24: The Next Wave of Crypto Participation with PayPal + Karin | SXSW Panel

Crypto can feel overwhelming when it lives in headlines, hype, and technical language. But behind all of that, it is increasingly becoming something people and businesses use in real, practical ways. In this episode of Crypto, Explained, we sit down with Smitha Purohit, Sr. Director of Crypto Product at PayPal, and Karin Kusano, Crypto Market Strategist, to unpack how crypto is entering the mainstream through real use cases and everyday infrastructure. We break down how stablecoins are changing the way money moves, how companies like PayPal are integrating crypto into payments, and how financial autonomy and access are showing up for real people. We also explore how crypto is already being used for cross border payments, merchant transactions, and financial access, and why the biggest barrier today is not access but understanding. Smitha Purohit leads crypto products at PayPal, where she focuses on building payment infrastructure powered by digital assets, while Karin Kusano, a crypto market strategist, brings a personal and practical perspective on how crypto can create financial independence and real world impact. What We Discuss: (01:18) Crypto Moving from Niche Technology to Mainstream Use (03:52) Financial Autonomy and Real Life Use Cases (07:27) Crypto as an Asset Class vs Stablecoins for Payments (13:46) Why Businesses Care About Faster and Cheaper Money Movement (16:52) The Biggest Barrier: People Do Not Understand Crypto (19:28) Real World Use Cases: Payments, Remittances, and Access (27:07) Crypto as the Future Infrastructure of Money Learn more about the National Cryptocurrency Association (NCA): Website: https://nca.org X: @natcryptoassoc Instagram: @natcryptoassoc TikTok: @natcryptoassoc LinkedIn: National Cryptocurrency Association Facebook: National Cryptocurrency Association   Learn more about Smitha Purohit: LinkedIn: Smitha Purohit    Learn more about Karin Kusano: Website: cryptomommi  Website: karinkusano  LinkedIn: Karin Kusano    Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or tax advice.