A glimpse into stablecoin Tether and crypto exchange Bitfinex, with CTO Paolo Ardoino

Lex chats with Paolo Ardoino, CTO of Bitfinex (one of the largest
crypto exchanges) and Tether (a US-dollar pegged stablecoin).
Paolo kicks off reflecting on his journey into the crypto space
and the pivotal role of technology, community, and opensource in
his learning. The discussion navigates through Bitcoin's diverse
potentials, Bitfinex's growth, and the intricate challenges of
crypto exchanges. Paolo emphasizes the importance of learning
from past industry mistakes to guide future strategies. Tether's
origin story is explored, shedding light on its initial
architecture, on-ramp process, and strategies to manage banking
counterparty risk. A significant aspect discussed is stablecoin
usage dynamics, where Paolo delves into the primary
customers—ranging from institutional demand to market makers and
retail onboarding. The episode concludes with insights into
Bitfinex and Tether's future directions.


 


MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION


 


Bitfinex's Website: https://bit.ly/3QFgzCo


Tether's Website: https://bit.ly/3ElM90N


Paolo's LinkedIn profile: https://bit.ly/45zFBak


 


Topics: crypto, web3, stablecoins, crypto exchanges, custody,
banking, T-Bills


 


Companies: BitFinex, Tether, USDT, Poloniex, Bittrex, Binance,
Bitcoin, Omni Layer, Copper


 


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Twitter: https://twitter.com/LexSokolin


 


TIMESTAMPS


 


1’37”: Laying the foundation: Early experiences and technological
DNA in the crypto sphere


 


11’35”: The motivating forces: Tech's role in building,
exploration, and human progress


 


14’49”: Embracing Bitcoin's multifaceted potential: From asset
class to economic infrastructure


 


18’35”: The complexity of crypto exchanges: Grasping the scale of
trading activity on Bitfinex and vertically integrated challenges


 


26’02”: Learning from exchanges' mistakes: Industry evolution and
future strategies


 


30’01”: Tether's inception and early architecture: Addressing
volatility in crypto transactions


 


35’02”: Tether's on-ramp process: Early days and acquiring
Tether, banking counterparty risk, and risk mitigation strategies


 


42’36”: Stablecoin usage dynamics: Institutional demand, market
makers, and retail onboarding


 


46’26”: The channels used to connect with Paolo & learn more
about Bitfinex and Tether


Disclaimer here — this newsletter does not provide investment
advice and represents solely the views and opinions of FINTECH
BLUEPRINT LTD.


Contributors: Lex, Laurence, Matt, Farhad, Mike, Daniella


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