In promoting stablecoin regulation and adoption, Build Canada is repeating patterns of hype similar to Facebook’s ill-fated Libra project. Libra, a private stablecoin later renamed Diem, had an ambitious vision that collided with real-world realities: a fragmented and highly regulated global payments landscape, subordination to fiat currency policies, competing goals, and grand ambitions to solve... Continue Reading →
Few companies have embraced artificial intelligence (AI) as fervently as Klarna. Over the past year, the Swedish fintech giant has undertaken a live experiment: an aggressive replacement of a significant portion of its workforce with AI, followed by a realization of the enduring importance of human-centric work. Klarna’s story is a fascinating case study as... Continue Reading →
Recently, a group of entrepreneurs launched the Build Canada initiative in response to Canada's economic malaise and the recent upending of its trade relationship with the U.S. Two of Build Canada's published memos struck me; my notes are below: Notes on "Great People, Greater Canada: A Talent-First Immigration Strategy for Canada," by Martin Basiri Martin suggests... Continue Reading →
Earlier this month, Coindesk reported on how IBM’s blockchain team has all but vanished. Missed revenue targets, reorganizations, and layoffs seem to have deprioritized IBM’s blockchain efforts and blended its offerings into the rest of the business. Is this yet another sign pointing to the elusiveness of enterprise blockchain? — Blockchains enable value exchange and shared... Continue Reading →
Around the globe, digital financial services (fintechs) that claim to serve the underrepresented (unbaked or underbanked) are causing widespread hardships. While ostensibly “democratizing” and speeding access to financial services, time and time again, fintechs are taking advantage of regulatory gray areas and exploiting users, who tend to be vulnerable. For example, in India and Kenya,... Continue Reading →
In 2011, I took a 4-month sabbatical from my job to reflect on life. This led to me leaving the job and leaping into the unfamiliar and unglamorous life of an entrepreneur. My first project, Club Ovahi, was a failure. I was recently inspired by the Without Fail podcast to reflect on exactly what happened and why... Continue Reading →
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