QUESTION: Hi Martin
Thanks for all the work you do, my day always starts with reading your take on things. I was a member until recently as I am out of a Job. I Live in Toronto, where lockdowns have been the worst and longest in North America. Presently looking to relocate out of the city. I am a Contractor and it seems most of the work in the coming years will be outside the city, as everyone is selling and moving to small towns or their cottages and now want them upgraded for year-round living.
Question: Bitcoin and Crypto. It seems to me that they are using Crypto and pushing it mainstream for a reason. Is it may be a way of increasing the fiat. What I mean is every time someone Buys a Bitcoin they are purchasing with Fiat, so the $10,000.00 someone buys in incremental Bitcoin automatically doubles that Fiat, as the person selling now, has the equivalent of $10 k to purchase something using Bitcoin and the Seller now has $10 k to purchase an item with the Fiat. Could this be another way of getting money into the market without having to Create it at the Fed?
What do you Think
CB
ANSWER: No I believe they are allowing it to trade for the sole purpose to mislead people into thinking cryptocurrency is somehow better than cash. Governments are planning to swap all physical money for 100% digital to end hoarding of cash and to be able to increase tax enforcement as well as to reduce the underground economy – i.e. drugs to prostitution. They always blame the people for not paying all the taxes they think they are entitled to rather than realize that no matter how much taxes they collect – it will never be enough.
By allowing Bitcoin to rally, they are creating the image that cryptocurrency is better than cash. It is psychological and the average person is easily fooled. The 911 Porsche came out in 1964 and changed little for the rest of the decade. There was less variation in the 911’s early years as well. The high-performance 911S came out in 1967, as did the famous Targa body style with its removable roof panel. I bought one in 1970 for just slightly under $10,000. By 1980, they were starting at $35,000 and over $50,000 by 1985. The Deutschemark rallied 140% during the 1970s and the German manufacturers priced their cars in marks – not dollars. So the value of the German cars kept rising in dollar terms during the 1970s all because primarily due to the currency, which also led to higher prices for commodities caused by OPEC. This created the image that German cars were better than American. I bought foreign sportscars during the 1970s and would drive them around for 2 years and would get my money back so cars never cost me a dime.
I have told the story before that I bought a 328 Ferrari in London for about £30,000 when the pound fell to $1.03 when it was a $50,000-$60,000 car in the USA. The pound had been over $2 when Ferrari priced what they would sell that car for to Brits. Since the pound fell so hard, the Italians raised the price to £45,000 or maybe £60,000. Then the pound rallied back to almost $2. I drove the car in London for about two years and then sold it used about doubling my money.
This example of the sharp rise in the price of a Ferarri created the false assumption that they were a great investment and people began buying and storing them. It was just the currency — not the car. Once you understand how the FX markets create different impressions of domestic markets, you can suddenly see the world through a whole new set of lenses.
Cryptocurrencies are going through the very same phase. They are creating the illusion that they are somehow better than cash. Even the name “cryptocurrency” is misleading for they are not a currency at all – they are merely a trading vehicle. Do not get all stary-eyed and look at them as better than cash for that is looking at a Ferrari as an investment rather than a car to drive.
I understood the rise in the value of the Ferarri was currency so I also knew when to sell. It is critical to look behind the facade to see what is the true nature of what you are dealing with. Bitcoin is no more a store of wealth than any stock because it rises and falls. Anything that fluctuates cannot be a store of wealth – it is simply an investment vehicle.
