The Secret Origin of Today’s Market Instability

The Hidden Origin of Today’s Market Instability

Every symptom investors face now — from bubbles to weak treasuries — traces back to 1971’s decoupling from gold.

Fifty-four years ago, President Nixon told Americans that suspending the dollar’s link to gold would be a “temporary” measure.

That moment in August 1971 was patient zero for the instability investors face today. The U.S. dollar lost its anchor, politicians gained the freedom to borrow without restraint, and the long cycle of debt, inflation, and currency debasement began.

Fast-forward to 2025, and the symptoms are everywhere: U.S. debt has exploded to $37 trillion, inflation feels higher than the official numbers, stock markets inflate and deflate with every Federal Reserve pivot, and trust in the dollar is eroding as more trade settles outside of it. These aren’t isolated challenges — they are the predictable consequences of a currency unchaperoned by gold.

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