Aksel Kibar, a well-known market technician, believes that Bitcoin price might reach $137,000. He cites as one example a breakout signal occurring in late 2024, signaled in part by a Donald Trump election victory. Now, I'm not one to dismiss technical analysis, but let's be real – tying Bitcoin's fate so directly to a political figure like Trump is a dangerous game, especially for the most vulnerable.

Freedom vs. Economic well-being

We're told this is about freedom. Financial freedom! The liberating opportunity to leave dispossession behind. Whose freedom are we actually talking about? At what cost? A potential Bitcoin surge, spurred by Trump's win, feels less like liberation and more like a gamble stacked against those who can least afford to lose.

Think about it. Trump’s policies — as best I can tell — largely favor deregulation and tax cuts for the wealthy. This, plus the crazy volatility of Bitcoin just makes a perfect storm. On the other, you have the promise of urgent and transformative benefits, with speed and equitable outcomes. On the flip side, you run the danger of increasing inequities and burdening everyday Americans from accessing fundamental needs. This is why it is easier to preach financial independence when one has financial independence as their safety net. What about those who don't?

Unintended Consequences loom large

Of the many technical patterns, Kibar points out a “cup and handle” pattern – a bullish indicator that means the upward trend is likely to continue. USDBitcoin surged above a previous “minor high” at about $73,737 after the Trump victory. Historically, this means a parabolic run is coming.

  • Current Price (May 9, 2025): Around $103,071
  • Recent Performance: Up nearly 1% in 24 hours, over 6% weekly
  • Target: $137,000

Markets don't exist in a vacuum. They are based on the fact that they respond to the real world, and in this case the “world” is a likely increasingly destabilizing political landscape. What happens when that landscape shifts again? When the deregulation they promised results in environmental disasters or the tax cuts they enacted increase the national debt, what then? Bitcoin’s value may disappear overnight and average Americans will be left holding the bag.

I’m thinking of Kwame Nkrumah’s dream for Ghana, Danger ahead He understood that freedom isn’t just about personal freedom. It means protecting the economic prosperity of our entire country. A new political uncertainty-driven bitcoin rally would pose a threat to that principle. It puts individual financial independence first. Too frequently, however, this serves only to enrich the already affluent rather than protect the economic well-being of society in general.

The Developing World's Predicament

The dangers are exacerbated for developing countries. Now imagine that same country struggling with high inflation. Citizens are encouraged to buy and hold Bitcoin to secure their financial future amid rising inflation and economic uncertainty. A Trump-induced Bitcoin surge would feel like a rise from the dead. What happens when that bubble bursts? Whole economies might collapse, putting millions in devastation. It’s a perfect storm that ought to have us all wringing our hands in concern.

This is not a game We’re playing with real people, real lives, and life-or-death consequences. And too often, those consequences fall heaviest on the most vulnerable.

This isn't about being anti-Bitcoin. It's about being realistic. Most of all, it’s about understanding that unregulated speculation, when combined with political instability, is a dangerous cocktail. It's about understanding that true freedom isn't just about individual gain, but about collective well-being.

We can’t let ourselves be dazzled by the prospect of instant fortune. Let’s take a step past what’s on the spread sheets and think about the human toll. Let's ask ourselves: Whose freedom are we really fighting for? And are we really prepared to roll the dice on the lives of millions in the pursuit of that goal?

Is Bitcoin's Rise Worth the Risk? Think about it. Really think about it. The future might depend on it.