Digital disruption is the new business threat. Old continuity plans focused historically on fires, floods or server outages but, today, centralised failure can mean billion-dollar crypto collapses, regulatory shockwaves or code bugs that freeze assets overnight. Decentralised blockchains flip the script: redundancy and transparency take out single points of failure, making continuity a design feature, not an afterthought. G7 mega-banks launching a new stablecoin signals this shift in action, therefore, to stay resilient, leaders must blend legacy standards with real-time drills, digital asset training and empowerment to communicate in crisis.
If US dollar stablecoins such as USDT or USDC take over London’s £5-50 million prime property market, the Bank of England could lose control over one of its richest asset classes. Foreign buyers could move capital instantly, bypassing sterling, whilst estate agents’ market in US dollars and settle via smart contracts in hours potentially on a peer-to-peer basis so removing escrow settlement risk. The upside? Hyper-liquid, globally accessible London real estate. The downside? Quietly handing monetary sovereignty of Mayfair and Belgravia to dollar-backed code.
Could Britain accidentally become financially American? The Bank of England governor's shocking endorsement of stablecoins in the Financial Times has sparked a fascinating debate about the UK's potential "dollarization."
James Tylee, a Wall Street veteran with 20 years of algorithmic trading experience, joins Johnny Fry to explore how USD-backed stablecoins might extend American financial dominance to British shores. With the $250 billion stablecoin market overwhelmingly dollar-denominated, while euro and yen versions languish, the implications are staggering.
The hosts reveal how major banks like Barclays and Goldman Sachs are planning G7 stablecoins that could unlock $500 trillion in US assets globally. Meanwhile, Britain—once the crypto regulation leader—has watched America surge ahead, forcing UK regulators to reconsider their approach.
Perhaps most surprising: while only 5% of Britons own stocks, 12% hold cryptocurrency, meaning young traders now understand dollars better than pounds. Despite London handling 38% of global forex trading, the conversation raises critical questions about monetary sovereignty in the digital age.
From regulatory nightmares around tracking digital assets to the complexities of cross-border monetary policy, this episode unpacks the unintended consequences of embracing American-dominated stablecoins.
Listen now to discover how Britain might be sleepwalking into financial Americanization.
AI agents could be handling $1.7 trillion worth of your shopping decisions by 2030 – and Helen Disney, founder of Unblocked, explains exactly how this transformation will unfold.
In this fascinating return to Digital Bytes, Disney breaks down the evolution from traditional e-commerce to "d-commerce" – decentralized commerce powered by blockchain technology and cryptocurrency. She envisions a future where AI agents automatically execute purchases based on your preferences, using smart contracts and digital money to eliminate intermediaries and reduce costs.
Disney explores how programmable money through stablecoins and cryptocurrencies offers unprecedented transparency and frictionless global payments. She discusses the shift from centralized platforms with data monopolies to decentralized systems that give users true ownership of their digital assets and rewards.
The conversation covers practical applications already emerging: freelancers accessing worldwide markets with instant cross-border payments, fractional ownership of real-world assets like property and artwork, and tradeable reward tokens that work across multiple platforms rather than being locked into single ecosystems.
While acknowledging adoption challenges, Disney argues that decentralization offers choice rather than replacement – particularly benefiting micro-entrepreneurs in developing countries who can now access stable digital currencies and yield-bearing opportunities.
Listen to discover how d-commerce could revolutionize your shopping experience and create new economic opportunities worldwide.
Decentralised commerce (d-commerce) offers benefits such as reduced fees, enhanced transparency and direct peer-to-peer transactions powered by blockchain and AI. It democratises trade by enabling shared ownership and real-time supply chain traceability. However, risks include regulatory uncertainty, complex user experiences, cybersecurity threats and challenges in replacing centralised logistics and dispute resolution systems. These hurdles must be overcome to unlock d-commerce’s potential as a fairer, more resilient alternative to centralised e-commerce platforms.
Stablecoins are increasingly flowing through global payment rails. But here is the catch: in the US, they are still not legal tender - only US coins and Federal Reserve notes qualify. The IRS even classifies stablecoins as property, meaning every payment could trigger capital gains tax. But winds are shifting. The proposed Stablecoin Transparency and Accountability for a Better Ledger Economy (STABLE) Act of 2025 could make USD stablecoins legal tender. The ECB’s digital euro already envisions legal tender status for CBDCs, therefore, if Washington recognises stablecoins, how long before other jurisdictions follow either by adopting USD stablecoins or fast-tracking their own programmable digital alternatives?
OFSI’s July 2025 Cryptoassets Threat Assessment warns UK crypto firms that sanctions risk has shifted from fringe to frontline. The agency maintains suspected breach reporting is inconsistent and has been likely under-reported since 2022, with most issues arising inadvertently via delayed attribution, indirect exposure to designated persons (DPs) and weak due diligence. Three dominant jurisdictions pose threats: Russia, North Korea and Iran. OFSI urges a risk-based program using continuous blockchain analytics to track newly spawned addresses post-designation, heightened scrutiny of privacy coins, chain-hopping and non-KYC services and prompt reporting of suspected sanctions evasion.
The US can no longer ignore crypto’s role in global finance with institutional adoption surging and Trump’s proposal for a US Strategic Crypto Reserve is a bold but divisive move. Supporters see it as a hedge against inflation and a way to solidify America’s dominance in digital assets but critics warn of political flip-flopping, regulatory chaos and conflicts of interest. So, will the US lead the next financial evolution, or will it fumble the opportunity whilst other nations move ahead? The question is no longer if but how the US should act.
Dark pools, long used in traditional finance, are entering crypto whereby bringing stability but challenging decentralisation. By shielding trades from public view, they reduce slippage and protect against predatory strategies such as front-running. For institutions and whales, they unlock liquidity without destabilising markets. Yet this privacy clashes with blockchain’s ethos of transparency and raises regulatory concerns. But whilst dark pools could mature crypto markets, they risk reintroducing opacity and centralisation. Their impact will be pivotal: less a silver bullet than a sign of digital finance’s uneasy evolution.
Dark pools promise liquidity and stability, but their entry into crypto clashes with blockchain’s ethos of transparency. Opaque and centralised by design, they risk reviving structures crypto aimed to replace. Anonymity protects investors from slippage and predatory trading but also enables illicit finance, inviting regulatory scrutiny. Technically, secrecy on public blockchains demands hybrid models that compromise decentralisation for speed, sparking criticism from purists. Yet atomic settlement and AI-driven hyper-trading reveal their transformative potential. Dark pools underscore crypto’s central tension: balancing transparency, efficiency, security and oversight, whilst for retail investors, dollar-cost averaging remains the most pragmatic shield against volatility.
Since Trump’s January 2025 return, the SEC has pivoted from cracking down on crypto to championing it scrapping lawsuits, launching a pro-innovation Crypto Task Force - fast-tracking rules for tokenisation, DeFi, stablecoins and crypto ETFs. Chair, Paul Atkins’ “Project Crypto” aims to make the US the world’s blockchain leader with clear, simple regulations.
According to OMFIF’s Global Public Investor 2025 report, central banks remain wary of digital assets, with 93% holding no crypto and no plans to change. Whilst family offices and sovereign funds debate gold versus Bitcoin as alternatives to the dollar, central bankers cite legal, technical and liquidity risks. Meanwhile, the US races ahead with the GENIUS Act and talk of a strategic Bitcoin reserve, leaving Europe and others to decide whether to join the digital finance shift or risk falling behind. The question now is whether digital innovation will reshape global finance under private control or be subsumed into the existing regulated system.
Key highlights:
The discussion explores the delicate balance between innovation and regulation in the digital currency space, while examining the potential for reduced transaction costs and improved cross-border payments for SMEs.
Ready to understand how digital currencies are reshaping our financial future? Tune in to this enlightening episode of the Digital Byte Show with Johnny Fry and John Orchard.
Money is a technology coupled with a community - central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) offer the potential of programmable, state-backed money promising efficient taxation, digital public infrastructure and financial inclusion, However, what about the risks, including overreach, surveillance and systemic fragility? Governments need to exercise caution in replacing traditional fiat infrastructure with digital rails because CBDCs may reshape power dynamics, financial intermediation - even the definition of money itself. Potentially CBDCs’ most significant impact may emerge, not from retail use but from wholesale cross-border applications where CBDCs could truly redefine global finance.
Discover how the powerful combination of AI and blockchain is reshaping industries through groundbreaking innovations in smart manufacturing and decentralized identity systems. Antonio Lanotte, a distinguished Chartered Tax Advisor and International Tax Consultant, shares his expertise on this technological convergence that's transforming the digital economy.
The episode delves into critical challenges facing these technologies, including scalability issues and emerging threats, while emphasizing the importance of international collaboration between academia, government, and industry stakeholders.
Ready to explore the future of digital transformation? Tune in to this enlightening episode of the Digital Bytes Show with Jonny Fry and discover how AI and blockchain are shaping tomorrow's industrial landscape.
Key Highlights:
00:00:00 - Interoperability of AI and Blockchain
00:00:59 - Intersection of AI and Blockchain Technology
00:03:17 - AI and Blockchain: Driving Industry Innovation
00:06:27 - AI and Blockchain in Energy Efficiency
00:09:10 - AI and Blockchain in Global Collaboration
00:12:20 - Decentralized Autonomous Organizations in Industry
00:15:55 - Regulatory Challenges of DAOs
00:17:37 - AI and Blockchain in Industry 4.0
00:20:19 - Contacting Antonio on LinkedIn
The ‘Big Bang’ of US stablecoins - the rise of US dollar-backed stablecoins is quietly reshaping global finance. Offering instant, borderless and bank-less transactions, stablecoins such as USDC and USDT are increasingly replacing local currencies in unstable economies - and even challenging central bank authority in developed ones. As they become embedded in global trade, remittances and digital wallets, stablecoins threaten to erode monetary sovereignty, diminish fiscal control and render national currencies less relevant. This ‘Big Bang’ in finance marks the beginning of a new monetary era one where programmable US$, not central banks, govern how value moves.
Discover how the ultra-wealthy are shifting away from traditional currencies to embrace stablecoins for luxury real estate transactions! In this eye-opening episode of Digital Bytes, hosts Jonny Fry, Lee Birkett, and Barry James explore the groundbreaking intersection of digital currencies and property investment.
Lee Birkett shares fascinating insights from his journey in financial services, introducing BIPs and Moneybrain - a revolutionary platform transforming global digital exchanges. The discussion highlights a remarkable case study in Jersey, where fractional ownership of high-value properties is becoming a reality through blockchain technology.
Key highlights:
- Evolution from traditional banking to innovative digital solutions
- How stablecoins are democratizing access to luxury real estate
- Moneybrain's role in simplifying investment processes
- Tokenized debt enabling access to £30 million development projects
- Quick bank account setups and secure global transactions
Ready to understand how digital currencies are reshaping the future of property investment? Don't miss this transformative episode that could change your perspective on real estate investment forever. Listen now to stay ahead of the curve in the evolving world of decentralized finance!
00:00:00 - Revolutionizing Property Investment with Stablecoins
00:02:31 - Introduction to Moneybrain
00:04:30 - Understanding Stablecoins and Digital Money
00:06:33 - Fractional Property Ownership Explained
00:09:19 - Investing in Luxury Real Estate
00:12:00 - Impact of Dollarization on Economies
00:13:41 - Tokenizing Debt for Retail Investors
00:16:16 - Revolutionizing Banking and Property Investment
00:19:06 - Yield Options for Digital Pounds
Newsletter:
How stablecoins are revolutionising property investment - stablecoins and blockchain tokenisation are transforming real estate by enabling faster, programmable and potentially global property transactions. With $379 trillion in real estate value, 75% is in the form of residential as opposed to commercial property andstablecoins offer a faster, cheaper alternative to traditional, slow-moving systems such the UK Land Registry. Meanwhile, the Channel Island of Jersey is piloting tokenised debt, enabling fractional ownership and instant settlement. But whilst the model promises greater access and efficiency, it raises unresolved legal, regulatory and ethical questions around ownership rights, platform risk and housing inequality. The future of real estate may be digital, but it must be built on more than simply code.
Dive into a fascinating exploration of how stablecoins and CBDCs are reshaping our financial future, featuring expert insights from the Digital Monetary Institute's John Orchard and Lewis McLellan. The discussion reveals how Donald Trump's executive order could potentially trigger a stablecoin boom in the U.S., while the pending Genius Act aims to regulate this emerging sector.
Key highlights:
- The shift from retail to wholesale applications of CBDCs
- Banks' preparations to issue their own stablecoins
- Circle's strategic acquisition of HashNote
- Impact of stablecoins on the U.S. dollar's global role
- Challenges of creating liquid markets and ensuring interoperability
- Cross-border payment complexities and regulatory frameworks
The conversation underscores how traditional banks are adapting to digital transformation while grappling with regulatory challenges and competition from innovative financial products like tokenized money market funds.
Ready to understand how digital currencies could transform your financial future? Listen to this essential episode:
00:00:00 - Exploring the U.S. Stable Coin Boom
00:02:55 - Central Banks and Stablecoins Discussion
00:06:59 - Stablecoin Regulation and Banking Competition
00:10:46 - Emerging Trends in Stablecoins and Tokenization
00:13:45 - Impact of Stablecoins on Dollar Sovereignty
00:15:59 - Impact of Dollarization on Local Economies
00:19:37 - Trump and the Bitcoin Conference
00:21:50 - Digital Currency Adoption in Small Towns
00:24:42 - Challenges of Digital Currency Interoperability
00:28:08 - Future of Stablecoins and Central Banks
As digital currencies and AI systems increasingly shape our daily lives, are we unknowingly trading privacy for convenience - and control for comfort? Could programmable money become a tool for mass surveillance, nudging behaviour and conditioning spending? And, as central banks and tech firms quietly lay the foundation for a fully transparent financial system, who safeguards the citizen? If algorithms engineer our happiness and filter our choices, is it still truly ours - or just a curated illusion? At the edge of this digital pivot, the question is not merely where money is headed, but whether we can preserve the unpredictable, messy and deeply human aspects of life within it.
The shift to digital money goes beyond mobile payments. It is about transforming outdated, intermediary-heavy financial systems into seamless, programmable and transparent networks. Digital money such as CBDCs, stablecoins and tokenised deposits offer 24/7 access, lower costs and greater financial inclusion. Innovators, institutions and regulators are driving adoption, but challenges such as regulation, interoperability and public trust remain. The future of money is inevitable (digital, efficient and democratised), whereby reshaping global finance for the modern age.
Discover how the future of energy trading could be as simple as selling excess solar power to your neighbors! In this fascinating episode, Alex Bausch from Two Tokens unveils groundbreaking initiatives in energy tokenization that are reshaping how we think about power distribution.
Learn how Two Tokens is collaborating with IBM and major banks to democratize solar panel ownership, making green energy accessible even to apartment dwellers. Alex explains their innovative approach to tokenizing solar panel ownership and creating peer-to-peer energy markets, potentially revolutionizing how we share and trade energy resources.
The episode also tackles an urgent environmental challenge: the recycling of a billion solar panels. Through partnerships with Green Energy for All, Two Tokens is transforming this potential waste into valuable assets for sun-rich countries, demonstrating how tokenization can create sustainable solutions while building local economies.
Ready to understand how blockchain technology could help solve the global energy crisis? Tune in to hear about the future of decentralized energy systems and discover how you might soon be part of this energy revolution.
*Visit powerofthemany.org and twotokens.org to learn more about these groundbreaking initiatives.*
00:00:00 - Future of Energy Discussion
00:01:25 - Understanding Tokenization and Its Applications
00:04:42 - Tokenizing Energy and Solar Panels
00:07:29 - Tokenizing Solar Energy Production
00:11:04 - Recycling Old Solar Panels
00:13:07 - Reusing Solar Panels in Sunbelt Countries
00:14:24 - Democratizing Renewable Energy Sharing
00:15:58 - Energy Sharing and Tokenization Explained
00:17:59 - Tokenizing Energy for Decentralized Communities
00:21:50 - Empowering Local Energy Production
Discover how a million-euro data management problem in asset management is being transformed through innovation and collaboration. In this compelling episode, Gary Bond, CEO of TISA, draws from his 35-year experience in financial services to unpack the evolution of asset management and the critical need for standardization.
Gary reveals how TISA's groundbreaking central data utility project is addressing industry-wide challenges, from costly data management to complex corporate actions. He shares insights on the strategic pivot from a not-for-profit to a for-profit model, demonstrating how this shift helped secure crucial industry participation.
Key highlights:
- The impact of Mifid 2 legislation on transparency
- How blockchain technology is reshaping asset management
- Solutions for streamlining corporate actions communication
- The journey toward standardized data frameworks
- Collaborative efforts with major firms like S&P Global and Fidelity
Join us for this eye-opening discussion about the future of financial services and learn how industry-wide collaboration is paving the way for more efficient, standardized operations. Listen now to understand how these changes could impact your role in the financial sector.
00:00:00 - Introduction to Gary Bond and His Experience
00:01:41 - TISA's Role in Financial Regulation
00:03:48 - Building Relationships for Industry Standards
00:06:48 - Challenges in Cloud Adoption Journey
00:09:15 - Challenges in Data Management for Asset Managers
00:11:42 - Challenges in Corporate Actions Workshop
00:14:26 - Understanding Corporate Actions in Finance
00:16:10 - Challenges with Corporate Action PDFs
00:16:56 - Standardizing Data in Asset Management
00:21:13 - Challenges in Corporate Actions
Corporate actions such as mergers, dividends and stock splits remain one of the most error-prone and inefficient areas in financial services due to fragmented data and inconsistent processes across stakeholders. Despite their regulatory importance, the industry lacks a unified standard, leading to delays, mistakes and increased risk. Blockchain technology can offer a solution that enhances transparency, reduces costs and improves compliance. By combining collaboration with secure, decentralised infrastructure, standardisation promises to transform corporate actions from a legacy pain point into a streamlined, automated pillar of financial operations.
Dive into a groundbreaking conversation about how blockchain and AI are reshaping the future of betting. Former clean tech entrepreneur Paul Taylor shares his journey of creating Wagerlink, a revolutionary decentralized wagering network that turns users into bookmakers. The episode explores the shift from traditional betting houses to peer-to-peer platforms, offering a fresh perspective on how community-driven gambling could create safer, more enjoyable experiences.
Industry veteran Heath Sam, with 29 years of experience, provides valuable insights on the resistance to change within traditional gambling practices. The discussion highlights how emerging technologies are transforming betting into a social activity, comparable to a digital pub experience, while addressing crucial topics like gambling addiction and responsible gaming through community-based approaches.
The conversation takes an innovative turn with the introduction of a Telegram-based wagering technology governed by a DAO, showcasing the potential for community-driven solutions in the betting industry.
Ready to explore the future of betting? Listen to this episode for an eye-opening discussion on how technology is reshaping the gambling landscape.
• The shift from traditional gambling to social wagering is driven by a cultural preference for peer-to-peer interactions, transforming the betting landscape.
• Blockchain and AI technologies are poised to revolutionize the gambling industry by enabling decentralized betting platforms, allowing users to act as their own bookmakers.
• Community-driven approaches to betting can counteract gambling addiction by fostering a more enjoyable and interactive environment, contrasting sharply with the isolating nature of traditional gambling practices.
Peer-to-peer iGaming is redefining the gambling industry by eliminating the house and placing control in the hands of players. Powered by blockchain technology and smart contracts, we are seeing greater transparency and decentralised and social betting experiences. This shift not only challenges traditional sportsbooks but also fosters community-driven wagering with greater fairness, accountability and user empowerment. As regulations evolve and adoption grows, P2P crypto betting is poised to become the new standard, where trust is built into the system - and the house no longer wins by default.
