{"id":6643,"date":"2023-04-01T12:54:42","date_gmt":"2023-04-01T12:54:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bitcoinfoundations.org\/?p=6643"},"modified":"2023-05-19T05:35:37","modified_gmt":"2023-05-19T05:35:37","slug":"2-6-the-global-financial-crisis-symptoms-of-a-broken-system","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bitcoinfoundations.org\/?p=6643","title":{"rendered":"2.6 From GFC Lessons to a Bitcoin Alternative: Reinventing Global Finance"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"6643\" class=\"elementor elementor-6643\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-04c4a6b elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"04c4a6b\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-26e6b5a\" data-id=\"26e6b5a\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8964259 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"8964259\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"701\" src=\"https:\/\/bitcoinfoundations.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/grid_0-5-1024x701.webp\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-6689\" alt=\"An illustration of a thriving city built on top of a Bitcoin network.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bitcoinfoundations.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/grid_0-5-1024x701.webp 1024w, https:\/\/bitcoinfoundations.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/grid_0-5-300x205.webp 300w, https:\/\/bitcoinfoundations.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/grid_0-5-768x525.webp 768w, https:\/\/bitcoinfoundations.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/grid_0-5-1536x1051.webp 1536w, https:\/\/bitcoinfoundations.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/grid_0-5-2048x1401.webp 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-26ed825 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"26ed825\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The global financial crisis (GFC) of 2007-2008, considered the most severe economic downturn since the Great Depression, left lasting impacts on the world economy, exposing the vulnerabilities inherent in the existing financial system.<sup>1<\/sup> At the heart of the GFC was the petrodollar system, which links global trade to the US dollar and perpetuates <strong>a debt-based economy<\/strong>.<sup>2<\/sup> This system has contributed to <strong>global economic instability and increased the likelihood of financial crises<\/strong>.<\/p><p>There&#8217;s an argument to be made that the current fiat currency system, with its inflationary nature and lack of tangible backing, is fundamentally flawed.<sup>3<\/sup> An alternative asset-based monetary system, such as one built on Bitcoin, could provide a more stable and resilient economic foundation. This article aims to explore the connection between the petrodollar system, the GFC, and the potential benefits of a Bitcoin-based monetary system in mitigating the risks of future financial crises.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1b0ecb6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"1b0ecb6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">The Petrodollar System: A recap<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a58979f elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"a58979f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/bitcoinfoundations.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/rukiegamer_a_national_geographic_style_photo_in_the_1970s_of_th_4594573f-d9bd-46e7-9369-52b45cf9c149-1024x683.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-6694\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bitcoinfoundations.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/rukiegamer_a_national_geographic_style_photo_in_the_1970s_of_th_4594573f-d9bd-46e7-9369-52b45cf9c149-1024x683.png 1024w, https:\/\/bitcoinfoundations.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/rukiegamer_a_national_geographic_style_photo_in_the_1970s_of_th_4594573f-d9bd-46e7-9369-52b45cf9c149-300x200.png 300w, https:\/\/bitcoinfoundations.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/rukiegamer_a_national_geographic_style_photo_in_the_1970s_of_th_4594573f-d9bd-46e7-9369-52b45cf9c149-768x512.png 768w, https:\/\/bitcoinfoundations.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/rukiegamer_a_national_geographic_style_photo_in_the_1970s_of_th_4594573f-d9bd-46e7-9369-52b45cf9c149.png 1344w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bf016a4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"bf016a4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The <a title=\"2.5 The Power of the Petrodollar: Transforming Middle East Conflicts\" href=\"https:\/\/bitcoinfoundations.org\/?p=6572\">petrodollar system<\/a>\u00a0can be traced back to the early 1970s when the United States, led by President Richard Nixon, decided to abandon the gold standard, which had tied the value of the US dollar to a fixed amount of gold.<sup>2<\/sup> This decision marked the end of the Bretton Woods system, which had governed global monetary policy since 1944.<sup>4<\/sup> In response to the rising power of oil-producing countries and the need to maintain the US dollar&#8217;s dominance in international trade, the US government struck a series of agreements with Saudi Arabia and other OPEC countries in the early 1970s, culminating in the birth of the petrodollar system.<sup>5<\/sup><\/p><p>Under the petrodollar system, oil-producing countries agreed to price and sell their oil exclusively in US dollars, which, in turn, generated a global demand for the US currency.<sup>6<\/sup> The US dollar became the de facto global reserve currency, giving the United States significant influence over global trade and financial markets. As a result, the petrodollar system allowed the US to issue debt more easily and finance its deficits, contributing to the growth of a debt-based economy.<sup>7<\/sup><\/p><p>The petrodollar system has significant ramifications including fostering global economic imbalances and contributing to the financialisation of commodities.<sup>8<\/sup> Furthermore, the system&#8217;s reliance on the US dollar as the world&#8217;s reserve currency has led to concerns about the sustainability of the global financial system, particularly given the US&#8217;s rising national debt and the potential for currency devaluation.<sup>9<\/sup> In this context, it is crucial to understand the petrodollar&#8217;s role in the global financial crisis and the potential benefits of an alternative monetary system.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2c5b7b6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"2c5b7b6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">The Petrodollar and the Global Financial Crisis<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0dd963b elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"0dd963b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/bitcoinfoundations.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/rukiegamer_wall_street_burning_from_oil_in_2008_as_a_representa_2a48a311-1496-40f5-b3f1-68601e58e85a-1024x683.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-6690\" alt=\"An illustration of Wall Street on fire, with dark smoke rising up, representing the financial crisis of 2008.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bitcoinfoundations.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/rukiegamer_wall_street_burning_from_oil_in_2008_as_a_representa_2a48a311-1496-40f5-b3f1-68601e58e85a-1024x683.png 1024w, https:\/\/bitcoinfoundations.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/rukiegamer_wall_street_burning_from_oil_in_2008_as_a_representa_2a48a311-1496-40f5-b3f1-68601e58e85a-300x200.png 300w, https:\/\/bitcoinfoundations.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/rukiegamer_wall_street_burning_from_oil_in_2008_as_a_representa_2a48a311-1496-40f5-b3f1-68601e58e85a-768x512.png 768w, https:\/\/bitcoinfoundations.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/rukiegamer_wall_street_burning_from_oil_in_2008_as_a_representa_2a48a311-1496-40f5-b3f1-68601e58e85a.png 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-af8e073 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"af8e073\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The petrodollar system played a significant role in the lead-up to the global financial crisis (GFC) of 2007-2008, contributing to several economic imbalances and vulnerabilities that ultimately led to the crisis.<sup>2<\/sup> One key factor was the system&#8217;s inherent promotion of a debt-based economy. As oil-exporting countries accumulated large reserves of US dollars, they sought to invest these surpluses in dollar-denominated assets, primarily US government bonds and mortgage-backed securities.<sup>10<\/sup> This influx of capital led to artificially low-interest rates, which encouraged excessive borrowing and the creation of asset bubbles, particularly in the US housing market.<sup>11<\/sup><\/p><p>Another contributing factor was the inflationary nature of the fiat currency system, which was exacerbated by the petrodollar arrangement.<sup>3<\/sup> As the US Federal Reserve pursued loose monetary policies to maintain low-interest rates, the global supply of US dollars increased, leading to a decline in the currency&#8217;s value and higher inflation rates. This inflationary environment incentivised speculative investments in riskier assets, such as mortgage-backed securities and other complex financial instruments, which ultimately played a central role in the GFC.<sup>12<\/sup><\/p><p>The consequences of the GFC were far-reaching, with millions of people losing their jobs and homes, and many countries experiencing severe economic recessions.<sup>1<\/sup> The crisis exposed the fragility of the global financial system and highlighted the need for a more resilient and stable monetary framework. In this context, the idea of a decentralised, asset-based monetary system, such as Bitcoin, maybe a potential solution to prevent future financial crises.<sup>13<\/sup><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a536f2f elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"a536f2f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">The Fiat Standard<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9d184cf elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"9d184cf\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/bitcoinfoundations.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/rukiegamer_realistic_image_of_this_man_a0f1c842-e243-4058-ba26-289e962c8c6c-1024x683.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-6695\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bitcoinfoundations.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/rukiegamer_realistic_image_of_this_man_a0f1c842-e243-4058-ba26-289e962c8c6c-1024x683.png 1024w, https:\/\/bitcoinfoundations.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/rukiegamer_realistic_image_of_this_man_a0f1c842-e243-4058-ba26-289e962c8c6c-300x200.png 300w, https:\/\/bitcoinfoundations.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/rukiegamer_realistic_image_of_this_man_a0f1c842-e243-4058-ba26-289e962c8c6c-768x512.png 768w, https:\/\/bitcoinfoundations.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/rukiegamer_realistic_image_of_this_man_a0f1c842-e243-4058-ba26-289e962c8c6c.png 1344w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e47bcc2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e47bcc2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The current fiat currency system has fundamental flaws and contributes to economic instability and the risk of financial crises.<sup>3<\/sup> The first flaw is the inflationary nature of fiat currencies, which are not backed by any tangible assets. This lack of backing allows central banks to create new money at will, leading to a continuous expansion of the money supply and, consequently, inflation.<sup>14<\/sup> This inflationary environment played a significant role in the global financial crisis, as it encouraged speculative investments and the growth of unsustainable asset bubbles.<sup>12<\/sup><\/p><p>The fiat system contributes to wealth inequality and the erosion of individual purchasing power. As central banks expand the money supply, the value of existing currency holdings diminishes, effectively reducing the purchasing power of money held by individuals.<sup>15<\/sup> Furthermore, the newly created money tends to benefit those with access to credit and financial markets, exacerbating wealth inequality and promoting a debt-based economy.<sup>16<\/sup><\/p><p>An alternative asset-based currency system could address many of these issues and provide a more stable and resilient economic foundation. Bitcoin has the potential to be the alternative to the fiat standard due to its decentralised nature and limited supply.<sup>13<\/sup> In the following sections, we will examine Bitcoin&#8217;s unique properties and discuss how a Bitcoin-based monetary system could address the shortcomings of the petrodollar system and mitigate the risks of future financial crises.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-56d27c1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"56d27c1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Bitcoin: An Engineered Asset Based Alternative<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6a9bca6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"6a9bca6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/bitcoinfoundations.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Bitcoin-davinci-1024x683.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-6706\" alt=\"An artistic representation of a bitcoin engineering design in the style of Leonardo da Vinci, showcasing the elegance of the concept.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bitcoinfoundations.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Bitcoin-davinci-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/bitcoinfoundations.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Bitcoin-davinci-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/bitcoinfoundations.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Bitcoin-davinci-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/bitcoinfoundations.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Bitcoin-davinci.jpg 1344w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-49eac05 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"49eac05\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Bitcoin is a decentralised digital currency that operates on a peer-to-peer network and uses cryptography to secure transactions and prevent double-spending.<sup>17<\/sup> As an alternative to the fiat currency system, Bitcoin offers several unique properties that address the flaws of the petrodollar system and the risks associated with centralized monetary policy.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-96580d5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"96580d5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Limited Supply and Inflation Control<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f83dea3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f83dea3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"color: var(--ast-global-color-3);\">One of Bitcoin&#8217;s key features is its limited supply, which is capped at 21 million coins.<sup>13<\/sup> This fixed supply makes Bitcoin inherently deflationary, as opposed to the inflationary nature of fiat currencies. Consequently, Bitcoin&#8217;s value tends to increase over time as demand for the currency grows, preserving and potentially enhancing individual purchasing power.<sup>18<\/sup>\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"color: var(--ast-global-color-3); font-size: 1rem;\">The limited supply of Bitcoin could prevent the rapid expansion of credit and excessive risk-taking that contributed to the global financial crisis.<sup>13<\/sup>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9c31c7b elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"9c31c7b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Decentralisation and reducing Systemic Risk<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-05aae5c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"05aae5c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Additionally, Bitcoin&#8217;s decentralized structure removes the need for central banks or other intermediaries, reducing the potential for manipulation and corruption within the financial system.<sup>13<\/sup> Unlike the petrodollar system, which is heavily influenced by the monetary policies of the US Federal Reserve, Bitcoin&#8217;s monetary policy is determined algorithmically, ensuring a predictable and transparent issuance of new coins.<sup>13<\/sup><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b2055da elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"b2055da\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Reduced Reliance on debt<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d65a83f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d65a83f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Bitcoin&#8217;s asset-based nature also offers a potential solution to the debt-based economy perpetuated by the petrodollar system. By encouraging savings and sound money principles, Bitcoin can promote a more stable and resilient economic foundation that is less susceptible to the creation of unsustainable asset bubbles and the risks associated with excessive borrowing.<sup>13<\/sup><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ba50c0f elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"ba50c0f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Enhanced Transparency<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5f72dfe elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5f72dfe\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tA key factor in the global financial crisis was the lack of transparency in financial markets, particularly in relation to complex financial instruments such as mortgage-backed securities and collateralised debt obligations.<sup>9<\/sup> The Bitcoin blockchain provides a transparent and immutable record of all transactions, making it more difficult for financial institutions to engage in risky practices without being noticed.<sup>13<\/sup>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fb5f5e0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"fb5f5e0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Conclusion<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-55a5007 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"55a5007\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-style: inherit; color: var(--ast-global-color-3);\">While it is impossible to know for certain whether the Bitcoin system could have prevented the global financial crisis, its unique features suggest that it could have played a role in mitigating some of the risks associated with the debt-based petrodollar system. By reducing the reliance on debt, enhancing transparency, and promoting decentralisation, the Bitcoin system may create a more stable and resilient global financial environment.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>A lot of economists that have studied the traditional Keynesian teachings will argue that it is a ridiculous notion to have a global economy on a fixed monetary system. There is no way to have two simultaneous global economies running at the same time to test this. There are, however, many examples of smaller civilisations historically that have thrived on fixed monetary systems. More importantly, the logic for a lot of theories that form the foundation of the Keynesian school are fundamentally flawed. We&#8217;ll take a look at the key differences between the Austrian school and Keynesian school of economics in the next section.\u00a0<span style=\"font-style: inherit; color: var(--ast-global-color-3);\"><br \/><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cf5fea5 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"cf5fea5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8861694 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8861694\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>References<\/p><ol><li style=\"border-style: solid; border-color: #d9d9e3; --tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; padding-left: 0.375em;\">Reinhart, C.M., and Rogoff, K.S., 2009. This time is different: Eight centuries of financial folly. Princeton University Press.<\/li><li style=\"border-style: solid; border-color: #d9d9e3; --tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; padding-left: 0.375em;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Eichengreen, B., 2011. Exorbitant Privilege: The Rise and Fall of the Dollar and the Future of the International Monetary System. Oxford University Press.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"border-style: solid; border-color: #d9d9e3; --tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; padding-left: 0.375em;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Ammous, S., 2021. The Fiat Standard: The Debt Slavery Alternative to Human Civilization. Lightning Source UK Ltd.<\/span><\/span><\/li><li style=\"border-style: solid; border-color: #d9d9e3; --tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; padding-left: 0.375em;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Bordo, M.D., 1993. The Bretton Woods international monetary system: A historical overview. In: A Retrospective on the Bretton Woods System: Lessons for International Monetary Reform. University of Chicago Press, pp. 3-108.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"border-style: solid; border-color: #d9d9e3; --tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; padding-left: 0.375em;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Spiro, D.E., 1999. The hidden hand of American hegemony: Petrodollar recycling and international markets. Cornell University Press.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"border-style: solid; border-color: #d9d9e3; --tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; padding-left: 0.375em;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Gause, F.G., 2015. The international relations of the Persian Gulf. Cambridge University Press.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"border-style: solid; border-color: #d9d9e3; --tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; padding-left: 0.375em;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Clark, J.R., and Hall, L.A., 2012. Petrodollar warfare: Oil, Iraq and the future of the dollar. Journal of Business &amp; Economics Research (JBER), 10(3), pp. 125-134.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"border-style: solid; border-color: #d9d9e3; --tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; padding-left: 0.375em;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Katusa, M., 2015. The Colder War: How the Global Energy Trade Slipped from America&#8217;s Grasp. John Wiley &amp; Sons.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"border-style: solid; border-color: #d9d9e3; --tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; padding-left: 0.375em;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Prasad, E.S., 2014. The Dollar Trap: How the U.S. Dollar Tightened Its Grip on Global Finance. Princeton University Press.<\/span><\/span><\/li><li style=\"border-style: solid; border-color: #d9d9e3; --tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; padding-left: 0.375em;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Obstfeld, M., and Rogoff, K., 2009. Global imbalances and the financial crisis: Products of common causes. In Asia and the global financial crisis. Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, pp. 131-172.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"border-style: solid; border-color: #d9d9e3; --tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; padding-left: 0.375em;\"><span style=\"font-style: inherit; color: var(--ast-global-color-3);\">Rajan, R.G., 2010. Fault Lines: How Hidden Fractures Still Threaten the World Economy. Princeton University Press.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"border-style: solid; border-color: #d9d9e3; --tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; padding-left: 0.375em;\"><span style=\"font-style: inherit; color: var(--ast-global-color-3);\">Stiglitz, J.E., 2010. Freefall: America, Free Markets, and the Sinking of the World Economy. W.W. Norton &amp; Company.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"border-style: solid; border-color: #d9d9e3; --tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; padding-left: 0.375em;\"><span style=\"font-style: inherit; color: var(--ast-global-color-3);\">Ammous, S., 2018. The Bitcoin Standard: The Decentralized Alternative to Central Banking. John Wiley &amp; Sons.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"border-style: solid; border-color: #d9d9e3; --tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; padding-left: 0.375em;\">Mises, L.V., 1998. Human Action: A Treatise on Economics. Ludwig von Mises Institute.<\/li><li style=\"border-style: solid; border-color: #d9d9e3; --tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; padding-left: 0.375em;\">Rothbard, M.N., 2008. The Mystery of Banking. Ludwig von Mises Institute.<\/li><li style=\"border-style: solid; border-color: #d9d9e3; --tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; padding-left: 0.375em;\">Piketty, T., 2014. Capital in the Twenty-First Century. Harvard University Press.<\/li><li style=\"border-style: solid; border-color: #d9d9e3; --tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; padding-left: 0.375em;\">Nakamoto, S., 2008. Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System. <a href=\"https:\/\/bitcoin.org\/bitcoin.pdf\" target=\"_new\">https:\/\/bitcoin.org\/bitcoin.pdf\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li style=\"border-style: solid; border-color: #d9d9e3; --tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; padding-left: 0.375em;\"><p>Luther, W.J., 2016. Bitcoin and the future of digital payments. The Independent Review, 20(3), pp. 397-404.<\/p><\/li><\/ol>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3a82e14 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3a82e14\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>These articles were designed to make these concepts more palatable. If you&#8217;re interested in reading a more in-depth perspective on the transition to fiat currency, consider the following:<\/p><p>ENDEVR. \u201cEnd of the Road: How Money Became Worthless.\u201d Youtube documentary, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=NJd6RKsY5H4\">https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=NJd6RKsY5H4<\/a><br \/>S<span style=\"color: var(--ast-global-color-3); font-style: inherit;\">aifedean Ammous, &#8220;The Bitcoin Standard: A Decentralised Alternative to Central Banking&#8221;. Wiley, 2018<br \/><\/span>Saifedean Ammous, &#8220;The Fiat Standard: The Debt Slavey Alternative to Human Civilization&#8221;. Wiley, 2021<br \/>Investopedia. \u201cHow Petrodollars affect the US dollar.\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/www.investopedia.com\/articles\/forex\/072915\/how-petrodollars-affect-us-dollar.asp\">https:\/\/www.investopedia.com\/articles\/forex\/072915\/how-petrodollars-affect-us-dollar.asp<\/a><br \/>Wight, D.M. &#8220;Oil Money: Middle East Petrodollars and the Transformation of US Empire, 1967\u20131988.&#8221; New York: Cornell University Press, 2017<br \/>Gladstein, Alex. \u201cUncovering the hidden costs of the Petrodollar.\u201d<i> Bitcoin Magazine<\/i>, <a href=\"https:\/\/bitcoinmagazine.com\/culture\/the-hidden-costs-of-the-petrodollar\">https:\/\/bitcoinmagazine.com\/culture\/the-hidden-costs-of-the-petrodollar<\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f8ae162 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"f8ae162\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-1c593fb2 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"1c593fb2\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-5b1b7f12\" data-id=\"5b1b7f12\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c51b2d elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"c51b2d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-42dd86bf elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"42dd86bf\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/bitcoinfoundations.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/rukiegamer_this_person_as_a_medical_doctor_working_in_humanitar_b443ce73-344b-4cb0-a37e-aa6893ab5e7b.jpg\" title=\"\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-5067d4a7\" data-id=\"5067d4a7\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-21fc0010 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"21fc0010\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<blockquote>\n<p>Ruki<em> is a passionate Bitcoin educator who firmly believes in the principles of the Austrian School of Economics. As a sound money advocate he recognises its benefits to individuals and society as a whole. He is dedicated to empowering those without financial access to take control and build a more secure future.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The global financial crisis (GFC) of 2007-2008, considered the most severe economic downturn since the Great Depression, left lasting impacts on the world economy, exposing the vulnerabilities inherent in the existing financial system.1 At the heart of the GFC was the petrodollar system, which links global trade to the US dollar and perpetuates a debt-based &hellip;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"> <a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/bitcoinfoundations.org\/?p=6643\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">2.6 From GFC Lessons to a Bitcoin Alternative: Reinventing Global Finance<\/span> Read More &raquo;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6690,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_eb_attr":"","_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"disabled","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","two_page_speed":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[64],"tags":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/bitcoinfoundations.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/rukiegamer_wall_street_burning_from_oil_in_2008_as_a_representa_2a48a311-1496-40f5-b3f1-68601e58e85a.png",1536,1024,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/bitcoinfoundations.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/rukiegamer_wall_street_burning_from_oil_in_2008_as_a_representa_2a48a311-1496-40f5-b3f1-68601e58e85a-150x150.png",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/bitcoinfoundations.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/rukiegamer_wall_street_burning_from_oil_in_2008_as_a_representa_2a48a311-1496-40f5-b3f1-68601e58e85a-300x200.png",300,200,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/bitcoinfoundations.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/rukiegamer_wall_street_burning_from_oil_in_2008_as_a_representa_2a48a311-1496-40f5-b3f1-68601e58e85a-768x512.png",768,512,true],"large":["https:\/\/bitcoinfoundations.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/rukiegamer_wall_street_burning_from_oil_in_2008_as_a_representa_2a48a311-1496-40f5-b3f1-68601e58e85a-1024x683.png",1024,683,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/bitcoinfoundations.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/rukiegamer_wall_street_burning_from_oil_in_2008_as_a_representa_2a48a311-1496-40f5-b3f1-68601e58e85a.png",1536,1024,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/bitcoinfoundations.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/rukiegamer_wall_street_burning_from_oil_in_2008_as_a_representa_2a48a311-1496-40f5-b3f1-68601e58e85a.png",1536,1024,false],"tenweb_optimizer_mobile":["https:\/\/bitcoinfoundations.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/rukiegamer_wall_street_burning_from_oil_in_2008_as_a_representa_2a48a311-1496-40f5-b3f1-68601e58e85a.png",600,400,false],"tenweb_optimizer_tablet":["https:\/\/bitcoinfoundations.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/rukiegamer_wall_street_burning_from_oil_in_2008_as_a_representa_2a48a311-1496-40f5-b3f1-68601e58e85a.png",768,512,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"Ruki","author_link":"https:\/\/bitcoinfoundations.org\/?author=1"},"uagb_comment_info":5,"uagb_excerpt":"The global financial crisis (GFC) of 2007-2008, considered the most severe economic downturn since the Great Depression, left lasting impacts on the world economy, exposing the vulnerabilities inherent in the existing financial system.1 At the heart of the GFC was the petrodollar system, which links global trade to the US dollar and perpetuates a debt-based&hellip;","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bitcoinfoundations.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6643"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bitcoinfoundations.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bitcoinfoundations.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bitcoinfoundations.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bitcoinfoundations.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=6643"}],"version-history":[{"count":59,"href":"https:\/\/bitcoinfoundations.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6643\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7180,"href":"https:\/\/bitcoinfoundations.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6643\/revisions\/7180"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bitcoinfoundations.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/6690"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bitcoinfoundations.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6643"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bitcoinfoundations.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6643"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bitcoinfoundations.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6643"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}