In this episode of The Get Down: Beyond Bitcoin podcast, host Marisa Estrada Rivera (aka Ritzy P) sits down with Arushi Sood Joshi, founder and CEO of Zult, Inc.
With over 25 years of experience leading digital asset strategies at giants like Wells Fargo, MasterCard, and Visa, Arushi shares her deep insights into why the financial system needs an operational upgrade. The conversation dives into the practical application of the "DeFi mullet" approach, how tokenization empowers micro-lending institutions, and the unique challenges diverse female founders face when navigating shifting regulatory environments.
Interview with Arushi Sood Joshi, Founder & CEO of Zult, Inc.
Crypto Origin Story: How witnessing the early integration of distributed ledger technology (DLT) in the Middle East inspired Arushi to leave corporate finance in 2017 to launch her first central bank digital currency (CBDC) startup, AdCash.
The Problem with Private Markets: A look at how capital formation remains complex and restricted, shutting out small-to-medium issuers (like CDFIs) and everyday investors by design.
The "DeFi Mullet" Tech Stack: Why Zult relies on a Web2 front-end and a Web3 back-end—leveraging blockchain for an immutable "golden record," AI for automated document processing, and APIs to connect with legacy plumbing rather than replace it.
Demystifying Tokenization: Turning the rights to real-world assets (like real estate, loans, or art) into digital tokens on a blockchain to securely verify ownership and distribute yield.
Zult Impact & Partnerships: Zult Impact, which recently secured a partnership to build a loan loss reserve that protects investors and opens liquidity for community lenders.
Founder Wisdom & Thick Skin: Real talk on why founders must remain anchored to real-world problems and prepare themselves for the uphill battle of raising capital as a diverse female founder.
Navigating Changing Policy: Adapting to a landscape with "multiple referees" changing the rules mid-game, and why Zult holds itself to traditional capital market standards to protect users.
About Arushi Sood Joshi
Arushi Sood Joshi is a visionary fintech entrepreneur redefining how private markets embrace
digital infrastructure. With over 25 years of experience building transformative financial products, she leads the charge in tokenizing real-world assets with privacy, compliance, and impact embedded at every layer. Arushi’s leadership is centered on creating technology that not only innovates but also safeguards and scales financial systems for the future.
As CEO & Founder of Zult, Inc., Arushi has set out to rethink how private credit markets work.
She has built a blockchain-based platform that bakes in compliance, privacy, and scalability from day one. Under her guidance, Zult has created a full tokenization infrastructure for real-world asset-backed securities, weaving KYC/AML checks and regulatory reporting right into smart contracts.
Previously, Arushi served as Head of Distributed Ledger Technology and Digital Asset Center of
Excellence at Wells Fargo, where she defined and delivered the bank’s DLT and asset tokenization strategy, built a digital asset prototype platform, championed regulatory compliance for crypto-asset reporting, and earned the 2023 Galileo Award for inventor achievements. She is also a frequent keynote speaker and recognized industry expert in technology innovation.
Earlier, Arushi founded AtCash Inc., where she advised central banks on DLT and digital currency strategy, launched cutting-edge platforms for digital identity, eKYC, remote notarization, and implemented smart contracts that reduced trade contract review times from two weeks to two minutes. Her career also spans leadership roles at Mastercard and Visa, with notable achievements including launching the region’s first biometric card, doubling product portfolio revenue, and delivering multi-million-dollar cost savings through risk strategy and operational excellence across global markets.
Arushi has consistently bridged business strategy, innovation, and regulation in complex environments, from North America to Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. She has launched more than 18 fintech products, built strategic alliances with ecosystem leaders like R3, Oracle, and IBM, and remains a fervent advocate for diversity, inclusion, and collaborative leadership.
Based in Houston, Texas, Arushi holds an MBA from Bentley University, a Bachelor of Commerce from Osmania University, and serves as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA), championing the rights of children in foster care.
Links from the Episode
CONNECT WITH ARUSHI SOOD JOSHI:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arushisoodjoshi/
Website: zult.io
ZULT LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/zult-io/
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