The Owl Explains Hootenanny

Can blockchains ever truly be privacy-compliant? Clifford Chance lawyers walk through the gray areas, from wallet addresses to pseudonymous data, and explain what regulators are starting to expect. 🎧 Listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Lord Chris Holmes explains how tokenization could reshape identity, finance, and trust across the UK and beyond. He breaks down what digital assets really are and why they matter for everyone, not just technologists. From refugee ID to football cards, this episode connects the dots between everyday life and emerging tech. 🎧 Listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Global crypto rules are changing fast, and 2025 is a turning point. We are joined by Elise Soucie Watts (Executive Director at Global Digital Finance), who discusses the big moves: MiCA in Europe, U.S. legislation, Asia’s innovation wave, and so much more. Check out the GDF’s report on tokenization here. 🎧 Listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Michael Mainelli, former Lord Mayor of London, joins Owl Explains to unpack how blockchain can help cities govern smarter: from planning records to transit data. From congestion charges to building permits, Mainelli explains why cities need better memory systems and not just better apps. It’s local meets ledger, and a reminder that blockchain’s real power might lie in fixing what cities forget to track. 🎧 Listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Professor Michele Neitz (University of San Francisco) makes the case for tech courts, a bold idea that could help us rethink how justice works in a digital-first world. As AI and blockchain reshape everything from contracts to crime, our legal system needs to evolve. Tech-savvy justice isn’t a luxury anymore but a necessity for protecting rights and resolving disputes in the age of code. 📝 Check out Michele's paper here. 🎧 Listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

In our 50th episode, we’re cutting through the hype and looking at how blockchain is actually being used to solve real problems, starting with one of the most vital: access to healthcare. Letsbuyhealthcare, a platform based in Ireland, is using the Avalanche blockchain to let people prepay for private healthcare with tokenized credits called Healthcare Coins. Founder Dave Allen joined us to break down how it works, why it matters, and what still needs to shift for models like this to scale across borders. It’s crypto with real-world consequences — and a quiet challenge to how we think about healthcare, finance, and trust.

What happens when trust collapses faster than institutions can rebuild it? Amanda Wick, founder of the Association for Women in Crypto and author of The Catalysts, joins Owl Explains to unpack the forces fueling a new world financial order—from DeFi to geopolitics. A single podcast episode can’t fit everything, so check out her book for more: The Catalysts 🎧 Listen in Spotify and Apple Podcasts

What if your AI assistant could explain complex crypto laws in plain English—and connect you with an actual expert if things got tricky? That’s the idea behind Crystal, built by lawyer and founder Joni Pirovich. We talk about the chaos of compliance, the myth of AI replacing lawyers, and why this tool could change the game. Discover more: https://www.cryptococounsel.com 🎧 Listen in Spotify and Apple Podcasts

Is DeFi truly decentralized? Is it more than just finance? Join Yvette Valdez (Latham & Watkins), Diana Barrero Zalles (GBBC), Joe Cutler (Perkins Coie), and Lee Schneider (Ava Labs) as they discuss DeFi’s opportunities, risks, and more. Learn more in the GBBC's DeFi report: https://www.gbbc.io/uploads/reports/gsmi50/DeFi-Stand-Alone.pdf 🎧 Listen in Spotify and Apple Podcasts

CFTC Commissioner Summer Mersinger and Sidley Austin’s Kate Lashley discuss the evolving landscape of digital assets regulation in the US. Discover how the CFTC aims to bring crypto onshore through balanced, innovation-friendly policies.

Owl Explains is going global! This episode is part of our Global Series, where we speak with regulators and innovators in their native language to bring local insights to a global audience. 🇻🇳 This episode is in Vietnamese, featuring Ms. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Dung from Vietnam's National Innovation Center (NIC), diving into how Vietnam is embracing Web3 and blockchain technology. {And don't worry, we’ve provided an English transcription below so you can follow along.} Vietnam is stepping up its blockchain game with strong government support and forward-thinking policies! In this episode, we explore Vietnam’s Web3 strategy, including regulatory frameworks, innovation hubs, and startup growth. New policies, like regulatory sandboxes, are helping businesses test blockchain solutions while bridging the gap between innovation and compliance. Industries like banking, logistics, and healthcare are leading blockchain adoption, using it for identity verification, smart contracts, and data security. Vietnam is also learning from Singapore and the U.S., focusing on investment incentives and regulatory clarity to attract global blockchain companies. Plans for three financial hubs in Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang signal the country’s push to facilitate digital asset transactions. With a growing developer ecosystem and increasing investor interest, Vietnam is on track to become a blockchain leader in Asia. Listen in Spotify and Apple Podcasts