TR EMERITUS

Iran will conduct a joint naval exercise with Russia and China in the coming weeks. Incidentally, all three countries are engaged in a tussle with the West led by Washington. Iran's Navy Commander said the drills are aimed at "regional security". The drills come amid growing tensions in the Middle East involving Iranian proxies.    Read More →

A US report says at least 30 captives held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip have been killed. The New York Times report states that the IIsrael Defense Force (IDF) admitted to killing these captives during its ground operations. The figure of over 30 deaths is higher than any previous number the Israeli authorities have publicly disclosed since the start of the war in October 2023. This means that more than a fifth of the Israeli hostages in the Gaza Strip are dead, majority killed by IDF.    Read More →

Within a few years, cryptocurrency has rapidly progressed from being just a digital fad to a billion-dollar innovation with the capacity to disrupt the traditional financial structure. Inflation and third-party risks motivate individuals to hold Bitcoin to hedge against inflation, securing their hard-earned money from losing value over time. It is now easy to buy crypto. Just over to a top crypto exchange and buy crypto, taking advantage of its inherent benefits. Fixed supply means your Bitcoin becomes more valuable over time, unlike Fiat which loses value. Investments and transactions involving cryptocurrencies have gained immense popularity, being utilized for purchases of various items ranging from software products to virtual real estate. The Evolution of Money From the earliest forms of primitive barter, money has transformed. At a point, the barter system was the norm and then came gold standards. The barter system was effective at the time to meet the needs of the day. Why is the gold standard not in use today? These earlier trade systems had their challenges. There was a need for a double coincidence of wants – both traders had to want what the other was offering for the system to work. To overcome these limitations, communities adopted valuable metals like gold and silver as the preferred solution. Their lasting qualities, simplicity of splitting into parts, and inherent value made them exceptionally appropriate for use in storing wealth and facilitating trade. Further along, this led to the development of coins. These coins, minted from valuable metals, offered a standardized unit of value, and governments set coinage standards to maintain uniformity across the economy. The gold standard was important for the money system because it linked paper money to a certain amount of gold. This ensured the economy was stable, kept inflation in check, and encouraged careful decisions about money. However, the time came when the gold standard became impractical. It had to give way to fiat currencies that have no physical assets for support. This allowed governments to create money when needed, which sometimes resulted in a large buildup of debt. Currently, central banks have control over the money supply and interest rates, which gives them significant influence on their country's economies. Excessive Money Printing Today we see the prices of most commodities in the open market increase within a short period. Some parts of Europe have inflation figures close to double digits. Suddenly, ordinary citizens who never worry about their money losing value are faced with reality when they discover they have to change houses because their salary can no longer pay their rent and other living expenses in their location. They suddenly have to calculate what they can afford. What has changed? Nothing! Only that their purchasing power became weaker. Fiat currencies are susceptible to inflation due to excessive money printing. When central banks create more money than the economy’s actual growth, the supply of currency increases without a corresponding increase in goods and services. The government prints money from thin air, not backed by any assets. As a result, each unit of currency held becomes less valuable. This erodes the purchasing power of money over time. Inflation means that the same amount of money can buy fewer goods and services, impacting people’s savings, investments, and daily transactions. By simply holding Bitcoin, you would save your money from losing value. This is because Bitcoin and other decentralized cryptocurrencies address this issue by having fixed supplies, ensuring scarcity, and protecting against inflation. Excessive money printing serves Federal Governments for various reasons. Faced with budget deficits, they must cover expenses like public services, infrastructure, and social programs. Governments view printing money as a simple method for financing these deficits without tax hikes or debt issuance. Deficit financing, achieved through the printing of money, boosts liquidity in the economy: it liberates government expenditure from dependence on awaiting tax revenues or bond sales. Furthermore–and significantly–the issuance of debt engenders an obligation to repay with interest. By printing money, governments avoid accumulating debt and interest payments. The Fall of the Gold Standard Collectively, trust issues, economic constraints, and changing global dynamics necessitated the decline of the gold standard. Indeed– in today's intricate economies it has become impractical. The reliance of this standard on governments and central banks for maintaining fixed exchange rates underscored its operation. The winning formula had to be a system that ultimately required an unshakable level of trust. Historically, events eroded this trust. This was a pivotal turning point in economic history. Economic crises led to wavering confidence. To address their pressing challenges, countries boycotted the gold standard. Moreover, the great depression had a hand in making individuals lose confidence in the Gold standard. In contrast, cryptocurrency operates on a trustless and decentralized network; its transparency and cryptographic security obviate the necessity for blind trust in financial institutions. Governments, however, found their flexibility limited by the rigidity of the gold standard. The inability to manipulate the money supply for combating recessions or stimulating growth presented a major issue: economic cycles demanded more dynamic responses than what was offered under the gold standard. Consequently, nations grappled with effective management of their economies; they were constrained in this endeavor. With a fixed supply and algorithmic issuance, Bitcoin provides an alternative. It adjusts to shifting economic conditions–all while maintaining unyielding stability. After World War II, a shift occurred in the global landscape: it was an era of reconstruction, technological advancements, and globalization that reshaped economic terrains. Nevertheless–amidst these transformative changes–the gold standard grappled to adapt; its traditional underpinnings were challenged by new realities. War-induced disruptions and new economic realities presented challenges to nations. However, Bitcoin, a currency transcending borders, operating continuously without ties to any specific nation-state has prospered in our interconnected digital age. Cryptocurrency as a Sound Monetary Alternative Cryptocurrency is a virtual or digital currency, which secures itself through cryptographic systems. This form of currency enables direct online transactions without intermediaries - a feature derived from the use of various encryption algorithms and techniques collectively termed "crypto." Notably among these are hashing functions; elliptical curve encryption; and public-private key pairs which improve security measures. Cryptocurrencies are revolutionizing the financial landscape by accelerating transaction speeds, streamlining cross-border payments, and elevating financial inclusivity beyond mere jargon. These digital currencies are unlocking opportunities for the unbanked and underbanked—a beacon of hope to those marginalized by conventional banking systems. These unsung heroes anchor the crypto world; their value, tethered to stable assets such as the dollar, forges a calmer voyage amidst digital currency's turbulence—a captivating expansion of global finance’s arsenal. Crypto's societal implications extend beyond mere financial gain; they embody empowerment. Decentralized finance, or DeFi, reverses the power dynamic. In this world, individuals wield greater control over their financial destinies–free from intermediaries' constraints; it's quite empowering, isn't it? The Role of Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) The advent of Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) serves as a crucial response by central banks to the rise of cryptocurrencies. These virtual representations of sovereign currencies address current challenges while introducing new complexities. CBDCs and cryptocurrencies differ significantly in terms of monetary governance, oversight, and core principles, despite both existing in the realm of virtual assets. CBDCs are backed by stability and government authority, while cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin prioritize individual sovereignty and trustlessness. The ongoing debate between these two ideologies is essential in shaping the future of monetary evolution, with CBDCs acting as a bridge between traditional values and emerging developments that are still not fully understood. Amid this transformative era, the constant drive for innovation and technological advancement propels society towards greater agility. Conclusion As we weigh in on the impact and prospects of cryptocurrency as digital gold, it becomes clear that its movements hold immense power. Just as gold is valuable, divisible, scarce, and fungible, crypto shares these qualities. In addition, it is trustless and free from manipulation by Federal Governments. One thing remains certain, the global financial landscape is going through disruption powered by blockchain and cryptocurrency.      Read More →