Crypto, Explained by the National Cryptocurrency Association

Crypto can feel confusing when the story behind it is missing. Many people hear about crypto through headlines, trends, or opinions, but rarely understand who is building it or why it exists in the first place.
In this episode of Crypto, Explained, we sit down with Ant Lillingston, VP of Marketing at the National Cryptocurrency Association, to unpack why the NCA was created and how Crypto, Explained came to life. We break down how crypto inherited a culture of complexity and exclusion, why that created a gap for everyday people, and how the NCA is working to make crypto more accessible through real stories, simple education, and practical tools.
We also explore how real crypto users across the country are using it in everyday ways, what the NCA learned from its first year of research and storytelling, and why the biggest barrier to adoption comes down to understanding rather than trust.
Ant Lillingston is the VP of Marketing at the National Cryptocurrency Association, where he leads brand strategy, storytelling, and education efforts focused on helping everyday people understand and use crypto with confidence.
What We Discuss:
(00:40) Why the NCA Exists and the Mission Behind Crypto, Explained

(03:03) Why Crypto Feels Confusing and Who It Was Built For

(9:47) Real Stories: How Everyday People Actually Use Crypto

(16:53) Why Most Crypto Use Cases Are Simple and Practical

(23:32) What the Data Reveals About Crypto Users in America

(26:14) The Real Barrier: Understanding, Not Distrust

(27:25) How the NCA Is Making Crypto Easier to Learn

(33:25) The Impact of Negative Narratives on Adoption

(38:21) Scams, Safety, and Personal Responsibility

(41:41) How to Take Your First Step Into Crypto


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 Ant Lillingston:
Linkedin: Ant Lillingston 
Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or tax advice.

Crypto includes a wide range of digital assets, each built for a specific function within the broader ecosystem. Understanding what each one does is key to making sense of how crypto works in practice.
In this episode of Crypto, Explained, we walk through five of the most widely used cryptocurrencies, Bitcoin, XRP, Ethereum, Solana, and Cardano, and break down what each one is designed to do. We cover how they differ in purpose, from storing value to enabling payments, powering applications, and supporting scalable networks.
We also highlight a few additional cryptocurrencies to give you a broader view of how different tools fit into the crypto landscape.
In this episode, Ali Tager, your crypto confidence coach, walks you through each concept step by step, making it simple to understand how crypto actually works in the real world.
What We Discuss:
(00:49) Why Not All Cryptocurrencies Are the Same
(03:01) Bitcoin as a Store of Value
(04:45) XRPL and Fast Global Payments
(06:36) Ethereum and Programmable Applications
(07:39) Solana and Speed at Scale
(08:39) Cardano and Long Term Infrastructure 
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
 
Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or tax advice.

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.

Crypto often gets reduced to headlines, hype, or fear, leaving many people unsure what to actually believe. For most, the biggest barrier is not access, but understanding what crypto is and how it fits into real life.
In this episode of Crypto, Explained, Ali Tager, your crypto confidence coach, reacts to real, unfiltered opinions about crypto from everyday people. She breaks down common misconceptions around whether crypto is real, how it gets its value, and why it can feel confusing or intimidating at first.
We also explore key concerns around security, including wallets and seed phrases, how to think about scams versus the underlying technology, and the simple rules that can help you stay safe. Finally, we highlight how crypto is already being used in practical ways, from payments to business adoption, and how confidence grows once people move from headlines to real understanding.
Ali Tager is the host of Crypto, Explained and a leading voice in making crypto simple, approachable, and usable in everyday life.
What We Discuss:
(00:40) What People Really Think About Crypto: Confusion, Skepticism, and Curiosity  

(02:53) Why Crypto Feels Complicated and How to Make It Simple

(05:10) Security and Control: Wallets, Seed Phrases, and Getting Started Safely

(07:47) Scams vs Technology: How to Stay Safe in Crypto

(10:50) Real-World Use Cases and How Confidence Builds Over Time

 
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
Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or tax advice.

Crypto can feel intimidating when you are not sure where to start. Many people assume they need technical expertise or a large investment before exploring digital assets.
In this episode of Crypto, Explained, we sit down with Stu Alderoty, President of the National Cryptocurrency Association and Chief Legal Officer at Ripple, to unpack five simple ways beginners can explore crypto. We break down how crypto ETFs work through traditional brokerage accounts, how stablecoins introduce people to digital finance, and why buying a small fraction of a cryptocurrency can help people learn the crypto space step by step.
We also explore how receiving crypto can sometimes be easier than buying it, how wallet addresses function similarly to bank routing and account numbers, and how crypto payments already appear in everyday tools used for shopping, sending money, and paying businesses.
Stu Alderoty is President of the National Cryptocurrency Association and Chief Legal Officer at Ripple, where he focuses on advancing clear policy, responsible innovation, and broader public understanding of digital assets.
What We Discuss:
(00:40) Why Exploring Crypto Does Not Have to Be Complicated

(01:51) What a Crypto ETF Is and How It Works

(04:00) Why Crypto ETFs Can Be an Easy Entry Point

(10:00) What Stablecoins Are and Why They Matter

(11:00) Stablecoins for Payments and 24/7 Digital Money

(18:52) Buying a Small Amount of Crypto on Major Platforms

(20:24) Why You Do Not Need to Buy a Full Coin

(28:58) Receiving Crypto Through Wallet Addresses

(33:31) How to Set Up a Wallet and Send a Test Transaction

(36:23) Using Crypto for Payments, Shopping, and Everyday Transactions

(42:17) Optionality: Using Crypto as Both a Tool and a Learning Step

 
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
 
Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or tax advice.