As Australia’s Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Financial Services, Dr Mulino discusses the balance between innovation, regulation and consumer protection as emerging technologies reshape financial services, payments and digital markets.

The discussion explores digital asset platform regulation, regulatory sandboxes, scams, AI, payments reform and Australia’s position in the global digital economy, alongside the opportunities and challenges created by rapidly evolving technologies.

A thoughtful conversation on productivity, trust, financial systems and building Australia’s digital future.

As a Corporate Finance Director and Director of Forensic Accounting at Hall Chadwick, Mark shares insights from more than 20 years working across business valuation, disputes, corporate finance and emerging technologies.

The discussion explores the economic opportunity presented by blockchain and digital assets, the role regulatory certainty plays in unlocking institutional capital, and the challenges facing Australian innovators as global jurisdictions move quickly to attract talent and investment.

The episode also examines stablecoins, tokenisation, AI-driven financial systems and the growing convergence of technologies reshaping finance and digital infrastructure.

A practical discussion on capital, innovation and what Australia must do to remain competitive in the next phase of the digital economy.

As General Manager of the Digital Platforms Branch at the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, Kate discusses how large digital platforms have become critical infrastructure for consumers, businesses and online markets.

The discussion explores app marketplaces, search engines, advertising systems and platform dominance, alongside the challenges regulators face as digital services become increasingly embedded in everyday life and commerce.

This episode was recorded at the Independent Reserve podcast studio, and we greatly appreciate their ongoing support of The House is Digital.

As GM of Kraken Australia, Jonathan shares insights into operating a global digital asset platform across fragmented regulatory environments, the rise of tokenisation and institutional integration, and how digital assets are increasingly becoming part of mainstream financial architecture.

The discussion also explores custody, AI-driven trading systems and the growing role of exchanges as infrastructure providers within the future financial system.

This episode was recorded at the Independent Reserve podcast studio, and we greatly appreciate their ongoing support of The House is Digital.

Professor Tanya Monro is Australia’s Chief Defence Scientist and leads the nation’s Defence Science and Technology Group. Her work sits at the intersection of science, technology, national capability and strategic policy, helping shape how Australia responds to an increasingly contested and rapidly evolving world.

The discussion explores how governments and institutions make decisions in environments defined by speed, complexity and data overload, and why the balance between human judgement and technological capability is becoming one of the defining challenges of our time.

From AI and machine reasoning to sovereign capability, research ecosystems and defence innovation, the episode examines how Australia can harness its intellectual capital while remaining interoperable with allies and resilient against emerging risks.

There is also a strong focus on the role of collaboration across universities, industry and government, and why the future of national capability depends on building connected systems rather than isolated institutions.

Throughout the conversation, Professor Monro reflects on the importance of stewardship, strategic focus and long-term thinking in preparing Australia for a future where technology increasingly shapes both economic and national security outcomes.

A thoughtful discussion on science, sovereignty, AI and the infrastructure of decision making in the digital age.

A huge thank you to Rafael Florez at the Australian National University for hosting and producting this episode.

About Professor Tanya Monro AC

Professor Tanya Monro commenced as Chief Defence Scientist in March 2019. Prof Monro is head of Defence Science and Technology Group and Capability Manager for Innovation, Science and Technology in the Australian Department of Defence. In June 2022, Prof Monro was awarded a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) for eminent service to scientific and technological development, to research and innovation, to tertiary education, particularly in the field of photonics, and to professional organisations.

Prof Monro also holds the Bragg Gold Medal for the best physics PhD thesis in Australia, Prime Minister's Malcolm McIntosh Prize for Physical Scientist of the Year, SA Australian of the Year, and the Eureka Prize for Excellence in Interdisciplinary Scientific Research.

Prof Monro obtained her Doctor of Philosophy in physics from The University of Sydney, and was awarded a Royal Society University Research Fellowship at the University of Southampton. Previous roles include Deputy Vice Chancellor Research and Innovation at the University of South Australia and inaugural director of the Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing and the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Nanoscale Bio Photonics at the University of Adelaide.

For contributions to optics engineering and advancing Australian national security, Prof Monro is an International Member of the United States National Academy of Engineering. Prof Monro is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science, the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering, the Optical Society of America and an Honorary Fellow of the Australian Institute of Physics.

As Co-founder and CEO of Independent Reserve, Adrian has spent more than a decade building through market cycles, regulatory change and industry consolidation. Since launching Independent Reserve in 2013, the business has expanded internationally, secured licensing in Singapore, and in 2026 became part of IG Group.

The discussion explores what maturity actually looks like in digital assets, and whether the industry has now moved beyond experimentation into becoming critical financial infrastructure. Adrian shares his perspective on consolidation across exchanges and infrastructure providers, the growing role of compliance and governance, and why trust has become a central part of operating architecture in digital markets.

The episode also examines Australia’s evolving regulatory framework, the relationship between digital asset businesses and traditional banking systems, and how stablecoins, tokenised deposits and institutional participation may reshape financial markets over the coming decade.

We also discussed The People’s Money - Bitcoin by Adam Tepper. The book can be found here: The People’s Money - Bitcoin.

You can find Adrian's first interview on the Independent Reserve Podcast here.

Throughout the conversation, there is a strong focus on long-term thinking, operational resilience and the importance of building businesses designed to endure beyond price cycles and market hype.

This episode was recorded at the Independent Reserve podcast studio. Many episodes of The House is Digital are recorded from their studio, and we greatly appreciate their ongoing support of the House is Digital Podcast.

Dr Rhys Bollen is Senior Executive Leader, Digital Assets at Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), where he leads the team overseeing crypto and digital asset firms and preparing for the Government’s proposed law reforms in this area. He is also responsible for ASIC’s broader work across digital finance, innovation and tokenisation, including ASIC’s regulatory sandbox.

With more than 25 years of experience across regulation, policy and financial services, Rhys has held senior leadership roles spanning market supervision, banking, insurance, investment management and strategic policy. His work focuses on balancing innovation with market integrity, consumer protection and confidence in Australia’s evolving financial system.

The discussion unpacks why markets require clear rules and active oversight, particularly as new technologies increase speed and complexity. It explores how digital assets and tokenisation are reshaping financial infrastructure, where innovation is delivering real value across payments, investment and capital markets, and where risks continue to emerge through poor governance, disclosure and market behaviour.

The episode also examines ASIC’s approach to supporting innovation through tools such as the regulatory sandbox, the growing role of AI across financial services, and how regulators are adapting their own capabilities to keep pace with technological change.

Looking ahead, the conversation focuses on Australia’s opportunity to lead in digital finance, and the importance of moving beyond the technology itself to delivering better products, services and outcomes for end users across the economy.

A special thank you to Independent Reserve for hosting this episode in their studio. Their support in providing this space makes conversations like this possible, and reflects their ongoing contribution to the growth and maturity of Australia’s digital economy.

Paul Derham is a leading Australian financial services lawyer and Managing Partner at Holley Nethercote and Chair at DECA. With over 25 years’ experience, he has worked alongside businesses, regulators and policymakers to interpret and apply financial services law across evolving technologies, including digital assets, payments and emerging financial models.

The conversation examines the expansion of the Corporations Act, the shift toward greater accountability through design and distribution obligations, and the growing importance of non-financial risk management as a foundation for long-term success. It also explores how regulation shapes market participation, the impact of licensing on investment and banking access, and why some businesses succeed despite ambiguity while others fail under the same conditions.

Looking ahead, the episode addresses the convergence of AI, digital assets and financial services, the rise of agentic systems within professional services, and the structural changes underway in the legal profession. It closes with a forward view on Australia’s regulatory trajectory, highlighting the role of upcoming reforms in driving legitimacy, investment and broader participation across the digital economy.

While in Parliament, Aaron has championed the digital economy, including through establishing the Parliamentary Friends of Tech and Innovation to bridge the gap between industry and policymakers. He has been a strong advocate for a clear roadmap on our nation’s AI future and has long advocated for technological uptake, including Fintech, MedTech, AI and Quantum, to solve the productivity challenges our nation faces.