Show Notes
Presented by Stablecon; Powered by BVNK. In episode 17 of Money Code, hosts Chuk Okpalugo and Raj Parekh are joined by Jess Houlgrave, CEO at WalletConnect. They use the recent Ingenico partnership to unpack what it really takes to scale stablecoin payments at the physical checkout: incentives that move behavior, compliant routing from on-chain to fiat, UX that feels like Web2, and privacy constraints that shape whether merchants and consumers will ever choose on-chain settlement.
Subscribe and listen to the Money Code podcast here: https://lnk.to/MoneyCodeSN
Chapters 01:08 WalletConnect as the “messaging layer” between apps and wallets 02:49 Why crypto checkout feels wrong and what WalletConnect Pay changes 04:34 The coffee shop walkthrough: QR, wallets, assets, chains 07:40 Where funds go after on-chain payment: transit accounts and off-ramps 10:03 The supply-side reality: merchants, acquirers, and incentives to enable 14:42 Which merchants care first: luxury, cross-border, LATAM QR familiarity 19:18 Why B2C is harder 25:38 Incentives and “on-chain interchange” to shift consumer behavior 35:15 Privacy: why transparent ledgers collide with payment norms 38:19 The end-state: tap-like UX and settlement routing users never see
Connect with the Hosts & Guest Chuk Okpalugo: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chuk-okpalugo/ | https://x.com/chuk_xyz/ | http://stablecoinblueprint.com Raj Parekh: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rajparekh7/ | https://x.com/rajparekh | http://monad.xyz Jess Houlgrave: https://www.linkedin.com/in/houlgrave/ | https://x.com/Houlgrave | https://walletconnect.network/ About Money Code Money Code is the show that decodes stablecoins and the evolution of programmable money for builders, investors, and decision-makers. Each week, join hosts Chuk Okpalugo, Author of Stablecoin Blueprint and Raj Parekh, Head of Payments/Stablecoins at Monad Foundation as they break down the systems and strategies of seasoned operators in the space, revealing the insights you need for better build and buy decisions. About Stablecon Stablecon (https://stablecon.com/) is the premier gathering for those at the intersection of DeFi, economic policy, financial infrastructure, and institutional integration, and those reinventing global commerce. By convening the brightest minds in fintech and crypto, Stablecon provides attendees with world class thought leadership and fosters unparalleled networking and strategic collaboration across the digital payments industry. Whether you’re building, advising, or navigating this new frontier, this is the room where it happens. About BVNK BVNK is the leading provider of stablecoin payments infrastructure, helping businesses move money faster, settle globally, and even launch their own stablecoin products. Head to https://bvnk.com/ to learn more.
More from Money Code
In this episode of Money Code, Sanjib Kalita sits down with Maggie Wu, CEO and co-founder of VelaFi, to discuss the challenges of cross-border payments in Latin America and how stablecoins can help businesses move money faster and at lower cost.Maggie shares VelaFi's journey from Mexico to markets across Latin America, explaining how the company built its payment infrastructure around local licensing, banking relationships, and compliance. They also discuss the growing demand for stablecoin payments, why B2B businesses have a greater need for cross-border solutions, and what it takes to build financial infrastructure across multiple emerging markets.Subscribe and listen to the Money Code podcast here:https://lnk.to/MoneyCodeSN00:00 - Maggie Wu and the origins of VelaFi02:45 - From crypto investing to stablecoin payments04:50 - Why VelaFi started in Latin America07:20 - Building compliant cross-border payment infrastructure09:50 - How customer feedback shaped the product12:20 - Expanding across Latin American markets14:35 - Building local teams and maintaining compliance16:20 - Why VelaFi focuses on B2B payments18:45 - The growing demand for stablecoin payments21:10 - Why emerging markets are adopting stablecoins23:35 - VelaFi’s competitive advantage25:35 - Growth, fundraising, and scaling the business27:55 - Maggie’s journey as an entrepreneur29:45 - What’s next: AI and building with agentsConnect with our Host and Guest: Sanjib Kalita: linkedin.com/in/sanjibkalitaMaggie Wu: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maggie-wu-164a0797/About StableconStablecon (https://stablecon.com/) is the premier gathering for those at the intersection of DeFi, economic policy, financial infrastructure, and institutional integration, and those reinventing global commerce. By convening the brightest minds in fintech and crypto, Stablecon provides attendees with world class thought leadership and fosters unparalleled networking and strategic collaboration across the digital payments industry. Whether you're building, advising, or navigating this new frontier, this is the room where it happens.
In this episode of Money Code, host Sanjib Kalita sits down with Shan Aggarwal, Chief Business Officer and Head of Investor Relations at Coinbase, to unpack where crypto, stablecoins, and traditional finance are heading next. They explore Coinbase’s vision for an open financial system built onchain and why stablecoins are becoming an increasingly important piece of financial infrastructure.The conversation also dives into tokenized assets, agentic commerce, and the rise of machine-to-machine payments. Shan explains why stablecoins could be particularly well suited for AI-driven transactions and what needs to happen for onchain finance to become more seamless, accessible, and interconnected.Subscribe and listen to the Money Code podcast here:https://lnk.to/MoneyCodeSN00:00 – Intro: Shan Aggarwal and Coinbase03:20 – From Venture Investing to Coinbase09:55 – Building a Global Crypto Platform12:56 – Stablecoins and the Future of Onchain Finance16:39 – Coinbase and the Rise of Agentic Commerce22:32 – Build, Buy, Partner or Invest?34:42 – Coinbase’s 5–10 Year Vision for Finance41:05 – The Convergence of Traditional Finance and Crypto46:57 – The Evolving U.S. Crypto Regulatory Landscape52:17 – Shan’s Outlook on the Future of FinanceConnect with our Host and Guest: Sanjib Kalita: linkedin.com/in/sanjibkalitaShan Aggarwal :https://www.linkedin.com/in/shan-aggarwal-2a314b49/About StableconStablecon (https://stablecon.com/) is the premier gathering for those at the intersection of DeFi, economic policy, financial infrastructure, and institutional integration, and those reinventing global commerce. By convening the brightest minds in fintech and crypto, Stablecon provides attendees with world class thought leadership and fosters unparalleled networking and strategic collaboration across the digital payments industry. Whether you're building, advising, or navigating this new frontier, this is the room where it happens.
Presented by Stablecon; Powered by BVNK.
Presented by Stablecon; Powered by BVNK.
Presented by Stablecon; Powered by BVNK.