Web3 with Sam Kamani

EPISODE DESCRIPTION 
I sat down with Jia Hang from DCS Group, a payments veteran with over two decades of experience at China UnionPay and Alipay, to explore how stablecoins are quietly revolutionising the way the world pays. Jia walks me through why the traditional card and mobile payment waves are giving way to a stablecoin-powered third wave, how DCS is acting as a Web 2.5 bridge so consumers can spend stablecoins at any merchant without the merchant needing to change a thing, and what it really takes to build trust on both sides of that equation. We also dig into the macro battle for stablecoin dominance, whether the US dollar will tighten its grip or lose ground to other currencies, and what the developing world's rapid adoption of stablecoins means for financial sovereignty. If you work in fintech, payments, or crypto infrastructure, this episode is packed with hard-won insights from someone who has built global payment networks from the ground up. 
DISCLAIMER
Nothing mentioned in this podcast is investment advice and please do your own research. It would mean a lot if you can leave a review of this podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share this podcast with a friend. 
Be a guest on the podcast or contact us - https://www.web3pod.xyz/
 CONNECT 
DCS Website: https://www.dcsfintech.com/
DCS LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/dcscc
Jia LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hang-jia-81a83a234/
Web3 with Sam Kamani: https://www.web3pod.xyz/
 KEY POINTS WITH TIMESTAMPS 
• [00:00] Sam introduces Jia Hang from DCS Group and his background spanning UnionPay and Alipay
• [01:27] Jia's journey: from computer engineer to 9 years at China UnionPay building the Americas market
• [03:05] Why Jia left Alipay after 10 years and stepped into the stablecoin payments world
• [04:43] Why the global south leads on payment innovation , infrastructure gaps drove QR code adoption
• [10:43] The three waves of payments: card, mobile, and now stablecoins , and why stablecoins merge information flow and fund flow
• [14:23] How DCS focuses on C2B (consumer-to-merchant) stablecoin payments, not just B2B cross-border
• [17:02] How the merchant experience stays unchanged , they still receive local fiat, DCS handles the stablecoin conversion
• [20:39] DCS as a Web 2.5 bridge: connected to Web3 on the consumer side, Web2 on the merchant side
• [22:27] The chicken-and-egg challenge , and why merchant-side adoption is harder than consumer-side
• [25:44] DCS's Visa-backed stablecoin card: live in 9 countries, expanding to 70+
• [28:10] What sets the DCS card apart: banking licence in Singapore, physical and metal cards, credit functionality, and Visa rewards
• [33:12] The macro stablecoin currency war: will USD dominance in stablecoins exceed its fiat dominance?
• [35:32] Jia's belief that all currencies will eventually become stablecoins , and what that means for smaller nations
• [39:03] DCS's roadmap: auto-debit, subscription payments, smart contract-powered UX that feels like Web2
• [42:07] Closing thoughts and preview of Token2049

EPISODE DESCRIPTION 
I sat down with Smit Vachhani from Cronos Labs, a fascinating builder who has worked across NVIDIA, LinkedIn, and Optimism before landing at the intersection of crypto, stocks, prediction markets, and AI. We dig into why Gen Z is financially nihilistic right now and why that actually creates a massive opportunity. Smit breaks down the concept of hyper-financialization, explains why retaining Gen Z users is far harder than acquiring them, and shares the raw growth lessons he picked up at big tech and in the trenches of a Layer 2 ecosystem. We also talk about what most Web3 founders get wrong, why bad UX has been the industry's dirty secret for too long, and how Cronos is building an everything trading app for eight tier one markets around the world. If you are building in Web3 or crypto and want a no-BS growth perspective from someone who has seen it all, this one is for you. 
DISCLAIMER
Nothing mentioned in this podcast is investment advice and please do your own research. It would mean a lot if you can leave a review of this podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share this podcast with a friend. 
Be a guest on the podcast or contact us - https://www.web3pod.xyz/
 CONNECT 
Cronos Website: https://cronos.com/
Cronos App on X/Twitter: https://x.com/CronosApp
Cronos Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/getcronos/
Web3 with Sam Kamani Podcast: https://www.web3pod.xyz
 KEY POINTS WITH TIMESTAMPS 
• [00:00] Sam introduces Smit Vachhani from Cronos Labs and previews the episode themes
• [01:55] Smit's background: growing up in the Bay Area, engineering at Cal, early Bitcoin experience selling video game gold
• [03:30] Working at Optimism, building blockchain infrastructure for Coinbase, Kraken, Sony and others
• [04:17] Why bear markets are the best time to build and how to filter signal from noise
• [04:43] Introducing the concept of hyper-financialization and what it means for the next generation
• [06:10] Why Cronos is not just an everything app for everyone , eight tier one markets and the Gen Z focus
• [08:13] Why Gen Z is financially nihilistic and how that shapes product thinking
• [11:25] Prediction markets as exhibit A of hyper-financialization, and a nod to Kalshi and Polymarket
• [14:02] Onboarding is easy for Gen Z , retention is the real challenge
• [15:53] Growth lessons from NVIDIA, LinkedIn, and Optimism applied to Cronos
• [18:07] The single most important lesson for early-stage Web3 founders
• [21:28] How to retain users and why being unopinionated about your own product is a superpower
• [24:40] September 17th launch date for the Cronos app V1 , sports, stocks, perps, crypto, and more
• [27:25] Products Smit admires: FOMO, Polymarket, and Tempo
• [29:00] Partnerships with Polymarket, Hyperliquid, Morpho, and Chainlink
• [30:39] The one ask: download the app, give feedback, and follow @CronosApp on X

EPISODE DESCRIPTION 
I sit down with Berken, CMO of CoinTracking, the world's first crypto tax platform founded all the way back in 2012 when Bitcoin was under $100. We dig into how they bootstrapped their way to 2.2 million users, why authentic education beats paid placements every time, and how they're navigating AI in a space where a single wrong number could land you in trouble with the IRS. Berken shares what channels are actually moving the needle, why they turned down the idea of launching their own token, and what their upcoming MCP integration means for connecting your Claude or ChatGPT directly to your tax data. Whether you're a crypto trader trying to avoid overpaying taxes, a founder looking for growth lessons, or someone curious about how a SaaS company stays relevant in a fast-moving space, this episode is packed with practical insights. 
DISCLAIMER
Nothing mentioned in this podcast is investment advice and please do your own research. It would mean a lot if you can leave a review of this podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share this podcast with a friend. 
Be a guest on the podcast or contact us - https://www.web3pod.xyz/
 CONNECT 
CoinTracking Website: https://cointracking.info/
CoinTracking Twitter/X:https://x.com/Coin_Tracking
Berken LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/berken-menges
Web3 with Sam Kamani: https://www.web3pod.xyz/
 KEY POINTS WITH TIMESTAMPS 
• [00:01] Sam introduces Berken, CMO of CoinTracking, and frames the episode around crypto taxes, AI, and startup growth
• [02:12] Berken shares his journey from personal crypto investor in 2019 to CMO, starting as an affiliate marketing manager
• [03:56] CoinTracking overview: 2.2 million users, 400+ exchange integrations, portfolio tracking and one-click tax reports
• [06:32] CoinTracking was the world's first crypto tax tool, founded in 2012 by Dario Kachel who built it for himself
• [08:00] The bootstrapped, organic growth story: users gave feedback, helped translate, and shaped the product over 13 years
• [10:20] Sam and Berken discuss how fragmented the crypto landscape is across DeFi wallets, CEXs, and blockchains
• [13:11] Why CoinTracking is a SaaS and not a crypto asset service provider, and how that makes compliance and partnerships simpler
• [14:58] How CoinTracking is approaching AI: an MCP integration coming soon to connect Claude or ChatGPT to your tax data
• [17:27] Why they are not allowing AI to edit tax data yet , reproducibility and accuracy are non-negotiable for tax filings
• [21:43] Berken's biggest CMO challenge: navigating daily shifts in regulation, exchange strategies, and market conditions
• [23:07] Business model breakdown: mostly B2C, but growing B2B with CPAs, funds, and a new white-label solution for exchanges
• [24:18] North star metrics: user growth and retention, with a focus on making CoinTracking a daily portfolio tool, not just a tax tool
• [26:08] The most common mistake people make: filing taxes with missing wallets or transactions, which can result in overpaying
• [29:08] What marketing channel works best: long-form YouTube content, authentic KOL partnerships, and connecting KOLs with CPAs
• [34:58] CoinTracking has been profitable since day one and is not looking for funding, but actively seeking exchange partnerships
• [36:09] Why they decided against launching their own token: sentiment risk, distraction, and wrong-type user acquisition
• [39:00] Sam draws a parallel to Xero's accountant-led growth strategy and how CoinTracking could follow a similar path

EPISODE DESCRIPTION 
I sat down with Rick Thomas, co-CEO of OnRamper, to dig into a problem most crypto projects hit eventually: on-ramping is way more complicated than it looks. OnRamper aggregates over 30 on-ramping services into a single API and widget, giving wallets, exchanges, neo banks, and trading apps full global coverage without the headache of managing dozens of integrations. Rick breaks down why the on-ramp market is so fragmented, how their AI-powered routing algorithm maximises success rates across countries and payment methods, why KYC is still the biggest bottleneck in the space, and where the whole fiat-to-crypto journey is heading as TradFi and on-chain finance continue to merge. We also get into their identity layer product, the no-KYC card world and its risks, where we are in the current market cycle, and what OnRamper is building next.
DISCLAIMER
Nothing mentioned in this podcast is investment advice and please do your own research. It would mean a lot if you can leave a review of this podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share this podcast with a friend.
Be a guest on the podcast or contact us - https://www.web3pod.xyz/
 CONNECT 
OnRamper Website: https://onramper.com/
OnRamper LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/onramper/
Rick Thomas LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rick-thomas/
OnRamper Twitter/X: https://x.com/getonramper?s=21&t=GgYr5F_q7Jm-R2MfE-A6xA
OnRamper Telegram: https://t.me/onramperstandard
Rick Thomas Twitter/X: https://x.com/RickTho16000125
Web3 with Sam Kamani: https://www.web3pod.xyz
 KEY POINTS WITH TIMESTAMPS 
• [00:00] Introduction to Rick Thomas and OnRamper , aggregating 30+ on-ramps into one API and widget
• [01:33] How Rick got into crypto in 2015 via a Moscow office full of Bitcoin mining rigs strapped to the ceiling
• [04:19] The origin story of OnRamper , founder Thijs Maas was building a wallet, kept hitting on-ramp dead ends, and decided to build the aggregator instead
• [06:24] Why the on-ramp market is so fragmented , licensing, regional requirements, fraud engines, KYC layers, and low barriers to entry
• [08:09] OnRamper's B2B2C model , clients include TrustWallet, Exodus, Coinbase Wallet, Axiom, Pump.fun, gate.io, and more
• [09:18] The rise of neo banks and card programs, and why aggregating card issuers is OnRamper's next big move
• [13:44] KYC as the biggest unsolved bottleneck , and OnRamper's identity layer built in partnership with Sumsub
• [15:10] The biggest mistake projects make when adding on-ramps , assuming one or two providers will be enough
• [17:19] Customer success story: closing Solflare at a pizza-and-ping-pong side event at Breakpoint 2023
• [19:18] How OnRamper's dual AI routing algorithm works , real-time routing across payment methods, countries, pricing, and historical success rates
• [22:05] Why end-to-end success rates are the North Star metric , and how rates can plummet in markets like Indonesia without local payment methods
• [24:21] Where fiat on-ramps are heading , consolidation, bank crypto integrations, virtual accounts, stablecoin rails, and card programs
• [28:29] The no-KYC card world explained , how they work, the risks involved, and why compliance exposure falls entirely on the user
• [32:49] OnRamper is still breaking volume and revenue records despite a broader bear market
• [35:02] Biggest current challenge: an aggressive product roadmap and a need for more engineers
• [37:27] Key asks , engineers near or open to Amsterdam, and projects still running single on-ramp integrations looking to upgrade

EPISODE DESCRIPTION 
I sat down with Bobby from TEXITcoin, a man who has been manufacturing gold and silver coins since 2008, created the original physical Bitcoin coin in 2012, and testified before US Congress on crypto before most people had ever heard of it. In this episode, Bobby shares why he believes Bitcoin lost its original mission as peer-to-peer digital cash and became digital gold instead, and what he is doing about it. We dig into how he crowdfunded a community mining operation in his Texas garage, how TEXITcoin became the tenth largest Litecoin and Doge miner on the planet through merge mining, and why he is now building NectarPay, a zero-fee payment terminal network to get crypto accepted at real businesses. We also get into the big picture: the US dollar at 40 trillion in debt, Keynesian versus Austrian economics, Bitcoin retail adoption at a nine-year low, and what a Texas state securities case means for the future of TEXITcoin. This is one of the most grounded, no-nonsense conversations I have had about where honest money stands today and what it will take to get it into everyday hands.
DISCLAIMER
Nothing mentioned in this podcast is investment advice and please do your own research. It would mean a lot if you can leave a review of this podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share this podcast with a friend.
Be a guest on the podcast or contact us - https://www.web3pod.xyz/
 CONNECT 
TEXITcoin Website: https://texitcoin.org/
NectarPay: https://www.paymentsjournal.com/nectarpay-tests-demand-for-crypto-payments-among-texas-retailers/
Twitter/X: https://x.com/texitcoin
TEXITcoin news: https://www.fidelity.com/news/article/technology/202607291027PRIMZONEFULLFEED1001255026
Mining network statistics: https://pool.honest.money/
Legal case updates: https://texitcoin.org/legal
Web3 with Sam Kamani: https://www.web3pod.xyz
 KEY POINTS WITH TIMESTAMPS 
• [00:00] Sam introduces Bobby from TEXITcoin and the mission to build the next generation of Bitcoin
• [01:46] Bobby explains TEXITcoin as a Bitcoin redo, returning to Satoshi's original vision of fast, cheap, peer-to-peer digital cash
• [02:47] Why TEXITcoin chose proof-of-work and layer one: Bobby's background in gold and silver coins and the value of physical, tangible infrastructure
• [06:29] Bitcoin has become digital gold, not money , and that gap is exactly why TEXITcoin exists
• [08:15] The difference between scarcity and utility: why a coin only has value when people can trade it for things
• [11:04] Keynesian versus Austrian economics and the deflationary money debate: why saving can drive a healthy economy
• [15:40] How banks and institutions took over Bitcoin conferences by 2017 and what was lost along the way
• [19:25] The community-funded mining network in Texas: how Bobby went from a garage in McKinney to becoming the tenth largest Litecoin and Doge miner on the planet
• [24:22] What merge mining is and how TEXITcoin mines Doge and Litecoin simultaneously to pay its electric bill
• [29:49] NectarPay explained: a zero-fee crypto payment terminal targeting small businesses across Texas and beyond
• [33:39] Why physical terminals matter more than QR codes: profit incentive, merchant simplicity, and NFC wearable compatibility
• [36:35] The US dollar at 40 trillion in debt, where it is heading, and what history tells us about currency transitions
• [39:52] Bitcoin retail adoption is at a nine-year low and why that is the core reason TEXITcoin exists
• [42:47] The Texas State Securities Board case: why TEXITcoin is fighting back and what the outcome could mean for crypto regulation
• [40:26] Bobby's ask: support crypto-friendly businesses, grab TXC on the open market, and follow the court case outcome in September