.png)
Couchonomics with Arjun
Decoding the New World Order of Finance - Unfiltered, global, weekly
As tectonic shifts reshape the financial world, Couchonomics continues to explore the trends transforming commerce, capital, and culture. This season, we expand our lens - building on our deep focus in the MENA region while bringing in voices, stories, and innovations from around the globe.
Why? Because the future of finance is no longer regional - it’s interconnected.
Whether it’s AI in Asia, tokenization in Europe, or fintech policy experiments in Africa, today’s financial shifts cross borders, industries, and disciplines.
Whether you’re in the industry or just fintech-curious, tune in weekly as we decode the big moves, bold ideas, and brilliant minds shaping tomorrow’s economy.
Episodes drop weekly. Arabic subtitles available on YouTube: youtube.com/@couchonomicswitharjunsingh438
Learn more: www.couchonomics.com
Season 4 supported by:
Adyen | Mastercard | SC Ventures | Thunes | Hala | e& | Digit 9
About the host:
Arjun's expertise covers a broad range of areas including Fintech, Payments, Digital Assets, Embedded Finance, Application of Emerging Technologies, and the Emergence of New Business Models within the Financial Services Sector in the MEA region and globally.
Arjun is deeply engaged in the Tech Start-Up ecosystem. He serves as a passive investor, advisory board member, and a notable commentator on the rapidly evolving scene.
In recognition of his impactful contributions, Arjun was honored as a Top Voice of the region by LinkedIn in 2020.
Learn more at www.couchonomics.com.
Couchonomics with Arjun
Neo Ventures, Tokenized Assets & the Future of Wholesale Banking
AI isn’t a campaign. It’s a core banking reset.
In this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, we’re joined by Amith Rajan, CEO of Neo Ventures and Head of Digital Wholesale Banking at Mashreq, for a candid conversation on how AI, tokenization, and infrastructure transformation are reshaping the banking stack from the inside out.
We unpack:
- Why "rip and replace" is a myth and what real legacy evolution looks like
-How Mashreq is deploying AI across KYC, onboarding, and customer insights
-The role of tokenized assets, CBDCs, and smart contracts in wholesale banking
- How Neo Ventures is exporting IP and scaling infrastructure beyond capital
- Why culture, not technology, is the biggest barrier to digital transformation
🎧 Full episode now streaming on YouTube, Spotify & Apple Podcasts.
🎧 Watch now and subscribe for more conversations on the future of finance.
Couchonomics with Arjun Season 04 is brought to you by our partners:
Adyen https://www.adyen.com/
Thunes https://thunes.com/
Mastercard https://mastercard.com/
E& https://www.eand.com/
Digit9 https://www.digitnine.com/
SC Ventures https://scventures.io/
Hala https://hala.com/
Chapters:
00:00 Episode Highlights
00:43 Welcome to Couchonomics
01:48 Aligning Dual Roles in Banking
04:11 Challenges in Wholesale Banking
06:51 The Role of AI in Banking
11:14 FinTech and Digital Assets
25:14 The Future of Tokenization
27:04 CBDCs and Stablecoins: A Comparative Analysis
29:14 Exploring Digital Assets in the Lab
29:47 Introduction to New Ventures
30:49 Venture Building and Investment Strategies
35:45 Scouting and Partnerships with Fintechs
39:08 Challenges and Opportunities in the VC Landscape
46:17 Advice for Institutions Entering the CVC Space
48:34 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
Our website 👉 https://bit.ly/3jk7UH0
Find us on our social media platforms:
- Arjun's LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjunvirsingh/
- CCN LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/couchonomics-with-arjun-singh/
- Instagram https://www.instagram.com/couchonomics/
- Twitter https://twitter.com/Arjun_Vir_Singh?s=20
- TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@couchonomics
Subscribe to Arjun's LinkedIn newsletter, Couchonomics Crunch: https://bit.ly/3WI4A6E
.png)
