https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGIz5M1hbHY&t=1442s Inside the World’s First #Bitcoin Bank | Seamus Rocca x Alex Tapscott (DeFi Decoded)
What does it actually mean to be the world’s first Bitcoin bank? And how do you survive a decade of crypto bull and bear markets without blowing up?
In this episode of DeFi Decoded, host Alex Tapscott sits down with Seamus Rocca, CEO of Xapo Bank, to unpack the story behind one of Bitcoin’s earliest and most resilient institutions.
They dive into:
How Xapo started in 2013 as a Bitcoin wallet and evolved into a fully licensed Bitcoin-first private bank
Why founder Wences Casares’ experience in Argentina shaped Xapo’s mission to protect people from inflation, capital controls and banking risk
Why Xapo chose to stay Bitcoin-focused while the rest of the industry chased ICOs, NFTs and altcoins
How Xapo combines Bitcoin + USD: a US-dollar narrow bank account earning interest alongside deep cold-storage Bitcoin custody
Bitcoin as digital gold, reserve asset and base layer vs. the role of stablecoins as payment rails
Bitcoin-backed lending: how wealthy Bitcoin holders borrow USD against their BTC without selling their position
The rise of Bitcoin ETFs and how they help mainstream adoption while Xapo serves Bitcoiners who still want direct custody and private banking-level service
Why Xapo sees itself as the private bank for Bitcoiners as BTC matures into a global reserve asset
If you care about Bitcoin’s long-term future, institutional adoption, and what safe Bitcoin banking can look like, this conversation is for you.
🔔 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and leave a comment:
Would you rather hold your BTC in an ETF, self-custody, or with a Bitcoin-first bank like Xapo? Why?
Featuring:
Host: Alex Tapscott – Co-author of Blockchain Revolution, Co-host of DeFi Decoded
Guest: Seamus Rocca – Executive Director & CEO, Xapo Bank
Topics: Bitcoin private banking, Bitcoin custody, Bitcoin safety, BTC vs stablecoins, Bitcoin lending, Bitcoin as store of value, digital gold, financial sovereignty, inflation protection, emerging markets, banking innovation.