Fintech Garden Podcast
Fintech Garden
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The Fintech Garden Podcast features conversations with founders, investors, and industry experts working in financial technology. Each episode explores emerging trends, practical insights, and the ideas shaping the future of finance. The show is accompanied by additional fintech resources and events at fintech.garden.
Episodes
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Crypto's Travel Rule, Explained with Emeka Mgbenu, Sumsub | Fintech Garden Podcast 176 06.10.2026 29mTravel Rule is reshaping how crypto transactions move, and most VASPs are still figuring out how to comply with it.In this episode of Fintech Garden, Igor Tomych sits down with Emeka Mgbenu from Sumsub to break down what Travel Rule actually requires, how it differs from standard AML/KYC, and why self-hosted wallets are the industry's hardest open question. They cover what data has to travel with a transaction, how VASPs attribute wallet ownership without a SWIFT-style lookup, what happens when names don't match, and how to design a risk-based compliance engine that doesn't collapse under false positives.Timestamps:00:31 AML vs. Travel Rule: what's actually different01:06 Where Travel Rule came from (FATF, the SWIFT comparison)03:03 What data must travel: names, DOB, IDs, local vs. international thresholds 5:23 Why crypto can't verify payees the way banks do06:17 How VASPs attribute wallet ownership08:01 Self-hosted wallets: anyone can spin one up08:40 Verifying ownership: signatures, Satoshi tests, self-declaration10:18 HD wallets and the attribution puzzle10:54 Hot wallets, clustering, and VASP attribution at scale13:11 Transparent ≠ simple: the complexity under the hood14:15 Risk-based approach: handling mismatched names19:29 Receiving funds with no Travel Rule message22:43 Building the decision engine: automation vs. compliance team23:18 From compliance-heavy launch to automated screening25:02 Where to start: three steps for any VASPBook your discovery call with Fintech Core team today: https://dashdevs.com/fintech-core/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=qr&utm_campaign=fg_podcastWant to become a guest? Need a consultation from DashDevs or Novafin? Please fill in the form here: https://fintech.garden/about-us/Follow us: https://fintech.gardenCheck out DashDevs: https://dashdevs.comCheck out Novafin: https://www.novafin.co/Connect with our hostsIgor Tomych https://www.linkedin.com/in/igortomych/Dumitru Condrea https://www.linkedin.com/in/dcondrea/Subscribe to our newsletter: https://fintech.garden🎙 Podcast CreditsManager: Olha Koistryk / https://www.linkedin.com/in/olha-koistryk/Video Editing: Arsen Harin / Nazar Gecha, Olha KoistrykSound Editing: Arsen Harin / Nazar GechaThumbnail Design: Maryna Manoilo / https://www.linkedin.com/in/marina-manoylo/Marketing / Social Media: DashDevs Marketing Team -
Euro Stablecoin: Built by Europeans for Europe, with Jan-Oliver Sell, Qivalis| FG Podcast 175 29.09.2026 29m99.8% of stablecoin transactions today run in US dollars. Jan-Oliver Sell, CEO of Qivalis, a euro stablecoin project backed by a growing consortium of European banks, joins Igor Tomych to explain why that gap matters and what it will take to close it. They cover the difference between the ECB's retail digital euro and the electronic money token Qivalis is building, why MiCA regulation finally gave banks the confidence to get involved, why liquidity, not technology, is the real bottleneck, and why Jan-Oliver sees Europe's dependence on dollar stablecoins as a genuine dollarization risk if it isn't addressed.Book your discovery call with Fintech Core team today: https://dashdevs.com/fintech-core/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=qr&utm_campaign=fg_podcastWant to become a guest? Need a consultation from DashDevs or Novafin? Please fill in the form here: https://fintech.garden/about-us/Digital euro is not crypto. It is digital cash, with Rainer Olt | Fintech Garden Podcast 145: https://youtu.be/nF3zZ1BCVMoTimestamps:00:55 – What is the digital euro, and how Qivalis differs from the ECB's version03:10 – Why now: how MiCA opened the door for bank-issued stablecoins05:36 – The gap: 99.8% of stablecoins are dollars, yet 25% of activity starts in Europe06:13 – Why Qivalis was founded, and the three-year path to launch08:52 – The goal: putting a liquid euro in every builder's hands10:01 – Why the euro is uniquely positioned to compete with the dollar11:56 – Europe's push for monetary autonomy14:15 – Learning from Stripe's Bridge acquisition and the US stablecoin race17:33 – Europe's monetary stack: retail digital euro, wholesale CBDC, and stablecoins20:18 – Debunking the myth that stablecoins are anonymous23:27 – Is Asia catching up on stablecoin adoption?25:42 – The real risk: dollarization of Europe's financial system28:49 – Where the euro stands by 2030Follow us: https://fintech.gardenCheck out DashDevs: https://dashdevs.comCheck out Novafin: https://www.novafin.co/Connect with our hostsIgor Tomych https://www.linkedin.com/in/igortomych/Dumitru Condrea https://www.linkedin.com/in/dcondrea/Subscribe to our newsletter: https://fintech.garden🎙 Podcast CreditsManager: Olha Koistryk / https://www.linkedin.com/in/olha-koistryk/Video Editing: Nazar Gecha, Olha KoistrykSound Editing: Nazar GechaThumbnail Design: Maryna Manoilo / https://www.linkedin.com/in/marina-manoylo/Marketing / Social Media: DashDevs Marketing Team -
GCC Is Not One Market, with Omar El Gammal | Fintech Garden Podcast 174 22.09.2026 25mOmar El Gammal, EVP of Global Business Development at Paymob, has spearheaded payment expansion across four GCC territories—securing regulatory approvals in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Oman, where Paymob made history as the first foreign fintech fully licensed by the Central Bank of Oman.He joins Igor Tomych to dissect regional expansion strategy and the reality of cross-border execution:🌱The Monolith Myth: Why approaching the GCC as a single, homogeneous market is a foundational misstep for founders.🌱Regulatory Divergence: The practical differences between navigating licensing in the UAE versus Saudi Arabia.🌱Direct Market Intelligence: Why founders who bypass high-fee advisors to gather boots-on-the-ground insights save both substantial capital and execution time.Book your discovery call with Fintech Core team today: https://dashdevs.com/fintech-core/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=qr&utm_campaign=fg_podcastWant to become a guest? Need a consultation from DashDevs or Novafin? Please fill in the form here: https://fintech.garden/about-us/Timestamps:01:38 – Why "GCC" is not one market04:47 – Where should founders launch first?06:25 – Saudi Arabia's licensing evolution: TSP to retail payment services09:23 – Why regulators are allies, not just gatekeepers10:57 – The underserved markets outside Riyadh, Jeddah, Abu Dhabi, and Dubai12:21 – Paymob's compliance playbook across UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Oman15:13 – Why hands-on market experience beats hiring a consultant16:51 – What's coming next: open finance, crypto, and pay-by-bank19:24 – Open banking vs. open finance, explained simply20:15 – Will new BNPL regulation constrain the region's most valuable fintech category?21:34 – What Omar would do differently starting overFollow us: https://fintech.gardenCheck out DashDevs: https://dashdevs.comCheck out Novafin: https://www.novafin.co/Connect with our hostsIgor Tomych https://www.linkedin.com/in/igortomych/Dumitru Condrea https://www.linkedin.com/in/dcondrea/Subscribe to our newsletter: https://fintech.garden🎙 Podcast CreditsManager: Olha Koistryk / https://www.linkedin.com/in/olha-koistryk/Video Editing: Arsen Harin, Olha KoistrykSound Editing: Arsen HarinThumbnail Design: Maryna Manoilo / https://www.linkedin.com/in/marina-manoylo/Marketing / Social Media: DashDevs Marketing Team -
Becoming AI-Led: Lessons from a Payments Company's AI Journey, with Ahu Chhapgar | FG Pod 173 16.09.2026 32mIn July, 64% of all the code shipped by Paysafe's engineering org was AI-generated. Ahu Chhapgar, CTO at Paysafe with prior leadership roles at PayPal, Mastercard, and Citi, joins Igor Tomych and Dumitru Condrea to unpack what "AI transformation" actually means once you get past the pitch-deck version of the phrase. They cover where AI has genuinely sped up software delivery, why code review became the new bottleneck once AI output scaled up, why the biggest obstacle to AI adoption is people, not technology, and why fintech has to treat AI risk completely differently from a company just building a website or a CRM.Book your discovery call with Fintech Core team today: https://dashdevs.com/fintech-core/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=qr&utm_campaign=fg_podcastWant to become a guest? Need a consultation from DashDevs or Novafin? Please fill in the form here: https://fintech.garden/about-us/Watch our previous episode about AI Brain: https://youtu.be/p2X4XYY91tQTimestamps:01:20 – What "AI transformation" actually means06:34 – Where AI delivers real value, and where it hasn't09:00 – Will certain engineering roles vanish because of AI?14:07 – Why AI transformation succeeds or fails on people, not tech16:04 – "The person who knows how to use AI will replace you"18:37 – Security lessons from before the AI era21:52 – Why AI risk in fintech is different from a website or CRM23:05 – Separating low-risk from high-risk AI use cases29:13 – What Ahu wishes he'd known at the start of AI transformationFollow us: https://fintech.gardenCheck out DashDevs: https://dashdevs.comCheck out Novafin: https://www.novafin.co/Connect with our hostsIgor Tomych https://www.linkedin.com/in/igortomych/Dumitru Condrea https://www.linkedin.com/in/dcondrea/Subscribe to our newsletter: https://fintech.garden🎙 Podcast CreditsManager: Olha Koistryk / https://www.linkedin.com/in/olha-koistryk/Video Editing: Arsen Harin, Olha KoistrykSound Editing: Arsen HarinThumbnail Design: Maryna Manoilo / https://www.linkedin.com/in/marina-manoylo/Marketing / Social Media: DashDevs Marketing Team -
Banks Are Getting AI Brains, with Igor Tomych & Dumitru Condrea | Fintech Garden Podcast 172 08.09.2026 28mDigital banks are quietly shifting from "here's your balance" to "here's what's about to happen to your money." Igor Tomych and Dumitru Condrea spend this episode on what they're calling the AI brain: the layer of AI that sits on top of a bank's cash flow and P&L data to predict spending, catch subscriptions before they bill you, and even nudge you toward saving or investing. They break down why this only works if the underlying accounting is clean first, why an "AI assistant" isn't the chatbot most people picture, and why they think fintech right now looks exactly like the dot-com boom of the early 90s, right down to AI agents "knocking on your door" instead of door-to-door salesmen.Why your next banker will be an AI, with Brett King | FG Podcast 157: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_ghYX-whCgAre banks becoming irrelevant in the AI era? With Theodora Lau | FG Podcast 158: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uT1R0JocB9QBook your discovery call with Fintech Core team today: https://dashdevs.com/fintech-core/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=qr&utm_campaign=fg_podcastWant to become a guest? Need a consultation from DashDevs or Novafin? Please fill in the form here: https://fintech.garden/about-us/Timestaps01:22 – Digital banks are getting a new AI brain02:42 – AI transformation: bank-side AI vs. personal finance AI05:24 – P&L vs. cash flow: the foundation before any AI brain08:44 – What an AI brain actually is (and why it's not a chatbot)13:56 – The keyboard-prediction analogy: personal vs. collective patterns16:40 – How many Americans already use AI for personal finance20:09 – Will banks, super apps, or ChatGPT own your financial data?21:12 – Why this feels like the dot-com boom all over again25:15 – A preview of the coming AI fraud and fake identity problem27:15 – Where AI brains are already fighting fraud todayFollow us: https://fintech.gardenCheck out DashDevs: https://dashdevs.comCheck out Novafin: https://www.novafin.co/Connect with our hostsIgor Tomych https://www.linkedin.com/in/igortomych/Dumitru Condrea https://www.linkedin.com/in/dcondrea/Subscribe to our newsletter: https://fintech.garden🎙 Podcast CreditsManager: Olha Koistryk / https://www.linkedin.com/in/olha-koistryk/Video Editing: Arsen Harin, Olha KoistrykSound Editing: Arsen HarinThumbnail Design: Maryna Manoilo / https://www.linkedin.com/in/marina-manoylo/Marketing / Social Media: DashDevs Marketing Team -
Is Your Fintech Data Actually Trustworthy? with Yuliia Komaryn | Fintech Garden Podcast 171 01.09.2026 27m"Real-time dashboards" might be the most misused phrase in fintech. Yuliia Komaryn, Business Analytics Team Lead at DashDevs, joins Igor Tomych to explain why "real time" is a marketing concept, not a technical one, and why the real question isn't how fast your dashboard updates, but how fast your business can react to what it shows. They walk through a real BNPL fraud case caught by proper flagging, why the word "customer" means something different to every team in a company, and why vibe coding a financial system without understanding what's under the hood is a guaranteed way to make every mistake in the book.Book your discovery call with Fintech Core team today: https://dashdevs.com/fintech-core/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=qr&utm_campaign=fg_podcastWant to become a guest? Need a consultation from DashDevs or Novafin? Please fill in the form here: https://fintech.garden/about-us/Subscribe to our newsletter: https://fintech.gardenTimestamps:01:15 – Why "real time" is a marketing concept, not a technical one03:04 – The control tower analogy: what happens without real-time dashboards03:32 – A real BNPL fraud case caught by proper flagging07:21 – Designing dashboards for BNPL collections and installment tracking09:30 – Why analysts should design for decisions, not just filters10:27 – Why "is the data trustworthy" replaced "can we build the dashboard"12:34 – The "cute puppy" problem: why "customer" means different things to different teams15:23 – Do data lakes still matter in 2026?16:48 – The touchscreen vs. knobs analogy for dashboard design18:21 – Where AI actually helps analytics, and where it doesn't22:12 – Why vibe coding a financial system is a guaranteed disaster24:32 – What separates digital banks that scale from those that don't25:46 – The real purpose of analyticsFollow us: https://fintech.gardenCheck out DashDevs: https://dashdevs.comCheck out Novafin: https://www.novafin.co/Connect with our hostsIgor Tomych https://www.linkedin.com/in/igortomych/Dumitru Condrea https://www.linkedin.com/in/dcondrea/🎙 Podcast CreditsManager: Olha Koistryk / https://www.linkedin.com/in/olha-koistryk/Video Editing: Arsen Harin / Nazar Gecha, Olha KoistrykSound Editing: Arsen Harin / Nazar GechaThumbnail Design: Maryna Manoilo / https://www.linkedin.com/in/marina-manoylo/Marketing / Social Media: DashDevs Marketing Team -
Should You Launch a Bank? With Igor Tomych and Arthur Bedel | Connecting the Dots x Fintech Garden 25.08.2026 40mDashDevs CEO Igor Tomych joins Arthur Bedel, host of Connecting the Dots in FinTech and founder of Monyz, for a deep dive into why everyone is launching a digital bank right now, and why so many are failing fast.Drawing on his years running engineering and CTO functions for digital banks, including one in the UK, Igor breaks down the real difference between a neobank and a digital bank, why the ledger is the most underestimated piece of the stack, why "build versus buy" is the wrong question to start with, and why compliance is the integration that always takes longer than anyone promises.Previous episode with Igor and Arthur: https://youtu.be/YtJ_3u48WXo?si=Fh5Az_-1QuauuqfqBook your discovery call with Fintech Core team today: https://dashdevs.com/fintech-core/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=qr&utm_campaign=fg_podcastWant to become a guest? Need a consultation from DashDevs or Novafin? Please fill in the form here: https://fintech.garden/about-us/Timestamps:00:18 – Igor's background running digital banks as VP of Engineering and CTO01:04 – Why so many neobanks are failing, and failing fast03:06 – Digital bank vs. neobank: what's actually the difference05:40 – Is building a digital bank easier today than five years ago?09:43 – The number one thing to focus on if building today11:45 – Why banking is finally catching up to what payments learned about redundancy14:17 – Build vs. buy, and why "cheap" vendors get expensive later17:00 – Anatomy of a digital bank: onboarding, ledger, accounts, connectivity20:20 – Why everyone underestimates the ledger23:30 – How much of a neobank is actually a bank27:49 – "Buy now, build later": what it actually means31:20 – The worst advice Igor's heard in the industry33:44 – Provocation round and rapid fireFollow us: https://fintech.gardenCheck out DashDevs: https://dashdevs.comCheck out Novafin: https://www.novafin.co/Connect with our hostsIgor Tomych https://www.linkedin.com/in/igortomych/Dumitru Condrea https://www.linkedin.com/in/dcondrea/Arthur Bedel: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arthur-bedel/Connecting the dots: https://www.linkedin.com/company/connecting-the-dots-in-payments/Monyz: https://www.linkedin.com/company/monyzusa/Subscribe to our newsletter: https://fintech.garden -
FINTECH MEETUP EUROPE: behind the scenes with Douglas Mackenzie | Fintech Garden Podcast 169 20.08.2026 27mMeet Douglas Mackenzie, Head of Content at Fintech Meetup Europe, and a former fintech video journalist who spent close to a decade interviewing bankers and financial institutions. Fintech Meetup ran in Las Vegas for five years before this year's first European edition, landing in Lisbon this October 6-8, with Fintech Garden as podcast partner. Douglas joins Dumitru Condrea to talk through the conference's 15-minute speed-meeting format, why European payment sovereignty and build-versus-buy are the hardest topics on the agenda, why so many self-declared "AI experts" are just repeating what they've heard, and a genuinely unsettling detail one of his speakers shared about deepfakes.If you're part of Fintech Garden community, use code for your ticket: FGAR1Book your discovery call with Fintech Core team today: https://dashdevs.com/fintech-core/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=qr&utm_campaign=fg_podcastWant to become a guest? Need a consultation from DashDevs or Novafin? Please fill in the form here: https://fintech.garden/about-us/01:29 – What Douglas does as Head of Content at Fintech Meetup Europe03:27 – Bringing an American conference format to Lisbon04:29 – What they kept from Vegas, and what they deliberately changed05:46 – The hardest topics on the 2026 agenda: sovereignty, regulation, build vs. buy08:49 – How speakers actually get selected for the stage11:51 – The "hype killer" session and calling out fake AI experts15:28 – Fraud, deepfakes, and AI agents that act without being asked19:25 – Inside the 15-minute speed-meeting format21:42 – What went wrong if your meetings led nowhere23:50 – What success actually looks like for this conferenceFollow us: https://fintech.gardenCheck out DashDevs: https://dashdevs.comCheck out Novafin: https://www.novafin.co/Connect with our hostsIgor Tomych https://www.linkedin.com/in/igortomych/Dumitru Condrea https://www.linkedin.com/in/dcondrea/Subscribe to our newsletter: https://fintech.garden🎙 Podcast CreditsManager: Olha Koistryk / https://www.linkedin.com/in/olha-koistryk/Video Editing: Nazar Gecha, Olha KoistrykSound Editing: Nazar GechaThumbnail Design: Maryna Manoilo / https://www.linkedin.com/in/marina-manoylo/Marketing / Social Media: DashDevs Marketing Team -
What the GENIUS Act Actually Does to Stablecoins | Fintech Garden Podcast 168 18.08.2026 22mRegister for our upcoming webinar 'Stablecoin on/off ramps': https://share.hsforms.com/1ZqNaznFSREiCSuC9Jt36Yw3oc7eIn this special hosts-only episode, Dumitru Condrea and Igor Tomych break down the GENIUS Act (the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins Act), the law that puts federal guardrails around dollar-backed stablecoins for the first time. They cover what actually counts as a "payment stablecoin" under the act, why issuers now have to back coins 1:1 with cash, Treasury bills, and other approved reserves, why foreign-issued stablecoins like USDT face a tougher path into the US market, and why companies like Stripe are already positioning themselves years ahead of the January 2027 compliance deadline.Book your discovery call with Fintech Core team today: https://dashdevs.com/fintech-core/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=qr&utm_campaign=fg_podcastWant to become a guest? Need a consultation from DashDevs or Novafin? Please fill in the form here: https://fintech.garden/about-us/Why BlackRock actually cares about stablecoins, with David Birch | FG Podcast 162: https://youtu.be/5sznJ-GSJxQTimestamps:01:05 – What the GENIUS Act actually is02:16 – What is a stablecoin, really03:51 – Why this is horizontal, not vertical, growth for stablecoins06:43 – Reserve rules: what counts as backing a stablecoin08:22 – The one-year countdown: what's actually due by when10:26 – What happens to foreign-issued stablecoins like USDT12:32 – Why Stripe is already years ahead of the regulation15:02 – Where the real opportunity is: remittances, payroll, and on-ramps19:12 – Walking through an actual on-ramp transaction step by step21:17 – What to watch for before January 2027Follow us: https://fintech.gardenCheck out DashDevs: https://dashdevs.comCheck out Novafin: https://www.novafin.co/Connect with our hostsIgor Tomych https://www.linkedin.com/in/igortomych/Dumitru Condrea https://www.linkedin.com/in/dcondrea/Subscribe to our newsletter: https://fintech.garden🎙 Podcast CreditsManager: Olha Koistryk / https://www.linkedin.com/in/olha-koistryk/Video Editing: Arsen Harin, Olha KoistrykSound Editing: Arsen HarinThumbnail Design: Maryna Manoilo / https://www.linkedin.com/in/marina-manoylo/Marketing / Social Media: DashDevs Marketing Team -
Pay by Bank Is Coming for Cash, Not Cards, with Johannes Kolbeinsson | Fintech Garden Podcast 167 11.08.2026 34mMeet Johannes Kolbeinsson, Co-Founder and CEO at Paystrax, a card acquirer processing primarily Visa and Mastercard transactions with over 20 years in the payments business. He founded his earlier company, Afterpay, back in 2002, recently expanded into the UK market, and just launched USDC stablecoin settlement across 17 jurisdictions. He joins Dumitru Condrea to debate why account-to-account payments still haven't taken off despite years of hype, how "friendly fraud" is quietly reshaping card scheme policy, and why he believes a parallel banking system built on stablecoins is already forming.Book your discovery call with Fintech Core team today: https://dashdevs.com/fintech-core/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=qr&utm_campaign=fg_podcastWant to become a guest? Need a consultation from DashDevs or Novafin? Please fill in the form here: https://fintech.garden/about-us/Market research by Paystrax: https://paystrax.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Friendly-Fraud-PAYSTRAX.pdfTimestamps:01:01 – Why account-to-account payments still haven't taken off04:35 – Do Visa and Mastercard actually feel threatened by A2A07:52 – What the acquiring data really shows about A2A demand10:19 – Card scheme growth trends across Europe11:33 – "Friendly fraud": how gaming the chargeback system became normal15:19 – When chargeback activism turns into coordinated attacks on merchants18:16 – What card schemes are getting wrong about fraud policy21:08 – Stablecoin settlements and a parallel banking system forming27:08 – 20+ years of payment cycles, and where this one is headedFollow us: https://fintech.gardenCheck out DashDevs: https://dashdevs.comCheck out Novafin: https://www.novafin.co/Connect with our hostsIgor Tomych https://www.linkedin.com/in/igortomych/Dumitru Condrea https://www.linkedin.com/in/dcondrea/Subscribe to our newsletter: https://fintech.garden -
The Truth About Stablecoins, Compliance, and Speed, with Marwan Forzley, Veem | FG Podcast 166 04.08.2026 26mMeet Marwan Forzley, CEO and co-founder of Veem, a global B2B payments platform operating in more than 100 countries and 80+ currencies. Marwan built one of the first fiat-to-crypto payment products back in 2014, years before stablecoins entered the mainstream conversation, and spent years securing licenses before Veem could serve its first customer. He joins Dumitru Condrea to explain why the payment rail is the easy part, why compliance and risk management are where the real engineering happens, and where stablecoins actually make economic sense once the hype is stripped away.Subscribe to the Fintech Garden Newsletter 👉 https://fintech.gardenBook your discovery call with Fintech Core team today: https://dashdevs.com/fintech-core/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=qr&utm_campaign=fg_podcastTimestamps:0:40 The Hidden Challenges of Modern Finance3:16 The Plumbing Layer of Payment Systems9:02 Navigating Global Data Complexity12:09 Automating KYC Without Losing Quality21:05 The Future of RegTech InnovationFollow us: https://fintech.gardenCheck out DashDevs: https://dashdevs.comCheck out Novafin: https://www.novafin.co/Connect with our hostsIgor Tomych https://www.linkedin.com/in/igortomych/Dumitru Condrea https://www.linkedin.com/in/dcondrea/ -
The Truth About the Current Fintech Talent Shortage, with Nadia Edwards-Dashti | FG Podcast 165 28.07.2026 34mMeet Nadia Edwards-Dashti, Chief Customer Officer at Harrington Starr and host of FinTech's DEI Discussions Podcast. Her agency runs close to 1,000 interviews every three months across technology, sales, risk, and executive roles in payments, crypto, and financial services. With 22 years in recruitment, Nadia joins Igor Tomych to talk through the toughest hiring downturn she has seen, how it differs from 2008, why ghost jobs and silent searches are quietly damaging employer brands, and why succession planning now decides who wins the next fintech talent war.Subscribe to the Fintech Garden Newsletter 👉 https://fintech.gardenWho's Training the Juniors? Fintech Hiring in the AI Era, with Nadia Edwards-Dashti: https://youtu.be/-bHQioYtEp0Chapters:00:51 – State of the UK fintech hiring market04:36 – 2008 vs 2026: what's actually different this time08:41 – Who's accountable when AI writes the code13:23 – Do companies feel confident right now17:54 – Ghost jobs and silent searches explained20:30 – Why candidates deserve to be treated like customers26:42 – Succession planning and the coming junior talent gap31:52 – How to identify potential fairlyThe Fintech Garden is hosted by Igor Tomych, founder and CEO of DashDevs, and Dumitru Condrea, founder and CEO of Novafin. All conversations revolve around the world of fintech, movers and shakers, and how decisions are made. Make sure to tune in to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to how the world of finance is evolving before our eyes.Follow us: https://fintech.gardenCheck out DashDevs: https://dashdevs.comCheck out Novafin: https://www.novafin.co/Connect with our hostsIgor Tomych https://www.linkedin.com/in/igortomych/Dumitru Condrea https://www.linkedin.com/in/dcondrea/ -
Fintech Garden Episode 122 – The Great Unbundling of Fintech Banks 21.08.2025 28mWhat happens when fintech banks mature? Why do challenger banks like Revolut, Wise, and Monobank start to resemble high street banks? In this episode, Igor Tomych and Dumitru Condrea unpack The Great Unbundling in Fintech, exploring EMI license vs. full banking license, fintech compliance and KYC fintech, and the future of neobanks.They cover the Revolut license expansion, the Wise evolution into wealth management and personal finance apps, and the Monobank case as a showcase of Eastern Europe fintech adoption. The conversation highlights how super apps, stablecoin banking, and crypto fintech are reshaping the industry.Most importantly, they examine how digital trust, compliance, and the US vs EU banking innovation gap define the fintech future. Whether you’re interested in the Mercury bank model for SMEs or how neobanks integrate wealth management and personal finance apps, this is an essential listen. -
Crypto's "Valley of Death” | Fintech Garden Episode 136 30.12.2025 35mIgor Tomych speaks with Lex Fisun, CEO & Co-Founder of Global Ledger, about how trust is built at the intersection of blockchain, stablecoins, and traditional finance. The conversation includes a deep dive into how blockchain analytics, wallet de-anonymization, and real-time compliance tools help financial institutions detect fraud, meet regulatory obligations, and operate safely in crypto markets. The two executives go back and forth on regulation clarity, money laundering dynamics, stablecoins vs blockchains, North Korean hacking groups, and why speed, usability, and compliance must coexist for crypto adoption to scale.Lex's insight on how sanctions slowed Grinex trading, but users increasingly turned to centralized exchanges to keep things moving: http://bit.ly/49f05Zo -
Fintech Garden Episode 118 – Built for Change: Inside tbi bank’s Challenger Strategy with Petr Baron 10.07.2025 44mIn this episode of Fintech Garden, Igor Tomych sits down with Petr Baron, CEO of tbi fs, to explore how one regional bank quietly built a hybrid challenger model—and succeeded.From Bulgaria to Romania to Greece, tbi has grown into a digital-first, profit-driven fintech player by doing what most neobanks didn’t: combining a physical presence with seamless digital services.🔍 Key topics:✅ Why tbi blends physical service centers with mobile-first experiences✅ How post-crisis roots shaped a sustainable fintech strategy✅ The role of merchant-led BNPL in building long-term value✅ How trust, empathy, and local presence still win customers✅ What it takes to run a profitable, credit-led fintech bank in 3 countries📌 Whether you’re building a digital bank, designing a BNPL strategy, or exploring expansion in Southeast Europe—this episode is full of strategic insight. -
Fintech Garden Episode 111 - Understanding Digital Money 03.04.2025 45mNot all "digital money" is created equal.In our Fintech Garden Podcast, host Igor Tomych and guest Jonny Fry break down the key differences between E-Money and D-Money—and why it matters for fintech innovators. Key takeaways:📍E-Money is the digital version of traditional banking—still reliant on legacy systems.📍D-Money (blockchain-based) enables instant, secure, and programmable payments.📍The future? Faster settlements, lower costs, and fewer intermediaries.Banks and card networks must adapt or be disrupted. Are stablecoins, CBDCs, and tokenized assets the next frontier for financial services? Don’t miss this must-listen episode! -
Fintech Garden Episode 114 — AI and Ethics in Fintech 15.05.2025 25mIn this episode, Igor Tomych and Dumitru Condrea explore the ethical concerns of using AI and machine learning in credit scoring.They share two real-world cases where two nearly identical applicants received different decisions—one approved, one rejected. Why? Because AI isn't always fair— and even human-designed systems can carry unintended bias.🔍 Key topics:✅ How ML-based scoring systems can discriminate unintentionally✅ The role of data, segmentation, and local bias in shaping credit decisions✅ Regional differences in AI scoring logic✅ The thin line between personalization and profiling✅ How to evaluate and build ethical AI models📌 Whether you're working with scoring systems or building AI-driven products, this is a must-listen. -
Great technology dies if it can’t speak to humans, with Greg Palmer | Fintech Garden Podcast 147 19.03.2026 37mSubscribe to the Fintech Garden Newsletter 👉 https://fintech.gardenMeet Greg Palmer, the VP of Strategy and host of Finovate, a fast-paced, demo-first showcase of the latest innovations in financial and banking technology from across the globe. 15 years with Finovate have given Greg a unique, bird’s-eye view of the Fintech industry as it has exploded into prominence, allowing him to watch not only individual innovations as they gain traction, but also the high-level trends that continue to shape the industry. Greg is also a seasoned demo and speaking coach in addition to his own work as an emcee and speaker.Previous episode with Tony Fish: https://youtu.be/xJTZ2avYiNkFinovate Spring: https://informaconnect.com/finovatespring/Finovate Fall: https://informaconnect.com/finovatefall/Timestamps:00:05 – Intro03:17 – Are fintech founders actually successful?06:16 – What matters to a fintech founder08:53 – Creating products that the market actually needs11:13 – Success beyond funding15:07 – Timing and gatekeepers21:43 – Fintech Success in 202622:08 – How to keep up with market changes28:05 – Is it getting harder to succeed in B2C?34:17 – OutroThe Fintech Garden is hosted by Igor Tomych, founder and CEO of DashDevs, and Dumitru Condrea, founder of Novafin. All conversations revolve around the world of fintech, movers and shakers, how decisions are made. Make sure to tune in to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to how the world of finance is evolving before our eyes. Follow us: https://fintech.gardenCheck out DashDevs: https://dashdevs.comConnect with our hosts:Igor Tomych https://www.linkedin.com/in/igortomych/Dumitru Condrea https://www.linkedin.com/in/dcondrea/Guest:Greg Palmer https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregbpalmer/ -
Fintech Garden Episode 121 – Blueprint for AI-Native Fintech: Smarter Systems, Smarter Strategy 07.08.2025 26mIn this episode, Igor Tomych and Dumitru Condrea explore what it means to build AI-native fintech platforms—where intelligence isn’t bolted on but designed into the foundation from day one.They unpack how Klarna, Nubank, and Monese are re-architecting around AI, why regulation is racing to keep up, and how fintech leaders must balance innovation with transparency, risk, and resilience.🔍 Key Topics:✅ What makes a fintech truly AI-native—not just AI-enabled✅ Embedded AI in onboarding, compliance, lending, and risk✅ How the EU AI Act and UK sandboxes shape the future✅ Fragility vs. adaptability: hidden risks in AI-first platforms ✅ Ethical product design in AI-driven financial services📌 Whether you're building AI-powered products, scaling embedded finance, or aligning with upcoming AI regulations, this episode lays out the real blueprint. -
Security is only as strong as the weakest link, with Dennis Winter | Fintech Garden Podcast 142 12.02.2026 34mIgor and Dumitru switch things up once more only to focus on security this time. Meet Dennis Winter, CTO of Boerse Stuttgart Digital and Chief Security Officer at Boerse Stuttgart Group, the second biggest stock exchange in Germany and the 6th in Europe. With over two decades of experience in building and scaling digital products, he combines deep technical expertise with a strategic perspective.Dennis shares his perspective and expertise on the importance of driving security-aware culture across all levels of an organization. On top of that, the guest highlights what it's like to put the customer at the focal point when establishing security protocols.Criminals don’t steal money. They steal identities. With Dan Feaheny: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qj8mop_z1_oAI vs Fraud: Inside Device Fingerprinting with Catherine Woneis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TiPQQItHgQkTimestamps:00:05 – Intro02:01 – Let's talk security04:05 – Human-centric security risks07:33 – Proactive vs reactive security11:08 – Security 10 years ago vs now14:45 – Keeping humans at the frontlines of security21:09 – The AI talk24:59 – Post-quantum cryptographyThe Fintech Garden podcast is hosted by Igor Tomych, founder and CEO of DashDevs, and Dumitru Condrea, founder of Novafin. All conversations revolve around the world of fintech, movers and shakers, how decisions are made. Make sure to tune in to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to how the world of finance is evolving before our eyes.Follow Igor Tomych on LinkedIn:Linkedin.com/in/igortomych Follow Dennis Winter on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/denniswinterberlin/Follow Fintech Garden on LinkedIn:Linkedin.com/in/fintechgarden Visit DashDevs:https://dashdevs.com/
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