The Liquidity Brain: AI, Fintech, and the Real-Time Economy

Money is becoming software—and software now thinks. In The Liquidity Brain: AI, Fintech, and the Real-Time Economy, Ali Taraghijah takes readers on an electrifying journey through the most profound transformation in the history of money and banking. From Bitcoin's early peer-to-peer dream to today's AI-driven, always-on financial networks, this book shows how fintech and blockchain have converged with artificial intelligence to create a real-time global economy. Inside you'll discover: How new payment rails like UPI, FedNow, and RTP are revolutionizing settlement, reconciliation, and fraud detection. Why platform money, QR code acceptance, and multi-currency omnibus accounts are changing the DNA of everyday commerce. How AI risk engines, anomaly detection, and graph analytics are winning the battle against financial crime. The true impact of CBDCs, stablecoins, Ripple/XRP bridge assets, and tokenized deposits on cross-border speed and liquidity. How AI-native treasury tools and revenue-based lending transform raw data into actionable credit and collateral. Blending sharp storytelling with deep technical insight, Taraghijah unveils the hidden architecture of payments: central bank money and commercial deposits, the delicate dance between RTGS and net settlement, and the overlooked economics of interchange and network fees. He brings to life the builders and systems—from M-Pesa to Wise, from Layer-2 netting to ISO 20022 messaging—that are creating a safer, faster, more inclusive financial world. The Liquidity Brain speaks to entrepreneurs, fintech innovators, regulators, bankers, and curious readers alike. Whether you're launching a start-up, shaping policy, or simply eager to understand how money moves, this book equips you with the knowledge to thrive in the AI-native economy.