NFK Podcast

Stablecoins are becoming a matter of monetary strategy for Europe. In this episode, Vid Hribar, driving blockchain strategy and R&D at Raiffeisen Bank International, shares the details behind the European Stablecoin Initiative.

Crypto crime rarely looks like it does in the headlines. Most of it hides in patterns, data trails, and small inconsistencies that only surface when you know exactly where to look. In this episode, Karl Zettl, Co-Founder and CEO of Iknaio Cryptoasset Analytics, shares how blockchain forensics actually works in practice.

The worlds of stablecoins, RWAs, and institutional blockchain adoption are converging faster than most people realize. Ryan Zega, Head of Structured Finance at Aptos Labs, breaks down how Aptos Labs is architecting the future that makes real-world value programmable, traceable, and usable on-chain.

Tokenisation is transforming what can be traded, who can access it, and how financial systems operate behind the scenes. In this interview, Tibor Mérey, Managing Director & Partner, Global Leader for Frontier Tech at BCG, walks us through the shifts he’s seeing as tokenised assets move into institutional strategy.

Blockchain is evolving far beyond finance — into governance, social impact, public infrastructure, and emerging technologies. In this episode, Mariana de la Roche Wills, a Founder of BlackVogel Consulting) breaks down where blockchain is creating real-world value today.

The 2025 market drawdown exposed weak infrastructure, stressed market makers, and put every major crypto asset under real-world pressure. Igor Hadziahmetovic, Investment Director and Portofolio Manager at Venionaire Capital, breaks down what failed, what held up, and why Bitcoin’s behavior in this crisis may redefine its role in global markets. Date: November, 2025.

Yves Holenstein, Director and Head of Custody & Staking at Bitcoin Suisse, walks us through the maturation of staking into an asset class.

How are EU banks really thinking about stablecoins? Vid Hribar, Member of Blockchain Hub at Raiffeisen Bank International AG, shares what’s happening behind the scenes.

In this episode, I sit down with Ben from BNBChain’s GTM & Ecosystem Growth team to unpack the current state of the ecosystem and what builders need to know right now.

From Bitcoin’s energy demands to AI’s hidden weaknesses and Quantum risks, the future of digital finance is far messier (and more exciting) than most think. To explore these dynamics, I spoke with Patrick Fodor, co-founder of marbl., a company powering energy traders with actionable market signals and intelligent position optimisation.

I sat down with Andrew Forson, TEP, President of DeFi Technologies and Chief Growth Officer at Valour, to explore key developments in digital assets, the biggest hurdles ahead, and his vision for the next 10 years of DeFi Tech.

I spoke with Alexandra Lloyd LL.M., Risk & Compliance Manager, Head of AML at YouHodler, about why DORA matters, what its implementation could trigger, and how the industry should prepare.

Together with Alireza Siadat (Deloitte Legal), we explore MiCA, highlight the misconceptions, draw parallels, and look ahead to the conversations already forming around future European regulation.

In this episode, we sit down with Jim Dorra, General Manager of Tractial, to break down the rising trend of BTC treasuries and how companies are approaching digital-asset balance-sheet strategies.

Ted Paulus, CFA, breaks down how Bitcoin mining could supercharge grid stability, renewables, and the economics of Europe’s power sector.

Thomas Jeegers, CFO & COO at Relai, the Swiss-based, Bitcoin-only savings app, explains why Europe stands on the edge of a historic shift, and how Bitcoin fits into the struggle between compliance, privacy, and open financial rails.

I spoke with Alexander Neumüller, Research Associate at the Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance (CCAF), about his research journey, key discoveries, and what’s next for the crypto industry.

I sat down with Simon Seiter, Managing Director and CFO/CPO at AllUnity, to discuss their mission to build Europe’s leading stablecoin and the broader implications for digital money.

In this interview, Oliver Stauber, CEO of KuCoin EU, shares his perspective on the opportunities, pressing challenges, and trends shaping the world of digital assets.

I spoke with Georg Harer, Managing Director & Head of Legal and Compliance at Bybit EU, who shared unique insights into their strategic roadmap and European expansion.

I spoke with Mazurka Zeng, Managing Director and CEO of Bybit Europe, who shared exclusive insights into their latest product.

Igor Hadziahmetovic, Investment Director and Web3 Tech Lead at Venionaire Capital, unpacks stablecoin power plays, exposes the flaws in altcoin models, and expertly breaks down Bitcoin’s shifting role in traditional markets.

What if backing a founder wasn’t just about belief but real, structured support from seed to scale? Astrid Woolard and Alexander Lenz, General Partners at SMAPE Capital, join us to pull back the curtain on how crypto funds actually work.

Horst Treiblmaier, Full Professor at Modul University Vienna, joins us to explore what happens when blockchain, AI, and even robotics intersect. One of the top social science researchers in Austria, he’s been studying blockchain since 2015 and now focuses on how these technologies are shaping real-world change.

He’s not just following the rules but helping shape them. Dr. Balázs Czencz, a Compliance Officer at Bitpanda Payments, brings an insider view on how MiCA and DORA are reshaping the crypto industry and how compliance is being used as a strategic advantage. Enjoyed the episode? Subscribe for more real-world conversations about innovative tech.