We discuss how crypto security is evolving as attacks become more sophisticated—and why the next generation of defense will be driven by AI, automation, and machine-led monitoring.

- Why DeFi hacks are shifting from smart contract exploits to operational infiltration

- How attackers are targeting Web2 infrastructure like developer laptops and company networks

- What really happened during the Bybit hack and why it was so difficult to prevent

- The growing role of state-backed cyber groups in crypto attacks

- Why the human element remains one of the biggest security vulnerabilities

- How automated risk matrices and circuit breakers can protect crypto platforms

- Why AI is becoming essential for detecting malicious on-chain patterns

- The concept of a "digital immune system" for DeFi protocols

- How machine-led defense could help prevent billions in future crypto losses

Powered by Phoenix Group

YouTube: https://bit.ly/4cdr4qN

My interview with the CMO of the ADI Foundation, on how the UAE and the broader GCC region are accelerating stablecoin adoption.

We discuss how central banks and regulators in the region are moving fast, why banks are now actively exploring stablecoins, and whether "cash, card, or crypto" could soon become reality.

- Why stablecoin adoption in the UAE and GCC is accelerating

- How government-led regulation is shaping the ecosystem

- Why major crypto firms are setting up in Abu Dhabi and Dubai

- Will banks launch their own stablecoins or form consortiums?

- Payments, remittances, and retail adoption in the region

- Could users hold multiple ecosystem-based stablecoins in one wallet?

- The balance between transparency and privacy in stablecoin transactions

- How data sovereignty and regulatory clarity are driving institutional adoption

A sharp look at how stablecoins are moving from theory to real-world infrastructure across the Middle East.

Powered by Phoenix Group

YouTube: https://bit.ly/4lQiCkM

We discuss how decentralised finance is evolving from a crypto-native experiment into an infrastructure layer for institutional finance—and why the convergence between DeFi and traditional finance is accelerating.

- Why investors see DeFi as an uncorrelated portfolio strategy

- The massive liquidity opportunity created by thousands of new DeFi protocols

- Why liquidity providers are becoming the "banks" of the DeFi ecosystem

- The biggest challenge for new protocols: distribution and market access

- How institutions evaluate DeFi risk similarly to credit risk in traditional finance

- Why tokenized funds, real-world assets, and blockchain settlement are accelerating institutional adoption

- How traditional asset managers and banks are entering DeFi

- Why the future may involve two parallel systems: regulated blockchain finance and open DeFi innovation

Powered by Phoenix Group

We explore how institutional-grade MPC technology is finally migrating to retail, why seed phrases are a massive vulnerability, and whether self-custody can evolve to meet the realities of security, privacy, and regulation.

- Why institutional custody standards never reached retail — until now

- The real risks of seed phrases, wrench attacks, and physical crime

- How MPC (multi-party computation) changes self-custody forever

- Inheritance, recoverability, and protecting users from themselves

- Privacy in crypto: is blockchain too transparent?

- Full homomorphic encryption and the future of on-chain privacy

- Should self-custody wallets face regulatory oversight?

- How AI + blockchain could reshape compliance frameworks

In this Consensus Hong Kong 2026 panel, we dive into the next chapter of on-chain finance: the convergence of DeFi and CeFi — and why crypto prime brokerage may become the infrastructure layer for institutional trading.

From portfolio margin across venues and capital efficiency, to stablecoin balance sheets, oracle risk, and the one threat everyone keeps coming back to… counterparty risk. We break down how prime brokers are bridging siloed liquidity pools, enabling cross-collateral, and rethinking risk management for a world of 24/7 markets.

- DeFi vs CeFi: why convergence is accelerating now

- Prime brokerage in crypto: the "missing layer" for hedge funds

- Portfolio margin across exchanges + on-chain venues (cross-venue risk engines)

- Capital efficiency: moving beyond over-collateralization in DeFi

- Counterparty risk vs smart contract risk — what institutions actually fear

- Off-exchange settlement & custody: what works, what doesn't

- Interest rate models & "dynamic spread": sharing upside with lenders

- Oracles, pricing, liquidation: the two hard problems in DeFi risk management

- The crypto "risk-free rate": SOFR, Treasuries, staking — where does it converge?

- Tokenized markets (RWA): why crypto-native prime brokers may have an edge

As TradFi and DeFi collide, the winners will be the platforms that deliver capital efficiency + transparency + accountability — without blowing up.

—

🎙 Featuring:

• Sam MacPherson - CEO and co-founder at Spark

• Serhii Tyshchenko - CEO and co-founder of Arkis

• Oleksandr Proskurin - Co-founder/CPO at Arkis

• Moderated by Henri Arslanian

Alicia Kao, Managing Director at KuCoin — one of the most globally active crypto exchanges. We explore how centralised exchanges are evolving in a post-DeFi world, KuCoin's global regulatory strategy, and why payment products may lead crypto's next wave.

- Why centralised exchanges are no longer just for trading

- KuCoin's licensing moves in Europe, Australia, and beyond

- Will CEXs and TradFi converge over the next 5–10 years?

- How KuCoin is adapting to new institutional and retail demands

- Payment products, stablecoins, and the $14T market ahead

- What differentiates KuCoin in an increasingly competitive exchange space

- The biggest challenge for crypto exchanges in 2026 A sharp look at how the infrastructure of crypto is maturing across global markets.

Powered by Phoenix Group

YouTube: https://bit.ly/4ryTSzi

With Erin West, former prosecutor (26+ years) and founder of Operation Shamrock, one of the leading global initiatives fighting pig butchering scams and the organized crime networks behind them.

Pig butchering is no longer a niche fraud story. We are living in a scam-demic. These scams are industrial-scale operations run out of compounds across Southeast Asia, and they are targeting everyday people — not just crypto natives. Doctors. Students. Professionals. Families. People are losing everything… and often being pushed into debt.

In this episode, we discuss:

- What pig butchering scams really are

- Why they are so effective psychologically

- How organized crime is using crypto as the main payment rail

- The role of exchanges, stablecoins, and compliance gaps

- Why crypto ATMs are "theft machines"

- How AI and deepfakes are making scams harder to detect

- The disturbing link between scams and human trafficking

- Why shame prevents victims from reporting

- What to do immediately if you suspect you are being scammed This is one of the most important conversations happening in crypto today.

Powered by ACX Compliance - the world's largest crypto compliance specialised managed services provider.

YouTube: https://bit.ly/4kRnPIu

With Romain Bordenave, a physical security expert with years of experience operating in high-risk environments including Colombia and Mexico.

We discuss why crypto entrepreneurs are increasingly being targeted — and what practical steps individuals can take to reduce risk.

- Why crypto founders are becoming high-value targets

- Why criminals believe crypto is anonymous (and why they're wrong)

- The role of social media and "showing wealth" in victim selection

- Why kidnappings are often underreported globally

- How kidnapping tactics differ across regions (France vs Latin America)

- What to do if someone is kidnapped

- Why contacting law enforcement is often the right move

- How to think about personal security as crypto goes mainstream

This podcast is sponsored by BRON

Learn more through the link: https://go.bron.org/henriarslanian09