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Wrap Up

Sam Boboev

Conversation about finance, tech, AI, and crypto

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Friday · 30 min
Why AI Won’t Replace Banking Software Yet - Chris Walters (CEO, Finastra)
Why AI Won’t Replace Banking Software Yet - Chris Walters (CEO, Finastra) Can an AI agent release a $10 million payment? In this episode of WRAP UP, I sit down with Chris Walters, CEO of Finastra, to discuss where AI is creating real value for banks and where the industry needs to slow down. Chris explains why high-stakes payment decisions still need human oversight, how Finastra’s Global PAYplus platform directs around $7 trillion in payments each day, and why deterministic banking systems will remain essential even as AI becomes more capable. We also discuss Finastra’s decision to narrow its focus to lending and payments, AI-powered payment investigations and repairs, the future of stablecoins in corporate payments, open-weight versus frontier AI models, and why banks should prepare now for tighter AI regulation. Chris makes the case that the future is not AI replacing banking software. It is AI working alongside modern systems, better processes, and human controls. We also cover: Why banks should not let AI agents autonomously release major payments How Finastra’s Operator Assist can reduce the time spent investigating and repairing failed payments Why AI needs audit trails and controls before regulation catches up Whether banks and banking-tech providers are becoming too dependent on OpenAI and Anthropic Open-weight models, rising AI costs, and using the right model for the right task Why AI-native competitors will not necessarily win by adding AI to every part of banking How modern software, better processes, and AI can each drive efficiency Stablecoins, crypto and new payment rails in corporate payments Why Finastra sees Visa, Mastercard and Stripe as potential collaborators as well as competitors How AI could help banks move away from legacy technology faster _________ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sirojboboev/ Newsletter: https://www.fintechwrapup.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wrapuppodcast/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrapuppodcast X: https://x.com/samboboev
August 28 · 32 min
How AI agents will search and buy premium content - Michael Blau (Founder, Drip)
AI agents are becoming a new customer for creators. They can search, compare sources and act on information. The unresolved question is how they access trusted research and pay for it without relying on scraped content or pushing creators into another race to the bottom. In this episode of the WRAP UP, I sit down with Michael Blau, founder of Drip, to discuss the emerging infrastructure behind machine-to-machine content payments. Drip gives AI agents a way to discover and purchase premium financial newsletters, podcast research and specialist analysis. We unpack why financial research is an early use case for this model. An agent analysing a company, sector or trade does not need a full media subscription. It may need one analyst’s view, a historical newsletter archive or a specific data point. That creates a new commercial model for independent publishers: make their work available to agents and earn when it is actually used. We also discuss what this means for the economics of the creator business, the role of protocols such as x402 and MCP, and why payment, permissions and attribution need to work together before agentic research can scale. In this conversation: Why Drip began with independent financial publishers How AI agents can discover and pay for premium research The role of stablecoins in machine-to-machine payments What x402 and MCP enable in an agentic content economy Why back catalogues may become valuable assets for creators How pay-per-use could sit alongside traditional subscriptions Why stock research is an early test case for agentic content payments Whether AI-generated research should compete in the same marketplace How creators can control access to their work and retain attribution Why specialised analysts may become more valuable as agents look for reliable context The conversation goes beyond the creator economy. It is about a basic question for the internet: when software can consume information and make purchases, who gets paid, how is trust established, and what changes when the buyer is an agent rather than a person? LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sirojboboev/ Newsletter: https://www.fintechwrapup.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wrapuppodcast/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrapuppodcast X: https://x.com/samboboev
August 21 · 33 min
Why Banks Spend $60 Billion a Year on Core Banking - Martin Della Chiesa, (CEO,Skaleet)
Banks spend more than $60 billion a year on core banking, yet much of the industry still runs on decades-old technology. In this episode of the WRAP UP, I sit down with Martin Della Chiesa, CEO of Skaleet, to discuss why replacing legacy core banking systems remains so difficult and how cloud-native, modular and real-time infrastructure is changing the market. We discuss why the biggest competitor for next-generation core banking providers is often the status quo, why major migrations can still take 18–24 months, and how modern platforms can help banks and fintechs launch new products in as little as six months. We also get into AI and agentic commerce. Martin explains why banks cannot fully take advantage of AI agents if their underlying infrastructure is not API-based and real-time, how AI could make legacy migrations easier, and why Skaleet is building infrastructure that could allow AI agents to trigger payments on behalf of customers. We cover: Why core banking remains such a fragmented market Legacy systems vs next-generation core banking Why banks keep postponing core modernization Modular architecture and faster product launches The real cost and complexity of core migrations AI agents and the future of payments Why real-time infrastructure matters for agentic commerce How AI could help banks understand and replace legacy code The three things banks should evaluate when choosing a core banking provider Why an 800-row RFP spreadsheet may be the wrong way to choose banking technology A practical conversation about the infrastructure sitting behind modern financial services and what has to change as banking moves into the AI era. _________ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sirojboboev/ Newsletter: https://www.fintechwrapup.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wrapuppodcast/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrapuppodcast X: https://x.com/samboboev
August 14 · 28 min
Can Stablecoins Really Compete With Visa and Mastercard? - Jess Houlgrave (CEO, WalletConnect)
Why would someone pay with stablecoins when they already have a Visa or Mastercard? Jess Houlgrave, CEO of WalletConnect, joins me to discuss where stablecoin payments make sense and what is holding them back. WalletConnect works with around 700 wallets and 80,000 applications, reaching about 800 million end users. Around $400 billion in value moved through the network last year. The company is now pushing further into payments with WalletConnect Pay. We get into the competition between stablecoins and cards, including the fees merchants pay and the challenge of getting consumers to change how they pay. Jess explains why stablecoins can work well for cross-border payments and markets where card costs are high. We also discuss whether stablecoins are truly global and whether the market needs so many different stablecoins. The conversation then moves to AI agents. Jess explains why stablecoins could work well for small AI payments and why moving money is only one part of a payment. Compliance and security still need to be handled. We also discuss what happens to Visa and Mastercard if stablecoin payments continue to grow, and what merchants should consider before adding crypto payments. We cover: Why merchants would accept stablecoins when cards already work Same-hour and same-day settlement and the impact on merchant working capital Stablecoins vs Visa, Mastercard, PIX and Faster Payments Whether stablecoins are actually global Why emerging markets are seeing strong stablecoin demand Whether the market needs hundreds of different stablecoins What stablecoins could mean for card network pricing Why payments require more than moving money from A to B Stablecoins, AI agents and micropayments How AI agents could buy products and services on our behalf What merchants should look for when choosing a stablecoin payment provider A practical conversation about where stablecoins genuinely improve payments, where existing rails remain stronger, and how the two could coexist. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sirojboboev/ Newsletter: https://www.fintechwrapup.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wrapuppodcast/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrapuppodcast X: https://x.com/samboboev
August 7 · 32 min
The Stablecoin Stack Every Fintech Will Eventually Build - Bentzi Rabi (CEO, Utila)
Stablecoins are getting all the attention. But there's another layer most people ignore: the infrastructure that actually holds, secures, and moves digital assets. In this episode of the WRAP UP podcast, I sit down with Bentzi Rabi, Co-Founder and CEO of Utila, to discuss why institutional wallet infrastructure is becoming one of the most important parts of the digital asset ecosystem. We explore why key management is only the beginning, how operational controls and risk management become critical at scale, and why many fintechs will eventually move away from all-in-one providers to build and control their own stablecoin infrastructure. We also discuss: Why holding digital assets is harder than moving them MPC vs multisig for institutional security The biggest operational risks in stablecoin infrastructure Why fintechs eventually build their own stablecoin stack Fireblocks vs the new generation of wallet providers Gas management, policy engines, and transaction automation Why regulation is changing wallet infrastructure Mastercard's acquisition of BVNK and what it means for the market Why every fintech may soon become a blockchain company If you work in fintech, payments, banking, crypto infrastructure, or digital assets, this episode explains the technology powering the next generation of money. Subscribe for more conversations with the leaders building the future of finance. ___________ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sirojboboev/ Newsletter: https://www.fintechwrapup.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wrapuppodcast/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrapuppodcast X: https://x.com/samboboev
July 31 · 29 min
Why Amazon, Shopify & Stripe Are Becoming the New Banks - Jakob Pethick (CCO, YouLend)
Most business owners still think of banks when they need financing. That is quickly changing. In this episode of the WRAP UP Podcast, I sit down with Jakob Pethick, Chief Commercial Officer at YouLend, to explore why lending is moving directly into the software businesses already use every day. We discuss how platforms such as Amazon, Shopify, eBay, Stripe, Worldpay and many others are embedding financial products into their ecosystems, allowing merchants to access funding without ever speaking to a bank. We also dive into: Why embedded lending is growing so quickly How YouLend powers lending behind major platforms Why banks are losing distribution to software companies The role of AI and machine learning in credit underwriting How open banking is transforming risk assessment Why platforms—not banks—may become the primary distribution channel for financial services The future of embedded finance over the next five years If you’re building in fintech, banking, payments, SaaS or embedded finance, this conversation offers a behind-the-scenes look at where business lending is heading next.
July 24 · 32 min
How AI agents will change payments, commerce, and fraud - Amir Sarhangi (CEO, Skyfire)
What happens when AI agents stop recommending products and start buying them for you? In this episode of WRAP UP podcast, I sit down with Amir Sarhangi, CEO of Skyfire, to explore what the rise of the machine economy means for payments, banking, and e-commerce. As AI agents become capable of searching, comparing, negotiating, and completing purchases autonomously, entirely new questions emerge around identity, trust, fraud, and payments. One of the biggest challenges is simple: How do you know an AI agent is acting on behalf of a real person? Amir explains the concept of Know Your Agent (KYA), why AI agents need their own digital identity, and how merchants can distinguish legitimate AI agents from malicious bots. We also discuss why stablecoins and micropayments could become the preferred payment rails for AI-to-AI transactions, why traditional payment infrastructure struggles with autonomous commerce, and what merchants, banks, and card issuers should be doing today to prepare for a future where software increasingly becomes the customer. In this episode: What the machine economy actually is Why AI agents need a digital identity (Know Your Agent) How AI agents will make purchases on your behalf Why stablecoins are well suited for AI commerce The role of micropayments in the agent economy How Skyfire enables AI agents to access websites and make payments What merchants should do to prepare for AI customers How banks and card issuers should adapt The biggest fraud and security risks in agentic commerce Why AI-powered shopping is closer than most people think If you work in fintech, payments, banking, AI, or e-commerce, this conversation explains the infrastructure needed to make autonomous commerce secure, trusted, and scalable. ____ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sirojboboev/ Newsletter: https://www.fintechwrapup.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wrapuppodcast/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrapuppodcast X: https://x.com/samboboev
July 17 · 42 min
The Real Reason Banks Aren't Seeing Results From AI - Charbel Safadi (CEO, Zafin)
JPMorgan invests over $2 billion annually. Morgan Stanley predicts 200,000 banking jobs could disappear by 2030. Yet MIT research suggests most organizations still struggle to generate measurable value from AI. So what is really happening? In this episode of the WRAP UP podcast, I sit down with Charbel Safadi, CEO of Zafin, to discuss the future of AI in banking, why most AI initiatives fail, and how banks can move beyond experimentation into production. We cover: • Whether AI is hype or a genuine transformation • Why banks are struggling to achieve ROI from AI • The prediction that 200,000 banking jobs could disappear • How AI changes jobs rather than simply replacing them • Zafin’s new AI Operating System (AIOS) • Why banks need an “airport” for AI agents, not just more AI tools • AI governance, compliance, and accountability in regulated industries • How banks should think about OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini, and open-source models • The future of autonomous AI agents inside financial institutions • Why proof of work may become critical for enterprise AI adoption One of the most interesting takeaways was Charbel’s argument that AI is not primarily a technology challenge. It is an operating model challenge. Organizations that redesign how work gets done will benefit. Those that simply add AI tools to existing processes may struggle to see meaningful results. What do you think? Will AI create more opportunities in banking, or are the predictions about job losses correct? ____ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sirojboboev/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wrapuppodcast/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrapuppodcast X: https://x.com/samboboev
July 10 · 33 min
AI Agents Are About to Change Payments Operations - David Rosa (General Manager, Rapyd)
Stablecoins. AI agents. Cross-border payments. The future of money is changing faster than most companies realize. In this episode of the WRAP UP podcast, I sit down with David Rosa, General Manager at Rapyd, to discuss one of the biggest transformations happening across financial services today. We explore the launch of OpenUSD and what it means for the stablecoin market, why Rapyd believes stablecoins are solving real-world payment problems, and how AI is already reshaping the economics of payments businesses. David also explains how Rapyd uses AI to onboard merchants, automate internal operations, improve decision-making, and why he believes many traditional jobs will inevitably change as AI adoption accelerates. We also discuss: • OpenUSD and the future of stablecoins • Whether stablecoins can challenge traditional payment rails • AI agents and autonomous payments • Why Visa and Mastercard are paying attention • MiCA regulation and its impact on crypto businesses • Real-time payments and cross-border infrastructure • Why emerging markets may be affected most by AI disruption • How Rapyd is rebuilding operations around AI • The biggest mistakes businesses make in payments today David oversees AI Transformation, FX, Payouts, and Platform Solutions at Rapyd, one of the world’s leading fintech companies powering global commerce and payments. Subscribe for more conversations with CEOs, founders, regulators, and executives shaping the future of fintech, payments, banking, crypto, AI, and financial infrastructure.
July 3 · 21 min
The stablecoin neobank challenging Revolut - Raagulan Pathy (CEO, KAST)
In this episode of the WRAP UP podcast, I sit down with Raagulan Pathy, Founder & CEO of KAST and former Vice President at Circle . While most companies in crypto and stablecoins are focused on infrastructure, Raagulan believes the biggest opportunity lies elsewhere: building products for end users. We discuss why he left Circle to launch Kast, a stablecoin-powered neobank serving customers in more than 150 countries, how stablecoins are changing global banking, and why traditional banks struggle to serve digital nomads, remote workers, and globally mobile individuals. Topics covered: • Why Raagulan left Circle to start Kast • The vision behind a stablecoin neobank • Can stablecoins compete with Revolut and traditional banks? • Banking for digital nomads and global citizens • Stablecoin adoption around the world • The future of stablecoin cards and payments • Why consolidation is coming to the stablecoin industry • The impact of MiCA and the GENIUS Act • Credit, wealth management, and tokenized assets • Where the next wave of fintech innovation will come from Raagulan also shares his perspective on the future of financial services, the biggest opportunities in stablecoins, and why owning the customer relationship matters more than building infrastructure. Subscribe for more conversations with founders, CEOs, regulators, and operators shaping the future of fintech, payments, banking, AI, and digital assets. _____ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sirojboboev/ Newsletter: https://www.fintechwrapup.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wrapuppodcast/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrapuppodcast X: https://x.com/samboboev
June 26 · 31 min
Why payments infrastructure is a moat, not a commodity - Myles Stephenson (CEO, Modulr)
I sat down with Myles Stephenson, CEO of Modulr, to talk through how the company evolved from powering early Revolut t to building a full-stack payments automation platform serving lenders, payroll providers, and travel companies. Modulr made a deliberate call two years ago to stop being a horizontal BaaS provider and go deep on specific verticals. They hold an EMI licence, settle at the Bank of England, and have direct scheme access and Myles argues that gives them everything they need without the overhead of a banking licence. The business model is flow, not storage, which means transaction revenue drives profitability, not interest margin. We get into: Why Modulr walked away from the embedded finance land grab to double down on payments automation How their EMI licence gives them everything they need (and why they don’t want a banking licence) The US expansion with FIS and what real-time payment adoption actually looks like across markets Why the US is behind on real-time payments and what it will actually take to change behaviour Commercial VRP and whether open banking can ever dent direct debit Stablecoins vs. tokenized deposits — and how a non-bank positions for both How Modulr built a compliance hub with Sardine and where AI fits into fraud and operations How Modulr reached profitability, and why the answer is flow, not interest margin What’s on the roadmap: ACH in the US, foreign currency, and commercial VRP as a collections layer Modulr’s bet is simple: own the infrastructure, stay focused on payments, and let the applications follow. Whether that thesis holds in the US is the real test.
June 19 · 19 min
Why Stripe bet on AI agents and stablecoins - Neetika Bansal, (Business Lead, Stripe)
This is my first-ever in-person episode, recorded live at Stripe Tour London. I sat down with Neetika Bansal, Business Lead for Connect, Money Management, and Crypto at Stripe. We covered a lot of ground: why Stripe doesn’t have its own stablecoin, what Stripe Treasury actually means for global startups, how AI agents are starting to transact at scale, and where the real stablecoin volume is coming from. Here’s what we got into: Why Stripe built an open stablecoin issuance platform instead of launching its own coin Stripe Treasury: multi-currency accounts, stablecoin balances, and paying contractors worldwide The machine payments protocol and Link AI wallet x402 protocol hitting 100M cumulative transactions and what that signals How companies like Meta, Felix, and Deel are using stablecoins for real economic activity Fraud, disputes, and trust in a world where AI agents transact faster than humans How Stripe is managing 300+ product launches across Bridge, Privy, and its core platform Advice for founders building global-from-day-one companies on how to think about money movement Neetika’s take on where agentic commerce goes in five years is worth listening to closely. _____ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sirojboboev/ Newsletter: https://www.fintechwrapup.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wrapuppodcast/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrapuppodcast X: https://x.com/samboboev
June 12 · 26 min
AI just killed your banking career or gave it a second life - Tim Rutten (CMO, Backbase)
Banks are not being replaced by AI. They are being rebuilt around it. Tim Rutten, Chief Marketing Officer at Backbase, joins me to break down what that actually means for your career and for the industry. Jamie Dimon wants fewer bankers and more AI builders. But what does that really mean for the thousands of finance professionals already in the workforce? Tim gives a more nuanced read, and it is not the doomsday story the headlines are selling. We also get into the difference between machine learning, generative AI, and agentic AI in a banking context, how Backbase’s AI-native banking OS handles governance and auditability in a regulated environment, who is liable when an AI agent makes a mistake, and why token cost management is one of the most underrated problems in agentic banking. If you work in banking or are thinking about entering the industry, this one is worth your time. _____ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sirojboboev/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wrapuppodcast/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrapuppodcast X: https://x.com/samboboev
June 5 · 34 min
Why Adyen, Stripe, and PayPal still can't fix global payments - Davi Strazza (CBO, Lightspark)
In this episode, I sit down with Davi Strazza, Chief Business Officer at Lightspark and former President of North America at Adyen, to discuss why traditional payment infrastructure remains broken despite decades of innovation—and how Lightspark is using Bitcoin, Lightning, stablecoins, and AI to build a new financial network. We cover: Why 15% of online transactions still fail The limitations of SWIFT and traditional payment rails How Lightspark connects RTP, FedNow, PIX, UPI, and SEPA Instant Why Bitcoin is becoming a transport layer for money movement The role of stablecoins in global finance Lightspark's new Grid Global Accounts product How AI agents will make payments and manage money autonomously The future of machine-to-machine commerce If you're interested in payments, fintech, stablecoins, digital banking, or agentic commerce, this conversation is packed with insights. ____ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sirojboboev/ Newsletter: https://www.fintechwrapup.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wrapuppodcast/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrapuppodcast X: https://x.com/samboboev
May 29 · 29 min
Banks are about to lose their monopoly on money - Keith Grose (Coinbase UK CEO)
In this episode of the WRAP UP Podcast, I sit down with Coinbase UK CEO Keith Grose to discuss why stablecoins, tokenized assets, and blockchain infrastructure are starting to move from the edge of finance into the core of the global financial system. We discuss why the UK is becoming one of Coinbase’s most important markets, how stablecoins could reshape cross-border payments and treasury operations, and why banks, PSPs, and fintechs are suddenly taking on-chain finance seriously. Keith also breaks down: • Why the US is currently ahead in stablecoins • Why the UK may have a regulatory advantage over Europe • How Coinbase Borrow works • Why tokenized stocks and bonds are coming faster than people expect • Why AI agents could eventually manage portfolios and move money autonomously • How Coinbase plans to expand beyond crypto trading into a much broader financial platform One of the most interesting parts of the conversation was Keith explaining that the future customer experience may look exactly the same on the surface, while the entire backend of finance quietly moves on-chain. If stablecoins, tokenization, AI finance, and the future of banking interest you, this episode is packed with insights. LinkedIn:⁠ https://www.linkedin.com/in/sirojboboev/⁠ Instagram:⁠ https://www.instagram.com/wrapuppodcast/⁠ Tiktok:⁠ https://www.tiktok.com/@wrapuppodcast⁠ X:⁠https://x.com/samboboev⁠
May 22 · 31 min
Banks are still fighting AI fraud with yesterday’s playbook - Tyler Allen (CEO, Unit21)
In this episode of the WRAP UP Podcast, I speak with Tyler Allen, CEO of Unit21, about why AI agents may become one of the most important tools in the fight against financial crime. Tyler explains why traditional rules-based systems and machine learning models are no longer enough as fraud becomes faster, more automated, and more sophisticated. He also breaks down how AI agents can help compliance and fraud teams review alerts, investigate suspicious activity, reduce false positives, and respond to financial crime in real time. The conversation also explores the future of “Know Your Agent,” AI-powered fraud decisioning, agent registries, regulatory readiness, and whether financial institutions are ready to trust AI with high-stakes compliance work. In this episode, we discuss: - Why financial crime is becoming harder to fight - How AI is changing fraud and AML operations - Why traditional machine learning is not enough - The role of human-in-the-loop reviews - How AI agents can reduce investigation time - The future of Know Your Agent - Whether regulators are ready for AI decision-making - Why compliance teams may become AI-native faster than expected Watch the full episode to understand how AI agents could reshape fraud prevention, AML, and financial crime compliance. ____ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sirojboboev/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wrapuppodcast/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrapuppodcast X:https://x.com/samboboev
May 15 · 27 min
Why every company will launch its own stablecoin - Sam Broner (CEO, The Better Money Company)
What happens when every bank, fintech, and enterprise launches its own stablecoin? In this episode of the WRAP UP Podcast, I sit down with Sam Broner, the CEO of The Better Money Company, a former investor at Andreessen Horowitz, and a former engineer at Microsoft, to discuss why he left venture capital to build a stablecoin company. Sam is building what he calls a stablecoin clearinghouse infrastructure that allows banks, fintechs, and payment companies to swap between stablecoins at guaranteed 1:1 pricing, without relying on thin market liquidity or costly trading venues. We discuss: - Why stablecoin infrastructure has been built primarily for trading, not payments - How a stablecoin clearinghouse works - Why large companies are launching custom branded stablecoins - The economics behind stablecoin issuance - Stablecoins vs CBDCs - Why stablecoins may become the default payment rail for AI agents - What Sam learned moving from investor to founder One of the most important takeaways from this conversation is that the future of money may look less like a handful of dominant stablecoins and more like thousands of interoperable digital dollars issued by banks, fintechs, and enterprises. Better Money Company is building the infrastructure to make that possible. ____ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sirojboboev/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wrapuppodcast/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrapuppodcast X: https://x.com/samboboev
May 8 · 29 min
The real reason cross-border payments stay expensive - David Messenger (CEO of Global Businesses, Pingpong Payments)
In this episode of the WRAP UP Podcast, I sit down with David Messenger, CEO of Global Businesses at Pingpong Payments, to unpack what really happens behind cross-border payments and why moving money globally is still far more complex than most businesses realize. We explore how global payments infrastructure is evolving beyond simple money movement into a full-stack ecosystem of compliance, FX, treasury, local rails, and embedded financial workflows. David shares how PingPong Payments quietly built one of the world’s largest cross-border payment networks with 70+ licenses, 200+ banking partnerships, and operations across more than 40 offices globally. We also discuss: • Why compliance and risk are the real foundation of cross-border payments • How AI is reshaping onboarding, transaction monitoring, routing, and product development • Why fintechs and banks are moving toward collaboration instead of competition • The hidden complexity behind FX, treasury, and multi-currency collections • Where stablecoins actually fit into enterprise payments today • Why geographic coverage and banking relationships are harder to replicate than product features • How embedded finance is evolving from “invisible payments” into industry-specific infrastructure One of the most interesting parts of the conversation was David’s perspective on how enterprise customers increasingly want hybrid solutions that combine the balance sheet strength of banks with the agility and customization of fintech infrastructure. If you work in payments, fintech, marketplaces, global commerce, or treasury, this episode offers a practical look into how cross-border financial infrastructure is actually being built behind the scenes.
May 2 · 28 min
Agentic commerce won’t start with shopping - Noah Levine, (Partner, a16z)
In this episode of the WRAP UP Podcast, I sit down with Noah Levine, Partner at @a16z , to unpack one of the biggest emerging shifts in commerce: agentic commerce. We explore why agent-led transactions are not just about AI buying shoes or booking flights on behalf of consumers, but about a much deeper change in how commerce infrastructure may work. Noah explains why the near-term opportunity may be less about traditional shopping and more about developers, AI tools, APIs, data providers, and a new class of “headless merchants” built for agents rather than humans. We also discuss how checkout could change when agents become buyers, why storefronts may slowly give way to endpoints, how merchants will compete when agents care more about APIs, documentation, price, and reliability than brand experience, and what this means for customer acquisition, loyalty, and discovery. The conversation goes deeper into the role of card networks, stablecoins, payment tokenization, liability, fraud, and settlement. Noah shares why he believes card networks are well positioned in an agentic world, how stablecoins could modernize backend settlement, and why new payment models may emerge for merchants that are too small, too new, or too fragmented for traditional underwriting. We close by looking at the broader impact of AI on financial services, including more accessible investing, AI-powered financial products, and the possibility that change in finance may happen slower than many expect because trust, habits, and money are hard to disrupt. A thoughtful conversation on what happens when commerce becomes less visible, more programmable, and increasingly shaped by agents rather than humans.

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