Mike Howell RETURNS: The Dollar Fix Is In — The Playbook for Gold, Tech & Bitcoin
Mike Howell RETURNS: The Dollar Fix Is In — The Playbook for Gold, Tech & Bitcoin
Podcast1 hr 8 min
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Note: AI-generated summary based on third-party content. Not financial advice. Read more.
Quick Insights

The primary investment theme is hedging against global monetary debasement by owning assets like technology stocks, Bitcoin, and gold. Bitcoin is particularly well-positioned due to a supportive global liquidity cycle expected to last at least another six months and potentially into Q2 2026. For geographic diversification, consider Japanese equities, which are benefiting from a powerful and unique rotation of capital out of domestic bonds. A potential recovery in China, driven by central bank stimulus, presents a tactical opportunity in commodities. Investors should watch for a weakening US dollar and lower interest rates as a key catalyst for gold to move higher.

Detailed Analysis

Technology Sector

  • Technology stocks are identified as long-duration assets that perform well in an environment of monetary debasement (where currency loses its purchasing power).
  • Along with crypto, they are seen as the assets that are outperforming this debasement trend more than anything else.
  • The podcast highlights the "genius" move by the Swiss National Bank, which bought tech stocks to counteract currency debasement, successfully strengthening its balance sheet.
  • The current liquidity cycle is described as being extended, which suggests that the prices of assets like tech stocks could also be extended upwards.
  • Risk Factor Mentioned: A potential headwind is that US tech companies are investing heavily (around $1 billion a day) in IT and infrastructure. While this is for future growth, it is causing their cash flows to plunge, which could be a problem for financial markets.

Takeaways

  • The underlying macro trend of currency debasement by global central banks provides a strong, long-term tailwind for the technology sector.
  • Investors should view technology stocks as a core holding for exposure to assets that can protect and grow wealth during periods of monetary inflation.
  • While the long-term outlook is positive, be aware of the short-to-medium term pressure on cash flows due to massive capital expenditures, which could introduce volatility.

Bitcoin (BTC) & Cryptocurrencies

  • Cryptocurrencies, like technology stocks and gold, are positioned as a primary hedge against long-term monetary debasement and inflation.
  • The speakers note that people are increasingly buying Bitcoin specifically as a monetary inflation hedge.
  • The ongoing global liquidity cycle, which is expected to continue for at least another six months and potentially into Q2 2026, is a significant tailwind for crypto assets. An extended cycle could lead to higher price extensions.
  • The discussion touches on the possibility of sovereign wealth funds and central banks adding Bitcoin to their balance sheets, following the lead of entities in the Middle East, as a way to diversify away from the US dollar.
  • Stablecoins are described as a "revolution" and a "fractionalized euro dollar market," allowing individuals worldwide to access dollars. This is seen as a massive new funding source for the US Treasury and a way to spread demand for US debt, structurally embedding crypto infrastructure into the global financial system.

Takeaways

  • The fundamental investment case for Bitcoin and other major cryptocurrencies is their role as a store of value in an era of persistent currency debasement.
  • The current macro environment of expanding global liquidity is supportive of higher crypto prices in the medium term (the next 6+ months).
  • The growth and integration of stablecoins into the traditional financial system is a major bullish structural trend for the entire crypto ecosystem, suggesting increasing adoption and utility.

Gold

  • Gold is performing as it should in the current environment, acting as a hedge against monetary debasement.
  • A key observation is that gold's correlation has shifted. It used to be tightly linked to real interest rates, but since 2022, it has become more correlated with financial conditions and the flow of liquidity.
  • The speakers suggest that central banks are actively diversifying their US dollar reserves into gold to protect against the debasement they are engineering.
  • The expectation is that a weaker dollar and lower interest rates will ease financial conditions, which should cause gold to break out of its recent trading pattern.

Takeaways

  • Gold is a key asset to hold as a direct hedge against the ongoing currency debasement by global central banks.
  • Investors should watch for a weakening US dollar and signs of lower interest rates, as these factors are expected to be the primary catalysts for gold's next major move upward.
  • Gold's performance can be seen as a real-time indicator of global liquidity and monetary policy shifts.

Japanese Equities

  • A unique and bullish dynamic is occurring in Japan's financial markets.
  • Investors are reportedly selling, or "dumping," ultra-long-term Japanese government bonds (JGBs). This is not seen as a sign of a sovereign debt crisis but rather a portfolio rotation.
  • The capital from these bond sales appears to be flowing directly into Japanese equities, as investors switch from one long-duration asset (bonds) to another (stocks) that offers better prospects in an inflationary environment.
  • This internal capital rotation is a powerful driver for the Japanese stock market rally and is a key reason for its recent outperformance.
  • The Bank of Japan is seen as tolerating this shift, possibly to encourage inflation and stimulate the economy.

Takeaways

  • The Japanese stock market has a strong, unique bullish catalyst driven by domestic capital rotating out of the long-end of the bond market.
  • This makes Japanese equities an interesting opportunity for geographic diversification, as its performance is driven by a powerful local factor in addition to global trends.

Commodities

  • The outlook for commodities is closely tied to the economic recovery of China.
  • China has been largely absent from the global growth equation due to being in a "debt deflation" phase.
  • However, analysis shows that the People's Bank of China (PBOC) is now injecting significant liquidity into its system to stimulate its economy.
  • This Chinese stimulus is expected to lead to a pickup in its business cycle, which historically drives demand for commodities.
  • Charts shown in the podcast suggest that the increase in Chinese liquidity should lead to stronger commodity markets.

Takeaways

  • Investors looking for exposure to a potential global business cycle recovery should consider commodities.
  • The key driver for this trade is the continuation of monetary stimulus in China. A recovering Chinese economy is a major source of demand for raw materials.

VeChain (VET) - Sponsored Mention

  • This information was presented in a sponsored ad segment of the podcast and is not part of the hosts' core analysis.
  • VeChain is a Layer 1 blockchain, and the ad highlights its new staking platform, Stargate.
  • The platform allows users to stake their VET tokens to earn rewards in VTHO.
  • The ad mentions yields reaching up to 9% APY and a limited-time $10 million bonus pool available for stakers through the end of 2025.
  • The minimum amount to get started with staking is 10,000 VET.

Takeaways

  • For holders of VET, the Stargate platform offers an opportunity to earn yield on their assets.
  • The advertised yield and bonus pool are designed to incentivize early participation in the new staking model. As with any investment, potential investors should do their own research into the risks and rewards of staking.
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Episode Description
🔥 *Download Raoul Pal's 5-year investing roadmap for free:* https://rvtv.io/41fVHWF. You've asked, we listened: On the latest "Journey Man," Raoul Pal welcomes back Michael Howell, CEO of CrossBorder Capital, for an analysis of the global liquidity cycle, with a breakdown of what's going on in the U.S., China, Japan, UK, France, Germany, and how it's going to affect risk assets. Has liquidity already peaked, as some think Howell has claimed? Recorded on August 28, 2025. 📣 This episode is brought to you by Figure, the platform to Earn and Borrow. Need liquidity without selling your crypto? Figure offers Crypto-Backed Loans, allowing you to borrow against your Bitcoin or Ethereum with 12-month terms and no prepayment penalties. They have the lowest rates in the industry at 8.91%, allowing you to access instant cash or buy more Bitcoin without triggering a tax event. You can always see your BTC ownership in your FM account and verify holdings in your personal BTC vault onchain. Unlock your crypto’s potential today. 👉 Visit their app to apply for a Crypto Backed Loan today https://figuremarkets.onelink.me/Plnq/2uhuytay 📣 Bitwise has been all-in on crypto since 2017 and has more than 20 crypto-based products to help investors get the access they need. Bitwise manages the world’s largest crypto index fund, one of the top Bitcoin ETFs, and one of the largest institutional Ethereum staking solutions. Bitwise has over $10 billion in assets under management and employs over 100 people in the US and Europe to manage a range of products, including ETFs, private alpha strategies, and SMAs for large investors. 👉 Check out Bitwise at https://bitwiseinvestments.com and let them know that Real Vision mentioned them. Carefully consider the extreme risks associated with crypto before investing. 📣 Stake $VET on StarGate, VeChain’s new user-friendly staking platform, to earn your share of the 5.48 billion $VTHO bonus pool being distributed to stakers through to December. To get started, stake at least 10,000 $VET, mint a Delegator NFT, and collect $VTHO rewards every seven days. The earlier you stake, the more you stand to earn, so visit https://app.stargate.vechain.org/?utm_source=journeyman&utm_medium=youtube&utm_campaign=kol-august-2025 today to put your $VET to work. 📣 Ready to see how Square can transform your business? Visit ⁠square.com/go/realvision⁠ to learn more! #squarepod 📣 Today’s sponsor is Plus500 US. Take your trading to the next level with cross-market contracts, from precious metals to key indices, and more. Whether you’re a seasoned trader in the Futures arena or brand new, Plus500’s user-friendly trading platform offers you the advanced tools, market insights, and quick execution you’ve been looking for. 👉  Get started with Plus500 for as little as $100 at ⁠https://us.plus500.com⁠. Trading in futures involves the risk of loss. Unlock the potential to showcase your brand to our global audience. Contact us at partnerships@realvision.com for advertising inquiries. 🍌 Get your Banana Zone swag at the Real Vision merch store: https://shop.realvision.com Connect with me: Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/RaoulGMI Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/raoulgmi/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/raoul-pal-real-vision/ My other work: Real Vision: https://rvtv.io/3LHYIaH Global Macro Investor: https://globalmacroinvestor.com The Exponentialist: https://realvision.com/thefuture EXPAAM: https://expaam.com Connect with Real Vision™: Twitter: https://rvtv.io/twitter Instagram: https://rvtv.io/instagram Get a FREE membership: https://rvtv.io/3Y4t5Pw Disclaimer: https://media.realvision.com/wp/20231004185303/Disclaimer-1.pdf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
About Raoul Pal: The Journey Man
Raoul Pal: The Journey Man

Raoul Pal: The Journey Man

By Real Vision Podcast Network

The world is changing faster than ever before. This comes with life-changing opportunities but also unprecedented challenges. In The Journeyman, I talk to the greatest minds at the nexus of macro, crypto, and technology to figure out exactly what the Exponential Age means for us all. I uncover the big trends, potential investment opportunities, and economic risks and rewards, and ask the big questions on how this impacts us, our businesses, and our societies. Brought to you by Real Vision.