Dec. 12, 2025

Stablecoin Power Shift? Dollar Dominance, AI, and Europe’s Big Question (EP.301)

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Stablecoin Power Shift? Dollar Dominance, AI, and Europe’s Big Question (EP.301)

Stablecoins aren’t just a crypto story anymore — they’re a geopolitical one.

In this episode of MoneyNeverSleeps, Pete Townsend sits down with Garrett Cassidy to unpack why stablecoins are suddenly at the center of global monetary debates  - the stablecoin power shift - from dollar dominance and EU resistance, to Martin Wolf’s latest warnings and the growing role of AI as a future “super-user” of digital dollars.

We break down:

💵 Why dollar-based stablecoins are spreading everywhere

🇪🇺 Why European policymakers are pushing back

📰 The new FT arguments [paywall] reshaping the conversation

🤖 Why AI may become the biggest user of stablecoins

🌍 What this all means for global financial rails

🔮 And where stablecoins go from here — consumer, enterprise, and onchain finance use cases

Garrett brings years of experience in fintech, digital money, and startup leadership, offering a grounded, practical view on what’s signal vs noise. If you care about the future of money, payments, regulation, digital dollars, or the onchain economy — this is a sharp 14-minute deep dive you won’t want to miss.

⏱️ Chapters / Timestamps

00:00 - Cold open and intro

00:24 - Guest introduction: Garrett Cassidy

01:18 - Diving into stablecoins

02:50 - geopolitical implications of stablecoins

06:09 - Stablecoins in emerging markets

07:23 - AI and the future of stablecoins

08:48 - European perspective on stablecoins

13:17 - Concluding thoughts

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🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts

🧠 About MoneyNeverSleeps MoneyNeverSleeps is a weekly show where smart people bring one big idea — and Pete Townsend breaks it down in under 15 minutes. Featuring founders, operators, and investors shaping crypto, fintech, AI, and onchain finance. After 300+ long-form episodes, the show has evolved into a sharper, faster format built for a world where insights need to travel quickly. Sharp riffs, big ideas, real insights. Hosted by Pete Townsend.

Sharp riffs, big ideas, real insights — in 10–15 minutes.
New episodes weekly.

Hosted by Pete Townsend.

Garrett Cassidy Profile Photo

Fintech Advisor, Entrepreneur, Chair & Independent Director