The Policy Layer

This episode starts with a simple argument: Europe cannot buy its way into digital sovereignty. Professor Roman Beck explains why the real issue is not nationality, but control, and why blockchain and decentralized systems belong in that conversation. From governance and key custody to resilience and execution, this is a policy discussion about what blockchain infrastructure can offer when institutions are thinking seriously about sovereignty.

What does good crypto regulation look like when the technology keeps moving and the stakes are real? Maha El Dimachki (GFTN) to talk about the gap between blockchain and crypto in policy conversations, the importance of proportionate regulation, and why useful engagement between regulators and industry depends on trust, tension, and clarity. We also get into policy coordination, experimentation, and what still is not getting enough attention. This one is for anyone interested in how serious institutions think through innovation. 🎧 Listen on Spotify & Apple Podcasts

Adam Zec, CEO of MyStandard, joins us to talk about fixing one of the most broken parts of the digital economy: data ownership. MyStandard is building infrastructure that lets individuals control and monetize their workforce data instead of handing it over to platforms by default. The conversation covers hiring, privacy, bias, and why useful blockchain products should lead with what they solve. Discover more in MyStandard.io 🎧 Listen on Spotify & Apple Podcasts

Yes, illicit finance in crypto exists, but it's not the whole story. Ari Redbord (TRM Labs) walks us through the real numbers, how blockchain data is used as evidence, and what better enforcement could look like. From sanctions to smart compliance tools, we get into what’s working and what still needs to improve. 🔎 Discover more in TRM's 2026 Crypto Crime Report 🎧 Listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts

What happens when Bordeaux meets blockchain? Connor Daly, CTO of CruTrade, explains how tokenizing wine on the blockchain is transforming a $25B industry with transparency, traceability, and a whole new kind of cellar. By unlocking instant liquidity and aligning incentives, the model empowers producers with fairer economics and gives collectors and consumers trusted access to the world’s finest bottles. Discover more at crutrade.io 🎧 Listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Can blockchains ever truly be privacy-compliant? Clifford Chance lawyers walk through the gray areas, from wallet addresses to pseudonymous data, and explain what regulators are starting to expect. 🎧 Listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Lord Chris Holmes explains how tokenization could reshape identity, finance, and trust across the UK and beyond. He breaks down what digital assets really are and why they matter for everyone, not just technologists. From refugee ID to football cards, this episode connects the dots between everyday life and emerging tech. 🎧 Listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Global crypto rules are changing fast, and 2025 is a turning point. We are joined by Elise Soucie Watts (Executive Director at Global Digital Finance), who discusses the big moves: MiCA in Europe, U.S. legislation, Asia’s innovation wave, and so much more. Check out the GDF’s report on tokenization here. 🎧 Listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Michael Mainelli, former Lord Mayor of London, joins Owl Explains to unpack how blockchain can help cities govern smarter: from planning records to transit data. From congestion charges to building permits, Mainelli explains why cities need better memory systems and not just better apps. It’s local meets ledger, and a reminder that blockchain’s real power might lie in fixing what cities forget to track. 🎧 Listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Professor Michele Neitz (University of San Francisco) makes the case for tech courts, a bold idea that could help us rethink how justice works in a digital-first world. As AI and blockchain reshape everything from contracts to crime, our legal system needs to evolve. Tech-savvy justice isn’t a luxury anymore but a necessity for protecting rights and resolving disputes in the age of code. 📝 Check out Michele's paper here. 🎧 Listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

In our 50th episode, we’re cutting through the hype and looking at how blockchain is actually being used to solve real problems, starting with one of the most vital: access to healthcare. Letsbuyhealthcare, a platform based in Ireland, is using the Avalanche blockchain to let people prepay for private healthcare with tokenized credits called Healthcare Coins. Founder Dave Allen joined us to break down how it works, why it matters, and what still needs to shift for models like this to scale across borders. It’s crypto with real-world consequences — and a quiet challenge to how we think about healthcare, finance, and trust.