Blockcast 54 | Mezo APAC Lead Kathy Zhu on the Evolving Role of Bitcoin

Kathy Zhu has been involved with the crypto industry from both inside and out, from her days as a journalist to her current role as APAC lead at Mezo, an EVM blockchain-based platform that allows users to stake BTC assets to secure itself and serve as Bitcoin's economic layer.

Joining Binance when it was a small startup of fewer than 200 people, she worked in global marketing and later transitioned to leading growth and operations for Binance’s P2P trading platform. After leaving Binance in 2021, she moved into venture investing, with a focus on Bitcoin and its evolving ecosystem, particularly through Ordinals and BRC-20 tokens.

In this episode, Zhu explains the evolving role of Bitcoin and its various stakeholders, including miners, institutional investors, retail holders, and developers. She also highlights how asset management firms and staking protocols have emerged to help Bitcoin holders generate passive income while maintaining custody of their assets.

With Mezo introducing its Bitcoin-backed stablecoin, mUSD, Zhu explains how Mezo is allowing Bitcoin holders to collateralize their assets and access liquidity at low interest rates. She explains that Mezzo’s model is designed to balance capital efficiency and risk management, ensuring Bitcoin holders can safely utilize their holdings without being forced to sell.

Blockcast is hosted by Head of APAC at Ledger, Takatoshi Shibayama . Previous episodes of Blockcast can be found on Podpage , with guests like Samar Sen (Talos), Jason Choi (Tangent), Lasanka Perera (Independent Reserve), Mark Rydon (Aethir), Peter Hui (Moongate), Luca Prosperi (M^0), Charles Hoskinson (Cardano), Aneirin Flynn (Failsafe), and Yat Siu (Animoca Brands) on our most recent shows.

?️ Hey there, Blockcast listeners! ?️ This podcast provides commentary and discussion on cryptocurrency and related topics. It is intended for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice. Guests appearing on this podcast may discuss companies or strategies, but these discussions are not recommendations to buy, sell, or hold any particular asset or pursue any specific strategy. The hosts and guests are not financial advisors, and listeners are urged to consult with a qualified professional before making any investment decisions. Investments in cryptocurrency are inherently risky, and you could lose money.