OUR THINKINGBLOGSBLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY AND CRYPTO FOR BEGINNERS: THE FUTURE OF DIGITAL FINANCE WITH NICOLAS CARY
In Episode 37 of The Gage our CEO, Sean Kiernan interviews Nicolas Cary, the co-founder of Blockchain.com, to explore his incredible story, from selling clams as a child to becoming a trailblazer in digital finance.
If you’re just getting into blockchain or cryptocurrencies or want to know how crypto and AI will shake up world markets, this blog can give you some valuable insights.
Nicolas Cary’s business sense started on Long Island’s shores. At a young age, he sold clams to buy his first CD player. This wasn’t just about money, it showed his knack for fixing issues and making things worthwhile, a theme that stuck with him in his digital finance career.
Nicolas then helped start several web-based startups. These businesses taught him about pricing, providing value for money, and keeping customers happy. His work set the stage for what would turn into a big jump into blockchain technology.
During the 2008 global financial crisis, Cary, like many others, doubted regular banking systems. He learned about the digital currency, Bitcoin and was fascinated by its decentralised nature, its resistance to inflation, and the alternative financial system it introduced.
It wasn’t long before Cary co-founded Blockchain.info, which would evolve into Blockchain.com—an ecosystem built on blockchain technology that would onboard millions of users.
Blockchain.com started as a block explorer (an online tool that enables you to search for real-time and historical information about a blockchain) and rapidly expanded into one of the world’s most popular crypto wallets.
What set them apart was their commitment to listening to users and building tools that provided real utility. This product-led growth helped cement Blockchain.com’s leadership in digital finance.
In 2014, Ethereum founder Vitalik Buterin visited Blockchain.com’s London office to pitch his vision of a “world computer.” At the time, he was really excited about the initiative but also a big fan of Blockchain.info, which he saw as a critical part of the emerging crypto landscape.
Cary reminisces about this moment as it was a different era in crypto – one which was less tribal and more about collective ambition. It’s this spirit that continues to fuel innovations in blockchain technology and shape the principles of cryptocurrency for beginners and veterans alike.
Blockchain.com has grown from a retail-facing wallet to an institution-ready platform. Now serving high-net-worth clients, family offices, and other crypto-native firms, the business is also preparing for a potential IPO.
Nicolas emphasises that success in crypto requires building products that endure market cycles. That’s especially true in digital finance, where the ecosystem is inherently volatile. The key lies in adaptability and understanding the four-year crypto boom-bust cycle.
Perhaps the most thought-provoking part of the discussion was Cary’s vision of the fusion between crypto and artificial intelligence. He predicts that within five years, most online financial transactions will be conducted by AI agents using crypto wallets.
Imagine an AI CFO managing your budget, following trading strategies from top analysts, and executing trades automatically. This future isn’t far off. Crypto and AI are already intersecting in ways that are reshaping user behaviour and the structure of markets.
“AI agents can already set up crypto wallets and make payments. Soon they’ll be buying computing power and energy. That’s the new economy,” Cary explains.
Cary also touches on the tokenization of real-world assets (RWAs). Whether it’s partial ownership of a distillery or access to infrastructure investments, blockchain technology makes fractional ownership not just possible, but secure and transparent.
This represents a major breakthrough in digital finance, offering liquidity in previously inaccessible markets and giving investors greater control and flexibility.
Nicolas Cary isn’t just building technology – he’s building communities. He has supported an entrepreneurship and non-profit organisation, Sky’s the Limit, which helps entrepreneurs from low-income backgrounds start their own businesses.
Through mentorship, grants, and blockchain experimentation, the program helps people succeed where traditional finance often fails.
One particularly inspiring story came from a refugee entrepreneur who launched a sustainable coffee business in Scotland and now trains others like him. This is where cryptocurrency for beginners meets real-world empowerment.
“Entrepreneurship can’t be an exclusive club. We need systems that empower everyone, not just the privileged,” Cary asserts.
Blockchain.com isn’t just playing the long game – it’s preparing to challenge legacy institutions head-on. As traditional banks adapt slowly, crypto-native platforms are building scalable, efficient alternatives.
This is especially relevant as the U.S. government announces initiatives like a Bitcoin Strategic Reserve and BlackRock launches a Bitcoin ETF. These moves are accelerating mainstream adoption and validating digital finance as a critical pillar of the global economy.
The convergence of crypto and artificial intelligence will lead to always-on markets that function more efficiently and inclusively than current systems. Cary believes this evolution will drive down costs, increase transparency, and democratise access to wealth creation.
As Crypto and AI continue to merge, Cary predicts a surge in personalised financial tools powered by algorithms and underpinned by blockchain technology. These systems will manage our investments, automate our budgets, and even interact with each other in digital marketplaces.
Nicolas Cary’s journey offers a rare blend of technical insight and human impact. His dual focus—reimagining our relationship with money through blockchain technology and empowering the next generation of entrepreneurs—highlights the full potential of this digital transformation.
As digital finance, crypto and artificial intelligence, and real-world innovation continue to intersect, one thing becomes clear: the future of finance isn’t just decentralised or automated—it’s also deeply human.
For businesses, entrepreneurs, and individuals alike, this shift is not just about adopting new tools. It’s about reshaping systems to be more inclusive, transparent, and resilient. The ideas shared in this Episode 37 of The Gage with Nicolas Cary are more than just predictions – they’re a roadmap for what’s possible.
To learn more, listen to our podcast series, The Gage Episode 37.
