: API, payments, embedded finance, fintech, payments, integration, automation Companies: Codat, Experian, PayPal, Plaid, Stripe ABOUT THE FINTECH BLUEPRINT 🔥Subscribe to the Fintech Blueprint newsletter to stay at the forefront of Fintech and DeFi: https://bit.ly/3hyhlC2 🤝 Partner with Fintech Blueprint through sponsorships: https://bit.ly/3UZllsV 👉 Twitter: https://twitter.com/LexSokolin TIMESTAMPS 1’26”: Codat - what the company is, how long it has been around, some of the things it does, and how small Fintechs use Codat 9’20”: The different software packages that the data aggregation adds value to, and the types of API integrations needed for the data pull 17’07”: Envisioning the customer experience and breaking down the economics of the platform 20’22”: Breaking down the requirements involved in integrating Codat into their stack, and expanding on Codat’s partnership program with large enterprises 26’43”: Examples of failed hypotheses and customer relationships, and surprisingly successful use case examples 33’42”: The current competitive landscape and dynamics evolving towards the future 37’10”: The channels used to connect with David & learn more about Codat Disclaimer here — this newsletter does not provide investment advice and represents solely the views and opinions of FINTECH BLUEPRINT LTD.Contributors: Lex, Laurence, Matt, Farhad, Mike, DaniellaWant to discuss? Stop by our Discord and reach out here with questions.

Lex chats with Antonio Juliano, founder and CEO of dYdX - a crypto derivatives trading platform that caters to professional traders outside the U.S. It averages roughly $2 billion in daily trading volume (Coinbase does about $5 billion). Antonio shares his experience working at Coinbase since 2015 when Bitcoin was dominant and Ethereum was new to the game. Together, they discuss how decentralized exchanges and automated market makers made it easier for individuals to provide liquidity and trade crypto assets. Touching on dYdX's plans to deploy a Layer 1 on Cosmos, as well as adopting a model of progressive decentralization, and so much more! MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION dYdX's Website: https://bit.ly/3H4gHFIAntonio's LinkedIn profile: https://bit.ly/3mRYTqz Topics: blockchain, crypto, layer 2, decentralized exchange, order book, perpetual contracts, crypto trading, rollups Companies: dYdX, Ethereum, Cosmos, Coinbase, Bitcoin, FTX, Solana, StarkNet ABOUT THE FINTECH BLUEPRINT 🔥Subscribe to the Fintech Blueprint newsletter to stay at the forefront of Fintech and DeFi: https://bit.ly/3hyhlC2 🤝 Partner with Fintech Blueprint through sponsorships: https://bit.ly/3UZllsV 👉 Twitter: https://twitter.com/LexSokolin TIMESTAMPS 1’22”: Antonio’s foundational experiences at Coinbase, and how the concept of trading coins on a centralized exchange was received at the time 8’57”: Breaking down the definitions, functions and directions of decentralized exchanges, automated market makers, their order books, and liquidity 14’49”: What a perpetual contract is, how it functions, what are the limits and rules behind it and how it has evolved over time 24’04”: The mechanics behind the current market structure behind selling on-chain positions, and the best practices that stemmed from bad incidents 29’47”: Layer 2s - what they are relative to dYdX, what dYdX has done with them, what the current initiatives are involving them at dYdX, and their future 39’29”: The Cosmos ecosystem relative to Ethereum, and the future of how the market structure will evolve 42’29”: The future of dYdX and how it will evolve over time 45’12”: The channels used to connect with Antonio & learn more about dYdX Disclaimer here — this newsletter does not provide investment advice and represents solely the views and opinions of FINTECH BLUEPRINT LTD.Contributors: Lex, Laurence, Matt, Farhad, Mike, DaniellaWant to discuss? Stop by our Discord and reach out here with questions.

Lex chats with Padman Perumal, CEO of Masttro. Masttro is a privately-held FinTech company that delivers a truly global wealth technology ecosystem to wealth owners and their trusted advisors. In this episode, they discuss the differences between wealth management, private banking, brokerage and banking, as well as the challenges of providing a consumer-grade digital experience for wealth management. Masttro serves ultra-high net worth clients to manage their complex investments by aggregating data from over 500 financial institutions and providing efficient tools to do so. The platform utilizes a range of technologies from document ingestion to character recognition and pattern learning to handle unstructured data. MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION Masttro's website: https://bit.ly/41b8PdEPadman's LinkedIn profile: https://bit.ly/3KGPeLg Topics: Fintech, wealth management, advisory, investment management, family office, institutional capital, banking, Private Banking Companies: Masttro, JP Morgan, Credit Suisse, UBS, Hamilton Lane, KKR ABOUT THE FINTECH BLUEPRINT 🔥Subscribe to the Fintech Blueprint newsletter to stay at the forefront of Fintech and DeFi: https://bit.ly/3hyhlC2 🤝 Partner with Fintech Blueprint through sponsorships: https://bit.ly/3UZllsV 👉 Twitter: https://twitter.com/LexSokolin TIMESTAMPS 1’36”: Padman’s foundational experiences at Credit Suisse & J.P. Morgan, and how he found roles that touch transformation for these organizations 4’31”: The difference between wealth management, private banking, brokerage, and maybe banking generally, and what it’s like doing transformation at scale 11’15”: The failures of initiatives within big institutions from the outside vs the inside, and some examples 15’26”: Masttro - what it is, what it does, and where they are at the moment 21’31”: The core entities that Masttro connects to, and differentiation of business model to competitors 25’14”: The process of structuring unstructured data and how to indicate net worth over time 30’42”: Masttro’s business model both in terms of the immediate client and the end client, and what trends are Masttro noticing between different clients 36’47”: The impact and/or benefit of the proliferation of technology around asset classes 40’07”: Intergenerational Transfer - The trends supporting the transfer of wealth to people who expect different experiences 42’12”: The channels used to connect with Padman & learn more about Masttro Disclaimer here — this newsletter does not provide investment advice and represents solely the views and opinions of FINTECH BLUEPRINT LTD.Contributors: Lex, Laurence, Matt, Farhad, Mike, DaniellaWant to discuss? Stop by our Discord and reach out here with questions.

Lex chats with Dave Balter about the complexities of building data products on the blockchain and the importance of understanding human relationships and reality when building startups. They also discuss Flipside Crypto – a platform that builds business intelligence via a suite of analytics tools that provide insights into user behaviors, developer activities, and financial health, to crypto organizations – and MetricsDAO – a community of Web3 data analysts who provide blockchain projects with on-demand data insights and tooling. Additionally, they touch on replacing Excel with ChatGPT and on-chain smart contract data, and how to evaluate Web3 projects, as well as the future of how the value chain stacks on top of data and analytics to actually drive decisions and potentially drive automated decisions MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION Flipside Crypto's website: https://bit.ly/3KhgCPTMetricDAO's website: https://bit.ly/3MqYOESDave's LinkedIn profile: https://bit.ly/43iT5qKDave's Twitter profile: https://bit.ly/3zE4rYv Topics: crypto, blockchain, analytics, data, AI, DAO, decentralized autonomous organizations Companies: MetricsDAO, Flipside, Flipside crypto, ChatGPT, Excel ABOUT THE FINTECH BLUEPRINT 🔥Subscribe to the Fintech Blueprint newsletter to stay at the forefront of Fintech and DeFi: https://bit.ly/3hyhlC2 🤝 Partner with Fintech Blueprint through sponsorships: https://bit.ly/3UZllsV 👉 Twitter: https://twitter.com/LexSokolin TIMESTAMPS 1’23”: Dave’s foundational experiences & identifying some key threads that were formative to his experience 9’01”: The two elements that make startups difficult in general 13’22”: Flipside crypto: what it is, how it started, and how it all came together from a technical standpoint 16’46”: How difficult it is to collect high quality data in order to be successful and what the problems are along the way 22’43”: The importance of data and its supporting infrastructure is to Flipside and what the most repeatable use cases are in the market 26’01”: Segmenting out and positioning relative the competition such as: Coinmarketcap, Nansen, Messari, Glassnode, and Dune 28’30”: MetricsDAO: what it is, who is in it, and what the tokenomics are 32’06”: Replacing Excel with ChatGPT and on-chain smart contract data, and how to evaluate Web3 projects 35’21”: The vectors of growth for the protocol and the DAO, and examples of analytics that really made a difference 40’55”: The future of how the value chain stacks on top of data and analytics to actually drive decisions and potentially drive automated decisions 42’40”: The channels used to connect with Dave & learn more about Flipside crypto and MetricsDAO Disclaimer here — this newsletter does not provide investment advice and represents solely the views and opinions of FINTECH BLUEPRINT LTD.Contributors: Lex, Laurence, Matt, Farhad, Mike, DaniellaWant to discuss? Stop by our Discord and reach out here with questions.

Lex chats with Christopher Goes, co-founder of Anoma and Cryptium Labs. Initially, they explore the current centralized monetary system, how it disconnects from physical changes, and the need for technology to evolve with the complexity of our financial systems. Following this, they deep dive into the differences between privacy-preserving and data-obscuring technology, and how privacy is important for citizens, governments, and communities. Ethereum, Cosmos, and Anoma have a shared vision, but their approaches to blockchains and assets differ. MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION Anoma's website: https://bit.ly/3K26vOJChristopher's Twitter profile: https://bit.ly/3nzD8vK Topics: Blockchain, crypto, security, privacy, protocol, zero knowledge proofs, control theory Companies: Anoma, Cryptium Labs, Heliax, Tendermint, Zchain, Namada, Ethereum, Bitcoin ABOUT THE FINTECH BLUEPRINT 🔥Subscribe to the Fintech Blueprint newsletter to stay at the forefront of Fintech and DeFi: https://bit.ly/3hyhlC2 🤝 Partner with Fintech Blueprint through sponsorships: https://bit.ly/3UZllsV 👉 Twitter: https://twitter.com/LexSokolin TIMESTAMPS 1’15”: Christopher’s foundational experiences & an in-depth into the background he needed to participate into some of his early experiences 9’11”: Control Theory: what a thermostat, the Fed funds rate and EIP-1559's gas price adjustment mechanism have in common 12’06”: Christopher’s early startup and founder experiences & identifying what is good or valuable about privacy 25’02”: The multichain vision between Ethereum, Cosmos, and Anoma, & their community’s differing opinions on the role of blockchains 32’12”: Expanding Eliezer Yudkowsky’s analogy of a map vs reality to the various ways culture influences technology and vice versa 39’25”: Introducing Anoma: What it is, the problem it is trying to solve, and the potential outcomes derived from its success 42’26”: Integrating into the Anoma ecosystem: what is the process for developers and projects, and what are the incentives driving them to so do? 44’00”: The role of zero-knowledge proofs in the protocol 44'40”: The steps Anoma are taking to grow the ecosystem, and the channels used to connect with Christopher & learn more about Anoma Disclaimer here — this newsletter does not provide investment advice and represents solely the views and opinions of FINTECH BLUEPRINT LTD.Contributors: Lex, Laurence, Matt, Farhad, Mike, DaniellaWant to discuss? Stop by our Discord and reach out here with questions.

Lex chats with Arno Castillo, founder and CEO of CrunchDAO. CrunchDAO is a research team of data scientists and quants that leverage the power of collective intelligence and Web3 to produce and sell next-generation predictive financial insights. In the discussion, Lex and Arnaud touch on decentralized asset management, data science, building portfolios, and web3 organizations. Arnaud shares his background in finance, including his experience working at Lehman Brothers and Deutsche Bank, as well as his work in consulting and entrepreneurship. Arnaud explaines how CrunchDAO has developed a framework called the design framework to address the challenges of using machine learning in financial markets. The framework is designed to share their research and data sets with others in the industry, allowing for collaboration and feedback. MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION CrunchDAO's website: https://bit.ly/3z60sDUArnaud's Linkedin profile: https://bit.ly/40cWrJS Topics: Decentralized Autonomous Organizations, DAO, artificial intelligence, machine learning, Blockchain, Web3 Companies: CrunchDAO, Numerai, Lehman Brothers, Deutsche Bank ABOUT THE FINTECH BLUEPRINT 🔥Subscribe to the Fintech Blueprint newsletter to stay at the forefront of Fintech and DeFi: https://bit.ly/3hyhlC2 🤝 Partner with Fintech Blueprint through sponsorships: https://bit.ly/3UZllsV 👉 Twitter: https://twitter.com/LexSokolin TIMESTAMPS 1’25”: Arnaud’s background in finance & experience working at Lehman Brothers and Deutsche Bank 5’06”: Learning the concept of Economic Value Add (EVA) and its connection to DAOs & DAO Networks 9’15”: What it means to be a DAO stakeholder & the agency issues around management in a corporation versus the public goods inside of a DAO 15’17”: The role of a CEO/Business Leader & how this changes when applied to a DAO 18’35”: Identifying business opportunities in fairly technical, difficult, innovative markets & immersion into the machine learning fintech space 23’42”: CrunchDAO: What it does, the problem it solves for, and the architecture of the technology involved relating to the user experience 28’40”: Comparison of CrunchDAO to Numerai (developer competition-based hedge fund) & the evolution of decentralized asset management in capital markets 36’22”: Machine learning challenges in financial markets & CrunchDAO’s framework for sharing their research and datasets 38'26”: Channels to use to connect with Arnaud & learn more about CrunchDAO Disclaimer here — this newsletter does not provide investment advice and represents solely the views and opinions of FINTECH BLUEPRINT LTD.Contributors: Lex, Laurence, Matt, Farhad, Mike, DaniellaWant to discuss? Stop by our Discord and reach out here with questions.

Lex chats with Calvin Liu, the Chief Strategy Officer at EigenLayer, about his journey in investment banking, working for a financial regulations consulting firm, and transitioning to entrepreneurship. Calvin delves deep into the inner workings of EigenLayer, a restaking protocol for Ethereum, and the importance of focus, incentives, and integration in the crypto industry. Additionally, they discuss the early days of crypto lending protocol, Compound and working for Robert Leshner (Compound's founder), as well as, how this inspired working with purpose and immense focus. Calvin even touches on some exciting upcoming launches for EigenLayer. MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION EigenLayer's website: https://bit.ly/3LxwS1xCalvin's Linkedin profile: https://bit.ly/40aGSSm Topics: staking, restaking, defi, cryptocurrency, blockchain, crypto lending, validators Companies: EigenLayer, Ethereum, Compound, Rocketpool, Lido, MakerDAO ABOUT THE FINTECH BLUEPRINT 🔥Subscribe to the Fintech Blueprint newsletter to stay at the forefront of Fintech and DeFi: https://bit.ly/3hyhlC2 🤝 Partner with Fintech Blueprint through sponsorships: https://bit.ly/3UZllsV 👉 Twitter: https://twitter.com/LexSokolin TIMESTAMPS 1’29”: Calvin’s foundational experiences, how he got pulled into investment banking, and how he integrates philosophy into economics 7’21”: The journey of moving from investment banking to consulting and finally entrepreneurship 14’30”: Becoming a crypto enthusiast - joining DeFi lender Compound and how the company has evolved from its genesis value proposition 21’25”: Some of the “forks in the road” for Compound over these periods of evolution and how they were addressed 28’14”: EigenLayer - what it is, how does it work, what makes it unique, and what it means to stake and restake crypto 34’10”: What it is about Ethereum that makes staking so powerful in this network in particular 36’17”: The future evolution of EigenLayer and the influences of network upgrades like Ethereum’s Shanghai, as well as any other influential variables 38’53”: The tension between building the best and most secure protocol security vs creating speculative assets that generate quick returns 42’57”: Understanding the systemic risk in crypto networks and the possibility of cascading effects from network attacks 44'50”: Channels to use to connect with Calvin & learn more about EigenLayer Disclaimer here — this newsletter does not provide investment advice and represents solely the views and opinions of FINTECH BLUEPRINT LTD.Contributors: Lex, Laurence, Matt, Farhad, Mike, DaniellaWant to discuss? Stop by our Discord and reach out here with questions.

Lex chats with Siddharth Batra, Co-founder at X1 Card, about his experience in technology and software development. X1 is a FinTech company that has created a smart credit card and has become one of the top 100 credit cards in the US with a waitlist of 600,000 people. Together, they discuss how Sid has articulated his consumer product building learnings from his experience as head of engineering at Twitter to revolutionise the traditional credit card into a B2C financial super app. Touching on X1's growth strategy and how it is focused on a consumer product approach rather than traditional marketing techniques. This has allowed them to have a 10x better referral rate than traditional credit cards. MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION X1's website: https://bit.ly/3J9w404Sid's Linkedin profile: https://bit.ly/3ywr6Wh Topics: Fintech, paytech, artificial intelligence, consumer, credit, b2c, pfm Companies: X1, Twitter, Venmo, Apple, Robinhood ABOUT THE FINTECH BLUEPRINT 🔥Subscribe to the Fintech Blueprint newsletter to stay at the forefront of Fintech and DeFi: https://bit.ly/3hyhlC2 🤝 Partner with Fintech Blueprint through sponsorships: https://bit.ly/3UZllsV 👉 Twitter: https://twitter.com/LexSokolin TIMESTAMPS 1’36”: Sid’s foundational experiences in technology & what laid the groundwork for his career 8’49”: Using Stanford and network thereof as the launchpad to becoming a startup founder 11’52”: Joining Twitter and learning about consumer behaviour and consumer’s relationship with social media content 15’43”: How building consumer products at Twitter formed the basis for the articulation towards Fintech 17’13”: X1 - what it is, how it started, what is a smart card, what is the software that differentiates it from competitors and the volume growth since its inception 25’38”: X1’s feature set, issuing bank, its underlying regulatory structure, and the underwriting credit policy for users 29’02”: X1’s economics and the crucial component to X1’s success vs the likes of Apple Card 33’21”: The winning formula - creating a step function better product for X1’s prime audience and then offering rich feature sets 37’10”: X1’s long term ambitions and why they are positioned better relative to other Fintechs in the market 42’13”: Channels to use to connect with Sid & learn more about X1 Disclaimer here — this newsletter does not provide investment advice and represents solely the views and opinions of FINTECH BLUEPRINT LTD.Contributors: Lex, Laurence, Matt, Farhad, Mike, DaniellaWant to discuss? Stop by our Discord and reach out here with questions.

Lex interviews Hristo Borisov, CEO and co-founder of Payhawk, a leader in B2B payments and expense management. Together, they discuss the evolution of product development, from mobile apps to platforms that solve customer problems. Touching on the 2017 trend of chatbots and the practical uses of this technology today via ChatGPT. Additionally, Hristo expands on the company he founded in 2018 - Payhawk, a Fintech company that automates financial functions for businesses, highlighting the importance of understanding customer problems and iterating solutions to validate and prototype them. MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION Payhawk's website: https://bit.ly/3ZjfCRMHristo's Linkedin profile: https://bit.ly/3ETjWiv Topics: fintech, payments, credit, ERP, SaaS, cloud, AI, platform, API, financial ecosystem, chatbots Companies: Payhawk, Telerik, Progress Software, DarwinAI, Progress NativeChat, Brex, Ramp, ChatGPT ABOUT THE FINTECH BLUEPRINT 🔥Subscribe to the Fintech Blueprint newsletter to stay at the forefront of Fintech and DeFi: https://bit.ly/3hyhlC2 🤝 Partner with Fintech Blueprint through sponsorships: https://bit.ly/3UZllsV 👉 Twitter: https://twitter.com/LexSokolin TIMESTAMPS 1’28”: Hristo’s foundational experiences in technology & how he became a founder 4’03”: Telerik - A successful launchpad for entrepreneurs & startups 7’47”: Building a platform vs building a point solution & building for developers (customer segment) 12’35”: Building a system that generates chatbots - the experience, the motivations, and the outcome 19’10”: Payhawk - the idea, the execution, the main functions, how much money they have raised and what it is used for 24’44”: Payhawk’s customers - the types of customer, the engagement strategy, the go-to-market strategy, and your evolved approach to developers 29’12”: The journey of evolving the product/feature set to becoming the financial ecosystem for the CFO 34’04”: The adjacency of the software product and the underlying financial product & thinking about growth from a global vs regional perspective 39’04”: Channels to use to connect with Hristo & Payhawk Disclaimer here — this newsletter does not provide investment advice and represents solely the views and opinions of FINTECH BLUEPRINT LTD.Contributors: Lex, Laurence, Matt, Farhad, Mike, DaniellaWant to discuss? Stop by our Discord and reach out here with questions.