Stablecoins are popular because they solve a real problem, with Chris Mason

Stablecoins as payment infrastructure, not ideology: The conversation traces how stablecoins moved from fringe experimentation to practical tools for cross-border payments. Rather than emerging from crypto speculation, stablecoins gained traction by addressing structural weaknesses in correspondent banking, slow settlement, fragmented liquidity, and limited transparency. As domestic payments became instant, cross-border transfers increasingly failed to meet modern expectations, creating the conditions for alternative rails to gain adoption.

Building from inside legacy payments systems: Drawing on Chris Mason’s background across Citi, transaction banking, and cross-border payments before founding Orbital, the discussion reflects firsthand experience with the constraints of traditional financial infrastructure. This perspective reframes stablecoins as a pragmatic response to real operational problems, particularly for businesses operating across multiple currencies, jurisdictions, and risk profiles.

Orbital and the evolution of stablecoin payments: The episode explores Orbital’s early adoption of stablecoins, at a time when regulation and market structure were still immature. What began as an alternative payment option evolved into a core infrastructure layer, driven by customer demand for reliable access to US dollars and predictable settlement. The conversation highlights how stablecoins shifted from a workaround into a scalable solution as liquidity deepened and regulatory clarity improved.

Where the real complexity sits: While on-chain settlement is fast, the hardest challenges remain off-chain. Chris breaks down how liquidity management, regulatory compliance, currency controls, and access to local banking rails determine whether stablecoin payments work in practice. The discussion emphasizes that stablecoins do not eliminate FX costs or regulatory constraints, but they materially reduce settlement risk, delays, and uncertainty.

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Why listen:

This episode offers a grounded, infrastructure-first view of stablecoins in global payments. It explains where stablecoins deliver tangible value today, why emerging markets have driven much of the demand, and how companies like Orbital are building compliant systems that sit alongside, rather than outside, the existing financial system.