Join Laszlo Szabo, CEO & Co-Founder of Kiln, for a conversation with Adam Levine, SVP of Corporate Development & Partnerships and CEO of Fireblocks Trust Company.
In this episode, Adam shares insights into Fireblocks’ strategic expansion into regulated custody, explaining why they launched their New York-based trust company, how it serves institutional clients like VCs and market makers, and the operational challenges of balancing innovation with compliance.
The discussion dives into the role of stablecoins in global payments, with real-world examples from emerging markets like Brazil and Argentina, where dollar-denominated stablecoins are mitigating currency volatility and accelerating cross-border transactions.
Adam also unpacks Fireblocks’ vision for tokenization—from traditional assets like T-bills to unconventional ones like investment-grade wine—and how interoperability between blockchains will unlock liquidity in the years ahead.
Security remains a cornerstone of the conversation, as Adam reflects on lessons from high-profile hacks (including the recent Bybit incident) and how Fireblocks’ infrastructure prioritizes risk mitigation without compromising efficiency.
Looking forward, he predicts 2025 will be a year of decisive action for banks and asset managers, with stablecoins and tokenization moving from pilot projects to core infrastructure—even if the full impact may take years to materialize.
PODCAST INFO:
🌐 Website:https://www.kiln.fi/podcasts
🟢 Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/0QSnhSLXxVDgBAUMnKnPz1
🟣 Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kiln-rendez-vous-podcast/id1729247226
00:00 - Introduction
02:15 - The Fireblocks Trust Company: Bridging tech and regulation
10:30 - How custody changes Fireblocks’ day-to-day operations
18:45 - Stablecoins as the backbone of global payments
27:10 - Tokenization beyond crypto: Bonds, wine, and fractional ownership
35:50 - Security lessons from Bybit and protecting institutional assets
45:20 - Why 2024 is the year banks make big blockchain decisions
52:00 - What’s next for Fireblocks? Interoperability and beyond