Bits + Bips: Why a Trump vs. Fed Showdown Would Crush the U.S. Dollar - Ep. 822
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An independent Federal Reserve has long been the cornerstone of U.S. economic stability, but what happens when that foundation is shaken?

In this week’s episode of Bits + Bips, the panel digs into one of the most dramatic threats yet to financial markets: Donald Trump’s suggestion that he could fire Fed Chair Jerome Powell. It’s not just political theater, it’s a potential major blow to the credibility of the U.S. dollar and the independence of the world’s most important central bank.

Joining the panel is Zach Pandl, Head of Research at Grayscale, who explores why a rotation away from U.S. dollar assets might already be happening and what that means for bitcoin.

Plus:

• Why the Fed’s independence is so crucial

• The telltale signs of a structural capital rotation out of the U.S.

• Whether bitcoin has officially decoupled from equities

• How young crypto HODLers will react to their first bear market

• And why this moment may look more like Argentina than America

Show highlights:

Sponsors:

• Bitwise)

Hosts:

- Alex Kruger), Founder of Asgard

- Ram Ahluwalia), CFA, CEO and Founder of Lumida

- Steven Ehrlich), Executive Editor at Unchained

Guest:

- Zach Pandl), Head of Research at Grayscale

Links

Trump Threatening Powell

• New York Times: Risk of Financial Panic Tempers Trump on Firing Powell)

• Barrons: Trump Calls Powell a ‘Major Loser.’ 3 Ways He Could Sideline the Fed Chair)

Inconsistencies in Hard v. Soft Data

• Wall Street Journal: Trump Is Everywhere Except in the Economic Data)

• Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia: Carefully Balancing Both Hard and Soft Data in Policy Discussions)

Dropping Dollar

• CNBC: U.S. Dollar Falls to Three-Year Low as Trump’s Powell Threats Further Dent Investor Confidence)

• New York Times: The Dollar Keeps Falling as Its ‘Safe Haven’ Status Is Questioned)

Bitcoin Decoupling

• CNBC: Bitcoin Retakes $90,000 as Investors See It as Alternative to Diving Dollar and Turbulent Stocks)

• Decrypt: Bitcoin Decoupling? BTC Rises as Equity Markets Swoon)

Timestamps:

👋 0:00 Intro

👀 3:44 Could Trump really fire Powell? And what would that mean for the Fed’s credibility

👷13:01 Why the Fed is seeing conflicting signals from the economy

📈📉 20:07 If Trump keeps Powell for now, how will the market react?

🚪 24:49 Why capital is rotating out of the U.S. and how it is such a big moment for bitcoin. 

🤕 31:37 How much further the dollar could fall in this cycle?

🔗 42:43 Has bitcoin finally decoupled, and could it become a global reserve currency?

🧑‍💻 50:11 How the young age of crypto holders could reshape market dynamics

🧠 1:04:26 What specific things Ram, Alex, and Zach are watching now across macro and crypto

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