Fintech Business Podcast

Hosted by Jason Mikula

Business TechnologyInterviews guests

Website RSS feed LinkedIn

Episodes

122

Latest episode

Jun 2026

Language

About the show

A monthly(ish) podcast featuring fintech news recaps, with Alex Johnson of Fintech Takes, and interviews with leaders in fintech, banking & crypto. fintechbusinessweekly.substack.com

Listen to episodes

60 recent

June 11, 202627 min

Exclusive: Neobank Current Raises $80M Series E

In this episode, I had the exclusive chance to chat with Current’s CEO Stuart Sopp and CTO Trevor Marshall on the company’s $80 million Series E, led by Springcoast Partners, announced earlier today. We also discussed:* Current’s expanded product suite and impressive 70% growth for the third year in a row* The role AI has played across the company’s business and how Stu and Trevor think about cost discipline and “return on tokens”* Current’s expanded financing facility with bank partner Cross River and General Catalyst* How Stu and Trevor think about the latest wave of foreign fintechs entering the U.S.* How the “K-shaped” economy and renewed inflation are impacting everyday American consumers* And on building a sustainable business that’s ready for the public markets Get full access to Fintech Business Weekly at fintechbusinessweekly.substack.com/subscribe

June 3, 20261 hr 11 min

Fintech Recap: Everyone Wants To Be A Bank

In this episode, Alex and I had the chance to discuss:* Why seemingly every bank, crypto, and stablecoin company wants to become a bank (and what it could mean for their valuations)* A return to BaaS Island: CFSB’s consent order, and how it compares to those of other fintech partner banks* President Trump’s fintech- and banking-related executive orders* And, as always, what Alex and I just can’t let go of Get full access to Fintech Business Weekly at fintechbusinessweekly.substack.com/subscribe

May 27, 202649 min

Interview: zerohash's Founder & CEO Edward Woodford

In this episode, I had the chance to chat with Edward Woodford, the founder and CEO of crypto, stablecoin, and tokenization infrastructure platform zerohash. Edward and I had the chance to talk about:* Why zerohash is applying for a national trust bank charter* How the CLARITY Act (crypto market structure legislation) may impact the U.S. crypto industry* What Edward is hearing from non-financial industry execs about crypto, stablecoins, tokenization, and blockchain* Thinking about crypto as an “asset class” vs. crypto as “software”* The potential synergies between crypto/stablecoins and AI agents* What keeps Edward up at night and what he’s most excited about* And much more! Get full access to Fintech Business Weekly at fintechbusinessweekly.substack.com/subscribe

May 21, 202635 min

Interview: Knot CEO Rory O'Reilly

In this episode, I had the chance to chat with merchant connectivity platform Knot’s cofounder and CEO Rory O’Reilly. Rory and I had the chance to discuss:* Rory dropping out of Harvard to start his first company* How Knot became the industry’s go-to solution for card switching* Expanding from its initial card switching product to building the merchant connnectivity layer, and how Knot complements other core fintech infrastructure* Hitting a 100 million API call per month milestone* Knot’s international expansion to Canada and Latin America* And much more! Get full access to Fintech Business Weekly at fintechbusinessweekly.substack.com/subscribe

May 6, 20261 hr 12 min

Fintech Recap: Is AI the Unlock PFM Has Been Waiting For?

In this episode, Alex and I had the chance to discuss:* If there’s one idea fintech founders can’t quit, it’s solving personal financial management. There’s a new wave of AI-powered tools. But can they solve some of the fundamental challenges that have prevented a breakout company from emerging in the category?* Bolt, the one-click checkout turned financial “super app,” is in headlines, again, with further layoffs and as it struggles to pay its vendors. Why Americans don’t really want a “super app.”* Congress actually tries to legislate: the bipartisan PACE Act could offer a pathway for non-banks to have direct access to payment rails. But, even if it were to become law (a big if), as a layer on top of existing requirements and at a time when getting a bank charter seems easier than ever, is the PACE Act fit for purpose? Get full access to Fintech Business Weekly at fintechbusinessweekly.substack.com/subscribe

April 1, 20261 hr 32 min

Fintech Recap: Bilt's Rocky Transition

In this episode, Alex and I had the chance to discuss:* Rent rewards and neighborhood loyalty startup Bilt’s rocky transition from Wells Fargo to Column and Cardless* The “graduation problem” in banking-as-a-service* The New York legislature’s decision to* And, as always, what Alex and I just can’t let go of Get full access to Fintech Business Weekly at fintechbusinessweekly.substack.com/subscribe

March 25, 202655 min

Interview: Tyler Allen, Unit21's Chief Operating Officer

In this episode, I had the chance to chat with Tyler Allen, the chief operating offier at Unit21. We had the chance to discuss:* How fintech, financial crimes compliance, and software engineering have evolved since Tyler joined Unit21 back in 2019* The limitations of addressing compliance challenges by throwing bodies at them* How regulators are thinking about agentic AI* What an AI-first approach to compliance looks like* And much more! Get full access to Fintech Business Weekly at fintechbusinessweekly.substack.com/subscribe

March 11, 202653 min

Interview: Aliya’s CEO and Co-Founder, SP “Wije” Wijegoonaratna

In this episode, I had the chance to chat with S.P. “Wije” Wijegoonaratna, the cofounder and CEO of Aliya Financial Technologies. We had the chance to discuss:* The challenges different segments of consumer lenders are facing today* How AI-powered infrastructure is fundamentally reshaping how financial institutions think about making decisions* How Aliya is thinking about its go-to-market approach* How Aliya can help banks improve their returns* What folks who have never worked in lending through a true credit cycle/recession should know* And much more! Get full access to Fintech Business Weekly at fintechbusinessweekly.substack.com/subscribe

March 4, 20261 hr 22 min

Fintech Recap: Cash App Plans To Sell Proprietary Credit Scores To Others

In this episode, Alex and I had the chance to discuss:* Block’s plan to sell access to its proprietary Cash App credit score* So-called “no KYC” crypto cards* Stablecoin infrastructure firm Bridge’s apparent derisking* The brewing internecine fights over regulating prediction markets* And, as always, what Alex and I just can’t let go of Get full access to Fintech Business Weekly at fintechbusinessweekly.substack.com/subscribe

February 19, 202648 min

Interview: Modern Treasury's Matt Marcus & Matt Janiga

In this episode, I had the chance to chat with Modern Treasury cofounder and CEO Matt Marcus, as well as the company’s recently joined lead counsel, Matt Janiga. We had the chance to discuss:* Modern Treasury’s newly launched payment service provider offering* What kinds of companies can benefit from payment orchestration* Use cases driving the explosive growth of stablecoins* How Modern Treasury thinks about building in the rapidly evolving stablecoin space* And much more!Those wanting to learn more about the payments orchestration space, including stablecoins, can find the Modern Treasury Journal, which Matt Janiga mentions in the episode, here. Get full access to Fintech Business Weekly at fintechbusinessweekly.substack.com/subscribe

Is this your show?

Claim this listing to keep it up to date, reach guests who want to pitch you, and manage bookings with Guestify.

Claim this listing

More Business podcasts

SowGrow Marketing Council

sgmc

BusinessMarketing

Toldjya Finance Podcast

Zac Huish, Cameron Cooke, and Paul Lamb

BusinessInvesting