In this episode, Jeremy and Megan sit down with Steve Bennet, seasoned CFO and professor at San Jose State University, to explore the intersection of traditional finance and blockchain innovation in the modern business landscape. Steve shares his journey from early crypto investments to advising startups on treasury management strategies that incorporate digital assets.They discuss how Bitcoin and NFTs are reshaping educational approaches, the evolution of startup funding in the crypto space, and Ripple's transformative journey through the blockchain ecosystem. Steve also examines the growing impact of AI on academia and the workforce, highlighting how autonomous agents and digital assets are creating new business models. This conversation offers practical insights into how traditional financial expertise adapts to blockchain innovation and the strategic considerations shaping the next wave of business transformation.
⏱️ Timestamps:00:00 Coming Up…
01:25 Introduction to Steve Bennet
01:59 Early Days of Bitcoin and Blockchain
04:01 Investing in Blockchain Startups
07:30 Challenges and Opportunities in Crypto
20:11 Crypto in Treasury and Payroll
27:03 Silicon Valley Bank Crisis and Treasury Strategies
34:17 Ripple's Valuation and Public Company Challenges
35:47 Managing Volatility and Treasury Strategy
36:30 Auditing Digital Assets
37:17 Student Interest in Blockchain and Crypto
39:43 Teaching Entrepreneurship and Finance
43:02 Transformation of Money and Labor
44:23 AI and the Future of Work
55:35 Agentic Companies and Digital Currency
01:02:13 The Role of Tokens and Stablecoins
01:08:27 Concluding Thoughts and Future Directions
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Megan Guy https://x.com/megancguy
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