Couchonomics with Arjun

Conversations during Couchonomics with Arjun Season 3 We are half a dozen episodes away from completing our third season (which has been another amazing season) so I thought let me share links to the last 10 episodes which we have published. 🎤 Integration of #Shariah Finance with #Blockchain Technology: Exploring how blockchain can align with #Islamicfinance principles to create decentralized and transparent financial solutions. YouTube Link: https://lnkd.in/dRdH4UEi 🎤 Evolution of #SuperApps in Financial Services: Examining the rise of platforms that consolidate multiple services, including e-commerce, travel, and financial offerings, into a single user experience. YouTube Link: https://lnkd.in/dkeeHRJT 🎤 Digital Banking for #SMEs: Discussing the development of #digitalfirst banks tailored to meet the unique needs of small and medium-sized enterprises, enhancing their access to financial services. YouTube Link: https://lnkd.in/daAxVa67 🎤 High-Yield #CashManagement Platforms: Introducing innovative platforms designed to provide better returns on idle cash, catering to the needs of “lazy savers.” YouTube Link: https://lnkd.in/dkeeHRJT 🎤 Advancements in #CrossBorderPayment Solutions: Addressing the challenges and innovations in facilitating seamless and cost-effective international transactions. YouTube Link: https://lnkd.in/dRdH4UEi 🎤 #Programmable #Banking and Full Reserve Models: Investigating the emergence of programmable banks utilizing blockchain and #smartcontracts to enhance trust and eliminate counterparty risks. YouTube Link: https://lnkd.in/dRdH4UEi 🎤 Unified Payments Interface (#UPI) as a Global Standard: Analyzing how India’s UPI has set benchmarks in digital #payments and its potential replication in other markets. YouTube Link: https://lnkd.in/daAxVa67 🎤 #Tokenization and Retail Investor Access to Bonds: Exploring how tokenization is #democratizing access to bond markets, traditionally dominated by institutional investors. YouTube Link: https://lnkd.in/dkeeHRJT 🎤 Megatrends Impacting #WealthManagement: Discussing the influence of artificial intelligence, environmental changes, and #demographic shifts on investment strategies and wealth management. https://lnkd.in/dX7dUYbW 🎤 Transformation of Traditional Banks through Digital #Innovation: Highlighting how established banks are leveraging digital #technologies to enhance customer experiences and operational efficiency. https://lnkd.in/dFHK4mJc If you missed them previously, please do tune in and also visit www.couchonomics.com to view any of the 100+ episodes from across the three seasons Enjoy!

Happy 😃 Friday the 13th to all the listeners, followers and guests of Couchonomics with Arjun The superstition surrounding Friday the 13th arises from a #confluence of religious, historical, and cultural factors that have evolved over centuries, embedding the date with an enduring aura of misfortune. My personal favorites is ▶️ “In the late 19th century, Captain William Fowler sought to remove the enduring stigma surrounding the number 13 by founding an exclusive society called the Thirteen Club. The group dined regularly on the 13th day of the month in room 13 of the Knickerbocker Cottage, a popular establishment Fowler owned. Before sitting down for a 13-course dinner, members would pass beneath a ladder and a banner reading “Morituri te Salutamus,” Latin for “Those of us who are about to die salute you.” Four former U.S. presidents—Chester A. Arthur, Grover Cleveland, Benjamin Harrison, and Theodore Roosevelt—would join the Thirteen Club’s ranks at one time or another.” Bottom line; just another day so let’s make the most of it…. Have a good day 👍 #fridaythe13th #superstition #religious #westernculture

Mentoring at Ignyte 🚀 Privileged to join an awesome group of mentors who are contributing their time to the #startup community across Dubai and the UAE I am always willing and keen to have a productive and candid conversation with startup founders and assist in whatever way possible. It’s my way of giving back to the #ecosystem which has given me so much. I would also encourage every person who is part of the Ignyte ecosystem to join the largest and most impactful grassroots community in the UAE, called Fintech Tuesdays (follow us on LinkedIn and also complete the form to join the #whatsapp group). Our vision is simple, which is to ensure that everyone across the fintech ecosystem has only one degree of separation. Looking forward to getting involved DIFC DIFC Innovation Hub Mohammad Alblooshi Arthur D. Little #futureoffinance #futureofmoney #digitalassets #fintech #payments

Fascinating and Impressive 💎 The Central Asian ecosystem commitment to #blockchain innovation and digital transformation is very impressive. Recently on my podcast, I had 3 fintechs from Kazakhstan 🇰🇿 & Georgia 🇬🇪 who all were extremely impressive - Kaspi.kz , Pave Bank & Boxo Simple lesson - innovation is happening in all corners of the world and one should always look in all direction when seeking partnerships, learnings and inspiration Salim Dhanani Oliver Hughes Kaniyet Rayev David Ferguson #innovation #partnership #fintech #smartcontracts #distributedledger

Strange and Confusing 🫤 Times we Live in! Google’s recent announcement of ‘Willow’ marks a significant advancement in #quantum computing (something I know very little about). Apparently this quantum chip can perform complex #computations in under five minutes—a task that would take current #supercomputers an #unfathomable amount of time… simply wow on the technological advancements front! Unfortunately for me this sort of progress stands in stark contrast to our ongoing struggles as #humankind with enduring global challenges such as poverty, limited access to clean water and healthcare, and escalating climate crises persist, underscoring a #disparity between our technological capabilities and our effectiveness in addressing fundamental human needs This #juxtaposition prompts reflection according to me: How can we all as a collective harness our technological advancements to make meaningful strides in solving the more persistent issues with cost lives and threaten the future of humanity on this earth….. 🍱 for 💭….. #couchonomics

B2B BNPL starting to gain traction and momentum among the MSME segment of the MENA region Fawry’s digital BNPL solution for merchants, “Alnota” Overdraft, surpasses EGP 2bln (USD $40m) in total loan transactions. They have onboarded over 50,000 merchants to its service. For me B2B BNPL is not just a hybrid lending 🔛 payment solution—it’s a growth enabler for MSMEs. Three reasons why we will see continued growth: ☑️ Addresses The Liquidity Challenges ☑️ Improved & Rapid Access to Credit ☑️ Embedded into the Growth and Scale story https://lnkd.in/dXzDVgK6 #bnpl #posfinancing #b2bbnpl #extendedpaymentterms #emfi #merchants #microbusinesses

How Stable Are Stablecoins? 🪙 In this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, recorded live at the Singapore FinTech Festival in partnership with The Founders Peak, I chat with Dante A. Disparte, Chief Strategy Officer and Head of Policy at Circle. Dante shares how Circle is using digital assets like USDC (USD Coin) and EURC to build a more inclusive financial system. We also discuss: 🛋️How stablecoins are transforming cross-border payments 🛋️Circle’s role in setting the standard for trust and transparency in digital currencies 🛋️The future of global digital finance and its potential for underserved communities 🛋️ Why we both aren’t big fans of Retail CBDCs. Innovation is changing the way we think about global finance—tune in to learn more. The link is in the comments! 👇🔗 Abdallah Abu-Sheikh Mehdi El Amine Fichtali Abdulrahman Almashal Joseph Cleetus Adeeb Ahamed Ani Mardikian Navin Suri Sagari White Sopnendu Mohanty Saqr Ereiqat Prakash Somosundram Dominic Longman Sanjiv Purushotham Efi Pylarinou Sam Boboev Arthur Bedel 💳 ♻️ Hasan Fardan Al Fardan #Couchonomics #Circle #USDC #DigitalAssets #Stablecoins #SFF2024 #FinancialInclusion #USDC #EURC #regulators #futureoffinance

How Stable Are Stablecoins? 🪙 In this special episode , recorded live at the Singapore FinTech Festival in partnership with The Founders Peak, we chat with Dante A. Disparte, Chief Strategy Officer and Head of Policy at Circle. Dante shares how Circle is using digital assets like USDC (USD Coin) and EURC to build a more inclusive financial system. We also discuss: 🛋️How stablecoins are transforming cross-border payments. 🛋️Circle’s role in setting the standard for trust and transparency in digital currencies. 🛋️The future of global digital finance and its potential for underserved communities. Innovation is changing the way we think about global finance—tune in to learn more. Poddster Singapore #Couchonomics #Circle #USDC #DigitalAssets #Stablecoins #SFF2024 #FinancialInclusion #USDC #EURC #regulators #futureoffinance

How to make #pensions exciting? Not quite sure whether I have an answer for the above questions but we did well today and kept the discussion on the topic both insightful and lively (may be exaggerating a bit but you get the drift) Jokes aside, it was a pleasure to host Michail Samawi, CFA, CAIA, PRM , Gavin Rankin and Michael Watkins on a conversation which is extremely important to how the #workplaces evolves in the UAE. We covered a wide range of topics including financial #literacy, #unfunded #gratuity programs, evolution of the #EVP offered by companies, the benefits of having a well established pensions program, #alternatives to pensions, role of technology on how to embed pensions into other customer journeys, etc Arthur D. Little ADGM ADFW Emirates NBD Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank Aurem Hub71

A fruitful and enjoyable two day in #abudhabi participating at ADFW Met some old friends and made some new acquaintances. It’s incredible to see how rapidly the #financialservices sector in UAE is evolving. Very impressive and reassuring. I consider myself very fortunate to be able to play a small role in a number of different guises over the past 15 years - as a Partner in Arthur D. Little’s FS Practice, a Host of my podcast called Couchonomics with Arjun which focusses on the #futureoffinance and technology, as a commentator on the evolving FS sector through my newsletter, Couchonomics Crunch , being an active angel investor, mentor and advisor to several #startups over the last decade and arguably the ‘👑 💎’ which was co-founding of the largest #grassroots startup community in the UAE called Fintech Tuesdays Photo below: Shot from the Grand Hyatt Abu Dhabi Hotel & Residences Emirates Pearl look out towards #emiratespalace and beyond #fintech #payments #digitalassets #institutionalinvestors ADQ ADGM ADGM Academy Hub71 Further Ventures Mubadala Lunate