Why Fireblocks Is Building the “SWIFT” for Stablecoins | Michael Shaulov

On this episode of Talking Tokens, Jacquelyn interviews Michael Shaulov, CEO and co-founder of Fireblocks, the firm securing over $10 trillion in digital assets and now leading the way in global payments. Michael explains the launch of Fireblocks Network for Payments, a universal infrastructure standardizing stablecoin settlement, already connecting 2,400+ institutional participants across 60 currencies and all major stablecoins. He unpacks why “Swift for stablecoins” isn’t just about creating faster, cheaper, and transparent cross-border transactions, but building a foundation for the next generation of programmable money, real-world finance, and global innovation. Michael shares Fireblocks’ journey, stablecoin adoption across emerging markets, the core payment “sandwich” use cases, AI and trade finance possibilities, and why mass integration will shift both enterprise and consumer experience. Recorded live as regulatory clarity fuels record institutional demand, you’ll hear his candid reflections on network effects, payment security, and what comes after the next industry unlock.
This episode is sponsored by Fireblocks.
⏱️ Timestamps
00:00 – Intro: Michael Shaulov and the new Fireblocks Network for Payments
00:38 – What is “Swift for stablecoins”? Discovery, partner standards, global APIs
03:59 – Why now: Stablecoin adoption, regulation, and the long strategy ahead
05:34 – Problems solved: Network effects, on/off ramp, and real cross-border settlement
08:19 – Stablecoins’ evolution: Safe haven to global payment rails
09:37 – Early use cases: DeFi yields, FX markets, and stablecoin “sandwich”
12:18 – Real-world payouts: Multinationals, contractors, and next-gen remittance
14:01 – From $900 credit card fees to $0.25 stablecoin transfers, “the magical moment”
16:16 – The transparency advantage: Why blockchain payment tracking sets new standards
17:12 – What comes next? AI, trade finance, and programmable money
19:45 – Fireblocks’ edge: Unlocking scale, security, and innovation for massive flows
22:07 – Going mainstream: How Fireblocks bridges B2B, fintech, and bank adoption
26:10 – Regulatory clarity: Surveying the market, shifting barriers, and new opportunities
29:13 – Killer use cases: U.S. institutions expand global reach, lower costs, onboard new markets
31:08 – Surprising clientele including manufacturing giants and corporates betting on stablecoins
34:17 – The “payout unlock”: When sending stablecoins is as easy as scanning a QR code
37:18 – Why universal crypto acceptance drives actual change
41:21 – Risks ahead: Financial complexity, bubbles, and speculation
45:51 – Fireblocks’ mission: A secure, open, and truly scalable global money network
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