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Hi there,

We brought HodlFM to Sigma Rome, where Tanya met with leaders across crypto, iGaming, and fintech to explore where these industries are heading in 2025. The big takeaway? Speed, privacy, and smarter scaling are shaping the next chapter.

ChangeNOW’s Chief Strategy Officer, Pauline Schanget, shared how their ecosystem now supports 1,500+ currencies and over $1B in monthly volume. With a privacy-first approach and a PRO version for those who prefer verification, the team is preparing for major regulatory shifts expected in 2026.

Kate Lifshits, CEO of NOWPayments, spoke about the growing demand for sub-one-minute transaction finality. The platform supports 350+ currencies and automates conversions and payouts, focusing on resilience and region-specific payment options.

From the investment side, Xanada Fund’s founder, Vladimir Malakchi, explained how they help startups scale globally and navigate fast-changing markets. In iGaming, he noted that crypto still plays its strongest role in payments, especially for users who value privacy and speed.

Rocks Partners’ Daryna Nikolina highlighted that bonuses, visuals, and tailored loyalty programs are key to retaining players. Regional behavior varies widely, making data-driven retention essential.

Closing out the series, Ubidex CEO Oleg Martynenko emphasized that as acquisition costs rise, retention and remarketing take center stage. Their platform helps brands re-engage inactive users and focus on long-term VIP players.

Across every conversation, one message stood out: crypto and iGaming are merging into a faster, safer, and more data-driven ecosystem. And this is only the beginning.

⏱️ Timecodes 

• 00:45 – Intro & welcome from Sigma Rome

• 01:20 – What is ChangeNOW? From instant swaps to a full “Now Solutions” stack

• 02:50 – CEX UX pain: KYC, chaotic interfaces & why users choose swaps instead

• 04:09 – Privacy vs regulation: MiCA, US online safety acts & the end of anonymity?

• 06:20 – How long will anonymous swaps survive? Mid-2020s “turning point”

• 07:50 – Top geos for ChangeNOW: Americas, Europe, APAC & user behavior

• 09:25 – Market talk: institutions, ETFs, tariffs & who is really moving BTC price

• 12:55 – What NOWPayments does: crypto payments, payouts & a “financial hub”

• 13:45 – Speed matters: sub-3 min finality for iGaming users

• 14:50 – Custodial vs non-custodial: why most businesses want managed wallets

• 16:05 – What people actually pay with: USDT on Tron/BSC, BTC & stability

• 17:25 – Handling volatility: fixed rate & auto-conversion to stablecoins

• 18:45 – Full automation & lessons from a major DDoS attack

• 21:25 – Sonata Investment Fund: helping founders scale, not just fund them

• 22:15 – Typical founder problems: no processes, no idea how to scale beyond a small team

• 23:50 – Going from CIS to global brands: new markets, new mentality

• 25:05 – Crypto x iGaming overlap: payments, risk & hacks

• 26:20 – Biggest hacks & why crypto casinos are prime targets

• 27:15 – “How do I become a millionaire in iGaming?” – Vladimir’s answer

• 29:35 – Rooks Partners: new brands, platforms & winning a Sigma award

• 30:15 – What players really want: free spins, bonuses, visuals – and wins

• 31:15 – Story time: €150K win from ~€300 total deposits

• 32:15 – Country differences: French vs Italian/Spanish/Greek player psychology

• 33:35 – “How do I win €1M gambling?”

• 35:00 – Ubidex: retargeting & retention tech for iGaming brands

• 35:40 – UA is expensive: why everyone pivots to reactivation & LTV

• 36:40 – How Ubidex segments & brings “dead” users back with remarketing flows

• 37:55 – Who is the “perfect” player? VIPs, high rollers & long-term value

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Catch you in the next episode,
The HODLFM Team 🌍

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Disclaimer: We're here to entertain, not to be your financial guru. This newsletter is purely for educational purposes and does not constitute financial advice or a magical fortune-telling session. So, grab your popcorn, enjoy the read, but remember to use your own wits and conduct thorough research before making any money moves. Stay curious, my friend!