Remy Blaire engages in a compelling discussion with Georgios Vlachos, the co-founder of Axelar, live from the New York Stock Exchange. The conversation centers around the critical role of blockchain infrastructure in the burgeoning world of stablecoins, trading venues, and yield strategies.
“As more of this infrastructure is coming on chain, I expect traditional applications that take payments to also launch their own stable coins.” – 02:26
Remy opens the episode by highlighting the increasing popularity of stablecoins and the necessity for high-speed blockchain infrastructure to support their growth. Georgios explains that Axelar is building a framework to connect various blockchains, likening each blockchain to a personal computer while Axelar serves as the internet that facilitates the transfer of value and information across these independent systems. He emphasizes the importance of this infrastructure in addressing the fragmentation prevalent in the blockchain ecosystem, particularly as more stablecoins are launched across different platforms.
As the discussion progresses, Georgios shares his insights on the trend of companies launching their own stablecoins. He believes this trend will accelerate, as businesses seek to avoid the high costs associated with traditional banking. By creating their own stablecoins, companies can act as their own banks, thus eliminating the need to pay fees to existing stablecoin providers. Georgios anticipates that hundreds of stablecoins will emerge, each tailored to specific applications, as the infrastructure for on-chain solutions continues to develop.
Remy and Georgios also explore the differences between traditional financial institutions and smaller retailers in the context of launching stablecoins. Georgios notes that the process has become remarkably straightforward, with platforms enabling users to create their own stablecoins in just a day, while maintaining control over customization and revenue flows.
Looking ahead, the conversation shifts to the potential for innovation and growth in the retail market for stablecoins. Georgios expresses his belief that the key to driving adoption in the crypto industry lies in the opportunities for users to earn money on-chain. He points out that trading and yield generation have been the primary motivators for crypto engagement over the past decade. Georgios highlights Axelar’s recent launch of a product for XRP, which allows users to earn up to 10% simply by holding and depositing their assets into the protocol. He envisions a future where tokenized equities, such as Nvidia and Tesla stocks, can also generate yield, further incentivizing user participation in blockchain technology.