Bits & Banks - With Aditya Khandekar and Shawn Main - Episode 6

In this candid episode of Bits and Banks: Digital Disruptor Series, we sit down with Shawn Main, Chief Business Architect at Vantage Bank, a leader who blends deep banking expertise with hands-on innovation. From stablecoins to agentic AI, Shawn brings clarity to two of the biggest forces reshaping financial services today.

Key Highlights from the podcast:

𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘀: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗮𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗲𝗿’𝘀 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸

Shawn simplifies stablecoins as “digital cashier’s checks”, backed 1:1 by cash or treasuries. He explains how they cut out costly intermediaries in cross-border payments, reduce settlement complexity, and bring speed and efficiency to modern finance.

𝗧𝗼𝗸𝗲𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗱 𝗗𝗲𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘀 + 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗥𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀

We explore the role of tokenized deposits alongside stablecoins—why they matter for domestic use cases, and how they’ll modernize outdated financial infrastructure. The conversation touches on the Genius Act and how regulatory clarity could accelerate adoption while addressing counterparty risks.

𝗖𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗔𝗱𝗼𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: 𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘅 𝘁𝗼 𝗦𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲

For small and medium businesses, stablecoins may still feel “exotic.” Shawn highlights why banks must do what they’ve always done best - abstract the complexity and deliver simple, trustworthy experiences on top of these new rails.

𝗔𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗔𝗜 𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

Shawn shares real-world use cases of agentic AI at Vantage Bank—from policy knowledge bots to automated loan stress testing. He emphasizes the balance between efficiency and accuracy, noting that banks must align AI fidelity to the risk level of the use case.

𝗥𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

Instead of tension between banks and regulators, Shawn stresses the need for collaboration. Both sides are learning together, and this partnership will be critical to ensure innovation benefits society at large.

If you’re in banking, fintech, or exploring AI and digital assets, this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss.