Integrating Crypto with Traditional Banking

Q1. Could you start by giving us a brief overview of your professional background, particularly focusing on your expertise in the industry?

I’ve spent most of my career around payments, starting with card networks, dispute handling, and fraud environments, which gave me a strong base in how transactions behave in real-world scenarios. From there, I moved into cross-border payments and prepaid infrastructure, working closely with AML/KYC processes and regulated banking workflows.

More recently, I’ve been working in crypto payments and on/off-ramp environments in the UAE. My role involves working closely with banks, custodians, liquidity providers, and compliance partners, while also managing operational aspects of payment flows, onboarding processes, and settlement readiness.

This includes areas like transaction monitoring workflows, KYB onboarding, liquidity coordination, and ensuring that payment and settlement infrastructure is aligned with regulatory expectations before going live.

So, I tend to look at crypto less as a trading layer and more as a payments system that needs to integrate with traditional financial infrastructure, operational realities, and compliance frameworks.

Q2. As traditional banks begin to launch internal 'Digital Asset Desks,' what is the most significant 'Technical Debt' found in the independent bridges currently connecting them to the chain?

From what I’ve…