Couchonomics with Arjun

Hosted by Arjun Singh

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Episodes

181

Latest episode

May 2026

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EN-US

About the show

Decoding the New World Order of Finance - Unfiltered, global, weekly As tectonic shifts reshape the financial world, Couchonomics continues to explore the trends transforming commerce, capital, and culture. This season, we expand our lens - building on our deep focus in the MENA region while bringing in voices, stories, and innovations from around the globe. Why? Because the future of finance is no longer regional - it’s interconnected. Whether it’s AI in Asia, tokenization in Europe, or fintech policy experiments in Africa, today’s financial shifts cross borders, industries, and disciplines. Whether you’re in the industry or just fintech-curious, tune in weekly as we decode the big moves, bold ideas, and brilliant minds shaping tomorrow’s economy. Episodes drop weekly. Arabic subtitles available on YouTube: youtube.com/@couchonomicswitharjunsingh438 Learn more: www.couchonomics.com Season 4 supported by: Adyen | Mastercard | SC Ventures | Thunes | Hala | e& | Digit 9 About the host: Arjun's expertise covers a broad range of areas including Fintech, Payments, Digital Assets, Embedded Finance, Application of Emerging Technologies, and the Emergence of New Business Models within the Financial Services Sector in the MEA region and globally. Arjun is deeply engaged in the Tech Start-Up ecosystem. He serves as a passive investor, advisory board member, and a notable commentator on the rapidly evolving scene. In recognition of his impactful contributions, Arjun was honored as a Top Voice of the region by LinkedIn in 2020 . Learn more at www.couchonomics.com.

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May 26, 2026Episode 4149 min

Why Uzbekistan May Be Digital Banking’s Next Big Story

Digital finance is no longer only about banking apps and payments.It is becoming a question of infrastructure, trust, customer behaviour, and how financial systems evolve in emerging markets.In this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, Nika Kurdiani, CEO of TBC Uzbekistan, joins the show for a sharp conversation on digital banking, AI, open banking, and why Uzbekistan is becoming one of the most interesting financial markets to watch.Nika explains how TBC built one of the largest digital financial ecosystems in Central Asia, why customer experience matters more than legacy banking scale, and how AI is bringing the relationship manager back into the app.From cash economies and digital adoption to regulation, ecosystem strategy, and the future of financial services, this episode explores what happens when fast-growing markets leapfrog traditional banking models.🎙️ In this episode:• Why Uzbekistan became a major opportunity for digital finance• How TBC scaled to millions of users in under six years• Why “cash is not a competitor, it is an opportunity”• How open banking evolved differently in Uzbekistan• The strategy behind building a digital financial ecosystem• Why AI is changing customer relationships in banking• How TBC built its own AI and language models• Why trust is the most important currency in finance⏱️ CHAPTERS00:00 Trust, AI, and the future of banking02:37 Why Uzbekistan is attracting investor attention09:22 Lessons from Kaspi and digital banking growth11:41 Open banking and interoperability in Uzbekistan18:18 Building a digital financial ecosystem25:05 Why AI became a major bet for TBC33:46 Competition and the financial services flywheel43:50 Regulation, agility, and emerging marketsSOCIAL LINKSArjun’s LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjunvirsingh/Couchonomics LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/couchonomics-with-arjun-singh/Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/couchonomics/Twitter (X) → https://twitter.com/Arjun_Vir_SinghTikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@couchonomicsNewsletter → https://bit.ly/3WI4A6EPARTNERSCouchonomics with Arjun Season 04 is brought to you by:Adyen → https://www.adyen.com/Thunes → https://thunes.com/Mastercard → https://mastercard.com/e& → https://www.eand.com/Digit9 → https://www.digitnine.com/SC Ventures → https://scventures.io/Our website 👉 https://bit.ly/3jk7UH0Find us on our social media platforms:Arjun's LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjunvirsingh/CCN LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/couchonomics-with-arjun-singh/Instagram https://www.instagram.com/couchonomics/Twitter https://twitter.com/Arjun_Vir_Singh?s=20TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@couchonomicsSubscribe to Arjun's LinkedIn newsletter, Couchonomics Crunch: https://bit.ly/3WI4A6E

May 14, 2026Episode 4054 min

When Hackers Understand Banks Better Than Banks Understand Hackers

Cybersecurity is no longer just a technical issue, it is now a human, business, and financial system challenge.In this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, Arjun is joined by Ralph Echemendia, Ethical Hacker and Cyber Security Expert, for a sharp conversation on hacking psychology, cybercrime, AI-driven fraud, and why financial institutions need to rethink security.Ralph explains why some of the most dangerous attacks are not built on complex code, but on human vulnerability, trust, and social engineering.From banks and insider threats to AI, quantum computing, and the myths Hollywood created around hackers, this episode looks at the real risks sitting behind digital finance today.🎙️ In this episode:• How Ralph first entered the world of hacking• What hackers really feel when they gain system access• Why banks still underestimate human vulnerability• How social engineering bypasses expensive security systems• What Hollywood gets wrong about hackers• Why cybercrime is becoming more organised and commercial• How AI is changing the speed and scale of attacks• Why trust, vulnerability, and security are deeply connected⏱️ CHAPTERS00:00 Inside the mind of a hacker00:54 Meet Ralph Echemendia, The Ethical Hacker02:34 How hacking started for Ralph16:43 Why banks struggle with human vulnerability23:05 The penetration test that exposed a data centre31:32 Cybersecurity myths and realities35:07 AI, quantum computing, and the widening security gap44:07 Trust, vulnerability, and the future of cybersecuritySOCIAL LINKSArjun’s LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjunvirsingh/Couchonomics LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/couchonomics-with-arjun-singh/Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/couchonomics/Twitter (X) → https://twitter.com/Arjun_Vir_SinghTikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@couchonomicsNewsletter → https://bit.ly/3WI4A6EPARTNERSCouchonomics with Arjun Season 04 is brought to you by:Adyen → https://www.adyen.com/Thunes → https://thunes.com/Mastercard → https://mastercard.com/e& → https://www.eand.com/Digit9 → https://www.digitnine.com/SC Ventures → https://scventures.io/Our website 👉 https://bit.ly/3jk7UH0Find us on our social media platforms:Arjun's LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjunvirsingh/CCN LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/couchonomics-with-arjun-singh/Instagram https://www.instagram.com/couchonomics/Twitter https://twitter.com/Arjun_Vir_Singh?s=20TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@couchonomicsSubscribe to Arjun's LinkedIn newsletter, Couchonomics Crunch: https://bit.ly/3WI4A6E

April 14, 2026Episode 3947 min

What Happens When Trading Infrastructure Starts Changing the System

Before a trading app reaches a user, there is an entire system underneath it doing the real heavy lifting.In this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, Arjun is joined by Yoshi Yokokawa, Co-Founder and CEO of Alpaca, for a sharp and wide-ranging conversation on brokerage infrastructure, on-chain finance, market access, and what it really takes to build financial products at global scale.It is a grounded look at how trading has shifted from web to mobile to on-chain, why financial access still needs to be designed around culture and local behaviour, and what happens when traditional markets and digital assets begin moving closer together.From tokenised stocks and stablecoins to prediction markets and infrastructure complexity, this conversation explores the less visible layer of finance, the one powering the apps, products, and experiences users see on the surface.They also discuss why infrastructure should behave like a utility, what responsibilities licensed platforms carry around investor protection and market integrity, and why the long-term shift toward on-chain finance may be less about ideology and more about real product-market fit.🎙️ In this episode:• What Alpaca actually does and why brokerage infrastructure matters now• How trading behaviour has evolved from desktop to mobile-first experiences• Why financial products cannot be copied globally without cultural context• The difference between building apps and building the infrastructure beneath them• Why Yoshi believes everything will eventually move on-chain• Stablecoins, tokenised stocks, and where real adoption is already happening• Why bridging fiat and on-chain systems is harder than it looks• The role of infrastructure in investor protection, compliance, and market safety• Whether finance is heading toward super apps or continued specialisation• Why Yoshi thinks access matters more than the language of “democratisation”• Building globally across 45 countries and operating financial infrastructure at scale• Yoshi’s view on Japanese founders, risk-taking, and what may change nextIf you are trying to understand where financial infrastructure is heading, and how brokerage, stablecoins, tokenisation, and digital assets are starting to connect, this episode gives you a practical lens into the layer most people never see.⏱️ CHAPTERS00:00 Why infrastructure matters more than people think01:00 Meet Yoshi Yokokawa and what Alpaca does02:14 Why this is a big moment for brokerage infrastructure04:54 How trading behaviour has changed over time07:28 Why financial products need cultural context09:30 Trading, gambling, and the role of infrastructure12:19 Why Yoshi believes everything will move on-chain15:14 Investor protection, fraud, and market integrity18:05 Tokenised stocks and infrastructure complexity20:51 Bridging fiat and on-chain finance23:46 Bundling, unbundling, and where finance is going27:04 Access vs democratisation in financial services29:02 Building globally across 45 countries33:40 Stablecoins, tokenisation, and real product-market fit36:36 Why Alpaca stays focused on infrastructure39:37 Yoshi on Japanese founders and startup cultureSOCIAL LINKSArjun’s LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjunvirsingh/Couchonomics LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/couchonomics-with-arjun-singh/Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/couchonomics/Twitter (X) → https://twitter.com/Arjun_Vir_SinghTikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@couchonomicsNewsletter → https://bit.ly/3WI4A6EPARTNERSCouchonomics with Arjun Season 04 is brought to you by:Adyen → https://www.adyen.com/Thunes → https://thunes.com/Mastercard → https://mastercard.com/e& → https://www.eand.com/Digit9 → https://www.digitniOur website 👉 https://bit.ly/3jk7UH0Find us on our social media platforms:Arjun's LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjunvirsingh/CCN LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/couchonomics-with-arjun-singh/Instagram https://www.instagram.com/couchonomics/Twitter https://twitter.com/Arjun_Vir_Singh?s=20TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@couchonomicsSubscribe to Arjun's LinkedIn newsletter, Couchonomics Crunch: https://bit.ly/3WI4A6E

April 7, 2026Episode 3847 min

What Happens When Stablecoins Start Competing With Banks?

Money is no longer just held. It is moving, earning, and quietly reshaping the system around it.In this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, Arjun is joined by Anton Golub, Founding Member of RWA Labs, for a sharp, grounded conversation on what is actually happening beneath the surface of crypto, stablecoins, and tokenization.It is a clear breakdown of how liquidity, leverage, and market structure are shaping Bitcoin cycles, why stablecoins are becoming impossible to ignore, and what happens when financial systems built for control collide with technologies built for movement.From retail dominance in crypto markets to the real risks behind products like Strategy, and from yield-bearing stablecoins to the tension they create with traditional banks, this conversation stays rooted in what actually matters.They also explore tokenization beyond the buzz, why most real-world asset experiments are still early, and how infrastructure gaps like liquidity, regulation, and market access continue to limit adoption.🎙️ In this episode:• What really caused recent Bitcoin volatility and liquidity drops• Why retail still dominates crypto ownership more than we think• Strategy, leverage, and the idea of “too big to fail” in crypto• The reality behind stablecoin yield and why regulators are cautious• How stablecoins could pressure smaller economies and currencies• Tokenized deposits vs stablecoins and where each fits• Why most tokenization use cases are still early or incomplete• Real estate tokenization, liquidity gaps, and market readiness• The future of Layer 1 blockchains and why many won’t survive• Where crypto infrastructure still falls short todayIf you are trying to understand where crypto meets real financial systems, and what actually drives adoption beyond narratives, this episode gives you a practical lens to think through it.⏱️ CHAPTERS00:00 Bitcoin, yield, and why stablecoins are everywhere03:00 What broke the crypto market and liquidity after October07:00 Who really owns Bitcoin today11:00 Strategy, leverage, and systemic risk14:00 Stablecoin yield and regulatory pressure20:00 Stablecoins vs monetary policy in emerging markets23:00 Tokenized deposits vs stablecoins explained29:00 Cross-border payments and real-world use cases33:00 Tokenization of real-world assets, reality vs hype40:00 Layer 1 blockchains and future consolidationSOCIAL LINKSArjun’s LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjunvirsingh/Couchonomics LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/couchonomics-with-arjun-singh/Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/couchonomics/Twitter (X) → https://twitter.com/Arjun_Vir_SinghTikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@couchonomicsNewsletter → https://bit.ly/3WI4A6EPARTNERSCouchonomics with Arjun Season 04 is brought to you by:Adyen → https://www.adyen.com/Thunes → https://thunes.com/Mastercard → https://mastercard.com/e& → https://www.eand.com/Digit9 → https://www.digitnine.com/SC Ventures → https://scventures.io/Our website 👉 https://bit.ly/3jk7UH0Find us on our social media platforms:Arjun's LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjunvirsingh/CCN LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/couchonomics-with-arjun-singh/Instagram https://www.instagram.com/couchonomics/Twitter https://twitter.com/Arjun_Vir_Singh?s=20TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@couchonomicsSubscribe to Arjun's LinkedIn newsletter, Couchonomics Crunch: https://bit.ly/3WI4A6E

March 31, 2026Episode 3859 min

Can Stablecoins Scale Without Expanding Systemic Risk?

Fraud is not new. But the scale, speed, and sophistication have changed.In this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, Arjun is joined by Navin Gupta, CEO of Crystal Intelligence, and Nick Smart, Chief Intelligence Officer at Crystal Intelligence, to unpack the evolving world of crypto-related fraud, institutional risk, and the uncomfortable truth about financial crime in a 24/7 digital economy.From the Lazarus Group and the Bybit hack to scam compounds operating at industrial scale, this conversation moves beyond headlines and into how crypto crime actually works, why velocity of money matters, and whether regulation is finally catching up.They explore the intersection of traditional finance and digital assets, stablecoins, tokenization, AI-driven fraud, and the systemic risks emerging as crypto integrates deeper into the global financial system.🎙️ In this episode:• Why crypto fraud is industrialized, not amateur• The Lazarus Group and lessons from the Bybit incident• How blockchain transparency changes crime investigation• AI as a multiplier for scams and financial crime• Why 24/7 markets clash with 9–5 regulatory systems• Stablecoins, velocity of money, and systemic risk• Tokenization: real utility vs liquidity illusion• Regulatory arbitrage and geopolitical blind spots• Financial inclusion vs vulnerability in emerging markets• Scam Alert and how reporting fraud protects the ecosystemIf you care about the future of finance, financial inclusion, stablecoins, or institutional crypto adoption, this episode offers a clear-eyed view of where risk really sits.⏱️ CHAPTERS00:00 Fraud in the digital era and why crypto attracts it01:00 What Crystal Intelligence actually does05:00 Is crypto more opaque than traditional finance?12:00 Industrial-scale scam compounds and modern fraud16:30 The Lazarus Group and the Bybit hack21:00 Velocity of money vs cost of fraud26:00 Regulation catching up to digital assets30:00 Stablecoins, custody, and institutional adoption35:00 Exchanges, compliance, and global licensing gaps38:00 Layer 1s, liquidity, and criminal behavior44:00 AI, 24/7 markets, and systemic vulnerabilities49:00 Tokenization, real world assets, and risk52:00 Informal value transfer systems and financial inclusion56:00 Scam Alert and collective responsibilitySOCIAL LINKSArjun’s LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjunvirsingh/Couchonomics LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/couchonomics-with-arjun-singh/Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/couchonomics/Twitter (X) → https://twitter.com/Arjun_Vir_SinghTikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@couchonomicsNewsletter → https://bit.ly/3WI4A6EPARTNERSCouchonomics with Arjun Season 04 is brought to you by:Adyen → https://www.adyen.com/Thunes → https://thunes.com/Mastercard → https://mastercard.com/e& → https://www.eand.com/Digit9 → https://www.digitnine.com/SC Ventures → https://scventures.io/Our website 👉 https://bit.ly/3jk7UH0Find us on our social media platforms:Arjun's LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjunvirsingh/CCN LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/couchonomics-with-arjun-singh/Instagram https://www.instagram.com/couchonomics/Twitter https://twitter.com/Arjun_Vir_Singh?s=20TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@couchonomicsSubscribe to Arjun's LinkedIn newsletter, Couchonomics Crunch: https://bit.ly/3WI4A6E

February 26, 2026Episode 3757 min

How AI Agents and Stablecoins Are Reshaping Modern Banking

Is banking really changing at the core, or are we just putting better apps on old rails?In this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, Arjun is joined in studio by Jayesh Patel, CEO of Wio Bank PJSC, to unpack what real transformation inside a bank actually looks like, how AI is reshaping operating models, and why stablecoins may compress time in money movement far more than most people realize.They break down the difference between digitizing processes and restructuring around the customer, why SME banking still has structural gaps, and how Wio is building with micro AI agents, smart offices, and long term product bets like family banking. They also dive into crypto as an investment class, regulated stablecoins in the UAE, and whether banks should issue, distribute, or build on top of digital currencies.🎙️ In this episode:• Are banks truly transforming or just digitizing bureaucracy• What customer obsession looks like beyond marketing language• Why SMEs still struggle with onboarding and credit access• AI micro agents and the shift toward a smart office model• Crypto as an investment class and real user behavior on platform• Stablecoins, regulation, and where real utility begins• Payments strategy and building in house vs partnering• Embedded banking through TAMM and platform distribution• Competition in the UAE and what the next five years could look like👉 Watch the full episode if you want a grounded view of how digital banks evolve from the inside, what stablecoins could mean for liquidity and payments, and where the real structural shifts in banking are happening.SOCIAL LINKSArjun’s LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjunvirsingh/Couchonomics LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/couchonomics-with-arjun-singh/Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/couchonomics/Twitter (X) → https://twitter.com/Arjun_Vir_SinghTikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@couchonomicsNewsletter → https://bit.ly/3WI4A6EPARTNERSCouchonomics with Arjun Season 04 is brought to you by:Adyen → https://www.adyen.com/Thunes → https://thunes.com/Mastercard → https://mastercard.com/e& → https://www.eand.com/Digit9 → https://www.digitnine.com/SC Ventures → https://scventures.io/CHAPTERS:00:00 Is banking really changing or just digitizing old rails01:10 Jayesh Patel on building Wio and scaling a digital bank05:30 Customer obsession vs legacy operating models11:40 The SME banking gap and structural constraints18:20 AI micro agents and the smart office model27:30 Crypto as an investment class and user behavior35:00 Stablecoins, regulation, and real world use cases43:20 Payments strategy and in house build vs partnership49:30 Embedded banking and the TAMM collaboration54:30 Competition in the UAE and what the next five years look likeOur website 👉 https://bit.ly/3jk7UH0Find us on our social media platforms:Arjun's LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjunvirsingh/CCN LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/couchonomics-with-arjun-singh/Instagram https://www.instagram.com/couchonomics/Twitter https://twitter.com/Arjun_Vir_Singh?s=20TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@couchonomicsSubscribe to Arjun's LinkedIn newsletter, Couchonomics Crunch: https://bit.ly/3WI4A6E

February 17, 2026Episode 3653 min

How Tokenization and Stablecoins Will Change Money Movement

Technology is changing what people expect from money, and stablecoins are turning that into reality.In this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, Arjun is joined from New York by Stephen Richardson (CSO and Head of Banking at Fireblocks) to break down why digital assets are back at the center of banking strategy, what stablecoins are really unlocking, and where banks are at risk of getting disintermediated if they treat this like “just another rails upgrade.”They unpack the on-chain vs off-chain convergence, why stablecoins became the real “killer app” for blockchain UX, and why the next wave isn’t just crypto trading, but new product models: stablecoin acceptance, payouts, FX orchestration, stablecoin clearing, tokenized deposits, and tokenized assets that can move and settle with fewer constraints.🎙️ In this episode:• Why digital assets momentum is rising again in 2026• Stablecoins as the “money on-chain” unlock (and why that changed everything)• TradFi + DeFi convergence: where the customer actually feels it• Real-time payments vs 24/7 money movement: what banks still miss• What banks should do first: acceptance, payouts, FX, clearing, interoperability• Why “40 stablecoins” is a UX problem (and who solves it)• Stablecoin-as-a-Service vs Banking-as-a-Service: what gets leapfrogged• Tokenization explained: native on-chain assets vs digital twins• What’s next to tokenize: gold, treasuries, and trade foundations• What Fireblocks is building towards: commercially viable use cases, not demos👉 Watch the full episode if you want a clear, non-hype view of how stablecoins and tokenization can reshape banking operating models, and what banks and fintechs should do before the new rails become the default.SOCIAL LINKSArjun’s LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjunvirsingh/Couchonomics LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/couchonomics-with-arjun-singh/Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/couchonomics/Twitter (X) → https://twitter.com/Arjun_Vir_SinghTikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@couchonomicsNewsletter → https://bit.ly/3WI4A6EPARTNERSCouchonomics with Arjun Season 04 is brought to you by:Adyen → https://www.adyen.com/Thunes → https://thunes.com/Mastercard → https://mastercard.com/e& → https://www.eand.com/Digit9 → https://www.digitnine.com/SC Ventures → https://scventures.io/CHAPTERS:00:00 Stablecoins, fintech platforms, and “money on-chain”01:00 Who Stephen Richardson is + what Fireblocks does02:10 Why digital assets now: what changed since the last cycle05:00 Stablecoins as the killer UX unlock for blockchain08:05 On-chain + off-chain convergence: where it’s heading14:40 Real-time payments vs 24/7 money: visibility, trust, orchestration17:30 What banks must shift to: platform mindset + on-chain products25:05 First moves banks can make: accept, convert, payout, FX33:45 What holds stablecoins back: regulation, dollarization, identity/KYC44:15 Tokenization explained + what’s ready next (gold, treasuries, trade)Our website 👉 https://bit.ly/3jk7UH0Find us on our social media platforms:Arjun's LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjunvirsingh/CCN LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/couchonomics-with-arjun-singh/Instagram https://www.instagram.com/couchonomics/Twitter https://twitter.com/Arjun_Vir_Singh?s=20TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@couchonomicsSubscribe to Arjun's LinkedIn newsletter, Couchonomics Crunch: https://bit.ly/3WI4A6E

February 10, 2026Episode 3542 min

Why Japan’s Payments Are About to Change Fast

Japan is often seen as a “mature” financial market.But the real story is in what’s quietly shifting underneath.In this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, Arjun is joined from Tokyo by Pieter Franken (Co-Founder & CEO at GFTN Japan) to unpack what’s actually changing in Japan’s fintech and digital assets landscape and what it means for founders, investors, and global players looking at the Japan opportunity.They go deep on stablecoins and why Japan may be ahead on regulation, the upcoming move to classify crypto and digital assets as financial instruments, and why payments remain fragmented despite Japan’s innovation legacy. The conversation also explores what could unlock faster adoption (from interoperability to cost structures), how Japan’s national digital ID rollout could become a foundational layer, and why Japan–MENA collaboration is still early but strategically important.🎙️ In this episode:• What’s really changed in Japan fintech over the last 12 months• Stablecoins in Japan: regulation, launches, and why it matters now• The big shift: crypto moving from “non-financial” to “financial instrument”• Why Japan’s payments ecosystem is still fragmented (and what could fix it)• Open banking, consumer adoption, and the cost problem for merchants• The digital ID layer Japan is finally accelerating (MyNumber)• Japan–MENA corridors: where collaboration is real vs. where it’s early• What to expect at GFTN Forum Japan 2026: AI, tokenization, and cross-border corridors👉 Watch the full conversation to understand what’s brewing in Japan, why regulation is setting up the next phase of digital assets and payments, and where the real opportunities could emerge next.SOCIAL LINKSArjun’s LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjunvirsingh/Couchonomics LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/couchonomics-with-arjun-singh/Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/couchonomics/Twitter (X) → https://twitter.com/Arjun_Vir_SinghTikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@couchonomicsNewsletter → https://bit.ly/3WI4A6ECHAPTERS00:00 Japan fintech beyond the stereotypes01:05 Who Peter Franken is + what GFTN Japan does02:20 What shifted in Japan over the last 12 months03:10 Stablecoins: why Japan is moving early05:00 Crypto reclassification: what changes when it becomes a financial instrument08:10 Open banking reality check + what’s still missing10:10 Cash vs digital payments: Tokyo vs the rest of Japan12:20 Interoperability problem: too many silos, too many rails14:10 What could unlock faster adoption (cost, standards, stablecoins, points)16:30 Digital ID (MyNumber) as Japan’s DPI foundation22:10 Japan–MENA corridor: what’s real today, what could grow next28:40 What to expect at GFTN Forum Japan 2026 (AI, tokenization, corridors)Our website 👉 https://bit.ly/3jk7UH0Find us on our social media platforms:Arjun's LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjunvirsingh/CCN LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/couchonomics-with-arjun-singh/Instagram https://www.instagram.com/couchonomics/Twitter https://twitter.com/Arjun_Vir_Singh?s=20TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@couchonomicsSubscribe to Arjun's LinkedIn newsletter, Couchonomics Crunch: https://bit.ly/3WI4A6E

February 5, 2026Episode 3732 min

How Deep Payments Infrastructure Creates Real Fintech Advantage

Payments in emerging markets are often discussed as infrastructure.But the real differentiation happens in how deeply payments are embedded into business operations.In the final episode of this special Qatar Development Bank series of Couchonomics with Arjun, Arjun sits down in Doha with Saad Ishfaq, CEO of TESS Payments, to unpack how a payments company built for Qatar is scaling by solving real operational pain, not just processing transactions.TESS Payments is a QCB-licensed payment service provider designed specifically for the Qatari market. Rather than chasing regional expansion, Saad explains why the company chose to go deep instead of wide, focusing on enterprise-grade flexibility, managed services, and bespoke integrations for large organisations across real estate, government, and critical infrastructure.The conversation explores how payments sit at the centre of SME enablement, why micro and small businesses remain underserved across the GCC, and how fintechs and banks must collaborate rather than compete. Saad also shares how TESS evolved beyond payments into CFO tooling and digital lending, including a new sandboxed lending platform addressing Qatar’s blue-collar workforce.From owning core infrastructure to navigating bank partnerships, regulatory sandboxes, and product adjacencies, this episode offers a grounded look at how fintech scale is built inside regulated markets.🎙️ In this episode:• Why TESS Payments is built for Qatar, not regional expansion• Payments as an embedded operational layer, not a commodity• Solving CFO and CTO pain through deep integrations• SME and micro-SME challenges in the GCC• Why banks and fintechs must work together to scale impact• Building proprietary payments infrastructure in a crowded market• Regulatory sandboxes as a growth enabler• Expanding from payments into digital lending• Addressing financial access for blue-collar workers• Qatar’s role as a fintech launchpad• Founder lessons from Pakistan to Qatar• Grit, resilience, and building through constraint👉 Watch the full conversation to understand how payments, regulation, and fintech innovation come together when products are built with local reality in mind.SOCIAL LINKSArjun’s LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjunvirsingh/Couchonomics LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/couchonomics-with-arjun-singh/Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/couchonomics/Twitter → https://twitter.com/Arjun_Vir_SinghTikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@couchonomicsNewsletter → https://bit.ly/3WI4A6ECHAPTERS00:00 Qatar Development Bank series wrap-up01:30 Introducing TESS Payments and Saad Ishfaq04:00 Key global and regional payment trends07:00 SME and micro-SME challenges in the GCC10:30 Embedding payments into enterprise operations13:30 Proprietary infrastructure and differentiation16:00 Working with banks as acquiring partners18:30 Payments post-FIFA and infrastructure realities20:00 Expanding beyond payments into CFO tooling22:00 Digital lending and sandbox experimentation25:00 Regulation as an enabler, not a blocker27:30 Scaling depth versus geographic expansion29:00 Founder journey from Pakistan to Qatar31:30 Lessons on resilience, impact, and fintech scaleOur website 👉 https://bit.ly/3jk7UH0Find us on our social media platforms:Arjun's LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjunvirsingh/CCN LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/couchonomics-with-arjun-singh/Instagram https://www.instagram.com/couchonomics/Twitter https://twitter.com/Arjun_Vir_Singh?s=20TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@couchonomicsSubscribe to Arjun's LinkedIn newsletter, Couchonomics Crunch: https://bit.ly/3WI4A6E

February 4, 2026Episode 3627 min

What It Really Takes to Launch a Fintech in Qatar

Financial innovation in the GCC is often framed around payments, licenses, and launch timelines.But the harder work happens long before a product goes live.In this special Qatar Development Bank series of Couchonomics with Arjun, Arjun sits down in Doha with Mohammed Suleiman, Co-Founder and CEO of Karty, to unpack what it really takes to build a regulated fintech company from the ground up in Qatar.Karty is not trying to out-bank banks or outscale telco wallets. Instead, it is being designed as a financial management layer that sits between spending and understanding money. A digital wallet built around insights, behaviour, and literacy rather than just transactions.Mohammed explains why Qatar’s wallet landscape still leaves a gap for mass-affluent users, how Karty is approaching savings and financial awareness as a bundled experience, and why monetisation in fintech only works when usage comes first.A grounded discussion on fintech realism, ecosystem maturity, and why building the right foundations matters more than rushing to market.🎙️ In this episode:• Why Qatar still needs independent digital wallets• The gap between telco wallets and traditional banking• Financial literacy as a bundled product, not a standalone feature• How wallets monetise without pushing lending too early• Multi-rail payments and the future of wallet infrastructure• Round-ups, savings nudges, and behaviour-led product design• Building fintech under evolving regulation in Qatar• Talent, infrastructure, and the realities of building in-house• AI in fintech, where it works and where it is overhyped• Scaling through partnerships vs direct market expansion• Why Karty sees itself as a layer after banking, not a replacement👉 Watch the full conversation to understand how fintech is actually being built in Qatar, before the headlines, before the hype, and before launch.SOCIAL LINKSArjun’s LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjunvirsingh/Couchonomics LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/couchonomics-with-arjun-singh/Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/couchonomics/Twitter → https://twitter.com/Arjun_Vir_SinghTikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@couchonomicsNewsletter → https://bit.ly/3WI4A6ECHAPTERS00:00 Qatar Development Bank series and context02:00 Why Qatar needs another digital wallet05:30 The gap between telco wallets and banks09:00 Financial literacy as a product, not content13:30 Monetisation, margins, and wallet realities17:00 Multi-rail payments and infrastructure thinking21:00 Regulation, licensing, and ecosystem support25:00 Talent, tech, and building in-house in Qatar29:00 AI in fintech and practical constraints33:00 Expansion strategies and infrastructure plays37:00 Launch readiness and what comes nexOur website 👉 https://bit.ly/3jk7UH0Find us on our social media platforms:Arjun's LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjunvirsingh/CCN LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/couchonomics-with-arjun-singh/Instagram https://www.instagram.com/couchonomics/Twitter https://twitter.com/Arjun_Vir_Singh?s=20TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@couchonomicsSubscribe to Arjun's LinkedIn newsletter, Couchonomics Crunch: https://bit.ly/3WI4A6E