Digital Bytes by Team Blockchain Radio; Powered By Cyber.FM

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...

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 ...

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 wh...

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 dec...

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 m...

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.

• Smart manufacturing leveraging AI for predictive analytics and rea...

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 er...

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 rev...

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 ap...

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 fi...

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 ...

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 dw...

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 challenge...

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...

Dive into a fascinating conversation with Oliver King-Smith as he shares his transition from Silicon Valley to founding smartR AI in Scotland. In this compelling episode, Oliver contrasts the practical impact of AI with cryptocurrency's speculative nature, highlighting groundbreaking applications like AlphaFold in medical research.

The discussion explores how AI's evolution might reshape digital currencies, with particular ...

Cryptohedge funds promise high volatility, deep liquidity and strong risk-adjusted returns, yet most struggle to scale. With 80% managing under $50M in assets under management, limited fees make profitability challenging, especially after operational costs. Institutional investors hesitate due to a lack of in-house blockchain expertise, fund size constraints and weak risk management infrastructure. Whilst the market offers ineffici...

Discover how stablecoins could revolutionize the $2.5 trillion payment market in this fascinating conversation between Johnny Fry and Tony McLaughlin. Drawing from his extensive banking experience, Tony shares insights on why stablecoins might become the next mainstream payment method, potentially growing to a remarkable $5 trillion market.

The episode explores:

- Why stablecoins need to be classified as cash equivalents

- The compar...

Agentic AI and large language models are converging with programmable payments to revolutionise finance whereby enabling intelligent wallets that automate decisions and real-time transactions. As legacy systems lag, countries such as the UK have a chance to lead by building secure, AI-powered financial infrastructure.

Discover how the blend of AI and APIs could revolutionize financial systems, as Dan Feaheny shares groundbreakin...