Brittany Kaiser, CEO of Alphaton Capital, whistleblower, and the subject of Netflix’s The Great Hack, joins to discuss the intersection of privacy, AI, and data sovereignty. Brittany, who has co-authored federal bills on data ownership and AI ethics, is now building a privacy-preserving AI infrastructure for Telegram’s 1+ billion users. In this conversation, she shares her journey from human rights law to technology, emphasizing the importance of protecting sensitive data while enabling innovation. Alphaton Capital focuses on privacy-preserving technologies, from enterprise AI infrastructure using Nvidia GPUs to decentralized applications on Telegram. Brittany explains how Cocoon AI, a privacy-first decentralized AI network, keeps all user data secure while enabling advanced AI functionality. She also highlights Vera Report, a blockchain-based platform that allows whistleblowers to report fraud, waste, and abuse safely and anonymously. With privacy, data ownership, and ethical AI at its core, Alphaton Capital is shaping the future of secure digital innovation, all while attracting institutional investors, hedge funds, and family offices excited about its enterprise-grade deployments and scalable infrastructure.
How Fintech Companies Make Money: Flutterwave
In this episode, Scarlett Sieber with Money 2020, breaks down how fintech companies actually make money. Scarlett spotlights Flutterwave, a payments platform transforming Africa’s digital economy by unifying dozens of payment systems across the continent. With mobile money, bank transfers, and cards all over the place, Flutterwave sits above the complexity to make payments seamless. Businesses can accept payments, make payouts, run online stores, and issue cards all through one platform. So how does Flutterwave monetize this? Through payment processing and merchant discount fees, FX and cross-border spreads, SaaS-style pricing on storefront and checkout tools, virtual card issuing fees, and enterprise APIs with volume-based pricing for global businesses expanding into African markets. Flutterwave has become one of the most recognized fintech brands across 30+ African markets, powering millions of consumers and tens of thousands of merchants, expanding into payouts, creator tools, commerce, and issuing. Its moat lies in deep local integrations, regulatory expertise, and a multi-product merchant stack built for a continent where infrastructure is far from standardized. In short, Flutterwave normalizes the chaos of payments, taking a slice of every transaction, and that’s how it makes money.
Markets & Fed Day: What Rising Rates & Oil Prices Mean for You
On this episode, Sarah Foster, U.S. economy reporter and analyst at Bankrate joins in, to break down the markets ahead of a key Federal Reserve policy meeting. Despite recent volatility, the markets are showing strength, but the big questions revolve around interest rates, inflation, and geopolitical risks, particularly the ongoing conflict in Iran. Sarah explains what to expect from Jerome Powell’s second-to-last press conference, the FOMC’s dot plot projections, and how these decisions could impact consumers and mortgage rates. Sarah also dives into oil price movements, explaining how rising West Texas and Brent crude prices affect both inflation and Americans at the pump. From market trends to real-world economic pressures, Sarah provides clear insights into what investors and everyday Americans should watch as Fed Day unfolds.
How Ireland Became a Global Hub for Tech, AI & Investment
Michael Lohan, CEO of IDA Ireland, joins us live from the New York Stock Exchange to discuss Ireland’s strong economic momentum and resilience in the face of global headwinds. Despite a challenging year marked by shifting trade dynamics and tariffs, Ireland achieved a record level of foreign direct investment, with 323 investments, the highest in the agency’s nearly 80-year history. This growth highlights the strength and diversity of Ireland’s economy, particularly across key sectors such as financial services, fintech, technology, and life sciences, where companies are increasingly embedding innovation and R&D into their operations.
The conversation also explores how Ireland is positioning itself for the future by focusing on emerging technologies like AI while maintaining a strong emphasis on human capital. With major global players such as Google, Microsoft, and newer entrants like OpenAI establishing a growing presence, Ireland continues to attract top-tier talent and investment. Through a combination of forward-looking education strategies, workforce upskilling, and significant infrastructure investment, the country is building a sustainable foundation for long-term economic growth, innovation, and global competitiveness.
How MoneyGram is Using Blockchain & Stablecoins to Transform Global Payments
Luke Tuttle, Chief Product and Technology Officer at MoneyGram International, joins us to discuss how blockchain and stablecoins are reshaping the future of global payments. With a presence in over 200 countries and decades of experience moving money worldwide, MoneyGram is now leveraging blockchain technology to deliver faster, more efficient, and lower-cost transactions. Luke explains how the evolution of digital assets alongside regulatory developments like the GENIUS Act is pushing established financial players to rethink their infrastructure, embrace innovation, and even disrupt their own legacy systems to stay competitive.
The conversation also dives into the complexities of operating at a global scale, particularly when it comes to compliance, regulation, and customer trust. From anti-money laundering (AML) to counter-terrorism financing (CFT), MoneyGram works closely with regulators across dozens of markets to ensure secure and seamless transactions. Despite this complexity, the company remains deeply focused on delivering a simple, frictionless user experience making it easy for customers to send money to loved ones around the world. By combining its regulatory expertise with a strong product-led approach, MoneyGram is positioning itself at the forefront of the next wave of financial innovation powered by blockchain and stablecoins.
Building the American Bowl: Scott Phillips on the Challenges and Triumphs
Scott Phillips, Executive Director and Owner of the American Bowl, joins Rick Horrow to discuss the American Bowl.
Scott shares his journey from playing football in high school and minor leagues to transitioning into the business world as a successful real estate agent. He eventually returns to his passion for football, taking on roles in scouting and coaching, including his work with the Hula Bowl. We explore the challenges he faced in establishing the American Bowl as a legitimate third All-Star game, including securing player commitments and navigating the complexities of working with agents.
One of the key takeaways from our discussion was Scott’s strategic approach to building the American Bowl, focusing on creating a reliable and professional experience for players and scouts alike. He emphasizes the importance of relationships within the NFL community and how those connections helped him attract talent to the game.
We also touch on the realities of running an All-Star game, including the financial challenges and the need for community support. Scott expresses his commitment to improving the event and ensuring that his team is compensated fairly for their hard work.
Finally, Scott shares his vision for the future of the American Bowl, aiming to solidify its place on the NFL calendar and continue fostering enthusiasm among players.
Unlocking Saudi Arabia: The Impact of QFI Removal on Global Investment
In this episode, we dive into the recent shifts in the Saudi Arabian capital markets, particularly the significant removal of the Qualified Foreign Investor (QFI) framework, which has opened up access for global financial institutions. Christopher Kelly, President & Co-founder of Dropp Group, joins Remy Blaire to provide valuable insights into why this change is crucial for foreign direct investment (FDI) in Saudi Arabia.
Chris explains that the removal of the QFI requirement is a key indicator of the region’s market transformation and aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. This vision not only focuses on national infrastructure projects but also aims to make valuable sovereign assets more accessible to a broader market.
We also discuss the evolving landscape of tokenization in finance, with Chris highlighting Saudi Arabia’s ambition to leapfrog traditional Western financial models by developing a tokenized infrastructure. He emphasizes the importance of regulatory frameworks in ensuring the safe transfer and trading of sovereign-grade assets.
As we explore the differences between the financial and regulatory environments in Saudi Arabia and the U.S., Chris shares how his firm is building a regulator-first financial infrastructure to facilitate this transition. He outlines their goal of driving FDI by tokenizing complex assets, making them investable for international markets.
Finally, we touch on the current volatility in the digital asset space and how major financial leaders are embracing tokenization as a means to connect real-world assets to financial markets.
Revolutionizing Cross-Border Payments: PayPal’s PYUSD Expansion
In this episode of Market Movers, we dive into the expansion of PayPal’s U.S. dollar-backed stablecoin, PYUSD, which is now being rolled out to 70 markets worldwide. May Zabaneh, SVP, GM of Crypto at PayPal, joins Remy Blaire to explain why this is the right moment for such a significant launch.
May highlights the growing demand for faster and cheaper cross-border money transfers, particularly for everyday consumers and small businesses. With traditional wire and remittance fees often eating into funds—ranging from 6 to 10%—PYUSD offers a more economical solution. Users can send money internationally at a one-to-one dollar value, allowing recipients to hold or convert it into local currency while also earning rewards.
We also discuss the impact of PYUSD on small and medium-sized businesses, which often face liquidity challenges due to slow fund settlement times. By accepting PYUSD, these businesses can access their funds more quickly, enhancing their operational efficiency and profitability.
Another key point was the importance of seamless conversion from PYUSD to local currencies, which PayPal is committed to improving as they expand functionality in newly supported markets. May emphasizes that trust is crucial in finance, and the regulatory backing of PYUSD as a U.S. federally regulated stablecoin is vital for driving global adoption.
Navigating Oil Prices: Insights on the Middle East Conflict and Global Economies
Ken Wattret, VP, Global Economics at S&P Global Market Intelligence, joins Remy Blaire to provide valuable insights into the current energy market dynamics. We delve into the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and its impact on global oil prices, which remain elevated despite recent governmental interventions.
We discuss the recent coordinated release of oil reserves by the U.S. and the International Energy Agency, and whether these measures are sufficient to alleviate the supply issues, particularly in the Strait of Hormuz. Ken emphasizes that the persistent high oil prices indicate that more clarity is needed regarding the conflict’s resolution.
As we approach a significant week for global central banks, including the ECB, BOE, BOJ and the Federal Reserve, we explore the potential mechanisms policymakers might employ to stabilize prices. Ken highlights the distinction between fiscal and monetary responses, noting that while some governments are already taking steps to mitigate the impact of rising energy costs, central banks are likely to remain cautious until they gather more information on inflation and labor market conditions.
We also examine the varying implications of the energy crisis for different economies, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region, where many countries are heavily reliant on energy imports from the Middle East. Ken points out that while some economies may face negative impacts from higher energy prices, others, particularly net energy exporters, could benefit from increased export revenues.
Finally, we look ahead to the upcoming Federal Reserve meeting, where no change in interest rates is expected. Ken shares that the market’s reaction will hinge on whether Fed Chair Jerome Powell emphasizes inflation risks or labor market concerns in his upcoming speech.
Market Insights: Fed’s Stance and Oil Price Dynamics Amid Middle East Tensions
Eric Criscuolo, a Market Strategist at the New York Stock Exchange, joins Remy Blaire to delve into the current state of the markets and the anticipated remarks from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell following the Fed’s decision to keep the benchmark Fed funds rate unchanged. With the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and rising oil prices, we explore how these factors are influencing investor sentiment and the broader U.S. economy.
We discuss the volatility in stock futures and the critical role that oil prices play in market movements. Eric highlights that the market is closely watching developments in the Strait of Hormuz, as any changes there could significantly impact oil flow and prices.
We also touch on the upcoming Q&A session with Powell, where we expect questions about inflation expectations and the central bank’s economic projections. Eric shares insights on how the market is reacting to recent tech developments, including Nvidia’s ambitious plans for GPU chips and the potential layoffs at major tech companies like Meta.
As we look ahead to the upcoming earnings season, we discuss various price targets and the mixed opinions among strategists regarding commodities like gold and silver, as well as the performance of Bitcoin. With geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainties, we emphasize the importance of monitoring these developments closely.