Stablecoins, Wallets, and the Rise of Embedded Cross-Border Payments

Couchonomics with Arjun

The future of payments won’t be card-swiped or cash-counted — it’ll be fast, digital, and deeply integrated.
In this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, Floris de Kort, CEO of Thunes, joins to unpack what it really takes to build a global payments network across 130+ markets, from wallets to banks to mobile rails.
What’s inside:
- Why real-time payments still face real-world friction
- How Thunes is turning compliance into a competitive edge
- The rise of B2B payouts — and why corporates are driving the volume
- Why MENA is now a proving ground for wallet innovation
- The growing role of stablecoins in global finance
If you're building in fintech, infrastructure, or cross-border payments, this one’s essential listening.
🎧 Watch or listen on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.
Couchonomics with Arjun Season 04 is brought to you by our partners:
Adyen https://www.adyen.com/
Thunes https://thunes.com/
Mastercard https://mastercard.com/
E& https://www.eand.com/
Digit9 https://www.digitnine.com/
SC Ventures https://scventures.io/
Hala https://hala.com/
Chapters:
00:00 Episode Highlights
00:48 Introduction
01:34 State of the Payments Industry
03:39 The Rise of B2B Payments
05:33 Real-Time Payments and Global Trends
11:26 The Role of Stablecoins in Modern Payments
20:34 Regulation and the Future of Stablecoins
23:27 Cost and Efficiency of Modern Payment Systems
23:52 Regulatory Evolution and Market Disruption
24:17 Thunes' Recent Milestones and Future Plans
24:50 Challenges and Strategies in the US Market
25:30 Investment and Growth Focus
26:29 AI Integration in Financial Services
29:41 Navigating Complex Regulatory Environments
38:37 Middle East Expansion and Local Strategies
42:23 Conclusion and Future Outlook

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