If Bitcoin does breach $100,000, it won’t just be the tech bros getting rich. Or rather, it’s a flashing neon sign directing us to a much bigger story — a historic and fundamental shift in global power. The Global South is soon to feel the aftershocks — or maybe they’ll finally get lucky. You may assume it’s Trump’s new trade deal with the UK. You'd be wrong. It's market uncertainty, plain and simple. And that uncertainty stems from a deeper anxiety: the dollar's perceived invincibility is cracking.

Dollar Dominance: A Double-Edged Sword

For 80 years, the US dollar has been the world’s reserve currency. This dominance gives the US tremendous power to shape global finance. What occurs when that dominance begins to feel less like stability and more like oppression?

Think about it. When the US Federal Reserve raises interest rates to fight inflation here at home, what does that mean for developing nations? Capital flight. Investment dries up. Currencies crash. At this point, the US economy is starting to feel like it’s running a fever. The medicine is not what the Global South needs, but they have NO alternative but to take it. The dollar's strength is our weakness. This is not by coincidence, but rather an unfortunate result of a system that has been gamed by the powerful.

Who suffers most? The ordinary citizens of countries that are already at risk with regard to their economic development, levels of inequality and corruption. They’re the ones who feel their life savings evaporate, their businesses go under, and their futures wash away. They’re the lost leaders in the international financial discourse.

Bitcoin: A Life Raft or Fool's Gold?

Is Bitcoin the answer? Absolutely not, not entirely. It’s volatile, it’s complicated, and it’s far from a sure thing money-maker. It does offer something the traditional financial system doesn't: decentralization.

Here's the unexpected connection: just as renewable energy sources like solar and wind offer energy independence, Bitcoin offers financial independence. It’s a potential means for people, and eventually countries, to escape the arbitrary power of central banks and states. It is ultimately not beholden to the whims of political pressure.

For a nation struggling with hyperinflation or other forms of economic chaos, Bitcoin can be a saving grace. It’s a globally accepted store of value that has no central control. It’s a means to conduct trade around the world without having to be shackled by the United States’ financial stranglehold. Perhaps the recent bump is due to Trump’s pro-crypto approach, but the true factor at work is the need for an alternative that’s clear.

  • Consider El Salvador: They've embraced Bitcoin as legal tender, a bold move that's been met with both praise and criticism. But it's a clear sign that some nations are willing to explore radical solutions to their economic woes.
  • Think about remittances: Sending money home can be expensive and slow, with traditional financial institutions taking a hefty cut. Bitcoin offers a faster, cheaper, and more direct way to support families and communities.

Time To Question Safe-Haven Status

Bitcoin's recent surge, outperforming both gold and the S&P 500 since Trump's tariff policy announcement, is more than just a blip on the radar. It's a sign that investors are starting to question the dollar's safe-haven status. And they are right to do so.

Is Bitcoin risky? Of course. In short, leaning on one currency, which is completely dependent on one country, is a dangerous gamble. This is even more troubling when that nation’s policies have the potential to be death sentences for communities around the world. With inflation still high, the Federal Reserve is understandably reluctant to cut interest rates anytime soon. At the same time, increasing geopolitical tensions between India and Pakistan are fueling the fire.

This is the moment for us to begin an earnest discussion about what we want global finance to look like moving forward. Now, picture a future where the Global South has true agency over its economic and social fate. No longer will it be an afterthought, or a passive recipient of unfunded mandates or policies dictated from Washington. Bitcoin isn’t a silver bullet, but rather the best tool we’ve ever had to start truly leveling the playing field. Here’s why we all need to be on guard. The $100,000 milestone is about more than a mere number; it’s about a wake-up call. Will we answer it?