Converge

In this conversation, Raja Chakravorti discusses the transformative potential of blockchain technology, particularly through the Stellar Development Foundation. He emphasizes the importance of creating accessible financial solutions for underserved populations, the role of tokenization and stablecoins in democratizing finance, and the significance of regulatory clarity in driving innovation. The d...

In this episode of Converge Market Update, George Vessey and Kevin Ford discuss the growing concerns surrounding the 'Sell America' trade, particularly in light of President Trump's threats to fire Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell unless he cuts interest rates. They explore the implications of this tension on market dynamics, the importance of Fed independence, and the potential...

In this podcast, Jody Flournoy from Blockfuel talks about how blockchain is shaking things up in traditional finance, especially when it comes to cross-border payments. The conversation covers why stablecoins matter, some of the challenges with international transactions, and what a "stablecoin sandwich" actually means. Jody also touches on where digital treasuries could be heading, how...

In this conversation, George Vessey and Kevin Ford discuss the recent turbulence in financial markets triggered by Trump's aggressive tariff policies. They explore the implications of these tariffs on the economy, the potential for a 'hard reset' theory suggesting a deliberate slowdown to pressure the Federal Reserve, and the challenges of balancing economic policies amidst rising infl...

Real estate tokenization is changing how people invest in property. In this episode, hosts Alex Lawrence and Alanna Frost speak with Jack Land , Head of Marketing and UK Growth at MetaWealth , about how blockchain - specifically Solana - enables fractional ownership of high-end real estate. They discuss the benefits of tokenization, regulatory challenges, and how ESG principles shape asset selecti...

In this episode of the Converge Market Update, George Vessey, Lead FX & Macro Strategist, and Steven Dooley, Head of Market Insights, discuss the ongoing tariff developments and their impact on financial markets. They explore the mixed economic data trends, the responses from central banks, and the contrasting signals from consumer confidence and commodity prices. The conversation also delves...

Alex Lawrence and co-host Alanna Frost sit down with fintech expert Simon Taylor from Sardine and Fintech Brainfood to talk about the "scamdemic" facing financial services and how AI is fighting back. Simon shares how his company is using AI to tackle fraud, streamline KYC, and reduce false positives. He also makes a strong case for stablecoins as a "universal layer" for paymen...

In this episode, Steven Dooley, Head of Market Insights, and George Vessey, Lead FX and Macro Strategist, break down the market volatility sparked by President Trump's tariff policies. They talk about the impact on the US economy, the chances of a recession, and the weakening dollar. They also discuss why the euro is staying strong despite major changes in Europe. The conversation wraps up wit...

In this episode of Converge, we're joined by Nkiru Uwaje , COO and Co-Founder of MANSA , to talk about the big shifts happening in cross-border payments. She breaks down how decentralized finance (DeFi) and stablecoins are making transactions faster, cheaper, and more accessible - especially in emerging markets where getting US dollar liquidity isn't always easy. We get into why liquidity...

Markets are shifting—have we reached a turning point? This week, Steven Dooley joins us to discuss “tariff fatigue” in FX markets, the slowing US economy, and its impact on the dollar, bond yields, and equities. Meanwhile, Europe is showing signs of resilience, driven by stabilizing economic data, hawkish ECB signals, and lower energy costs. We also break down key FX moves, including the weakening...

We sat down with Jessica Chen Riolfi, co-founder and CEO of Uprise , about her journey in the fintech industry, the challenges small business owners face in financial planning, and the promising role (and pitfalls) of AI. We touched on Uprise's unique approach to financial advisory combining the best of human support, embedded services, and AI. We also discussed the importance of partnerships...

In this episode, FX and Macro Analyst George Vessey discusses the current macroeconomic landscape, focusing on inflation, tariffs, and their impact on markets. He highlights the persistent inflationary pressures, the evolving trade tensions under Trump's policies, and the implications for the US dollar.. We also cover the volatility in markets due to these factors and provides insights into th...

This week, we sat down with Soups Ranjan , the co-founder and CEO of AI risk management platform, Sardine , to chat about the evolution of fraud prevention technologies in the AI era. We touch on the importance of partnerships in the fintech space, and the challenges posed by AI in fraud detection - including how Sardine uses AI to detect deepfakes and improve identity verification. Soups' sha...

Is the U.S. recession still on the horizon, or has resilience pushed it further out? Can Europe’s economy surprise to the upside despite the gloom? How will inflation data shape central bank policies in the coming months? This week, we break down the February Global FXOutlook and the market’s reaction to Trump 2.0. From the initial USD rally post-election to its sharp pullback on tariff uncertaint...

LatAM is a hotbed for fintech innovation, and Colombia - LatAm’s 4th largest economy - occupies a unique position in global commerce. In this episode, we sat down with Christian Guevara Téllez and Luis Felipe Aparicio of Colombian brokerage firm, Acciones y Valores S.A., to discuss the cross-border payment landscape in Colombia. We touch on the unique regulatory challenges faced in Colombia, the i...

The global bond sell-off continues to reverberate through markets, US economic resilience has dampened Fed rate cut bets, equities are falling, the dollar is surging and UK assets, including the pound, are tumbling – welcome to 2025. After a fairly turbulent 12 months, people are wondering what 2025 may hold in store. It’s that time where it’s not uncommon to see calls by analysts for the year ahe...

To kick of a new year of Converge conversations, we sat down with Hal Ramakers , Senior Vice President of Global Solutions at Brightwell , to discuss the evolution of Brightwell from its origins in maritime payroll for the cruise line industry to its current role in providing cutting-edge cross-border payment solutions. We cover the challenges faced in global payroll solutions, the importance of l...

This week, Convera Head of Market Insights, Steven Dooley, discusses the significant market reactions following the 2024 US election, the impact of tariffs on foreign exchange markets, macroeconomic trends including interest rate cuts, and the outlook for 2025 amidst geopolitical tensions. We explore how the election results influenced investor sentiment, the implications of tariff discussions on...

At Money2020 USA, we sat down with Margaret Weichert , Chief Product Officer at The Clearing House , and Peter Tapling , Managing Director of PTap Advisory, to discuss the transformative potential of instant payment applications. We covered: The evolution of payment systems and how new technologies like tokenization are being leveraged to create seamless financial transactions The challenges and o...

What could a centralized authority, or 'fraud czar', do to combat the growing complexities of fraud in the global financial sector? We sat down with an expert panel at Money2020 to explore this question by looking at the various types of fraud at play, including synthetic identities and the evolving tactics of fraudsters, particularly in the context of new technologies. The group highlight...

At Money2020 USA, we sat down with two experts to discuss the evolving landscape of risk management and hedging strategies in the modern enterprise, particularly in the context of geopolitical instability and emerging markets like Africa. David Renta, Global Head of Hedging at Convera and Benjamin Fernandez, CEO and founder of African payments fintech, Nala, share insights on navigating these chal...

In this week's market update, Boris Kovacevic discusses the implications of the recent US elections, focusing on Donald Trump's victory and its impact on the economy and global markets. We cover the economic factors that influenced the election results, particularly inflation, and explore the concept of US exceptionalism in the context of global trade dynamics. We also touch on geopolitica...

At Money2020, we sat down with ⁠Zoya Lieberman⁠ of ⁠Endava ⁠and ⁠Ramiro Nandez⁠ of ⁠Mercado Pago⁠ to discuss the evolving landscape of digital payments in the Americas, focusing on the role of AI, the challenges of cash adoption, and the importance of user experience and financial inclusion. We explore the collaboration between fintechs and traditional banks, the regulatory hurdles faced in differ...

With five days to go until a historically close US election, market participants can't stop talking about the what ifs. Hear from macro analyst Boris Kovacevic on what outcomes we could see in the markets globally following the November 5th US elections. Disclaimer: Converge is Convera’s new podcast that discusses a range of financial services topics. We want to remind our listeners that the infor...

To kick things off at Money2020 USA we spoke with Ari Redbord from TRM Labs . With 11 years under his belt at the US Dept. of Justice, Ari shared his views about the evolving landscape of cryptocurrency, the challenges of crypto crime, and the importance of compliance in the financial sector. We touch on the role of TRM Labs in combating illicit activities in the crypto space, the future of stable...