Stablecoins Are Creating a New Financial System

Layer One · May 28, 2026, 10:00AM EDT · 56:10

In Episode 14 of Layer One, The Block’s Kelvin Sparks and co-host, Ava Labs President John Wu, are joined by OpenTrade CEO David Sutter and Mercury Partner Samantha Lewis to break down the rapid growth of stablecoins and why yield infrastructure could become one of the most important layers of the onchain financial economy.

The conversation explores tokenized treasuries, stablecoin regulation, fintech adoption in emerging markets, AI-driven commerce, and how venture investors are thinking about the intersection of blockchain and financial services.

OUTLINE
00:00 – Introduction
01:26 – Bitcoin Origins
02:46 – Mercury’s Thesis
06:09 – Stablecoins Win
08:47 – Yield Infrastructure
11:58 – OpenTrade’s Model
20:59 – Stablecoin Adoption
31:32 – Clarity Act
38:07 – AI and Blockchain
51:46 – Bear Market Builders
55:31 – Closing Thoughts

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David Sutter –
Samantha Lewis –
OpenTrade –
Mercury –


Kelvin Sparks – ⁠⁠⁠
John Wu – ⁠⁠⁠
The Block – ⁠⁠⁠
Ava Labs – ⁠⁠⁠

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