MoneyNeverSleeps

Crypto doesn’t win in 2026 by being louder - it wins by becoming boring.In this episode of MoneyNeverSleeps, Pete Townsend is joined by Alejandro Gutierrez for a sharp set of 2026 predictions on where crypto, onchain finance, and AI actually go next, as the hype keeps fading and the infrastructure takes over.This is Alejandro’s 11th appearance on the show, and the first in the new era of MoneyNeverSleeps: sharper, faster, and YouTube-led.We break down:- Why the next onchain breakout won’t look like a product, but a primitive- Why blockchains weren’t built for humans — and why AI agents may be the real users- Why privacy is coming back, driven by institutions and regulators, not consumers- How quantum risk is moving from theory to something protocols must address now- Why HTTP 402 and internet-native payments will finally resurface for the modern web.Alejandro brings deep experience from the Solana ecosystem and years in crypto, DeFi, and fintech, offering a grounded view on what’s maturing, what’s misunderstood, and what actually matters heading into 2026.If you care about where crypto is heading beyond price action — infrastructure, AI, privacy, RWAs, and the future of onchain finance — this is a sharp, 13-minute deep dive worth your time. Watch OnYouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@moneyneversleeps1814Listen OnSpotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/4F8uOLxiscYVWVGEfNxTndApple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/moneyneversleeps/id1455819294About MoneyNeverSleepsMoneyNeverSleeps is a weekly show where smart people bring one big idea — and Pete Townsend breaks it down in under 15 minutes. Featuring founders, operators, and investors shaping crypto, fintech, AI, and onchain finance. After 300+ long-form episodes, the show has evolved into a sharper, faster format built for a world where insights need to travel quickly.Sharp riffs, big ideas, real insights. Hosted by Pete Townsend. Website: https://www.moneyneversleeps.ie/

Why are stablecoins suddenly a geopolitical issue? Pete Townsend and Garrett Cassidy break down dollar dominance, EU pushback, AI’s role in digital money, and the future of global financial rails — in one fast 14-minute riff.We cover:• Why dollar-based stablecoins are spreading globally• Why European policymakers are pushing back• What Martin Wolf gets right (and wrong) in the FT• How AI could become a major stablecoin “super-user”• The real near-term use cases for consumers and enterprises• The future of onchain finance and global money railsSharp riffs, big ideas, real insights — in 10–15 minutes.New episodes weekly.Hosted by Pete Townsend.

Hey there, I’m Pete Townsend, and this is MoneyNeverSleeps - where we look inside the minds of entrepreneurs and at the crossover of startups, enterprise, finance, technology, and life as we know it.This one’s different.We’re live from The Podcast Studios at HeadStuff HQ in Dublin - the legendary former Westland Studios where artists like U2 and Hozier recorded in the past - for Episode 300.Seven years. Three hundred episodes. Hundreds of conversations with founders, investors, operators, technologists and builders. One story ends, another begins.To mark the moment, I’m joined by Mai Santamaria and Alejandro Gutierrez, two of the rocks who’ve carried the show forward in the post-Eoin Fitzgerald era. We look back on how it all started with “two mics and a backpack,” revisit some of our bold 2025 predictions, riff on tokenization, stablecoins, and AI, and reflect on what this community has built together.Big thanks to Search4Less and Barry Darmody for sponsoring this episode, to Conan Brophy for seven years of production wizardry, and to every single one of you who’s listened, shared, or joined in along the way.Featuring: Mai Santamaria, Alejandro Gutierrez, Conan Brophy, Paul Smyth, Barry DarmodyFull predictions recap at moneyneversleeps.ie🔗 LINKSLeave a review & subscribe on: Apple Podcasts  |  Spotify  |  MoneyNeverSleeps (website)Email us: [email protected] Townsend:  X/Twitter  |  LinkedIn MoneyNeverSleeps:  X/Twitter  |  LinkedIn  |  Newsletter

Alejandro Gutierrez joins me to talk Solana in Ireland, stablecoins, and tokenized securities - plus I share the launch of Norio Ventures Fund I and what’s ahead for Episode 300.🔹 Scaling Solana Superteam Ireland and building community across the island🔹 Stablecoins moving mainstream + tokenized securities gaining momentum with Nasdaq🔹 My launch of Norio Ventures Fund I and what’s next for MoneyNeverSleeps🔹 Plus, we look ahead to the Payments Innovation Roundtable in Dublin, and CryptoMondays BelfastAbout MoneyNeverSleeps:I’m Pete Townsend, host of MoneyNeverSleeps and General Partner of Norio Ventures. With nearly 300 episodes, this show dives into the minds of entrepreneurs at the intersection of startups, finance, technology, and life as we know it.References:Solana Superteam IrelandNorio VenturesCryptoMondays Irelandrwa.xyz (on tokenized securities)LINKS:Solana Superteam Ireland:  Website  |  X/(Twitter)  |  LinkedInAlejandro Gutierrez: X/(Twitter)  |  LinkedInLeave a review & subscribe on: Apple Podcasts  |  Spotify  |  MoneyNeverSleeps (website)Email us: [email protected] Townsend:  X/Twitter  |  LinkedIn MoneyNeverSleeps:  X/Twitter  |  LinkedIn  |  Newsletter

This week, we're doing something different on MoneyNeverSleeps.You're coming inside the room for the Techstars Web3 Demo Day 2025, recorded live at Civic Hall in NYC during NY Tech Week, where we brought 5 incredible Web3 startups to the stage for a standing-room-only crowd of founders, investors, and builders.These aren’t founders chasing hype - they’re building with traction, with purpose, and with an eye on the next version of the internet.Along the way, you’ll hear:A powerful fireside chat with Clarisse Hagege, founder and CEO of Dfns, on her journey from TradFi to web3 and the reality of raising in tough marketsStartups introduced by their mentors and customers, not just the usual emcee banterClosing thoughts on what Techstars Web3 has meant to me and to Hugh McGirr, my partner in building this since 2021You’ll hear from:🧠 Autonom – web3’s first full-context real-world assets oracle🛡️ DABL – the essential risk layer for onchain hedging🔐 Nera Systems – privacy-enhancing tech for secure data sharing in AI workflows🌱 nodes.garden – one-click platform for running testnet nodes and earning token rewards🔍 TRUSTBYTES – bringing predictive intelligence to institutional walletsWhether you’re a founder, investor, or web3 builder—this one captures the energy, the ambition, and the conviction of what’s next.🎥 Watch the full video on YouTube: Techstars Web3 Demo Day 2025LINKS:Leave a review & subscribe on: Apple Podcasts  |  Spotify  |  MoneyNeverSleeps (website)Email us: [email protected] Townsend:  X/Twitter  |  LinkedIn MoneyNeverSleeps:  X/Twitter  |  LinkedIn  |  Newsletter