Episode 79 with Stanley Foodman and Viktoria Soltesz 🎧

In this episode of Regulatory Ramblings, we explore two critical conversations shaping the financial and compliance landscape.

Part 1: Viktoria Soltesz on Banking Flows and Payments

We kick off with Viktoria Soltesz, founder of PSP Angels and the Soltesz Institute, who explains why businesses must understand banking flows to perform proper due diligence (2:37). Viktoria challenges the notion that blockchain and crypto are the ultimate solution (5:27), stresses the urgent need for financial education (7:23), and highlights why standards and ethics matter in payments (11:43). She closes with her vision for fairer global payment systems (13:38).

Part 2: Stanley Foodman on Crypto’s Compliance Crossover

Next, we sit down with Stanley Foodman, CEO of Foodman CPAs & Advisors, to discuss his LinkedIn article on why the line between digital assets and traditional finance no longer exists. Stan shares his journey from Miami’s Cocaine Cowboy era to the crypto frontier (22:05), explains why blockchain is a boon for law enforcement (32:02), and debates public vs. private blockchains (33:53). We then dive into crypto speculation, regulation (41:36), its political influence (50:12), and the compliance priorities financial institutions must embrace—breaking silos (56:20) and managing crypto on the balance sheet (1:05:55).

About Our Guests:

Viktoria Soltesz is an award-winning payments and banking expert, author of Moving Money – How Banks Think, and founder of PSP Angels and the Soltesz Institute.

Stanley Foodman is a CPA, CFE, CAMS-certified forensic accountant and compliance advisor with decades of experience in financial crime, risk management, and regulatory strategy.

The Regulatory Ramblings podcast is brought to you by The University of Hong Kong's Reg/Tech Lab (Building Better Financial Systems), HKU-SCF FinTech Academy, Asia Global Institute, and HKU-edX Professional Certificate in FinTech, with support from HKU Faculty of Law. The program is led by Douglas Arner and hosted by Ajay Shamdasani.

For more details about the authors and links, please visit: hkufintech.com/rr

HKU FinTech is the leading fintech research and education in Asia. Learn more at www.hkufintech.com.