EPISODE · May 15, 2026 · 16 MIN
Ep. 63 - LIVE from FTT Payments with Zilch: Reimagining Loyalty, AI, and the Value of Payments Data
from The Payments Shed Podcast · host Grant Evans and Justin Hanna
Live from FTT Payments, Grant Evans is joined by guest co-host Dwayne Gefferie for a conversation with Sean Hederman, CTO at Zilch, exploring how payments data, loyalty, and AI are reshaping the future of embedded finance.Sean shares why transaction data is increasingly becoming one of the most valuable assets in financial services, and how first-party payments data can unlock more intelligent and personalised commerce experiences. The discussion also explores why traditional loyalty schemes often fail to create meaningful customer engagement, and how embedded rewards models are changing the relationship between merchants and consumers.They also discuss the realities of scaling payments infrastructure as a CTO, the importance of designing systems for future growth rather than current scale, and why trust and responsible AI design are becoming critical considerations for financial services businesses.Plus, Sean steps up for The Payments Shed’s legendary Shelf of Shame — calling out one thing in payments he’d happily banish forever.***The Payments Shed Podcast is headline sponsored by ISX Financial.ISX Financial, delivers a unified ecosystem with multi-currency accounts, online payments, real-time UK and EU transfers and global mass payouts. Within that platform, PaidBy® provides Pay by Bank with real-time settlement notifications, automated reconciliation and integrated refund management. One partner, one integration — helping your business transact with confidence. Learn more at www.isx.financial***The Payments Shed Podcast is sponsored by Cyclops.Cyclops is a crypto and stablecoin infrastructure platform for payments companies, enabling PSPs, acquirers and processors to offer crypto acceptance, stablecoin settlement and payouts without building their own blockchain stack. It provides a unified solution for pay ins, payouts and fiat to digital asset conversion, with simple API or low code integration. Built specifically for the payments ecosystem, Cyclops focuses on making stablecoins practical, scalable and commercially viable.Learn more at - https://www.cyclops.io/***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.
What this episode covers
Live from FTT Payments, Grant Evans is joined by guest co-host Dwayne Gefferie for a conversation with Sean Hederman, CTO at Zilch, exploring how payments data, loyalty, and AI are reshaping the future of embedded finance.Sean shares why transaction data is increasingly becoming one of the most valuable assets in financial services, and how first-party payments data can unlock more intelligent and personalised commerce experiences. The discussion also explores why traditional loyalty schemes often fail to create meaningful customer engagement, and how embedded rewards models are changing the relationship between merchants and consumers.They also discuss the realities of scaling payments infrastructure as a CTO, the importance of designing systems for future growth rather than current scale, and why trust and responsible AI design are becoming critical considerations for financial services businesses.Plus, Sean steps up for The Payments Shed’s legendary Shelf of Shame — calling out one thing in payments he’d happily banish forever.***The Payments Shed Podcast is headline sponsored by ISX Financial.ISX Financial, delivers a unified ecosystem with multi-currency accounts, online payments, real-time UK and EU transfers and global mass payouts. Within that platform, PaidBy® provides Pay by Bank with real-time settlement notifications, automated reconciliation and integrated refund management. One partner, one integration — helping your business transact with confidence. Learn more at www.isx.financial***The Payments Shed Podcast is sponsored by Cyclops.Cyclops is a crypto and stablecoin infrastructure platform for payments companies, enabling PSPs, acquirers and processors to offer crypto acceptance, stablecoin settlement and payouts without building their own blockchain stack. It provides a unified solution for pay ins, payouts and fiat to digital asset conversion, with simple API or low code integration. Built specifically for the payments ecosystem, Cyclops focuses on making stablecoins practical, scalable and commercially viable.Learn more at - https://www.cyclops.io/***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.
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Ep. 63 - LIVE from FTT Payments with Zilch: Reimagining Loyalty, AI, and the Value of Payments Data
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