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gold

Paper Gold vs Physical Gold: Understanding the Risks and Realities

Gold has always been viewed as a safe-haven asset, a hedge against inflation, and a reliable store of value during economic uncertainty. However, the modern gold market is far more complex than simply buying and holding physical gold. The rise of financial instruments like paper gold and practices such as fractional reserving have made the […]

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inflation investing stocks & shares TradFi

Why your 10% stock market gain may be an empty victory

It sounds like an investor’s dream: a 10% gain on your money every year. After all, the stock market’s long-term average annual return often lands somewhere in that ballpark, and many people would be thrilled to see their portfolio go up by 10% per year. Yet, if you take a closer look beneath the surface, […]

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gold

Should the U.S. Revalue Gold Gradually or Suddenly to Offset Debt?

As the U.S. grapples with over $35 trillion in national debt, some experts have suggested revaluing gold as a way to partially offset this burden. By drastically increasing the official gold price—perhaps from $2,500 to $25,000 per ounce—the U.S. could instantly raise the value of its gold reserves, which are currently worth approximately $550 billion. […]

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crypto Ethereum Solana Sui

The Layer 1 Problem: How Every New Blockchain Weakens Crypto’s Promise

In its early days, blockchain was heralded as a revolutionary technology. Bitcoin introduced a decentralized, trustless financial system, and Ethereum promised a world of decentralized applications (dApps) that would disrupt industries far beyond finance. However, as the blockchain space has evolved, a troubling trend has emerged: the proliferation of Layer 1 (L1) blockchains. Each new […]

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crypto Ethereum investing Solana Sui

Why Altcoins Struggle to Be Long-Term Investments

The cryptocurrency space has seen explosive growth over the past decade, with new projects and altcoins emerging seemingly every day. While the potential of blockchain technology is undeniable, many altcoins struggle to position themselves as viable long-term investments. This tension arises from the interplay between rapid technological progression, speculative investing, and the absence of clear, […]

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gold investing

How Would a $25,000 Gold Revaluation Affect the S&P 500 and Stock Market?

What if the U.S. government suddenly revalued gold from $2,500 to $25,000 per ounce? Such a bold move would add trillions of dollars to the value of U.S. gold reserves and potentially offset a significant portion of the country’s $35 trillion national debt. However, this sudden shift would also send shockwaves through the stock market, […]

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Bitcoin crypto

Understanding the Importance of Market Cap (and FDV) in Crypto Investments

When it comes to evaluating cryptocurrencies, there’s a lot of data to sift through: price charts, trading volumes, developer activity, and more. Among these metrics, one that often causes confusion—especially for newer investors—is market capitalization (market cap). Even more puzzling can be the concept of fully diluted valuation (FDV). While these figures might appear to […]

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dollars gold stocks & shares TradFi

What Happens to the S&P500 if the U.S. Revalues Gold to Offset Its Debt?

In a world of rising debt burdens and financial instability, some have suggested an unconventional approach for the U.S. government to address its mounting fiscal challenges: revaluing the price of gold significantly higher. Such a move could, in theory, bolster the value of U.S. gold reserves, partially offsetting the nation’s staggering debt levels. But what […]

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gold

How China’s Demand for Physical Gold Contributed to the 2013 Gold Price Crash

In 2013, the price of gold suffered one of its most significant crashes in recent history. After years of climbing to all-time highs, the precious metal plummeted from over $1,700 per ounce to just above $1,200 per ounce—a decline of roughly 30%. While several factors contributed to this dramatic shift, one of the key influences […]

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inflation investing TradFi

The U.S. Debt Crisis and Unfunded Liabilities: What’s at Stake for the Future

The U.S. government’s financial situation is increasingly under scrutiny. With a national debt exceeding $36 trillion and unfunded liabilities estimated at $100–$200 trillion, these figures carry major implications for the country’s economic health and its role in the global economy. But what exactly are these liabilities, why are they so large, and what do they […]

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inflation

The U.S. Dollar, QE, Global Demand, and Inflation: A Deep Dive into the Dynamics of the Modern Monetary System

In recent years, there has been an intense debate about the impact of the Federal Reserve’s monetary policies—like Quantitative Easing (QE), central bank swap lines, and large-scale Treasury purchases—on inflation and the global economy. This discourse often centers around the notion of “money printing,” suggesting a linear connection between increases in central bank reserves and […]

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investing TradFi

Are Your Investments Actually Making You Money—Or Just Preserving It?

When you think about investing, the goal often feels straightforward: to grow your money. But when you factor in inflation—the gradual erosion of purchasing power—it’s not so simple. Are your investments truly creating wealth, or are they just maintaining the value of your money over time? Let’s dive into the data and perspective to uncover […]

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crypto

Meme Coins Explained: Is the Hype Sustainable?

In 2013, Dogecoin was born. What started as a lighthearted parody of Bitcoin, featuring the beloved Shiba Inu from the “Doge” meme, quickly became the first true “meme coin.” Its success was both unprecedented and baffling to many—but it was only the beginning. Over the years, meme coins have proliferated, growing from a handful of […]

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Bitcoin blockchains crypto

The Exploitative Reality of Crypto Tokens: A Growing Problem Diluting Blockchain Innovation

Cryptocurrencies promised to revolutionize the world by decentralizing power, disrupting industries, and empowering individuals. Yet, in practice, many crypto startups have turned these promises into profit-making schemes designed to exploit retail investors. As the blockchain space grows, one exploitative practice has become increasingly common and harmful: launching unnecessary tokens whose primary purpose is to funnel […]

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crypto Ethereum Solana Sui

Are Tokenized Startups Extracting Value from Blockchain Ecosystems?

The rise of blockchain technology has ushered in a new wave of tokenized startups launching on platforms like Ethereum, Solana, Binance Smart Chain, Polygon, and Avalanche. These blockchains, powered by their native tokens (ETH, SOL, BNB, MATIC, AVAX, etc.), form the backbone of decentralized innovation. But as more projects tokenize and launch, a crucial question […]

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Bitcoin

Understanding Gresham’s Law, Thier’s Law, And Their Relevance In Today’s Economy – And Where Bitcoin Fits In

When it comes to money and currency, two important laws are often discussed—Gresham’s Law and Thier’s Law. While these laws both deal with how money circulates in an economy, they present opposing viewpoints. Understanding these principles is essential for analyzing how different types of currency coexist and how behaviors around money shift. What makes this […]

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dollars gold

Could America Revalue Gold to Ease Its Debt?

The United States, burdened by a staggering $36 trillion debt and even larger unfunded liabilities, is facing an ongoing fiscal dilemma. Meanwhile, it holds over 8,000 tonnes (about 280 million ounces) of gold, the largest official reserves in the world, worth approximately $700 billion at current prices of around $2,500/ounce. Some economic thinkers propose revaluing […]

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Bitcoin CBDCs

The Global Bitcoin Race: Power, Wealth, and Geopolitical Realignment

The rise of Bitcoin is shaping up to be one of the most disruptive economic developments of the 21st century. A truly decentralized and finite digital asset, Bitcoin has already upended traditional financial paradigms, sparking fierce debates and widespread adoption. However, Bitcoin’s ascent could also ignite a geopolitical power struggle, akin to the post-WWII competition […]

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Bitcoin CBDCs stablecoins

Could Bitcoin Become the Catalyst for a Fourth Turning Revolution?

Human history has always been shaped by transformative cycles of crisis and renewal, often triggered by the emergence of disruptive forces. According to William Strauss and Neil Howe’s *Fourth Turning* framework, society moves through cyclical stages, culminating every 80–100 years in a period of intense crisis that reshapes institutions, economies, and power dynamics. Today, as […]

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investing stocks & shares TradFi

The U.S. Debt and the Stock Market: Coincidence or Cause-and-Effect?

For decades, the U.S. national debt has grown, and so too has the stock market. This apparent correlation raises a compelling question: is it mere coincidence, or do rising levels of debt and the stock market’s upward trajectory share a causal relationship? Could the stock market have been even higher if the U.S. had borrowed […]

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Bitcoin

The Price and Potential of Bitcoin Without Michael Saylor and a Second Trump Term

Bitcoin’s meteoric rise over the past few years has been fueled by key players and geopolitical events. Among the most impactful have been Michael Saylor, the CEO of MicroStrategy who spearheaded one of the largest corporate Bitcoin acquisitions, and Donald Trump’s re-election, which signals a potentially friendlier regulatory environment for crypto in the United States. […]

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Bitcoin Ethereum

Coins vs. Tokens: Understanding the Basics of Cryptocurrency

If you’re new to the world of cryptocurrency, you’re probably hearing terms like “coins” and “tokens” thrown around all the time. While they might seem interchangeable at first, these two types of digital assets have important differences. In this post, we’ll break down what coins and tokens are, how they work, and why understanding them […]

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Bitcoin

Is Bitcoin Still Trustless in a World of Whales Like MicroStrategy?

Bitcoin is often hailed as a “trustless” financial system, free from the need to rely on centralized authorities or intermediaries. This trustlessness stems from Bitcoin’s decentralized nature, secured by cryptography, transparent transactions, and an immutable blockchain. But as Bitcoin adoption has grown, so has the concentration of its holdings. Today, large entities like MicroStrategy and […]

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Bitcoin

China’s Only Hope: Why Embracing Bitcoin May Be Critical for Its Future Power

As the global economy becomes increasingly digitized, the geopolitical battle for economic and military dominance is shifting in profound ways. The United States, leveraging its dollar supremacy, technological innovation, and financial infrastructure, is poised to consolidate its position as the world’s preeminent power. Meanwhile, China—America’s primary rival on the global stage—faces a precarious future if […]

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Bitcoin

Is Bitcoin A Meme Coin? What’s the Difference?

In the ever-evolving world of cryptocurrencies, it’s easy to lump Bitcoin and meme coins like Dogecoin or Shiba Inu into the same category. After all, both are digital currencies running on blockchain technology, neither is backed by a tangible asset, and both experience wild price fluctuations. So, is Bitcoin essentially just another meme coin? The […]

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Bitcoin CBDCs

Could Bitcoin Eventually Become a CBDC?

Bitcoin, the world’s first decentralized cryptocurrency, was designed to operate independently of any central authority. Its foundational principles of decentralization and immutability stand in stark contrast to the centralized nature of Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs), which are issued and managed by central banks. However, the question of whether Bitcoin could somehow transform into or […]

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blockchains crypto

Doesn’t Each New Layer One Blockchain Dilute and Detract from the Last One?

The cryptocurrency space is expanding faster than ever. With each new Bitcoin cycle, the market sees the emergence of yet another batch of Layer 1 blockchains, each promising faster speeds, cheaper transactions, or some new architectural breakthrough. But do these new blockchains truly add value to the ecosystem, or are they simply diluting the market? […]

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Bitcoin crypto investing stablecoins

The Hardest Question in Crypto: What Does Your Token Actually DO???

Cryptocurrency founders love to talk. Podcasts, interviews, Twitter threads—you name it. They wax poetic about their project’s “game-changing potential,” dive into the intricacies of their “revolutionary tokenomics,” and endlessly pitch the vision of a decentralized future. But amidst all this noise, there’s one glaring omission in almost every discussion: What does your crypto token actually […]

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Bitcoin gold

Do Central Banks and Governments Actually Have the Gold They Claim to Have? Is It Verifiable?

In the labyrinthine world of international finance, few assets carry as much mystique and strategic importance as gold. Central banks around the globe tout their gold reserves as symbols of national economic strength, financial stability, and monetary sovereignty. But how much of this narrative is verifiable truth, and how much is carefully constructed illusion? The […]

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Bitcoin investing

Crypto Investing: Can You Really Handle a Near-Total Loss?

In the world of cryptocurrency, we’re often bombarded with narratives of moon shots, generational wealth, and revolutionary technology. But today, we’re going to dive into the most uncomfortable question every crypto investor needs to ask themselves: What happens if it all goes to zero? The Psychological Trap of Conviction Many crypto investors develop a near-religious […]

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gold

Tokenized Gold: Does it Really Exist? The Overwhelming Flaw in the Entire Premise!

In the rapidly evolving landscape of digital finance, gold-backed blockchain tokens have emerged as a seemingly innovative financial product. Companies that promise investors a tantalizing proposition: own gold digitally, with the convenience of blockchain technology and the supposed security of physical backing. But this promise could be nothing more than an elaborate illusion, a financial […]

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Bitcoin investing stocks & shares TradFi

The Double-Edged Sword of Alpha: Why Timing Matters as Much as Insight

In the world of investing, much is said about the importance of having an edge—that unique insight or piece of information that others don’t yet know. But as George Gammon recently pointed out in a thought-provoking discussion, this edge only becomes valuable when others begin to recognize and act upon it. This observation underscores a […]

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inflation investing

What Happens to $100,000 in Savings Over 50 Years? An Inflation Analysis!

Saving money is one of the cornerstones of financial planning, but inflation can erode the purchasing power of your hard-earned savings over time. In this post, we’ll explore how different inflation rates affect the value of $100,000 in savings over 50 years. We’ll also consider how adding a 3% annual bank interest rate changes the […]

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Ethereum

Ethereum’s Identity Crisis: World Computer, Sound Money, or Lost Vision?

Ethereum was once heralded as the “world computer,” a revolutionary platform that promised to decentralize the internet. Its vision was ambitious: to serve as the backbone for decentralized applications (dApps) and smart contracts that would reshape industries, from finance to gaming. At its peak, the Ethereum narrative inspired developers, investors, and enthusiasts to believe in […]

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Bitcoin

The MicroStrategy Bitcoin Death Spiral: A Threat to Decentralization?

Bitcoin is often hailed as the ultimate decentralized asset, immune to manipulation and centralization. However, the aggressive accumulation of Bitcoin by MicroStrategy, led by its CEO Michael Saylor, raises a provocative question: Could a single entity’s dominance trigger a Bitcoin death spiral—a self-reinforcing cycle that destabilizes its value and undermines its decentralization? In this post, […]

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investing TradFi

Book Review: “Where Are the Customers’ Yachts?” by Fred Schwed Jr.

If you’re looking to park your hard-earned money in a hedge fund—or any investment that promises champagne returns on a beer budget—stop everything. Before you so much as glance at a prospectus or a glossy pitch deck, do yourself (and your wallet) a favor and read Where Are the Customers’ Yachts?. For a $10 cover […]