In this episode of FinTalk, Ivan Jesus, Founder and CEO of Finalytics, sits down with Bayo Akins, Web3 growth leader at Digital Asset, the company behind the Canton Network. Together, they explore how crypto and traditional finance can work together and what this shift means for businesses.
Key takeaways
Crypto is more than speculation
Bayo sees crypto as a way to move value across borders and build financial services on shared digital infrastructure, not just a way to trade assets. Bitcoin, smart-contract tokens, stablecoins, meme coins and NFTs have different purposes and risks.
Stablecoins may speed up payments
Stablecoins are designed to track a currency, such as the US dollar, and can settle transfers at any time. Bayo says faster settlement could reduce payment delays and free up capital that might otherwise sit locked while businesses wait for funds.
Businesses may need a hybrid approach
Bayo expects fiat and crypto to work alongside each other, with the right mix depending on a business and its customers. Some payment providers can let customers pay in crypto while the business receives fiat, offering a middle ground for firms that are not ready to hold digital assets.
Adoption calls for informed decisions
Bayo says regulation is evolving in ways that can let more businesses participate, while privacy tools can limit transaction visibility to relevant parties and regulators when needed. He advises looking at diverse perspectives rather than relying on a single crypto guru, and says businesses need suitable treasury skills and systems.
“If I can send a text message to the UK, why can't I send a virtual dirham?” Bayo Akins
Why it matters for founders
For an owner-led SME, faster cross-border payments could improve cash flow and make it easier to serve customers in more places. Understanding stablecoins, compliance and treasury needs can help you assess the opportunities without rushing into holding crypto.
Our take
Whatever form value takes, the books still have to show it. Digital assets only become an advantage once every holding can be valued, reconciled and reported in statements a bank will accept.
See it in practice: USD 230M+ of digital assets, reported to IFRS (multi-family office case)
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