The Only Assets That Beat Fiat Debasement | Raoul Pal & Julien Bittel
The Only Assets That Beat Fiat Debasement | Raoul Pal & Julien Bittel
304 days agoForward GuidanceBlockworks
Podcast1 hr 10 min
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Note: AI-generated summary based on third-party content. Not financial advice. Read more.
Quick Insights

The highest conviction investments for real wealth growth are technology stocks and cryptocurrencies, as they consistently outperform currency debasement. Consider overweighting the NASDAQ, which is expected to perform strongly into Q2 2025 driven by rising global liquidity. Bitcoin (BTC) is positioned as the primary crypto holding, with a highly bullish outlook for a major rally over the next 12 months. Investors can watch for a clear expansion in the business cycle to begin rotating capital into higher-risk altcoins. Monitor the price of Gold (XAU)

Detailed Analysis

Technology Stocks (NASDAQ)

  • The speakers identify technology stocks as one of only two asset classes that have consistently outperformed the 8% annual debasement of fiat currencies.
  • The NASDAQ Total Return Index has annualized at approximately 13% above the rate of currency debasement, meaning it generates real wealth.
  • Despite its strong performance, when measured against Bitcoin, the NASDAQ is down 99.94% since 2012, highlighting the relative outperformance of crypto.
  • The current market environment is described as being "2017 on steroids," suggesting a powerful setup for tech stocks driven by easing financial conditions and rising liquidity.
  • The speakers believe 97% of the NASDAQ's price action is driven by the single macro factor of global liquidity expansion.

Takeaways

  • Technology stocks are presented as a primary engine for wealth creation in an environment of persistent currency debasement.
  • The outlook is bullish, with the speakers expecting the current business cycle to extend and push tech stocks significantly higher into Q2 2025.
  • Investors should focus on the big picture of liquidity rather than getting caught up in traditional valuation metrics like P/E ratios, which are distorted by debasement.

Cryptocurrencies (Bitcoin - BTC & Ethereum - ETH)

  • Along with tech stocks, crypto is the only other asset class identified as consistently beating currency debasement.
  • Bitcoin's annualized return was cited as ~150% since 2010. More recently, its performance has been around 95% annualized against the NASDAQ.
  • The speakers argue that because of this massive outperformance, a concentrated portfolio in crypto is a logical conclusion of their macro framework, as diversification into other assets that don't beat debasement "destroys returns."
  • The current setup is seen as highly favorable for the next major move up in crypto, often referred to as the "banana zone." This is supported by:
    • Rising global liquidity (Global M2).
    • A weakening US Dollar.
    • An expected upturn in the business cycle (ISM index).
  • The speakers predict the next major leg up will occur as the business cycle strengthens, progressing towards Q2 2025.
  • Altcoins are framed as a later-cycle trade, similar to high-risk assets like junk bonds. They are expected to perform best once the business cycle is in a clear expansion and capital rotates from large-caps like Bitcoin.

Takeaways

  • Crypto, and Bitcoin in particular, is positioned as the single best-performing asset class for protecting against and outperforming long-term currency debasement.
  • The speakers are highly bullish for the next 12 months, suggesting the conditions are in place for a significant rally.
  • The investment strategy implied is to focus on the primary drivers—liquidity and the business cycle—and to have a long-term perspective, as these cycles play out over years, not weeks.

Gold (XAU)

  • Gold is described as performing its job perfectly as a store of value. When its price is adjusted for global liquidity, it is an almost flat line.
  • The speakers make a key distinction: Gold "has made you money, but it hasn't made you richer." It preserves purchasing power against debasement but does not meaningfully increase it.
  • A new insight is that Gold's price is now acting as a real-time indicator of financial conditions, moving before other assets and indicators. Its strength signals that financial conditions are easing, which is bullish for risk assets like tech and crypto.

Takeaways

  • Gold should be viewed as a wealth preservation tool, not a wealth creation asset. It is effective at hedging against currency debasement but will likely underperform tech and crypto in terms of growth.
  • Investors can watch the price of Gold as a leading indicator for the health of risk assets. A rising gold price, in this framework, suggests a positive environment for stocks and crypto.

S&P 500 (SPY)

  • The S&P 500 is described as "basically breaking even versus debasement."
  • This implies that holding the S&P 500 does not significantly increase an investor's real purchasing power over the long term.
  • The speakers criticize the trend of using the S&P 500 as the primary retirement vehicle, as it may only maintain wealth rather than grow it sufficiently.

Takeaways

  • According to the speakers' framework, the S&P 500 is not an optimal asset for long-term wealth growth.
  • Investors seeking to grow their wealth in real terms should look towards assets that have historically demonstrated an ability to outperform debasement, such as the NASDAQ and crypto.

Investment Theme: AI & Robotics

  • This theme is presented as the ultimate long-term solution to declining population growth and productivity, which are major drags on GDP.
  • AI and robots are called "replacement humans" that will eventually create near-infinite productivity, leading to what the speakers call the "economic singularity," potentially around 2030.
  • This is viewed as the "single most deflationary event" in human history, as it will make both manual and intellectual labor infinitely available and cheap, rendering many current jobs obsolete.

Takeaways

  • AI and robotics represent a transformative, multi-decade investment theme that will fundamentally reshape the global economy.
  • While no specific companies were mentioned, the discussion implies that investing in the broader technology sector is a way to gain exposure to this inevitable, long-term trend.
  • This is the long-term "bet" that could eventually solve the world's debt problems by creating a massive productivity boom, breaking the current cycle of debasement.
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Episode Description
In this episode, Raoul Pal and Julien Bittel explain their “Everything Code” framework showing how global debt cycles, demographics, and liquidity drive all asset prices. They argue fiat debasement is running at ~8% annually, meaning only tech stocks and crypto have outperformed over time, while gold just preserves purchasing power. They discuss the societal and economic implications of AI replacing human labor, the end of traditional recessions, why liquidity will keep increasing to roll debts, and how this cycle could mirror or exceed 2017’s asset booms. Enjoy! __ Follow Raoul: https://x.com/RaoulGMI Follow Julien: https://x.com/BittelJulien Follow Felix: https://x.com/fejau_inc Follow Forward Guidance: https://twitter.com/ForwardGuidance Follow Blockworks: https://twitter.com/Blockworks_ Forward Guidance Telegram: https://t.me/+CAoZQpC-i6BjYTEx Forward Guidance Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/forwardguidance __ Join us at Digital Asset Summit in London October 13-15. Use code FORWARD100 for $100 OFF https://blockworks.co/event/digital-asset-summit-2025-london __ Echo Protocol is the first Bitcoin liquid re-staking and yield layer on MoveVM. As the second-largest protocol on Aptos by TVL, Echo secures nearly half of the network’s bridged assets with ~$270M in aBTC minted. https://www.echo-protocol.xyz/ — Timestamps: (00:00) Introduction (01:54) Big Macro Picture (10:37) Liquidity & Real Returns (14:32) Aptos Ad (15:18) What is the Endgame? (17:51) The Everything Code (25:10) Financial Conditions (31:39) 2017 on Steroids (35:57) Aptos Ad (36:54) Nothing Stops This Train (38:34) Removing Recession Risk (44:24) Immigration (46:38) All Jobs Are Gone (52:08) What Happens Next? (54:50) Resurgence of Religion (58:12) When Banana Zone? __ Disclaimer: Nothing said on Forward Guidance is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are opinions, not financial advice. Hosts and guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed. #Macro #Investing #Markets #ForwardGuidance
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