Crypto isn’t dead, it’s going institutional.
In this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, Rifad Mahasneh, CEO of OKX MENA, joins the show to unpack what real digital asset adoption looks like beyond the headlines.
We explore how OKX is building for scale, trust, and regulation - especially in the UAE, where crypto is becoming infrastructure, not just innovation.
🎯 What’s inside:
• Post-FTX trust rebuild: custody, compliance & proof-of-reserves
• Stablecoins, CBDCs & the future of programmable money
• Tokenization with real-world utility
• Why the UAE is leading the global charge in crypto regulation
Full episode out now on YouTube, Spotify & Apple Podcasts.
Couchonomics with Arjun Season 04 is brought to you by our partners:
Adyen https://www.adyen.com/
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Mastercard https://mastercard.com/
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SC Ventures https://scventures.io/
Hala https://hala.com/
Chapters:
00:00 Episode Highlights
00:56 Welcome to Couchonomics
01:48 Exploring OKX and Crypto Basics
03:29 Why the UAE for Crypto?
06:34 Understanding Crypto Terminology
09:37 State of Crypto in 2025
12:57 Institutional Adoption of Crypto
17:04 Bitcoin: Proof of Value
19:24 Centralized vs Decentralized Finance
24:00 Regulatory Landscape and Challenges
28:59 Regulatory Challenges in Blockchain
31:00 Innovating in the Crypto Space
32:32 Educating and Differentiating in the Market
41:04 Stablecoins and Their Impact
45:06 The Future of CBDCs and Stablecoins
49:46 Tokenization of Real-World Assets
54:50 OKX's Future Plans and Market Expansion
57:45 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
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