What if using blockchain was as simple as chatting with AI?

In this episode of Privacy Podcast, host Ben Schiller sits down with Akshit Ostwal, Co Founder of Epoch Protocol, to explore how intents-based infrastructure is transforming the way people interact with blockchain networks (including privacy networks!) and why it could become the missing layer that finally takes crypto mainstream.

Akshit explains why users should no longer have to navigate wallets, bridges, swaps, or multiple blockchains just to complete a transaction. Instead, intent-based systems allow users to simply define the outcome they want, while specialized solver networks handle the complexity behind the scenes.

The conversation also explores Epoch's partnership with Miden and how programmable privacy enables institutions, businesses, and developers to execute transactions confidentially without sacrificing regulatory compliance. They discuss how privacy preserving infrastructure can unlock new use cases for payments, payroll, decentralized finance, and enterprise adoption.

Finally, Akshit shares his vision for the future of AI-powered finance, explaining how intelligent agents, real world assets, and intent driven execution could fundamentally reshape how people and software interact with the financial system.

The conversation explores:

• Why intent based infrastructure could eliminate blockchain complexity for everyday users
• How solver networks execute transactions across chains without exposing users to technical friction
• Why programmable privacy is critical for institutional adoption of blockchain technology
• How Epoch and Miden are building privacy preserving execution for on chain finance
• The growing role of AI agents in managing financial transactions and investment decisions
• Why real world assets, stablecoins, and tokenized finance are accelerating blockchain adoption
• How intent based systems could become the operating layer for the next generation of Web3 applications
• Why the future of crypto depends on focusing on user outcomes instead of transaction mechanics

Why This Matters

Blockchain technology has matured dramatically, but user experience remains one of its greatest barriers to widespread adoption. As institutions, enterprises, AI agents, and everyday users increasingly interact with digital assets, the underlying infrastructure must become as seamless as the internet itself. This conversation explores how intent based execution, programmable privacy, and AI powered automation could remove the technical complexity that has limited Web3 for years, making decentralized finance more accessible, secure, and practical for the next generation of users.

🔗 About the 👤 Guest

Akshit Ostwal is the Co Founder of Epoch Protocol, an intent based execution network building the infrastructure that simplifies blockchain interactions for users, applications, AI agents, and institutions. A longtime Web3 builder and entrepreneur, Akshit previously co-founded Orange Wallet before launching Epoch to solve one of blockchain's biggest challenges: abstracting away technical complexity while enabling secure, cross chain execution. Today, Epoch is working with Miden to advance programmable privacy and build the infrastructure powering the next generation of on-chain finance.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/akshitostwal/
X (Twitter): @OstwalAk
Epoch Protocol: https://epochprotocol.xyz/
Miden: https://miden.xyz

About the Show

The Privacy Podcast by Miden explores the intersection of privacy, identity, and emerging technologies. Hosted by Ben Schiller, the show brings together builders, regulators, and thinkers shaping what comes next in a world where data is power.

Executive Producer Michele Musso
Edited by the Musso Media Team

Music: licensed.

All rights reserved. ©2026 Musso Media

What happens when privacy, programmable money, and artificial intelligence collide?

In this episode of Privacy Podcast, host Ben Schiller sits down with Gordon Liao, Chief Economist and Head of Research at Circle, to explore how stablecoins are reshaping global finance, and why privacy is becoming essential for institutional blockchain adoption.

Drawing on his experience at the Federal Reserve, the CFTC, Uniswap, and now Circle, Gordon explains why stablecoins have evolved far beyond digital payments into programmable financial infrastructure powering the next generation of commerce.

The conversation also examines Circle's new approach to blockchain privacy, balancing confidentiality with regulatory compliance, and why optional privacy may be the key to bringing traditional financial institutions on-chain.

Finally, Gordon shares his outlook on AI agents, programmable money, and how autonomous software could soon become one of the largest users of stablecoins.

The conversation explores:

• Why stablecoins have evolved beyond payments into programmable financial infrastructure
• How Circle's ARC Privacy aims to balance privacy with regulatory compliance
• The role of trusted execution environments (TEEs) in protecting blockchain transactions
• Why institutions require privacy before adopting public blockchain technology
• The tradeoffs between transparency, market efficiency, and confidentiality
• How decentralized finance changes traditional financial risk models
• The impact of emerging stablecoin regulation and global adoption
• Why AI agents may become the next major users of stablecoins and blockchain networks

Why This Matters
Stablecoins are quickly becoming a foundational layer of the global digital economy—but their long-term success depends on balancing innovation with privacy, transparency, and regulatory compliance. As institutions, governments, and AI-powered systems increasingly transact on blockchain networks, the infrastructure supporting those transactions must evolve to meet real-world business needs. This conversation explores how programmable privacy, trusted financial infrastructure, and emerging regulation could shape the future of digital finance, offering valuable insights for anyone working in blockchain, financial services, cybersecurity, or enterprise technology.

🔗 About the 👤 Guest
Gordon Liao is Chief Economist and Head of Research at Circle, where he leads research on stablecoins, digital assets, and blockchain-based financial infrastructure. Prior to Circle, he held roles at Uniswap Labs, the Federal Reserve Board, and the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). His work focuses on financial markets, digital payments, decentralized finance, and the future of programmable money.

LinkedIn: Gordon Y. Liao

X (Twitter): @gordonliao

Personal Website: gliao.xyz

Circle Profile: Circle

Arc (Circle's Layer-1 Blockchain): arc.io

About the Show
The Privacy Podcast by Miden explores the intersection of privacy, identity, and emerging technologies. Hosted by Ben Schiller, the show brings together builders, regulators, and thinkers shaping what comes next in a world where data is power.

Executive Producer Michele Musso
Edited by the Musso Media Team
Music: licensed.
All rights reserved. ©2026 Musso Media

As blockchain technology moves beyond speculation and into mainstream financial infrastructure, one question continues to shape the future of digital assets: Can privacy and compliance coexist?

In this episode of the Privacy Podcast, Ben Schiller sits down with Nikhil Raghuveera, Co-Founder and CEO of Predicate, to explore how programmable compliance is reshaping on chain finance without sacrificing the privacy principles that made blockchain revolutionary.

Drawing on his experience leading strategy and innovation at Celo and advising policymakers on digital assets, Nikhil explains why the next generation of financial infrastructure requires a new approach to compliance...one built specifically for blockchain rather than adapted from traditional banking.

"The SEC is comfortable with the zero knowledge proof for investor accreditation... but then you also need financial institutions and tech companies to say, 'Yes, we will actually implement this and accept it on our end.'" - Nikhil

Throughout the discussion, Nikhil argues that privacy should not be viewed as being in conflict with compliance. Instead, emerging technologies such as zero knowledge proofs offer an opportunity to meet regulatory requirements while minimizing unnecessary collection of personal data.

The conversation explores:

• How Predicate brings programmable compliance to blockchain
• Why on chain compliance differs from traditional finance
• The future of stablecoin compliance and asset controls
• The impact of the CLARITY Act and GENIUS Act
• Whether the Bank Secrecy Act needs modernization
• How zero knowledge proofs can protect privacy while supporting compliance
• Balancing privacy, regulation, and financial surveillance
• Why businesses are key to driving privacy preserving technologies
• What policymakers can do to support innovation without creating a surveillance state

Why This Matters
As digital assets become part of mainstream finance, the challenge is no longer whether regulation is coming...it's how to balance compliance with privacy and innovation. This episode explores how emerging technologies and evolving policy can help build a more secure, trusted, and privacy preserving financial system.

🔗 About the 👤 Guest

LinkedIn: Nikhil Raghuveera on LinkedIn

X (Twitter): @pumpernikhil

Learn more about Predicate: Predicate

About the Show
The Privacy Podcast by Miden explores the intersection of privacy, identity, and emerging technologies. Hosted by Ben Schiller, the show brings together builders, regulators, and thinkers shaping what comes next in a world where data is power.
Executive Producer Michele Musso
Edited by the Musso Media Team
Music: licensed.
All rights reserved. ©2026 Musso Media