Will Crypto Exchanges Replace Banks and Bring Stock Markets to 24/7 Trading? ft. Vugar Usi CEO, MEXC

In this episode of Hardwired, Harry Crabtree is joined by Vugar Usi, CEO of MEXC, to explore whether crypto exchanges will replace banks—and whether global stock markets will finally move to 24/7 trading.

From tokenised stocks and real-world assets to AI-powered financial assistants, stablecoin-based spending, and the decline of banking loyalty, Vugar explains why the next era of finance may be defined less by who holds your money and more by who helps you get the most from it.

In this episode

Why banks may not disappear, but banking apps as we know them might

How crypto exchanges are becoming full financial platforms: trading, saving, spending, and investing

The shift from loyalty-based banking to “maximum benefit” finance

Why AI could choose the best account, card, yield, or investment for every user

The role of crypto in serving the world’s 1.4–1.7 billion unbanked people

Whether the lines between banks, brokers, and crypto exchanges will disappear

Why 24/7 trading is already becoming a reality for traditional markets

How tokenised stocks, commodities, and real-world assets create a single trading experience

The growth of tokenised treasuries and what it means for institutional adoption

How stablecoins enable users to move between Bitcoin, gold, oil, and equities instantly

AI-assisted trading, trading agents, and the rise of “answer-first finance”

Why verifiable reserves, protection funds, and user trust will define the next generation of exchanges

Key takeaway

Banks, brokers, and crypto exchanges are all converging into financial super-platforms. The winners will not be decided by brand loyalty or legacy infrastructure, but by who gives users the fastest, cheapest, and most personalised access to global financial opportunity.

Guest:

Vugar Usi — CEO, MEXC
Vugar is a trained economist and former Bain consultant who has been building in crypto since 2019. As CEO of MEXC, he leads a platform serving more than 40 million users across 170+ markets, with a focus on accessibility, tokenised assets, zero-fee trading, and AI-enabled finance.

Learn more about MEXC:
https://www.mexc.com

Follow AlphaWire:

X: https://x.com/AlphaWireHQ
LinkedIn:   / alphawirehq 

This episode was brought together by AlphaWire:
https://alphawire.xyz

Subscribe for weekly conversations on crypto, security, market risk, blockchain infrastructure, and the incidents shaping the industry.

Chapters

00:00 — Welcome and Vugar’s path into crypto
02:09 — Are crypto exchanges becoming the next banks?
04:13 — What happens to traditional banks in an AI-first world?
07:13 — Banks, brokers, and exchanges: will the boundaries disappear?
13:27 — What will drive the next wave of crypto adoption?
16:23 — Will global markets move to 24/7 trading?
19:23 — Tokenised stocks, commodities, and real-world assets
22:01 — How MEXC is evolving beyond crypto trading
25:54 — Tokenisation and the future of capital markets
30:13 — AI assistants, trading agents, and automated finance
35:27 — What financial services will look like in 2030
44:21 — Will banks become more like crypto exchanges?
48:33 — Trust, reserves, protection funds, and MEXC’s long-term vision
55:46 — Closing thoughts

This episode is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or investment advice.