Stablecoins are rapidly becoming core financial infrastructure, reshaping how payments, commerce, and digital value move across the internet. The conversation is no longer just about faster settlement. It is about distribution, compliance, and how programmable money integrates into global commerce.

In the second edition of The State of Stables, Justin Friedman, Andrew Van Aken, and Dennis Sem break down the biggest trends shaping the stablecoin ecosystem in Q2 2026. The discussion explores reports of Mastercard pursuing a potential acquisition of BVNK, what it signals for stablecoin infrastructure, and why traditional payment companies are increasingly moving on-chain.

They unpack the latest market data, including stablecoin supply surpassing $310B, the continued dominance of Ethereum and Tron, and growing momentum around tokenized treasuries, RLUSD, USDG, and USYC.

The episode dives into the rise of agentic finance, from Stripe and Tempo’s machine payments protocol to X402 entering the Linux Foundation, and examines the growing questions around AI-driven payments, liability, and customer ownership in digital commerce.

Access the report at: https://content.stablecon.com/state-of-stables-report?utm_source=StablePulse&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=StateOfStablesQ2

Host Dante Reminick sits down with Lyron Co Ting Keh, CEO and founder of Seismic, to unpack what it really takes to move stablecoins from hype to real financial infrastructure.

They explore Seismic’s approach to private stablecoin accounts on a purpose-built Layer 1, including fiat on/off ramps, liquidity, and embedded compliance tools like AML and KYT. The conversation digs into why stablecoin-first infrastructure differs from general-purpose chains, and how privacy, screening, and usability need to work together for real-world adoption.

From there, they break down what fintechs and neobanks actually want from stablecoin rails, and why outcomes like cross-border payments, virtual accounts, and local banking details matter more than raw blockchain performance. The episode also covers the tension between privacy and compliance in real financial flows.

Finally, they get into stablecoin yield, regulatory constraints, and why Seismic is taking a deliberate, infrastructure-first, no-token approach to building the stack for global money movement.

Subscribe to Stable Pulse for more conversations on the future of stablecoins, payments infrastructure, and what’s next in fintech.

Connect with the Hosts & Guest

Dante Reminik: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dante-reminick / https://x.com/DanteReminick

Lyron Co Ting Keh: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lyronctk/ / https://x.com/lyronctk

About Stable Pulse

Stable Pulse is a fast-paced, news-driven podcast covering the most important developments shaping the stablecoin and digital asset ecosystem. Each episode dives into timely conversations with industry leaders, operators, and policymakers, offering sharp insights and real-world perspectives on where the market is heading. With a focus on clarity and relevance, Stable Pulse breaks down complex topics into accessible, actionable takeaways for anyone building in or exploring the future of finance.

Host Bam Azizi sits down with Henry Stern, co-founder of Privy, to unpack one of crypto’s biggest adoption problems: onboarding that still feels far too hard for everyday users. They explore why the assumption that users should “want crypto” is flawed, and how embedded wallets, seamless authentication, and invisible blockchain rails are changing the way products get built.

From Henry’s founder journey and the lessons behind building Privy, the conversation expands into where the market is heading now — stablecoins driving real usage, enterprises entering with practical use cases, regulatory momentum around the GENIUS Act, and what changed after Privy became part of Stripe. They also dive into the future of digital asset accounts, agentic wallets, AI-driven security, and the bigger question facing the industry: should crypto stay visible to users, or disappear completely into the background?

Connect with the Hosts & Guest

Bam Azizi: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bam-azizi-54117310a/

Henri Stern: https://www.linkedin.com/in/henri-stern/

About Stable Pulse

Stable Pulse is a fast-paced, news-driven podcast covering the most important developments shaping the stablecoin and digital asset ecosystem. Each episode dives into timely conversations with industry leaders, operators, and policymakers, offering sharp insights and real-world perspectives on where the market is heading. With a focus on clarity and relevance, Stable Pulse breaks down complex topics into accessible, actionable takeaways for anyone building in or exploring the future of finance.