Ah, Satoshi Nakamoto. The man (or is it a team? who knows) who promised us the dream of “peer-to-peer electronic cash”-a utopia where transactions could occur without the meddling hands of bankers and institutions. Fast forward to today, and we’ve got corporate treasuries hoarding Bitcoin like it’s the new gold. Well, according to Pauline Shangett, ChangeNOW’s Chief Strategy Officer, stablecoins-not institutional accumulation-are the real deal.

In a casual tête-à-tête during her recent APAC tour, BeInCrypto caught up with Shangett to hear her thoughts on the current state of crypto, which, spoiler alert, isn’t quite the utopia Satoshi envisioned. But who needs utopia when you have strategic pivots, eh?

From Simple Swaps to Blockchain Behemoth

ChangeNOW started in 2017 as a humble non-custodial swap service. No accounts, no questions. Just pure, unadulterated crypto swapping. But as Shangett explains, the company’s ambitions grew faster than a Bitcoin bull run.

“It became clear that we weren’t just in the business of swapping crypto,” she says, as though this was obvious to everyone but me. “We developed NOWPayments for merchants, NOWNode for infrastructure, and then consolidated everything into NOW Solutions-a veritable Swiss army knife of crypto management for Web2 and Web3 businesses. Who knew swapping could turn into all this?”

The “Treasury” Debacle

Ah yes, the Bitcoin ETF craze. MicroStrategy hoarding Bitcoin like they’re preparing for a post-apocalyptic currency collapse. Many see it as crypto’s moment of acceptance by the institutional bigwigs, but Shangett is far less starry-eyed about it.

“MicroStrategy holds 7% of Bitcoin’s supply now,” she says, raising an eyebrow like it’s a great cause for concern. “And what are they doing? Selling treasury bonds on Bitcoin. This is not crypto in its purest form.”

Shangett draws a comparison that hits harder than an overly caffeinated morning. “It’s like landlords buying up all the real estate and making it impossible for regular folks to own a home. Institutional investors are doing the same to Bitcoin. When the bubble pops, those who are left holding the bag won’t be having a good time.”

Her advice to retail traders? “Buy Bitcoin directly. It’s a good investment. Just don’t count on corporate treasuries to save you.” Wise words from the crypto oracle herself.

Stablecoins: Crypto’s True Hero

Now, you might think Shangett is all doom and gloom, but when it comes to stablecoins, she’s practically a cheerleader.

“People need to send money across borders,” she says with a sense of clarity that I’m still trying to wrap my head around. “Sending USDT from Dubai to Singapore now takes mere minutes. It’s faster and cheaper than bank transfers.”

And it’s not just the digital elites who benefit. Migrant workers, businesses doing cross-border transactions, and countries with poor banking infrastructure-all stand to gain from the stablecoin revolution.

“People who aren’t even part of the crypto community need this,” Shangett emphasizes. “Projects shouldn’t waste time launching 50,000 stablecoins. They should focus on making them reliable, so users don’t mess it up.”

ChangeNOW is actively working on partnering with neobanks, exchanges, and crypto cards to make paying with stablecoins as simple as ordering a pizza online. Who knew crypto could make life so…convenient?

The Sovereignty Dilemma

But governments, especially those with shaky currencies, aren’t exactly thrilled about the rise of stablecoins. Could they threaten monetary sovereignty? According to Shangett, governments are in a bit of a tizzy about this one.

“That’s why so many countries are dabbling in CBDCs,” she admits. “But it’ll take a while for them to catch up and realize that CBDCs aren’t the answer. Crypto is already self-regulating.”

She’s cautiously optimistic. “We’re working on tools to ensure funds aren’t dirty or from shady sources. The future is looking bright, and I’m genuinely excited.”

America vs. The Rest of the World

When asked which trend will reign supreme-Bitcoin treasuries or stablecoins-Shangett sees a regional split.

“Bitcoin treasuries are mostly a thing in America and Europe,” she notes, probably rolling her eyes. “But in Asia, stablecoins are making waves. The future of cross-border payments is going to be more about stablecoins than corporations hoarding Bitcoin.”

And let’s not mince words about corporate treasuries. “They’re grifting for profit,” she quips. “Bitcoin was invented as cash for peer-to-peer transactions, not as a playground for big corporations.”

While she doesn’t expect the Bitcoin treasury trend to disappear anytime soon, she predicts it’ll remain largely an American phenomenon. “Once the hype dies down, most of these smaller treasuries will either sell off or be gobbled up by bigger players.”

The APAC Frontier

ChangeNOW’s recent tour through Asia wasn’t just about rubbing elbows at Token2049. They’re scouting partnerships across the region.

“Asia is where crypto adoption is really taking off,” Shangett says. “The market is going to explode in the coming years, and we’re excited to partner with some amazing projects.”

She’s particularly bullish on Korea and Japan. “The Japanese government is creating a crypto hub, and they’re ready to invest. We’re looking to tap into that.”

Final Words

As our conversation winds down, Shangett offers some parting wisdom: “Stay safe, have fun, but not too much. Stack your sats, pay with stablecoins, and everything will be just fine.”

In essence, it’s a vision of crypto that goes back to the basics-peer-to-peer transactions, no institutional middlemen, just good ol’ fashioned crypto. If ChangeNOW’s expansion in Asia succeeds, Shangett’s stablecoin bet may just be the smartest move since Satoshi’s whitepaper.

2025-10-08 18:22

Why Stablecoins Are About to Take Over Bitcoin-According to ChangeNOW’s Chief Strategist