SUMMARY

Brian from ClearValue Investing explains the debasement trade—betting against the US dollar's declining purchasing power through gold, silver, and Bitcoin—and advises on current entry points amid ongoing money printing.

STATEMENTS

The debasement trade involves betting that the US dollar will lose purchasing power against real assets like gold, silver, and Bitcoin due to excessive money printing.
Fiat currencies like the US dollar have no intrinsic value, being backed by nothing, which makes them vulnerable to devaluation through inflation.
Central banks and governments have printed trillions, pushing the M2 money supply to record highs, a trend shown over the past 65 years that shows no sign of stopping.
Gold's price rise from $380 per ounce in 1995 to $4,000 today reflects dollar debasement, not an increase in gold's inherent value.
The global debt bubble, with the US at $38 trillion and adding $2 trillion annually, ensures continued money printing as the only way to sustain the system.
Stopping money printing would pop the debt bubble, causing economic depression and political fallout, so policymakers will keep debasing the currency.
In the debasement trade, gold offers low risk with moderate returns, silver moderate risk with high potential gains, and Bitcoin high risk with moderate returns.
Gold mining stocks provide asymmetric opportunities because profits can multiply exponentially as gold prices rise while production costs remain fixed.
The GDX gold mining ETF has risen 133% year-to-date in 2025, but individual undervalued mining stocks still offer value.
For a balanced debasement trade, allocate more to gold for conservatism or silver for aggression, while avoiding Bitcoin at current high prices.

IDEAS

Fiat money's zero intrinsic value exposes it to endless debasement, turning paper promises into tools for economic control rather than stable stores of value.
Historical charts reveal a relentless upward trend in money supply, suggesting debasement is not a cycle but a one-way street driven by institutional self-preservation.
Asset price inflation masks currency weakness, where rising gold prices signal dollar erosion, challenging the narrative of booming commodity values.
ChatGPT's stark admission that US debt will "never" be repaid underscores how mathematical inevitability forces perpetual money creation over fiscal responsibility.
Politicians and central bankers prioritize power retention over economic stability, viewing money printing as essential to avert voter backlash and job loss.
Silver's "slams" by banks highlight manipulative forces in markets, yet their short-lived nature reveals underlying bullish momentum in precious metals.
Bitcoin's volatility, capable of 20-30% drops in hours, contrasts with its hype, showing past gains don't guarantee future outperformance against steadier assets.
Exponential profit leverage in gold mining—where sales double but margins quintuple—transforms fixed-cost operations into high-reward bets on rising metal prices.
Year-to-date underperformance of Bitcoin versus gold and silver in 2025 questions its role as the ultimate debasement hedge amid media promotion.
Combining gold and silver creates a customizable debasement portfolio, balancing defense with offense based on individual risk appetite.

INSIGHTS

Endless fiat printing perpetuates a debt illusion, where currency debasement sustains short-term stability at the expense of long-term wealth erosion for savers.
Real assets like gold preserve value not by gaining intrinsic worth, but by resisting the dilution of paper money, revealing the true cost of monetary policy.
Asymmetric trades thrive on leverage points, such as mining operations, where fixed costs amplify gains from asset inflation far beyond direct holdings.
Institutional manipulation in silver markets, while risky, ultimately bows to fundamental forces, turning volatility into opportunity for patient investors.
Bitcoin's narrative as digital gold falters under scrutiny of its volatility and regulatory push, positioning it as a speculative rather than reliable hedge.
Personal allocation in debasement trades must align with risk tolerance, favoring a gold-silver blend to navigate the inevitable continuation of global money expansion.

QUOTES

"The intrinsic value of fiat currencies is zero. So if you think about it, I mean these US dollars are backed by nothing. Like literally nothing."
"Chad says that it would never be paid back. I mean, it even bolded the never so that we don't miss it."
"It's not the value of gold that's going up. It's the value of the dollar that's going down, which is causing the price of gold to go up."
"You cannot deny that [Bitcoin] is the most volatile and it could plunge more than 10% in a few hours. It can go down 20 to 30% in a short window of time."
"Sales doubles, but profit will go up fivefold."

HABITS

Regularly monitor M2 money supply charts to anticipate ongoing currency debasement trends over decades.
Diversify debasement holdings by allocating between gold for stability and silver for growth based on personal risk tolerance.
Seek undervalued opportunities in sectors like gold mining stocks rather than chasing already peaked direct assets.
Use tools like ChatGPT to verify economic math, such as debt repayment scenarios, before forming investment views.
Avoid hype-driven assets like Bitcoin at peak valuations, focusing instead on historical performance and future volatility risks.

FACTS

US national debt stands at $38 trillion, with annual overspending adding another $2 trillion, making repayment mathematically impossible without growth.
Gold price has surged from $380 per ounce in 1995 to $4,000 in 2025, driven solely by dollar devaluation.
M2 money supply has reached record highs after 65 years of consistent expansion through central bank printing.
The GDX gold mining ETF has increased 133% year-to-date in 2025, outperforming many direct precious metal investments.
Bitcoin, despite hitting new highs at $120,000, has underperformed gold and silver year-to-date in 2025 amid high volatility.

REFERENCES

ChatGPT for economic calculations like debt repayment timelines.
Patreon site for recommended gold mining stocks available on Robinhood or Webull.
Book: "How to Build Wealth More Effectively" by the speaker, available on Amazon in English and Spanish.

HOW TO APPLY

Assess your belief in continued money printing by reviewing 65-year M2 supply charts to confirm the debasement trend before entering the trade.
Calculate personal risk tolerance to decide allocation: favor gold for low-risk defense against inflation or silver for higher-reward aggression.
Use AI tools like ChatGPT to model debt scenarios, verifying that perpetual printing is the only path forward for governments.
Hunt for undervalued gold mining stocks by comparing production costs to current gold prices, aiming for exponential profit leverage over direct metal buys.
Build a balanced portfolio by combining gold and silver purchases, starting small to test volatility while avoiding Bitcoin at elevated prices like $120,000.

ONE-SENTENCE TAKEAWAY

Embrace the debasement trade via gold and silver to safeguard wealth from inevitable US dollar erosion through endless money printing.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Prioritize gold for its low-risk profile in protecting against currency devaluation, especially at current $4,000 prices.
Allocate to silver despite manipulation risks, as its potential to double offers the highest upside in the trade.
Explore undervalued gold mining stocks for asymmetric returns, focusing on those with low production costs relative to rising metal prices.
Avoid Bitcoin investments at $120,000 due to volatility and underperformance compared to precious metals this year.
Customize your debasement portfolio with more gold for conservatism or silver for growth, based on individual financial goals.

MEMO

In an era of ballooning national debts and unchecked money printing, a new investing strategy known as the debasement trade has captured the attention of savvy market watchers. Pioneered by investors wary of the US dollar's fading purchasing power, this approach bets on real assets like gold, silver, and Bitcoin to outpace fiat currency erosion. Brian Klein, host of ClearValue Investing, demystifies the trend in a candid video breakdown, arguing that the dollar's intrinsic worthlessness—backed by nothing but governmental decree—leaves it perpetually vulnerable. As central banks flood the system with trillions, the M2 money supply hits all-time highs, fueling what Klein calls a "global debt bubble" that demands endless liquidity to avoid collapse.

The mechanics are stark: over 65 years, charts show relentless money creation leading to inflation, where assets like gold climb not from newfound scarcity but from the dollar's diminished value. Klein illustrates with gold's trajectory—from $380 an ounce in 1995 to $4,000 today—emphasizing that one ounce remains one ounce; it's the currency that has debased. Silver and Bitcoin have followed suit, soaring to records as investors seek havens immune to printing presses. Yet, Klein warns, the system's architects—politicians and Federal Reserve officials—have every incentive to perpetuate the cycle. Halting the presses would burst the $38 trillion US debt bubble, triggering depression and ousting those in power. As ChatGPT bluntly calculates, repaying the debt at current overspending rates isn't just unlikely; it's impossible, ensuring debasement endures.

Is it too late to join? Klein poses a pivotal question: Will printing stop? With economic Armageddon as the alternative, he predicts no, making the trade viable—and urgent—for latecomers. Current landscape demands nuance. Gold offers steady, low-risk ascent; silver promises explosive gains despite occasional "slams" by banks; Bitcoin, at $120,000, tempts with moonshot hype but trails in volatility and year-to-date returns. Klein, who entered Bitcoin at $700 years ago, cautions against past glory dictating future wins, noting its propensity for 20-30% plunges in hours.

For asymmetric edges, Klein turns to gold mining stocks, where fixed costs like $1,500 per ounce amplify profits as prices double or triple—turning $500 margins into $2,500 windfalls. While ETFs like GDX have surged 133% in 2025, select undervalued miners remain bargains, accessible via platforms like Robinhood. For most, he recommends a gold-silver blend: heavier on gold for defense, silver for offense. Bitcoin? Pass at these levels; silver has better odds of doubling to $100. As the circus continues, Klein urges action over hesitation—better late than eroded by inflation's stealth tax.

Ultimately, the debasement trade isn't about timing the top but positioning against inevitability. In a world where governments print but can't conjure real assets, Klein's message resonates: Protect your wealth, or watch it dissolve into devalued digits. Subscribers to his Patreon gain stock picks, but the core lesson is timeless—fiat's fragility demands vigilance.