Echoes of the First Revolution

July 4th commemorates the moment a group of colonists rejected rule by distant elites who taxed without consent and debased the value of their money. That same impulse—to reclaim sovereignty over the forces that shape daily life—resonates today in a different domain.

What began in 1776 as a fight for self-determination now re-emerges in response to unchecked monetary policy, spiraling deficits, and the erosion of savings. The stakes remain high. Only the tools have changed.

Debasement: From Capital Crime to Core Policy

When the Coinage Act of 1792 was signed into law, it codified the death penalty for anyone caught debasing the U.S. currency. That punishment underscored how seriously the founders viewed the integrity of money.

Today, currency debasement is institutionalized. The Fed explicitly targets perpetual inflation. Annual deficits routinely exceed $2 trillion. Public debt is climbing past $37 trillion. A system so dependent on monetary expansion to function has no built-in mechanism for reversal. It only moves forward by issuing more promises and printing more dollars.

The Austerity Mirage and the Uniparty Engine

For decades, voters have been offered a choice between two parties. In practice, both rely on the same fiscal machinery to stay afloat: cheap money, growing liabilities, and short-term political memory.

Even voices from outside the establishment—like Elon Musk—have floated alternatives or entertained the idea of restoring discipline through new coalitions or cultural movements. But political capital cannot override economic reality.

There is no serious path toward fiscal reform when the entire system depends on spending to survive.

A Path of Voluntary Exit

Bitcoin doesn’t promise to fix the existing structure. It provides an exit.

Participation doesn’t require lobbying or legislation. It doesn’t hinge on electoral cycles. It’s open to anyone, anywhere, with no need to persuade a majority.

Bitcoin offers a monetary standard that is predictable, incorruptible, and fundamentally indifferent to political power. It gives individuals and institutions a way to preserve value in a system that no longer rewards prudence.

Building Outside the Breakdown

In times of structural decline, new systems often emerge quietly and gain strength through use. That’s where bitcoin stands today.

Every time a government weakens its currency to buy time, more people seek alternatives. Every time debt ceilings are raised or spending bills passed without offsets, confidence erodes a bit further.

Bitcoin doesn’t depend on restoring trust. It offers a system where trust isn’t required in the first place.

Toward a New Kind of Independence

The American Revolution was about rejecting imposed systems and asserting the right to chart a different course. That spirit is alive again—this time in response to monetary dysfunction, not imperial rule.

Tomorrow, as we celebrate independence with parades and fireworks, a quieter transformation will continue to unfold. Millions have already chosen a different financial foundation, one that prioritizes sovereignty, accountability, and long-term security.

The revolution is digital.
The resistance is monetary.
The tool is bitcoin.

Chart of the Week

"First-half scoreboard update: Net BTC flows are accelerating. Q2 more than doubled Q1. Public companies + U.S. spot ETFs have acquired 4.5x the BTC mined YTD. Bitcoin is winning. If you’re not paying attention, you’re losing."

— Tephra Digital on X

Quote of the Week

"At the world’s biggest asset manager, a Bitcoin exchange-traded fund now generates more revenue than its signature tracker of the S&P 500 Index. The roughly $75 billion iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (ticker IBIT) has seen a torrent of cash from institutional and retail investors alike, drawing inflows in all but one of the last 18 months.

With an expense ratio of 0.25%, the fund brings in an estimated $187.2 million in annual fees, based on back-of-the-envelope math calculated by Bloomberg as of July 1. That slightly edges out the $187.1 million made by BlackRock’s iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV), which is nearly nine times larger at around $624 billion in assets, and charges just 0.03%."

— Isabelle Lee, Bloomberg

Podcasts of the Week

Efficiency Is Alpha: AI Disruption & the Return to Sound-Money Investing

In this episode of Final Settlement, hosts Michael Tanguma, Liam Nelson, & Brian Cubellis are joined by VC investor Clay Norris to discuss Robinhood’s tokenized casino, AI killing SaaS margins, fake ARR & VC illusions, bitcoin as THE capital filter, & more!

Are Bitcoin Treasuries the Next Big Thing or the Next Blowup?

In this episode of The Last Trade, hosts Jackson Mikalic, Michael Tanguma, & Brian Cubellis, are joined by Richard Byworth of Syz Capital to discuss the rise of bitcoin treasury companies, risks & opportunities investors should weigh, Bill Pulte’s bitcoin mortgage push, insights from the Bitcoin Policy Summit in DC, & more!

Closing Note

Onramp provides bitcoin financial services built on multi-institution custody. To learn more about our products for individuals and institutions, schedule a consultation to chat with us about your situation and needs.

Until next week,

Brian Cubellis