Decoding Stablecoin Signals with Stefan Grasmann from Zühlke Group

Stablecoins, MiCA & Agentic Commerce: The New Payments War Has StartedThe race for the future of money is no longer theoretical — it’s happening now.In this episode, Christie H. Kristensen sits down with Stefan Grasmann (Chief of Blockchain at Zühlke Group) to break down the biggest shifts shaping payments today — from stablecoins and regulation to AI-driven, agentic commerce.We unpack why recent moves from Stripe, PayPal, Visa, and Mastercard signal a global battle for money movement infrastructure — and why Mastercard’s BVNK move is a clear sign that the game is on.You’ll also learn:What MiCA and new U.S. regulation (Clarity Act, GENIUS Act) actually changeWhy stablecoins are gaining traction across both emerging and developed marketsThe hidden “last mile” problem in crypto paymentsWhy intermediaries aren’t disappearing — they’re evolvingHow AI agents could soon transact on your behalfWe also explore bold ideas from Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong around agent-driven commerce, and what innovations like x402 could unlock for the internet economy.The big question: Will this new financial system stay open — or be controlled by the same players, just on new rails?If you want to understand what’s really happening behind the headlines — this conversation is for you.Timestamps 00:00 Welcome and Context03:00 Why Crypto Feels Dirty04:51 MiCA and Bank Adoption08:31 Open Banking 2.011:08 Stablecoin Use Cases Map11:38 Retail in Emerging Markets13:38 Trading and Exchange Rails14:56 Payments Giants Go Onchain16:35 Institutions and Capital Markets19:13 New Intermediaries and Last Mile20:11 Visa vs MasterCard Catch Up24:20 Europe Sovereignty Debate25:07 Europe Tech Sovereignty26:18 Regulation And Political Will27:10 Coinbase X402 Explained29:30 Agents Paying For Data30:04 Old Rails Fight Back32:49 Agent Trust And Liability35:49 Signals Banks Must Watch40:44 Stablecoins Money In Transit43:48 Preparing For The Fast Shift45:48 Wrap Up And Where To Follow🔔 Subscribe for more unfiltered conversations Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/night-drift/the-cleanerLicense code: GJBCGVW3GGGELEGR