In today's episode of Talking Tokens, Jacquelyn sits down with Sam Broner, CEO of The Better Money Company, to unpack what stablecoins need to become everyday payment infrastructure and why interoperability could matter more than which stablecoin ultimately wins. Drawing on his experience across Microsoft, the Federal Reserve, a16z and now building stablecoin infrastructure, Sam explains why today's payment system still has significant room for improvement.They discuss why companies are launching their own stablecoins, how a stablecoin clearinghouse could connect an increasingly fragmented market, and why consumers may eventually use stablecoins without even realizing it. Sam also breaks down the economics of card fees for merchants, whether stablecoins threaten Visa and Mastercard, and why AI agents could increasingly use stablecoins as a default way to transact online.Timestamps00:00 — Meet Sam Broner00:44 — From Microsoft and the Fed to stablecoins02:21 — Why Sam saw the stablecoin opportunity early04:54 — Is today's money system actually working?05:23 — What is a stablecoin clearinghouse?07:17 — Why stablecoin issuers need interoperability10:10 — Why companies want their own stablecoins12:25 — Why Better Money doesn't issue a stablecoin13:40 — What happens if there are thousands of stablecoins?17:13 — When stablecoins become everyday money18:56 — What needs to happen for mainstream payments?21:05 — How quickly could stablecoin payments become normal?22:53 — The economics of credit card fees24:41 — Do stablecoins threaten Visa and Mastercard?26:42 — Stablecoins vs. banks and existing payment rails28:05 — Why AI agents could pay with stablecoins30:23 — Your AI agent may use stablecoins without you knowing31:41 — How much money should you trust an AI agent with?33:54 — When consumers stop thinking about stablecoins36:43 — Sam's vision for the future of money37:10 — Sam's career adviceThis episode is sponsored by Forgd, visit its Market Maker Leaderboard on Token Relations here: www.stratamedia.co/token-relations/leaderboard Today’s episode is sponsored by Anchorage Digital, America's first federally chartered digital asset bank and provider of regulated stablecoin issuance. To find out more, visit anchorage.com New episodes every week https://open.spotify.com/show/0LOgWxIQ0NnNUD5eXsSuoZhttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/talking-tokens/id1743669141Follow us Jacquelyn on X: /jacqmelinek Talking Tokens on X: /_talkingtokens Talking Tokens on Instagram: /_talkingtokens Follow Sam Bronerhttps://x.com/SamBroner?lang=enhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/sambroner

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.