Why 'Learn to Code' Aged Poorly: AI, Vibe Coding, and the Future of Financial Software

Why 'Learn to Code' Aged Poorly: AI, Vibe Coding, and the Future of Financial Software

Author: Wyatt O'Rourke & Jordan Guess July 29, 2026 Duration: 59:45

Kendall Weihe, Jordan's co-founder at Bitment, joins the pod for a rare deep dive into what actually changed in software engineering — and by extension, financial services — over the last 12 months.

Kendall walks through his path from a corporate software engineering job at KFC to Coinmetrics (Nick Carter's data analytics company), to Jack Dorsey's Block, where he worked on the TBDEX decentralized exchange protocol, and finally into stablecoins before going all-in on Bitment. Along the way: why cold emails still work, why he thinks the "VC talking his book" critique of Nick Carter misses the point, and what it was actually like spending two days a year frying chicken as a corporate KFC policy.

The back half is the real meat: Kendall argues that since roughly December 2025, AI coding tools have fundamentally changed what it means to build software — he barely writes or reads code anymore, and instead manages AI agents the way he'd manage employees. He breaks down why software was ground zero for this shift (Linux standardization, decades of developers automating their own jobs) while human systems like finance, law, and government will take much longer to diffuse. He also makes the case for vibe coding as a communication tool rather than a shortcut, uses a "skyscraper" analogy for why AI-assisted engineering is still laborious, and lays out his vertical-vs-horizontal, diffusion-vs-standardization framework for what a real AI-native operating system for financial services actually requires.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

01:35 How Kendall and Jordan Met

03:22 Kendall's Background: KFC to Coinmetrics to Block

06:27 Inside TBDEX: Building a Decentralized Exchange at Block

08:56 The KFC Colonel Question

10:35 Cold Emails and Getting Into Coinmetrics

12:46 Is Nick Carter Misunderstood?

16:07 Double-Entry Bookkeeping, Bitcoin, and AI for Financial Advisors

22:03 "Learn to Code" Aged Poorly: AI and the Disruption of Software Engineering

28:35 Vibe Coding: Powerful Tool, Dangerous Shortcut

33:41 The Skyscraper Theory of AI-Assisted Engineering

36:38 Diffusion vs. Standardization: Decentralizing Big Tech

43:56 Vertical vs. Horizontal: What It Takes to Build an AI-Native OS

47:40 Closing Thoughts

Host Links

Wyatt O'Rourke

X: x.com/wyattorourke_

Website: basilic.io

Jordan Guess

X: x.com/jordanguess

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jordan-guess-cpa

Website: bitment.co

Bitcoin Financial Services Media

X: x.com/bffs_media

Website: bffs.media

YouTube: @bffs_media

Show Sponsors

Basilic Financial: Your wealth deserves intention. Basilic is a Bitcoin-focused wealth management firm helping clients find balance between money and meaning. Financial planning, individual wealth management, retirement services for SMBs, and Bitcoin financial services. basilic.io

Bitment: Tired of messy CSVs and broken cost basis? Bitment is the first Bitcoin-native accounting platform for CPAs, advisors, miners, and serious investors. Clean Bitcoin bank statements, reliable cost tracking, full reporting, and seamless fiat integration through Plaid. bitment.co

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You’ll find Bitcoin for Financial Services Podcast lives at the intersection of established finance and a rapidly evolving digital asset landscape. Hosts Wyatt O’Rourke and Jordan Guess bring distinct, grounded perspectives to each conversation. Wyatt, author of The Bitcoinization of Finance and founder of Basilic Financial, operates daily in the practical work of connecting traditional wealth management with Bitcoin’s emerging economy. Jordan’s complementary expertise allows them to dissect complex developments with clarity. Together, they move beyond hype to examine the tangible mechanisms, regulatory shifts, and institutional adoption that are actively restructuring financial services. This isn't about abstract theory; it's a close look at the tools, strategies, and real-world implications for professionals and serious investors. Each episode of this podcast feels like a focused discussion, unpacking how Bitcoin technology influences everything from portfolio construction to payment systems. If you're navigating the convergence of legacy systems and cryptographic innovation, the dialogue here provides a necessary and nuanced compass. Tune in for analysis that respects the depth of both finance and the foundational technology changing it.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 39

Bitcoin for Financial Services Podcast
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