Circle Builders Series
Circle Builders Series
Podcast Description
Welcome to the Circle Builders Series, where we demystify the world of blockchain and programmable money.
Whether you’re a developer looking to harness digital currencies or a business leader interested in the impact of blockchain, this podcast delivers real-world stories, practical technologies, and actionable takeaways.
Join host Sam Sealey as each episode brings us closer to a future where open innovation and global financial inclusion are a reality.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast explores themes such as blockchain technology, digital currencies, and financial inclusion, with episode highlights including discussions on AI-powered social apps like Rosen Bridge that facilitate secure transfers of Bitcoin and USDC, as well as the tokenization of real estate through platforms like MetaWealth, which enable fractional ownership and investment accessibility.
Welcome to the Circle Builders Series, where we demystify the world of blockchain and programmable money.
Whether you’re a developer looking to harness digital currencies or a business leader interested in the impact of blockchain, this podcast delivers real-world stories, practical technologies, and actionable takeaways.
Join host Sam Sealey as each episode brings us closer to a future where open innovation and global financial inclusion are a reality.
Access to stable money shouldn’t be a privilege — it should be a right. In this episode of the Builder Series, we sit down with Rubén Galindo Steckel, CEO and Co-Founder ofAirtm*, to discuss how his company is transforming financial access across the LATAM.
Rubén shares how Airtm, with Circle’s USDC, is helping individuals and businesses securely move money, earn income in a stable currency, and access global opportunities.
But Airtm’s impact goes beyond payments. When COVID-19 hit, doctors and nurses in Venezuela were left unpaid, unable to access their wages due to financial restrictions. That’s when Airtm and Circle stepped in with a groundbreaking USDC-powered solution. What happened next? You won’t want to miss it!
*Circle Ventures, an affiliate of Circle Internet Financial, LLC, has invested in Airtm
Key Takeaways:
(01:57) Rubén’s fintech journey begins with an internship at a crypto exchange, revealing the need for better financial solutions.
(03:46) Motivated by a sense of justice and respect for freedom, Airtm was founded to help bring access to stable currencies.
(05:33) In 2015, Airtm launched one of the first stablecoin wallets, enabling unrestricted access to stable currency.
(13:22) Users in the Global South are willing to pay up to 30% in fees just to access funds quickly, exposing banking inefficiencies.
(24:37) Airtm partners with Circle to transfer US Dollars via USDC to Venezuelan healthcare workers.
(36:05) Airtm shifts focus from financial freedom to financial independence, helping users earn in USDC.
(47:58) AI-driven platforms and blockchain payments create new freelance opportunities in developing countries.
(52:42) Traditional cross-border payments are becoming commoditized, leading to the unbundling of services.
Resources Mentioned:
Rubén Galindo Steckel
https://www.linkedin.com/in/rub%C3%A9n-galindo-steckel-0860176a/?originalSubdomain=mx
Airtm LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/company/airtm/
Airtm Website
https://www.airtm.com/
https://www.circle.com/
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#DigitalCurrency #BlockchainTechnology #Web3
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