Fort Knox, Fake Narratives, and the Fall of the Dollar

In this essential episode of “Gold Telegraph: Conversations with Alex Deluce”, Matthew Piepenburg explores the accelerating unraveling of the current monetary order. With decades of experience in law, hedge funds, and private wealth, Matt outlines why the world isn’t facing a political or inflationary crisis—but rather, a deep and dangerous liquidity crisis born from unchecked debt and systemic monetary distortion.

From the weaponization of the U.S. dollar, to the stealth rise of gold as a settlement asset, to central banks quietly preparing for a new financial architecture—this is a comprehensive breakdown of what most in the West still refuse to acknowledge.

In a world of narratives, gold remains the ultimate truth. And in a system ruled by distortion, it’s the only asset not built on trust, but on time-tested value.

This is not speculation.It’s history, playing out again in real time.

Key Insights from the Gold Telegraph Show

(00:00:00 – 00:00:12) Opening ThoughtsMatthew asserts China likely holds at least 10 times more gold than publicly reported, possibly more than the U.S. The central issue in the global economy is not politics, but unsustainable debt.

(00:01:00 – 00:05:50) The Turning Point Toward GoldA hedge fund manager introduced Matthew to the book Fiat Money Inflation in France by Andrew Dickson White. The book revealed historical patterns of debt-driven currency debasement. From that moment, gold became a long-term preservation strategy for him.

(00:06:00 – 00:08:30) Gold as Wealth InsuranceFiat money slowly loses purchasing power. Gold isn’t a way to get rich; it’s a way to not get poor. Many seasoned investors privately allocate to gold as insurance against monetary debasement.

(00:08:45 – 00:11:00) Cracks in the Fiat SystemPost-2008 policies like QE signaled the beginning of an unsustainable monetary era. The realization that central banks would perpetually print money marked a personal inflection point in how Matthew viewed money and value.

(00:13:00 – 00:19:00) Every Crisis Is a Liquidity CrisisMarket shocks in 2019 (repo crisis), 2020 (COVID), 2022 (UK gilt market), and 2023 (banking failures) all stemmed from liquidity shortfalls, not isolated events. Too much debt and leverage outpaces available capital and liquidity.

(00:20:00 – 00:24:00) Weaponizing the Dollar BackfiredSanctioning Russia in 2022 by freezing FX reserves shattered global trust in the U.S. dollar. In response, central banks started buying gold at record pace and began shifting trade settlements away from the dollar.

(00:25:00 – 00:30:00) Gold’s Growing Role in Future SystemsGold likely won’t back currencies in the traditional sense, but will be used as part of settlement mechanisms and to restore credibility in new digital monetary systems. BRICS countries are already experimenting with a gold-linked settlement structure.

(00:31:00 – 00:35:00) The U.S. Treasury is No Longer ‘Risk-Free’U.S. Treasuries, once the global safe haven, are increasingly treated like risk assets. Selling pressure from foreign holders (especially China and Japan) reflects fading confidence in American debt.

(00:36:00 – 00:41:00) Trump’s Tariff Strategy as a Hegemonic GambleThe proposed tariffs mirror Nixon’s 1971 gold decoupling in terms of impact. Trump is trying to shock the global trade system to regain U.S. manufacturing dominance, but the short-term effects could be inflationary and destabilizing.

(00:42:00 – 00:47:00) Central Banks and the Narrative WarGold is a threat not just to fiat systems but to the entire narrative central banks rely on. The suppression of gold isn’t only about price—it’s about public perception. While media downplays it, central banks continue to accumulate it.

(00:48:00 – 00:52:00) Inflation Is the Only Exit StrategyThe U.S. is now forced to inflate away its debt. Official inflation stats are misleading, but in real terms, people are losing purchasing power. Gold becomes a way to survive what Matthew calls the “invisible tax” of inflation.

00:52:04 – Debt & Liquidity CrisisThe U.S. is not being honest about its financial condition — it’s facing a debt crisis, more accurately a liquidity crisis. Tariffs are a late, disruptive fix.

00:52:27 – Brutal Transition AheadReshoring manufacturing may be necessary, but the transition will bring severe short-term pain before potential long-term gain.

00:52:34 – Media Control & InequalityFive companies dominate media, and wealth inequality has exploded due to decades of poor economic policy.

00:52:56 – Fed OverreachThe Federal Reserve operates beyond its intended scope — like an unelected fourth branch of government.

00:53:06 – Gold as an AuditGold functions as the ultimate truth-teller, or “BS detector,” especially as global attention shifts toward it amid institutional distrust.

00:53:44 – Central Banks Choose GoldSince 2014, central banks have been dumping U.S. Treasuries and accumulating physical gold — a quiet but strategic shift.

00:54:22 – Global Power DisorderThe world is moving toward a multipolar disorder — not a new dominant power but fragmented influence, ending U.S. hegemony.

00:55:14 – Constitution & Sound MoneyThe Constitution clearly outlined money should be gold and silver, rooted in distrust of government. That principle has been abandoned.

00:56:39 – Fiat TemptationFiat allows governments to print money unchecked — a temptation the Founding Fathers foresaw and warned against.

00:57:06 – Gold's Suppression & Central Bank HypocrisyDespite public dismissal, central banks continue to accumulate gold. COMEX has historically suppressed prices but is now cracking.

00:58:59 – Physical Gold Demand RisingA COMEX liquidity crunch reveals growing demand for physical gold over paper claims — a sign of distrust in financial intermediaries.

01:00:00 – Preservation, Not ProfitGold isn't about speculative gains — it’s about wealth preservation in an increasingly fragile system.

01:01:14 – A Shift in Global TrustThe world now saves in gold and spends in fiat — a major shift away from trusting U.S. Treasuries.

01:01:35 – UK’s Gold BlunderGordon Brown’s 1999 gold sale looks foolish in hindsight. The UK is now struggling to recover lost ground.

01:02:02 – Broader Case for GoldThis isn’t just about gold — it’s about currencies, credit, debt, and liquidity. Gold is the fallback as other systems fail.

01:03:14 – Fed’s True PurposeThe Fed’s role is less about inflation and jobs, and more about maintaining the bond market and absorbing U.S. debt.

01:04:13 – Yield AnxietyThe system depends on low interest rates. Rising yields = rising debt costs = existential threat to a debt-fueled economy.

01:04:47 – Synthetic Liquidity is InevitableAs yields rise, the only escape is more printed liquidity. This favors gold.

01:05:00 – BRICS Infrastructure StrategyBRICS nations are building long-term trade routes and stacking gold. The U.S., in contrast, promotes consumer debt.

01:06:49 – The End of Petrodollar?If BRICS oil trades bypass the dollar, it undermines a core pillar of U.S. financial dominance.

01:07:35 – Decline of EmpiresAll empires fade — Dutch, British, Spanish. America won’t vanish, but its global dominance is ending.

01:08:18 – Accepting DeclineThe U.S. must accept its changing role. A return to unipolar dominance is unlikely.

01:09:02 – Tariffs Can't Fix It AloneEven with tariffs and manufacturing reshoring, we’re too deep into a debt/liquidity crisis to be saved without serious pain.

01:10:00 – Denial in the WestWestern powers are in denial about their diminished role — stuck in the early stages of grief.

01:11:21 – Petrodollar Breakdown20% of global oil trade is already outside the dollar. Western institutions ignore this trend at their own peril.

01:15:03 – DC’s Self-Interest CultureMany politicians and bureaucrats prioritize personal advancement over national interest, maintaining false narratives to stay in power.

01:16:00 – Fort Knox MysteryDespite claiming 8,100 tons of gold, the U.S. hasn’t done a full audit in decades — raising serious transparency concerns.

01:17:15 – The Gold Arms RaceChina may hold far more gold than reported. Revaluing gold would boost liquidity — but also shift power toward the East.

01:18:53 – Strategic Gold AccumulationChina and Russia have prepared for this moment, stacking gold in anticipation of a failing fiat system.

01:20:11 – Market Pain AheadExpect severe volatility. The Fed may delay collapse with money printing, but that only leads to inflation — and more gold demand.

01:21:09 – Gold’s Comeback RoleGold is re-emerging as a central pillar of monetary strategy. Central banks and wealthy investors are buying while the public lags behind.

01:22:13 – Public Left BehindLess than 0.5% of global assets are in physical metals. Most people either don’t know or can’t afford to invest in gold.

01:23:36 – Sound Money, Not SpeculationGold isn’t about big gains — it’s about survival and stability in a broken system.

01:24:45 – Gold > FiatFiat has lost over 99% of its value since 1971. Gold is timeless and indestructible — the true benchmark of value.

01:26:00 – A Return to Gold Standard?A gold standard could restore trust — but only after a massive revaluation and willingness to endure major economic pain.

01:27:04 – Power vs. PrinciplesSound money limits government power. That’s why leaders keep abandoning gold standards when times get tough.

01:28:04 – BRICS Advantage in GoldIf gold is revalued globally, BRICS nations could outgun the U.S. in terms of liquidity and leverage.

01:29:04 – Expect Disorder, Not OrderRather than a smooth new monetary system, the future holds a messy and volatile “new disorder.”