The Fintech Blueprint

Lex chats with Jason Morton, CEO of EZKL - EZKL is a technology that helps people build around artificial intelligence using zero-knowledge proofs (ZK proofs) and the latest in technology. Jason explains that ZK proofs are a way to prove that a computation has been executed correctly without revealing any sensitive information. The proofs can be used to verify the execution of AI models, statistical models, and other computations on blockchain networks. EZKL provides a command line tool, a backend proving service, and a Python library for developers to use. The company's economic model involves licensing the components of the system and running backend services. In the future, EZKL aims to provide a more complete solution for interacting with the technology. The demand for verifiable AI and ZK proofs is expected to come from both Web2 and Web3 companies, as well as enterprise clients MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION EZKL's Website: https://bit.ly/4dx1wUb Jason's Twitter: https://bit.ly/4boqumY Topics: fintech, machine learning, ai, artificial intelligence, llm, zk-proofs, zero-knowledge proofs, blockchain, web3 Companies: EZKL, Ethereum, Bitcoin, DARPA ABOUT THE FINTECH BLUEPRINT 🔥Subscribe to the Fintech Blueprint newsletter to stay at the forefront of Fintech and DeFi: https://bit.ly/3hyhlC2 🤝 Partner with Fintech Blueprint through sponsorships: https://bit.ly/3UZllsV 👉 Twitter: https://twitter.com/LexSokolin TIMESTAMPS 1’18: From Mathematics to Machine Learning: Tracing the Journey of an AI Researcher" 3’47: Putting Theory Into Practice: Navigating the Evolution of Neural Networks and Blockchain 7’18: Understanding Zero-Knowledge Proofs: The Evolution and Impact of Cryptographic Privacy 11’02: Digital Trust and Privacy: How Zero-Knowledge Proofs Enhance Security and Authentication Online 16’15: From Consensus to Cryptography: Exploring the Transformative Impact of Zero-Knowledge Proofs on Blockchain Technology 22’30: Revolutionizing AI with Blockchain: The Strategic Focus of EZKL on Verifiable and Secure Machine Learning 28’18: Connecting Worlds: Bridging Advanced AI and Blockchain Technology for Economic and Computational Efficiency 31’21: Strategic Transparency: Integrating Proofs in Smart Contracts for Trustworthy Investment Strategies 35’44: EZKL Defined: Navigating the Blend of Product, Library, and Framework in Blockchain Proofs 38’48: Blurring Lines: Will Web3 Innovations or Traditional Web2 Enterprises Drive the Future Demand for EZKL? 40’28: The channels used to connect with Jason & learn more about EZKL Disclaimer here — this newsletter does not provide investment advice and represents solely the views and opinions of FINTECH BLUEPRINT LTD. Contributors: Lex, Laurence, Matt, Farhad, Mike, Daniella Want to discuss? Stop by our Discord and reach out here with questions.

Lex chats with Libor Michalek, the President of Affirm, a buy now, pay later (BNPL) company. Michalek discusses his early experiences with the internet and how it shaped his understanding of technology and its potential in the financial services industry. He explains how Affirm was founded with the goal of building honest financial products that improve people's lives, and how the convergence of e-commerce, mobile technology, machine learning, and access to consumer information enabled the company to create a credit product that aligned with consumer interests. Michalek also discusses the challenges of building a technology-driven finance company, the performance of Affirm's loans compared to credit cards and personal loans, and the company's approach to competition and future growth. MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION Affirm's Website: https://bit.ly/3Qo2DvI Libor's LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/4bfsQVk Topics: fintech, buy now pay later, BNPL, e-commerce, machine learning, loans, credit, credit cards, payments Companies: Affirm, Thinking Machines Corporation, PayPal, Amazon ABOUT THE FINTECH BLUEPRINT 🔥Subscribe to the Fintech Blueprint newsletter to stay at the forefront of Fintech and DeFi: https://bit.ly/3hyhlC2 🤝 Partner with Fintech Blueprint through sponsorships: https://bit.ly/3UZllsV 👉 Twitter: https://twitter.com/LexSokolin TIMESTAMPS 1’00: Internet Pioneers and Business Innovation: Libor Michalek touches on Early Web Experiences 4’56: Digital Transformation and Commerce: Unpacking the Consumer Insights and Technological Advances That Fuelled the E-commerce Explosion 9’18: Beyond Traditional Finance: How Affirm's Founding Insights and Technological Integration Redefined Fintech in the 2010s 13’14: Redefining Credit: Exploring the Consumer Demand for Transparency and Fairness in Financial Products with Affirm 19’04: Integrating Innovation: How Affirm's Unique Approach to E-commerce and Payments Shaped Its Market Strategy 23’47: Machine Learning and Financial Innovation: Launching Affirm's Transaction-Specific Underwriting Models 27’56: Assessing Investment Opportunities: The Risk and Return Profile of Affirm's Customer Loans from an Institutional Perspective 32’11: Empowering Customers: Affirm's Commitment to Transparency and Support in Financial Services 37’42: Leading the Charge: Navigating Competition and Innovation in the Buy Now, Pay Later Market 41’22: Defining Innovation in FinTech: Distinguishing Between Technology-Driven and Finance-First Companies 43’29: The channels used to connect with Libor & learn more about Affirm Disclaimer here — this newsletter does not provide investment advice and represents solely the views and opinions of FINTECH BLUEPRINT LTD. Contributors: Lex, Laurence, Matt, Farhad, Mike, Daniella Want to discuss? Stop by our Discord and reach out here with questions.

Lex chats with Sarah Levy, CEO of Betterment - the largest independent digital investment advisor. Levy kicks off the conversation by discussing her career journey from working in the media industry to leading a fintech company. Levy explains that she was attracted to Betterment's mission of making people's lives better and saw the potential for growth and scale in the company. She also highlights the importance of brand building and understanding the customer in creating a successful business. Levy discusses Betterment's core products, including its retail robo-advisory service and its 401(k) offering for small and medium-sized businesses. She explains that Betterment aims to be a holistic investing home for its customers, focusing on expanding access and offering more account types and asset classes. Levy also discusses the potential for Betterment to offer self-directed investing options in the future. MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION Betterment's Website: https://bit.ly/3Uq5gPK Sarah's LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/4d5aGqJ Topics: Fintech, embedded finance, banking, investment, RIA, Tax, roboadvisor, advisory, branding, 401k Companies: Betterment, Nickelodeon, Disney, Viacom, Schwab, Fidelity ABOUT THE FINTECH BLUEPRINT 🔥Subscribe to the Fintech Blueprint newsletter to stay at the forefront of Fintech and DeFi: https://bit.ly/3hyhlC2 🤝 Partner with Fintech Blueprint through sponsorships: https://bit.ly/3UZllsV 👉 Twitter: https://twitter.com/LexSokolin TIMESTAMPS 1’10: From Nickelodeon to Betterment: Tracing Sarah Levy's Journey Through Media and FinTech 7’22: Brand Personification and Audience Engagement: Exploring Digital Transformation with a lens on the consumer 13’33: Mission and Brand Resonance: Transitioning Leadership at Betterment 16’50: Initial Impressions and Strategic Directions: Enhancing Betterment's Brand and Services 21’41: Refining FinTech: How Betterment Evolved to Meet the Needs of Modern Investors 24’58: Building Betterment's 401k Business: Strategic Growth and Market Opportunities 34’45: Revamping RIA Economics: Betterment's Innovative Approach to Advisor Services 39’41: Beyond the Super App: Betterment's Strategic Approach to FinTech Diversification 44’12: Focused Growth: Betterment's Strategic Decision to Prioritize Long-Term Investing Over Self-Directed Trading 47’09: The channels used to connect with Sarah & learn more about Betterment Disclaimer here — this newsletter does not provide investment advice and represents solely the views and opinions of FINTECH BLUEPRINT LTD. Contributors: Lex, Laurence, Matt, Farhad, Mike, Daniella Want to discuss? Stop by our Discord and reach out here with questions.

Lex chats with Anthony Cimino, the head of policy at Carta - an equity management company that builds the infrastructure for innovators, supporting approximately 35,000 companies, over 2.2 million stakeholders, and more than 5,000 funds. Cimino discusses his background in government and policy in the financial services industry and how he got involved in finance and policy. He explains the role of policy in the fintech industry and the importance of engagement with policymakers. Cimino also talks about Carta's core business of cap table management and valuation services, as well as their fund administration business. He discusses the challenges and opportunities in the private markets industry, including the barriers to entry for investors and the need for more access and standardization. Cimino also mentions Carta's focus on supporting founders and their plans to expand globally. He emphasizes the role of policy in unlocking capital and creating access to private markets. MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION Carta's Website: https://bit.ly/3U92K0w Anthony's LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3J6u5db Topics: fintech, regulation, policy, private markets, fund administration Companies: Carta, SEC, Committee on Financial Services ABOUT THE FINTECH BLUEPRINT 🔥Subscribe to the Fintech Blueprint newsletter to stay at the forefront of Fintech and DeFi: https://bit.ly/3hyhlC2 🤝 Partner with Fintech Blueprint through sponsorships: https://bit.ly/3UZllsV 👉 Twitter: https://twitter.com/LexSokolin TIMESTAMPS 1’23: From Capitol Hill to Financial Crisis Management: Tracing Anthony's Journey through Finance and Policy 6’24: Building Trust in Turbulent Times: The Crucial Link Between Public Engagement and Policy Formation 10’50: Shaping the Future of Finance: The Essential Role of Stakeholder Engagement in Policy and Regulation 14’50: Digitizing Equity: Carta's Impact on Private Markets and the Future of Financial Infrastructure 20’07: Unlocking Private Markets: Navigating Complexity and Challenging Paternalistic Regulations 24’17: Expanding Economic Opportunity: The Imperative of Broadening Access to Private Markets 27’27: Beyond Data: Carta's Vision for Empowering Founders and Investors in the Private Market Ecosystem 31’50: Tailoring Growth: How Carta Supports Founders from Startup to Public Transition 34’39: Navigating the Terrain: The Dynamics of Private Fund Administration in Changing Economic Climates 38’56: Charting the Future: Carta's Vision for Empowering Founders, Revolutionizing Fund Administration, and Expanding Global Footprints 40’57: The channels used to connect with Anthony & learn more about Carta Disclaimer here — this newsletter does not provide investment advice and represents solely the views and opinions of FINTECH BLUEPRINT LTD. Contributors: Lex, Laurence, Matt, Farhad, Mike, Daniella Want to discuss? Stop by our Discord and reach out here with questions.

Lex chats with Malcolm deMayo, Global Vice President for Financial Services at Nvidia. deMayo kicks off the discussion on how Nvidia has been working with financial services firms for over 15 years, providing accelerated compute platforms to help solve compute-intensive challenges in trading, banking, and insurance. DeMayo explains that Nvidia's hardware accelerators, such as GPUs, can execute thousands of instructions at a time, resulting in a significant speedup compared to traditional CPUs. He highlights the use of AI and machine learning in various financial services applications, including fraud detection, sentiment analysis in trading, and process automation in banking. DeMayo also discusses the emergence of Generative AI, which enables the generation of unique content and the potential for human-like engagement in customer service. He emphasizes the importance of collaboration between business and AI teams for successful AI deployment and mentions the role of open-source models and federated learning in the future of AI. MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION Nvidia's Website: https://bit.ly/3TwEDXO Malcom's LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3xeimqa Topics: AI, Artificial intelligence, Machine learning, accelerated compute, compute, generative AI, genAI, financial services, Neural networks Companies: Nvidia, OpenAI, Google, Microsoft, EvidentAI, AlexNet ABOUT THE FINTECH BLUEPRINT 🔥Subscribe to the Fintech Blueprint newsletter to stay at the forefront of Fintech and DeFi: https://bit.ly/3hyhlC2 🤝 Partner with Fintech Blueprint through sponsorships: https://bit.ly/3UZllsV 👉 Twitter: https://twitter.com/LexSokolin TIMESTAMPS 1’35: Beyond Moore's Law: Nvidia's Pioneering Role in Financial Services Innovation 6’56: Revolutionizing Efficiency: The Transformative Impact of GPU-Accelerated Computing in Finance 14’12: Unlocking Efficiency: How Nvidia's Accelerated Compute Platform Revolutionizes Machine Learning in Finance 19’52: Transforming Finance: The Power of Machine Learning in Fraud Detection and Market Analysis 29’15: From Data Custodianship to AI Revolution: Nvidia's Pivotal Role in Transforming Finance with Generative AI 35’03: Beyond Classification: Nvidia's Role in Fueling Generative AI's Impact on Financial Services Innovation 42’04: Shaping the AI Landscape: The Dynamic Between Open Source Innovation and Proprietary Models in Financial Services 47’01: The channels used to connect with Malcom & learn more about Nvidia Disclaimer here — this newsletter does not provide investment advice and represents solely the views and opinions of FINTECH BLUEPRINT LTD. Contributors: Lex, Laurence, Matt, Farhad, Mike, Daniella Want to discuss? Stop by our Discord and reach out here with questions.

Lex chats with Nelson Chu, founder and CEO of Percent - the modern credit marketplace. Nelson kicks off the discussion b by walking through his inspiration for building the private credit marketplace and the challenges of operating in the fintech industry. He explains that Percent aims to provide a better alternative investment platform for credit investors by offering shorter durations and lower minimum investments. Nelson also discusses the importance of infrastructure in the private credit market and the need for technology to streamline processes. He highlights the different types of investors and borrowers that use Percent's platform and the challenges of building a three-sided marketplace. Nelson also touches on the impact of macroeconomic factors, such as interest rates, on the private credit market and the role of data and AI in the industry. MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION Percent's Website: https://bit.ly/3x3w8Mg Nelson's LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/4a5Nwym Topics: Private credit, lending, borrowers, underwriting, AI, artificial intelligence, investment, alternative investment, fintech, marketplace Companies: Percent, Lending Club, LendIt, Prosper, Blackstone ABOUT THE FINTECH BLUEPRINT 🔥Subscribe to the Fintech Blueprint newsletter to stay at the forefront of Fintech and DeFi: https://bit.ly/3hyhlC2 🤝 Partner with Fintech Blueprint through sponsorships: https://bit.ly/3UZllsV 👉 Twitter: https://twitter.com/LexSokolin TIMESTAMPS 1’12: From FinTech Consulting to Revolutionizing Private Credit: The Genesis of Percent 4’33: Unveiling the Void: The Journey to Establishing Essential Infrastructure in Alternative Investments 6’55: Decoding Private Credit: Navigating Yields, Risk, and Investor Dynamics in Short-Duration Fixed Income 14’01: Investor Trends and Platform Evolution: The Shifting Terrain of Private Credit Investments 19’15: Building the Bridge: Crafting the Infrastructure to Power a Tripartite Financial Marketplace 26’15: Mastering Multi-Sided Markets: Strategies for Bootstrapping Borrowers, Investors, and Underwriters 31’26: Tech as the Catalyst: Navigating the Fusion of Traditional Finance and Innovative Infrastructure in Private Credit 36’49: Adapting to Shifts: The Impact of Changing Interest Rates on the Private Credit Landscape 40’16: Unlocking Potential with AI: How Proprietary Data Sets Are Shaping the Future of Finance 43’15: The channels used to connect with Nelson & learn more about Percent Disclaimer here — this newsletter does not provide investment advice and represents solely the views and opinions of FINTECH BLUEPRINT LTD. Contributors: Lex, Laurence, Matt, Farhad, Mike, Daniella Want to discuss? Stop by our Discord and reach out here with questions.

Lex chats with Richard Ma, CEO of Quantstamp -a leading blockchain security company. Richard kicks off by discussing the origins of the company and the importance of security in the blockchain space. He explains that the idea for Quantstamp came after he invested in Ethereum and witnessed the hack of the DAO, which prompted him to focus on the security side of Ethereum. Richard describes how Quantstamp conducts audits of blockchain projects, identifying vulnerabilities and providing recommendations for improvement. He emphasizes the importance of reading audit reports and understanding the risks associated with projects. Richard also discusses different types of adversaries in the blockchain space, including nation-state actors, developers seeking recognition, and financially motivated hackers. He believes that while established projects will become more secure over time, new experimental projects will always carry some level of risk. Richard suggests that AI-based debuggers could help improve security auditing in the future. He highlights EigenLayer, ZK-rollups, and the development on Solana as exciting sectors to watch in the coming years. MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION Quantstamps's Website: https://bit.ly/3Iv6zX4 Richard's LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3IvaxyO Topics: blockchain, security, audit, hacking, hacks, crypto, cryptocurrency, digital assets, Web3, DeFi Companies: Quantstamp, Ethereum, MakerDAO, Compound, EigenLayer ABOUT THE FINTECH BLUEPRINT 🔥Subscribe to the Fintech Blueprint newsletter to stay at the forefront of Fintech and DeFi: https://bit.ly/3hyhlC2 🤝 Partner with Fintech Blueprint through sponsorships: https://bit.ly/3UZllsV 👉 Twitter: https://twitter.com/LexSokolin TIMESTAMPS 1’30: From High-Frequency Trading to Fintech Innovator: The Journey to Creating Quantstamp 9’26: Demystifying the Audit Process: Inside Quantstamp's Approach to Securing Blockchain Projects 15’04: The Art and Challenge of Blockchain Audits: Navigating the Complex World of Code Review 19’37: The Nomad Hack: A Case Study in Preventability and the Importance of Diligence in Code Auditing 24’39: Web3's Adversarial Landscape: Unpacking the Motivations Behind Crypto Hacks and Security Breaches 29’13: The Ethical Dilemma of Crypto Hacking: Navigating the Fine Line Between Exploitation and Market Manipulation 34’59: Exploring the Frontier: Key Innovations Shaping the Future of Blockchain in 2024 and Beyond 36’34: The channels used to connect with Richard & learn more about Quantstamp Disclaimer here — this newsletter does not provide investment advice and represents solely the views and opinions of FINTECH BLUEPRINT LTD. Contributors: Lex, Laurence, Matt, Farhad, Mike, Daniella Want to discuss? Stop by our Discord and reach out here with questions.

Lex chats with Christian Catalini, co-founder and chief strategy officer of Lightspark - a company aiming to break down global payment barriers, throwing its weight behind a new standard intended to make payments as easy as sending an email. Christian kicks off by discussing his career in blockchain and academia, as well as the challenges and opportunities in the fintech industry. He explains how he became interested in crypto through his research on crowdfunding and how he later focused on Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies. Catalini also discusses the importance of decentralized governance and the potential of Bitcoin as a global payment network. He introduces Lightspark's products, including Lightspark Predict and Universal Money Addresses (UMA), which aim to make Lightning Network more efficient and user-friendly for cross-border money movement. He emphasizes the need for compliance and regulatory clarity in the crypto industry and highlights the role of various partners in facilitating on and off-ramps between digital assets and traditional payment systems. MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION Lightspark's Website: https://bit.ly/3uQ0Nw1 Christian's LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3UVwBu3 Topics: blockchain, crypto, cryptocurrency, Bitcoin, Digital Assets, AI, cross border, payments, lightning network Companies: Lightspark, Diem, Libra, Meta Fintech, MIT, MIT Cryptoeconomics Lab ABOUT THE FINTECH BLUEPRINT 🔥Subscribe to the Fintech Blueprint newsletter to stay at the forefront of Fintech and DeFi: https://bit.ly/3hyhlC2 🤝 Partner with Fintech Blueprint through sponsorships: https://bit.ly/3UZllsV 👉 Twitter: https://twitter.com/LexSokolin TIMESTAMPS 1’22: Bridging Worlds: From Academic Inquiry to Entrepreneurial Action in the Crypto and Crowdfunding Era 7’12: Innovating at the Intersection: From the Creative Destruction Lab to the Cryptoeconomics Lab at MIT 13’00: Designing Stability: The Economic Architecture and Vision Behind the Diem Experiment 18’37: Governance and Trust in Crypto: Navigating the Complex Landscape from Diem to Bitcoin 25’42: Money as a Public Good: The Evolutionary Path of Bitcoin and Digital Assets in the Global Economy 31’57: Unleashing Potential: Crypto and AI's Complementary Forces in Shaping the Future of Open Source Technology 37’02: Universal Money Addresses: Revolutionizing Global Transactions with Seamless, Compliant, and Real-Time Payments 41’31: UMA and Bitcoin: Simplifying Cross-Border Payments with a Global, Liquidity-Driven Settlement Layer 46’49: Integrating Innovations: How UMA Partners Enable Smooth Cross-Border Payments Through Bitcoin Liquidity and Local Infrastructure 50’14: The channels used to connect with Chris & learn more about Lightspark Disclaimer here — this newsletter does not provide investment advice and represents solely the views and opinions of FINTECH BLUEPRINT LTD. Contributors: Lex, Laurence, Matt, Farhad, Mike, Daniella Want to discuss? Stop by our Discord and reach out here with questions.

Lex chats with Shelby Austin, co-founder and CEO of Arteria AI - Arteria AI is an AI-focused company that develops a contract lifecycle management platform for end-to-end digital contracting. Shelby kicks off by discussing her career journey and the development of her company, which focuses on solving documentation challenges in the financial services industry using artificial intelligence (AI). Shelby explains that Arteria AI uses a combination of people and technology to streamline document management processes, such as onboarding, contract generation, and data organization. The company leverages a variety of AI models, both open-source and proprietary, to analyze and generate documents. Shelby emphasizes the importance of user-centric design and practical application of AI in solving real problems for financial institutions. She also discusses the challenges and opportunities of working with large financial firms, including data security and integration with existing infrastructure. MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION Arteria AI's Website: https://bit.ly/3SLtWAr Shelby's LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3I11568 Topics: AI, Artificial Intelligence, ChatGPT, documentation, finance, analytics, contract processing Companies: Arteria AI, Arteria, Deloitte, OpenAI ABOUT THE FINTECH BLUEPRINT 🔥Subscribe to the Fintech Blueprint newsletter to stay at the forefront of Fintech and DeFi: https://bit.ly/3hyhlC2 🤝 Partner with Fintech Blueprint through sponsorships: https://bit.ly/3UZllsV 👉 Twitter: https://twitter.com/LexSokolin TIMESTAMPS 1’23: From Law to Innovation: Shelby Austin's Journey Through Legal Grind to Tech Entrepreneurship 6’41: Digitizing Diligence: Pioneering Data Management in Legal Workflows 9’10: From Legal Documents to AI Frontiers: Navigating the Transition into Technological Leadership at Deloitte 17’27: Reimagining Documentation: The Genesis of Arteria and the Evolution of Financial Services Solutions 22’32: Simplifying Complexity: Arteria's Solutions for Streamlining Documentation and Compliance Processes 26’44: Transforming Documentation: Arteria's Multimodal Approach to Financial Services Paperwork 32’03: Crafting AI Solutions in Finance: Navigating the Landscape of Models Beyond the Hype 36’16: Building Bridges in Finance: Exploring the Complex Landscape of AI Integration with Major Financial Firms 39’25: The channels used to connect with Shelby & learn more about Arteria AI Disclaimer here — this newsletter does not provide investment advice and represents solely the views and opinions of FINTECH BLUEPRINT LTD. Contributors: Lex, Laurence, Matt, Farhad, Mike, Daniella Want to discuss? Stop by our Discord and reach out here with questions.

Lex chats with Rachel Lin, the Co-Founder & CEO of SynFutures, a decentralized derivatives trading platform. Lin discusses her background in traditional finance and her transition into the fintech and cryptocurrency industry. She explains her experience working in structured derivative sales and trading at Deutsche Bank, where she interacted with clients such as hedge funds and corporates who used derivatives for speculative purposes, hedging, and arbitrage. Lin then moved to fintech company Alipay, where she learned about blockchain technology and became interested in the potential of decentralized finance. She later joined Matrixport, a centralized platform, before starting her own decentralized derivatives platform, SynFutures. Lin explains that decentralized platforms offer transparency and the ability for anyone to become a market maker or service provider, while centralized platforms require more configuration and rely on market makers. She also discusses the growth potential of decentralized derivatives and the current dominance of speculation in the crypto derivatives market. Lin believes that as digital economies grow, the usage of blockchain and derivatives for economic purposes will also increase. MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION SynFuture's Website: https://bit.ly/3OCDRaa Topics: crypto, digital assets, investment, blockchain, AMM, DeFi, CeFi, Liquidity, hedging, arbitrage, derivatives, perps, synthetic Companies: Synfutures, Alipay, Matrixport, DYDX, GMX, Synthetix, Deutsche Bank, Uniswap ABOUT THE FINTECH BLUEPRINT 🔥Subscribe to the Fintech Blueprint newsletter to stay at the forefront of Fintech and DeFi: https://bit.ly/3hyhlC2 🤝 Partner with Fintech Blueprint through sponsorships: https://bit.ly/3UZllsV 👉 Twitter: https://twitter.com/LexSokolin TIMESTAMPS 1’23: Trading Illusions for Insights: Navigating the Complex World of Financial Derivatives 6’35: Hedging Needs vs. Market Speculation: Deciphering the Derivatives Landscape 10’54: Institutional to Retail: Transitioning Through Chinese Fintech and Cryptocurrency Markets 16’16: SynFutures: Unlocking Decentralized Derivatives Trading for All 20’54: Synthetic Derivatives and Leverage: Amplifying Trades on Decentralized Platforms 26’56: DeFi Derivatives: AMM Liquidity, Competition, and the Future of Synthetic Trading 32’13: The promise of Crypto Derivative Markets: Beyond Speculation - Hedging, Arbitrage, and the Promise of Digital Economies 35’00: The channels used to connect with Rachel & learn more about SynFutures Disclaimer here — this newsletter does not provide investment advice and represents solely the views and opinions of FINTECH BLUEPRINT LTD. Contributors: Lex, Laurence, Matt, Farhad, Mike, Daniella Want to discuss? Stop by our Discord and reach out here with questions.

Lex chats with Stan Miroshnik, founder and managing partner of 10Squared Capital, discusses his early experiences in financial services and his journey into the world of digital assets and crypto. He talks about the challenges of navigating the ICO market and the importance of price discipline in investing. Miroshnik also shares his insights on the current state of the market and the opportunities he sees in sectors such as infrastructure, consumer applications, data analytics, and financial services. He also discusses the potential of security tokens and real-world asset tokenization. MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION 10Squared Capital's Website: https://bit.ly/3ShddVm Stan's LinkedIn profile: https://bit.ly/3w8kO0S Topics: crypto, digital assets, venture capital, investment, blockchain, ICO, tokenization Companies: TenSquared Capital, 10THoldings, 10T, 10SQ, Animoca, Coatue, Tiger, Civic ABOUT THE FINTECH BLUEPRINT 🔥Subscribe to the Fintech Blueprint newsletter to stay at the forefront of Fintech and DeFi: https://bit.ly/3hyhlC2 🤝 Partner with Fintech Blueprint through sponsorships: https://bit.ly/3UZllsV 👉 Twitter: https://twitter.com/LexSokolin TIMESTAMPS 1’28: Navigating the Financial Landscape: From Soviet Childhood to Blockchain Innovation 4’03: Transitioning from Soviet Roots to Global Finance: A Journey Through Capital Markets and the Emergence of Digital Assets 11’07: Emergence of Russian Capital Markets: Navigating the Complexities of Financial Evolution and Integration 15’15: Bitcoin and the Birth of a New Capital Market: Pioneering Digital Asset Investment Banking 19’13: Compliance Complexity in 2024: Navigating the Evolving Landscape of Digital Asset Regulation 23’25: Reflecting on the ICO Market: Balancing Innovation, Speculation, and the Evolution of Digital Assets 27’53: From ICOs to Institutional Investment: Charting the Evolution of Digital Asset Markets with 10T Holdings and TenSquared Capital 32’18: Assessing Growth Stage Investments in the Digital Asset Space: Navigating the Challenges of Valuation and Opportunity in 2021-2022 35’24: Identifying Emerging Leaders in Digital Assets: A Look at Key Sectors and Companies Shaping the 2024 Market Landscape 36’25: Exploring the Future of Digital Assets: Exploring Infrastructure, Consumer Applications, and Financial Services in the Blockchain Ecosystem 43’04: The channels used to connect with Stan & learn more about TenSquared Capital Disclaimer here — this newsletter does not provide investment advice and represents solely the views and opinions of FINTECH BLUEPRINT LTD. Contributors: Lex, Laurence, Matt, Farhad, Mike, Daniella Want to discuss? Stop by our Discord and reach out here with questions.

Lex chats with Jerome Le Luel, founder and CEO of TRIVER - a London-based startup that uses open banking data and AI to provide short-term working capital to SMEs. To kick off, Jerome discusses the application of AI in fintech lending for small businesses. He explains that traditional banks have struggled to automate lending decisions for SMEs due to regulatory constraints and manual underwriting processes. However, with the emergence of open banking and the ability to access transaction-level data, fintech companies like TRIVER can use data science to automate underwriting decisions and provide instant capital to small businesses. TRIVER's platform allows SMEs to apply for short-term financing in a few clicks, using bank data and credit bureau information to make lending decisions. The capital comes from a combination of equity and debt raised by TRIVER, and the company is also exploring partnerships with non-financial institutions to embed its technology and offer instant capital to their SME clients. MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION TRIVER's Website: https://bit.ly/3OiT1RN Jerome's LinkedIn profile: https://bit.ly/3ubNWUz Topics: Fintech, lending, SME, SME finance, Open Banking, Underwriting, API Companies: TRIVER, Funding Circle, Barclays, Barclaycard, Capital One ABOUT THE FINTECH BLUEPRINT 🔥Subscribe to the Fintech Blueprint newsletter to stay at the forefront of Fintech and DeFi: https://bit.ly/3hyhlC2 🤝 Partner with Fintech Blueprint through sponsorships: https://bit.ly/3UZllsV 👉 Twitter: https://twitter.com/LexSokolin TIMESTAMPS 1’29: From analytics to innovation: Pioneering credit card strategies in the UK with Capital One 4’13: Segmentation and innovation: How Capital One's early customer insights revolutionized consumer finance 9’19: Scaling financial services: Lessons in clarity, efficiency, and rigorous execution from Capital One's rapid growth 14’53: From challenger to major player: Navigating the shift to large-scale operations in financial services at Barclaycard 18’59: Risk management in lending: Balancing uncertainty, reward, and scaling in financial services 26’44: Innovating in Fintech: Leveraging flexibility and focus to outpace traditional banking at Funding Circle and TRIVER 31’37: Entrepreneurship and innovation: The impact of organizational culture and talent on Fintech advancements 33’53: Solving short-term SME finance challenges: TRIVER's innovative approach leveraging data science and open banking 40’23: Real-time SME underwriting: Leveraging transaction data and open banking for effective financial decisions at TRIVER 41’53: Empowering SMEs with instant capital: TRIVER's seamless integration of tech, data, and finance for efficient working capital solutions 46’02: The channels used to connect with Jerome & learn more about TRIVER Disclaimer here — this newsletter does not provide investment advice and represents solely the views and opinions of FINTECH BLUEPRINT LTD. Contributors: Lex, Laurence, Matt, Farhad, Mike, Daniella Want to discuss? Stop by our Discord and reach out here with questions.

Lex chats with David Minarsch, co-founder and CEO of Valory - a team focused on providing research, products, and services at the intersection of multi-agent systems (MAS) and distributed ledger technology (DLT), one of them being Autonolas - a platform that offers an open-source software stack and an on-chain protocol, facilitating secure operations and incentivizing autonomous application development. In this episode, David discusses the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and crypto networks. He explains that Valory is focused on building autonomous systems that connect to blockchain networks. David highlights the importance of AI agents in the future, as they can specialize in different roles and provide valuable services. He also discusses the launch of the Autonolas protocol on Gnosis chain, which allows for the creation of prediction markets and the coordination of autonomous services. David believes that autonomous agents will become the primary daily active users of crypto, providing a new user experience and abstraction for humans. MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION Valory's Website: https://bit.ly/4b3xuWP David's LinkedIn profile: https://bit.ly/3S5EF8n Topics: DLT, Distributed ledger technology, ai, blockchain, smart contract, game theory, autonomation, DAO, generative AI, crypto, economics Companies: Valory, Autonolas, Fetch.ai, OLAS, Gnosis, Cosmos ABOUT THE FINTECH BLUEPRINT 🔥Subscribe to the Fintech Blueprint newsletter to stay at the forefront of Fintech and DeFi: https://bit.ly/3hyhlC2 🤝 Partner with Fintech Blueprint through sponsorships: https://bit.ly/3UZllsV 👉 Twitter: https://twitter.com/LexSokolin TIMESTAMPS 1’34: Mathematics to Game Theory: A Journey Through Academia and the Intricacies of Human Behavior 4’03: Network Games and Equilibria: Exploring Graph Theory and Game Theory in Economics at Cambridge 7’31: Quantitative Abstractions and Intuition: Navigating the Complexity of Equilibria in Economic Systems 12’08: From Academic Theory to Real-World Application: The Impact of Crypto Networks on Economic Modeling and Experimentation 16’17: Mathematics in Governance: Transforming Data for Constituency Insights and Political Decision-Making 19’04: From Human Insights to Blockchain Innovation: The Evolution of Fetch.ai and the Role of Autonomous Agents 23’36: Defining Autonomous Agents: The Evolution and Impact of AI-Driven Software Agents in Complex Systems 30’48: Agent Ownership and Automation: Exploring the Spectrum and Implications of Autonomous AI Systems 35’16: Autonolas Protocol and Valory Launch: Revolutionizing Autonomous Services and DAO Governance on the Gnosis Chain 39’44: Governance Through AI: Understanding the Role of Autonomous Agents in DAO Decision-Making and Proposal Analysis 43’34: OLAS Protocol on Gnosis Chain: Pioneering Autonomous Agents in Prediction Markets and DAO Governance 50’15: Envisioning the Future: The Rise of Autonomous Agents and AI in Crypto and Economic Systems 55’01: The channels used to connect with David & learn more about Valory Disclaimer here — this newsletter does not provide investment advice and represents solely the views and opinions of FINTECH BLUEPRINT LTD. Contributors: Lex, Laurence, Matt, Farhad, Mike, Daniella Want to discuss? Stop by our Discord and reach out here with questions.

Lex chats with Steve McLaughlin, CEO and founder of FT Partners - the premier financial technology investment bank, and Jon Lear, president and co-founder of Fintech Meetup - the leading fintech conference in the world today. They discuss the early days of fintech, the growth and evolution of the industry, and the current market trends. They also touch on the definition of fintech and its boundaries, as well as the sectors that are seeing the most activity and opportunity in the coming year. They highlight the importance of networks, infrastructure, and emerging markets in driving innovation and growth in fintech. MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION FT Partners' Website: https://bit.ly/3vEVbEG Fintech Meetup's Website: https://bit.ly/48Nuzji Steve's LinkedIn profile: https://bit.ly/48P6AAm Jon's LinkedIn profile: https://bit.ly/3Sgz7cs Topics: fintech, finance, financial technology, Investment Banking, Blockchain, crypto, paytech, insurtech, infrastructure Companies: FT Partners, Fintech Meetup, NASDAQ, ETrade, EarthPort, Visa, Mastercard, JP Morgan, Goldman Sachs, Stripe, Worldcoin, Intuit ABOUT THE FINTECH BLUEPRINT 🔥Subscribe to the Fintech Blueprint newsletter to stay at the forefront of Fintech and DeFi: https://bit.ly/3hyhlC2 🤝 Partner with Fintech Blueprint through sponsorships: https://bit.ly/3UZllsV 👉 Twitter: https://twitter.com/LexSokolin TIMESTAMPS 2’21: From Goldman Sachs to FT Partners: Steve McLaughlin's Journey Through the Evolution of Fintech 6’39: Digital Finance Evolution: Steve expands on the Enduring Impact of Early Fintech Companies 9’35: Traversing the Fintech Landscape: Jon Lear’s journey from Procter & Gamble to Fintech Entrepreneurship and Beyond 15’58: Repeating Patterns in Fintech: Exploring Persistent Challenges and Innovations in Financial Technology 20’59: Defining Fintech: Navigating the Blurred Lines of Financial Technology in Today's Evolving Market 28’57: Emerging Ecosystems: How New Technologies Reshape Traditional Financial Services and Create Unique Economic Spheres 32’56: Fintech in Focus: Insights from Fintech Meetup on Market Dynamics, Innovation, and the Shift Towards Infrastructure 36’22: Risk Assessment in Fintech: Evaluating Current Market Dynamics and Venture Capital Trends in the Financial Sector 40’36: Navigating Challenges in Fintech: The Complex Dynamics of M&A and Growth Strategies Amid Market Volatility 43’39: Emerging Trends in Fintech: Identifying Growth Opportunities and Innovations in Blockchain and Payments 45’38: Future Fintech Frontiers: Uncovering Growth Sectors and Geographical Opportunities in the Financial Industry 50’57: The channels used to connect with Jon & learn more about Fintech Meetup 51’10: The channels used to connect with Steve & learn more about FT Partners Disclaimer here — this newsletter does not provide investment advice and represents solely the views and opinions of FINTECH BLUEPRINT LTD. Contributors: Lex, Laurence, Matt, Farhad, Mike, Daniella Want to discuss? Stop by our Discord and reach out here with questions.

Lex chats with Jeff Boortz, the Chief Product Officer of Blockstream. Blockstream is a company at the forefront of Bitcoin ecosystem development, and they discuss the new developments and innovations in the Bitcoin space. Boortz talks about his career background, including his time at Google, and how he transitioned to Blockstream. They also discuss the skills and differences between tech companies like Google and financial institutions when it comes to product management. Boortz explains the concept of decentralization in building software products and how it applies to Google's organizational structure. They then dive into Blockstream's core business, which includes advancing the Bitcoin protocol, building layer 2 technology like the Lightning Network, providing mining and co-location services, and developing self-custody products like wallets. They discuss the scale and usage of the Liquid Network, a sidechain implementation by Blockstream, and its potential for programmability and representing other assets. They also touch on the future of Bitcoin and the potential paths for development, particularly in the financial markets. MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION Blockstream's Website: https://bit.ly/3tzZ2Ck Jeff's LinkedIn profile: https://bit.ly/3tzZ3pS Topics: Bitcoin, layer-2, blockchain, ethereum, crypto, cryptocurrency, Protocol, L2 Companies: Blockstream, Bitcoin, Lightning Network, Google, Liquid Network, Blockstream Green, Ethereum, Product ABOUT THE FINTECH BLUEPRINT 🔥Subscribe to the Fintech Blueprint newsletter to stay at the forefront of Fintech and DeFi: https://bit.ly/3hyhlC2 🤝 Partner with Fintech Blueprint through sponsorships: https://bit.ly/3UZllsV 👉 Twitter: https://twitter.com/LexSokolin TIMESTAMPS 1’44: From web development to Google: Jeff’s journey through technology and his evolution from software developer to shaping business strategies 6’03: Integrating tech in finance vs. core technology companies: Insights on skill sets and product development 13’17: Blockstream's mission and portfolio: Rethinking trust in financial transactions with Bitcoin and layer 2 technologies 16’52: Blockstream's core business: Building protocols and tools for Bitcoin-connected networks and services 20’27: Liquid Network's scale and programmability: Exploring blinded transactions and asset representation on Blockstream's sidechain 24’09: Bitcoin's evolution since 2009: Balancing decentralization with development and the institutional investment narrative 29’20: Lightning Network's progress: Enhancing Bitcoin's scalability and adoption through Layer 2 solutions 33’37: Lightning Network adoption: Balancing user convenience and enterprise applications in Bitcoin's Layer 2 37’24: Bitcoin's evolving ecosystem: Exploring Ordinals, inscriptions, and the surging interest in programmable assets 41’18: Reimagining financial markets: Blockstream's vision for trust-minimized finance and the path to equitable systems 43’45: The channels used to connect with Jeff & learn more about Blockstream Disclaimer here — this newsletter does not provide investment advice and represents solely the views and opinions of FINTECH BLUEPRINT LTD. Contributors: Lex, Laurence, Matt, Farhad, Mike, Daniella Want to discuss? Stop by our Discord and reach out here with questions.

Lex chats with Yat Siu, co-founder and chairman of Animoca Brands - a global leader in blockchain and gaming that is working to provide property rights for virtual assets via NFTs and related technologies. Yat discusses his journey into technology and gaming, as well as the intersection of gaming and decentralized finance. He shares his early experiences with technology, including writing MIDI software in the 1980s and discovering the power of online communities. Additionally, Yat discusses the shift from Web2 to Web3 and the importance of ownership and interoperability in gaming. He highlights the potential for virtual goods and NFTs to become platforms for building experiences and creating network effects. Yat emphasizes the need for trust and transparency in the gaming industry and the potential for Web3 to democratize ownership and create new opportunities for gamers. MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION Animoca Brands' Website: https://bit.ly/47Vv3UD Yat's LinkedIn profile: https://bit.ly/3NvEtxT Topics: Web3, crypto, blockchain, DeFi, NFT, NFTFi, Metaverse, tokens, gaming, GameFi, Web2 Companies: Animoca Brands, Animoca, ConsenSys, Dapper Labs, CryptoKitties, Axiom Zen, Minecraft, Sandbox, Mocaverse ABOUT THE FINTECH BLUEPRINT 🔥Subscribe to the Fintech Blueprint newsletter to stay at the forefront of Fintech and DeFi: https://bit.ly/3hyhlC2 🤝 Partner with Fintech Blueprint through sponsorships: https://bit.ly/3UZllsV 👉 Twitter: https://twitter.com/LexSokolin TIMESTAMPS 1’28: Journey into tech: Yat Siu reflects on his early experiences with gaming, MIDI software, and the transformative impact of online communities 6’49: From early internet anonymity to Web3's shared value: The evolution of online identity and the power shift in data dynamics 15’30: Digital identity and data monopolies: Exploring the tension between privacy and community in the evolution from Web2 to Web3 21’04: Building Animoca Brands: Yat Siu on his journey from a mobile gaming pioneer to championing user empowerment in the digital world 27’37: Collaborative creation: The genesis of CryptoKitties and the emergence of Dapper Labs from the early days of NFT gaming 31’02: Gaming as a platform: The evolution of gaming experiences and the rise of interoperability in the digital asset ecosystem 37’48: Digital economy's growth: The transition from virtual goods in gaming to a democratic, capitalist Metaverse 40’48: Exploring digital economies: The intersection of Web3 adoption and gaming, and the evolution of user engagement 49’22: The channels used to connect with Yat & learn more about Animoca Disclaimer here — this newsletter does not provide investment advice and represents solely the views and opinions of FINTECH BLUEPRINT LTD. Contributors: Lex, Laurence, Matt, Farhad, Mike, Daniella Want to discuss? Stop by our Discord and reach out here with questions.

Lex chats with Ed Maslaveckas, the founder and CEO of Bud, a FinTech company focused on data aggregation and artificial intelligence in financial services. They discuss the evolution of Bud's business model, the atmosphere of the FinTech industry in the UK, the challenges of data enrichment and customer insight, and the potential of AI agents and generative AI in transforming financial products. Maslaveckas highlights the value of accurate transaction data in reducing call center costs, improving lending decisions, and enabling personalized marketing. He also emphasizes the importance of automation and co-piloting in enhancing the customer experience and increasing efficiency in financial organizations. MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION Bud's Website: https://bit.ly/3TjBWue Ed's LinkedIn profile: https://bit.ly/3TaEsTE Topics: Fintech, open banking, embedded banking, banking, API, GenAI, AI, generative ai, artificial intelligence, data aggregation Companies: Bud, Bud Financial, Plaid, Salesforce, Yodlee, mint.com ABOUT THE FINTECH BLUEPRINT 🔥Subscribe to the Fintech Blueprint newsletter to stay at the forefront of Fintech and DeFi: https://bit.ly/3hyhlC2 🤝 Partner with Fintech Blueprint through sponsorships: https://bit.ly/3UZllsV 👉 Twitter: https://twitter.com/LexSokolin TIMESTAMPS 1’18: Evolution of Ed’s fintech career: The journey from tech enthusiast to influencing the UK's vibrant financial technology scene 6’32: From consumer app to B2B platform: Bud's evolution amidst the neobank wave and the challenges of data integration in fintech 14’14: Decoding customer insights in fintech: Mastering data enrichment and unlocking personalized financial solutions 20’58: Unlocking transaction data's potential: How advanced AI is transforming financial institutions' approach to customer insights 23’19: Transforming financial services with AI: Bud's role in enhancing banks' transaction analysis and customer engagement strategies 30’57: AI and financial well-being: Navigating the balance between automation and user comfort in personal finance apps 37’01: Redefining workflows in banking: The integration of AI agents for enhanced enterprise efficiency and customer engagement 41’59: Shaping the future of fintech: How generative AI and advanced data capabilities are transforming financial services 45’37: The channels used to connect with Ed & learn more about Bud Disclaimer here — this newsletter does not provide investment advice and represents solely the views and opinions of FINTECH BLUEPRINT LTD. Contributors: Lex, Laurence, Matt, Farhad, Mike, Daniella Want to discuss? Stop by our Discord and reach out here with questions.

Lex chats with Dan Finlay, co-founder of MetaMask, and Dean Tribble, CEO of Agoric, about the future of wallet strategy and the underlying technological changes in the Web3 space. They discuss the growth and usage of MetaMask, the philosophy behind its development, and the core dimensions in which they have tried to grow the wallet. They also talk about the concept of "Snaps," which allows developers to extend the functionality of MetaMask using JavaScript. The conversation touches on the potential of interconnecting different blockchains and the importance of user consent and security in the Web3 ecosystem. They also discuss the role of AI in wallets and the potential for users to have their own trusted AI companions. Overall, the discussion highlights the importance of building a more seamless and secure infrastructure in Web3 and the potential for innovation and integration in the space. MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION Agoric's Website: https://bit.ly/3GnHcFo MetaMask's Website: https://bit.ly/3T1vGqY Dean's LinkedIn profile: https://bit.ly/3Rptf03 Dan's LinkedIn profile: https://bit.ly/3RoPpjb Topics: Web3, wallet, blockchain, interoperability, AI, smart contracts Companies: MetaMask, Agoric, Snaps, Cosmos, JavaScript, Secret Network ABOUT THE FINTECH BLUEPRINT 🔥Subscribe to the Fintech Blueprint newsletter to stay at the forefront of Fintech and DeFi: https://bit.ly/3hyhlC2 🤝 Partner with Fintech Blueprint through sponsorships: https://bit.ly/3UZllsV 👉 Twitter: https://twitter.com/LexSokolin TIMESTAMPS 1’46: Web3's evolution and challenges: A conversation with Daniel Finlay on MetaMask's progress and future 6’52: Exploring Web3's potential: The role of MetaMask’s developer focus, safety, and the innovative Snaps platform in shaping the future 11’20: Revolutionizing wallets and Web3: Breaking down the role of JavaScript and secure confinement in enhancing user experience and innovation 17’32: Expanding Web3 development: How JavaScript and lightweight sandboxing in MetaMask unlock new possibilities for developers 19’52: Enhancing Web3 security and usability: The role of hardened JavaScript in simplifying and securing the development process 24’00: Expanding developer horizons in Web3: Understanding the impact of Snaps in MetaMask for creating diverse and innovative applications 28’20: Unifying Web3 ecosystems: How MetaMask and Agoric facilitate seamless integration and cross-chain functionality for developers and users 37’12: Crafting the future of Web3 interfaces: How MetaMask, Snaps and Agoric are paving the way for advanced cross-chain connectivity and AI integration Disclaimer here — this newsletter does not provide investment advice and represents solely the views and opinions of FINTECH BLUEPRINT LTD. Contributors: Lex, Laurence, Matt, Farhad, Mike, Daniella Want to discuss? Stop by our Discord and reach out here with questions.

Lex chats with Christopher Pallotta - founder and CEO of Templum, a company focused on alternative investments and private markets. Pallotta discusses his background in technology and investing, as well as the journey of Templum and its transformation into becoming the operating system for private markets and alternative assets. He explains how Templum's technology, broker-dealer and alternative trading system (ATS) capabilities enable the trading of regulated private securities in a compliant manner. Pallotta also discusses the growing demand for alternative assets and the role of liquidity in driving adoption. He highlights the potential for alternative assets to outperform traditional markets and the need for liquidity mechanisms in the alternative asset space. Finally, Pallotta shares his vision for the future, where alternative assets become more accessible and investing in them becomes as ubiquitous as investing in public equities. MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION Templum's Website: https://bit.ly/3GfLr63 Christopher's LinkedIn profile: https://bit.ly/47O2sjy Topics: fintech, hedge fund, REIT, ETF, finance, real world assets, RWA, tokenization, alternative assets Companies: Templum, Raptor Group, Eniac, 8VC, New York Stock Exchange, NASDAQ ABOUT THE FINTECH BLUEPRINT 🔥Subscribe to the Fintech Blueprint newsletter to stay at the forefront of Fintech and DeFi: https://bit.ly/3hyhlC2 🤝 Partner with Fintech Blueprint through sponsorships: https://bit.ly/3UZllsV 👉 Twitter: https://twitter.com/LexSokolin TIMESTAMPS 1’22: From business school to blockchain: A journey into tech and investment 6’12: The liquidity journey: Navigating markets from illiquid to fractionalized assets 8’47: Templum today: Powering alternative asset markets and beyond 12’13: Demystifying infrastructure: Public equities vs. alternative asset markets 14’57: Revolutionizing private asset markets: Templum's Shopify-inspired solution 17’12: Unifying the world of alternative assets: Templum's central operating system 20’03: Unlocking demand: The shift towards alternative assets in investment portfolios 22’18: Democratizing investment: The rise of alternative assets in retail portfolios 26’18: The expanding alt-finTech ecosystem: Templum's position in liquidity and access 28’39: Unlocking liquidity: The market implications of tradable alternative assets 31’16: The evolution of portfolio composition: A future with 60% alternatives and 40% ETFs? 33’10: The future of real-world asset tokenization: Trends, insights, opportunities, and challenges 37’50”: The channels used to connect with Chris & learn more about Templum Disclaimer here — this newsletter does not provide investment advice and represents solely the views and opinions of FINTECH BLUEPRINT LTD. Contributors: Lex, Laurence, Matt, Farhad, Mike, Daniella Want to discuss? Stop by our Discord and reach out here with questions.

Lex chats with Eva Shang, CEO of Legalist - a technology-powered investment firm specialising in alternative assets. Shang discusses her company's strategies in litigation finance, bankruptcy, and government receivables. She explains that Legalist uses technology and data analysis to identify investment opportunities in the legal space. Shang also discusses the challenges and complexities of underwriting litigation cases and the importance of human judgment in the process. She highlights the need for uncorrelated sources of return in the investment landscape and the potential for technology to transform other asset classes. Shang also expresses caution about retail investors entering alternative investment spaces without proper knowledge and understanding of the risks involved. MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION Legalist's Website: https://bit.ly/46masHp Eva's LinkedIn profile: https://bit.ly/49GENmD Topics: fintech, hedge fund, litigation finance, asset management, alternative investments, AI, artificial intelligence, underwriting, investment Companies: Legalist, Y-Combinator, LexisNexis ABOUT THE FINTECH BLUEPRINT 🔥Subscribe to the Fintech Blueprint newsletter to stay at the forefront of Fintech and DeFi: https://bit.ly/3hyhlC2 🤝 Partner with Fintech Blueprint through sponsorships: https://bit.ly/3UZllsV 👉 Twitter: https://twitter.com/LexSokolin TIMESTAMPS 1’23”: Overview of Legalist's Asset Management Strategies 2’31”: Litigation Finance: Core Strategy and Operation 6’20”: Integration of Data Analysis and Technology in Litigation Finance 9’37”: Early Development of Legalist’s Technology at Y-Combinator 14’59”: Transition from Legal Analytics to Litigation Finance 18’22”: Investment Process and Decision Making in Legalist 24’33”: Challenges and Innovations in Data-Driven Litigation Funding 27’24”: Growth and Expansion of Legalist Since 2019 31’51”: The Future of Alternative Investments and Legalist's Role 35’09”: The channels used to connect with Eva & learn more about Legalist Disclaimer here — this newsletter does not provide investment advice and represents solely the views and opinions of FINTECH BLUEPRINT LTD. Contributors: Lex, Laurence, Matt, Farhad, Mike, Daniella Want to discuss? Stop by our Discord and reach out here with questions.