Ep. 24 - Bridging Fiat and Crypto: Rethinking Real-Time Payments for Global Merchants with Volt

In this episode, hosts Grant Evans and Justin Hanna sit down with Steffen Vollert, CEO of Volt, for a deep dive into the future of real-time payments and the rapidly converging worlds of fiat and crypto.Steffen walks the hosts through the current state of real-time payment rails around the world — and why, despite progress, global merchants still face major friction when moving money across borders. From marketplace payouts to international freelancer networks, he breaks down the real operational challenges enterprise merchants face with fees, FX, fragmentation and compliance.Grant, Justin and Steffen explore where traditional fiat rails fall short, and how stablecoins are emerging as a powerful complement — not a replacement — to existing infrastructure. They discuss how stablecoins could redefine what “real-time” truly means, the role they may play in liquidity and treasury, and why a hybrid model of fiat and crypto rails is becoming increasingly compelling for global merchants.The conversation then turns to Volt’s perspective. Steffen shares how Volt is responding to these macro shifts, the products and innovations supporting merchants today, and why the company is leaning into a future where real-time means something far more universal, reliable and borderless than what exists today.Finally, Steffen joins the hosts for The Payments Shed’s legendary Shelf of Shame to nominate something he’s ready to banish from the payments industry once and for all.***The Payments Shed Podcast is sponsored by TAMI AI.TAMI AI is the market intelligence and lead generation platform built for sales and marketing teams who want precision, not guesswork. TAMI helps businesses identify their best-fit prospects, gain deep market insights, and boost revenue growth, and it has become the go-to solution for the payments and fintech industries.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tami.ai/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠***The Payments Shed Podcast is supported by PCN.PCN is a boutique recruitment agency rooted in Amsterdam, driven by a singular mission: connecting top talent with industry leaders. PCN specialises in five core pillars — Fintech, Cybersecurity, SaaS, E-Commerce, and Salesforce — backed by a global network across borders.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://teampcn.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠***Disclaimer. Any views or opinions referenced in this podcast episode are our own, or those of our respective guests, and they do not represent any views, opinions, or statements from our respective employers, or those of our guests. Additionally, any views expressed here are not intended as investment, legal, tax, or financial advice.