This episode of The New Money Podcast features Peter Stilwell, the former COO of Coinbase UK. Peter unpacks Coinbase’s journey from building a startup within a startup in Europe to navigating the chaos of the FTX collapse. He recounts the early challenges of bringing compliance-first crypto infrastructure to a market lagging years behind the U.S., the behind-the-scenes tension of operating under the FCA’s scrutiny, and how Coinbase balanced rapid growth with regulatory rigor. The conversation dives into the birth of USDC, how a hobby side-project became a billion-dollar revenue stream, and the Amazon-for-stablecoins thesis. Peter breaks down what really happened the day FTX imploded, how Coinbase captured the opportunity, and why stablecoins have become the backbone of global payments. He shares insights on leadership during crisis, building high-talent teams, and why being a “stress absorber” beats being a “stress amplifier.” A must-listen for anyone curious about the future of crypto, regulation, and what it takes to lead through the noise.

Key Chapters 

• 02:14 Coinbase's Journey in Europe

• 06:10 Challenges in the European Market

• 09:51 Regulatory Relationships and Compliance

• 13:52 The Impact of FTX on the Crypto Industry

• 18:06 Crisis Management and Leadership

• 21:47 Economic Challenges and Team Motivation

• 23:13 Navigating Market Volatility

• 27:35 Building a Resilient Business Model

• 31:06 Talent Acquisition and Company Culture

• 36:14 The Evolution of Stablecoins

• 40:10 Quickfire Insights on Fintech and Crypto Trends

*This is NOT financial, tax, or legal advice*

Music by Marcelo Cataldo