October 2025 shook the crypto world. Bitcoin crashed harder than any October since 2015, someone accidentally minted $300 trillion in stablecoins, and traditional banks started an all-out war against crypto companies trying to get federal charters. Tedd Huff, founder of Fintech Confidential and CEO of fintech advisory firm Voalyre, sits down with Rob Musiala, partner at Baker Hostetler who co-leads The Blockchain Monitor, to break down what moved Web3 when it mattered most.

They walk through why stablecoins just crushed major card networks with $2.6 trillion in annual volume, how Western Union suddenly decided blockchain payments make sense, and what the Genius Act really means for everyone trying to operate in this space. This isn't theory. Banks are fighting to protect their turf while crypto infrastructure gets bought up for billions. The conversation covers enforcement crackdowns, court rulings that actually matter, regulatory battles over OCC charters, and why sitting this one out stopped being an option months ago.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

1️⃣ Financial institutions must evaluate make-or-buy decisions on stablecoin infrastructure before competitors capture market share as platforms offering blockchain-based payments already process volumes exceeding major card networks.

2️⃣ Developers building on Ethereum layer-2 solutions can expect 30-60% lower transaction fees after Fusaka activates December 3rd, allowing projects to adjust pricing models or capture improved margins.

3️⃣ Stablecoin issuers, custodians, payment facilitators, and exchanges face different compliance requirements based on their specific business models under the Genius Act framework.

4️⃣ Retail investors and traders experienced 60-80% losses across major meme coins during October, while newcomers like Mini U and MemeCore surged during the same downturn.

5️⃣ Businesses operating cross-border payments between Japan and international markets gain new infrastructure as institutions push toward 10 trillion yen stablecoin circulation targets.

LINKS

Host:

Tedd Huff (LinkedIn) - https://www.linkedin.com/in/teddhuff/

Voalyre - https://voalyre.com

CI (Confidential Informant):

Rob Musiala (LinkedIn) - https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertmusiala/

The Blockchain Monitor - https://www.theblockchainmonitor.com

Company:

Baker Hostetler - https://www.bakerlaw.com

Fintech Confidential:

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@FintechConfidential

Website - https://fintechconfidential.com

Newsletter - https://fintechconfidential.com/newsletter

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/fintech-confidential

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About:

Guest

Confidential Informant - Robert Musiala - Partner - BakerHostetler

Robert Musiala has been working in the blockchain and digital assets market since 2012 and has led multiple digital asset investigations, including as the court appointed receiver over cryptocurrency investment funds used in a major fraud. Robert also advises on a variety of regulatory compliance issues involving digital assets and has drafted/negotiated agreements for a wide range of transactions in the fintech, digital assets, Web3 and NFT markets. The inventor of two blockchain patents, he works directly with tech teams to build solutions that are compliant by design. Robert is co-leader of the Web3 and Digital Assets team at BakerHostetler.

BakerHostetler: A U.S. law firm with comprehensive blockchain practices serving clients from startups to Fortune 500 companies entering the asset class.

Host:

Tedd Huff:

Tedd Huff is the Founder of Voalyre a professional services and Advisory firm focused on global payments and banking. He is also a video podcast host and executive producer on the Fintech Confidential network.

Over the past 25+ years, he has contributed to FinTech startups as an Advisory Board Member, Co-Founder, and Chief Experience Officer, providing strategic and tactical direction for Global Payments OpenEdge, Heartland Payments, Nuvei, and TSYS, among others, focusing on growth while delivering innovation, process improvements and user experience-driven value to simplify the complexity of payments.

DD3, Media:

DD3 Media is a media creation, management, and production company delivering engaging content globally