Key Points Bitcoin’s historical price rise has coincided with the ongoing increases in federal debt and money supply. Bitcoin continues to integrate with the traditional financial services industry, with unique products coming to market. Its future returns will likely not be as strong as those it delivered in the past. 10 stocks we like better than Bitcoin › Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) is an extremely polarizing asset. There are strong supporters who believe it can go to the moon. There are also thunde ...

Core Insights - The U.S. national debt has surpassed $38 trillion, representing nearly 125% of GDP, raising concerns among economists about a potential crisis, yet the U.S. has never defaulted on its debt in its own currency [1][3][5] Group 1: Nature of U.S. Debt - The U.S. Treasury has the ability to print dollars to repay its federal debt, suggesting that the concept of debt may be misunderstood, as the government can create the money it owes [3][5][7] - The distinction between debt and equity blurs when the issuer can create repayment instruments out of thin air, leading to a re-evaluation of how debt is perceived [5][7] Group 2: Risks and Market Implications - The primary risk is not default but rather the potential erosion of the dollar's value due to inflation and loss of trust, which could lead to higher Treasury yields and increased borrowing costs [6][8][9] - A decline in confidence in the dollar could result in rising interest rates, negatively impacting equity valuations and increasing defaults on personal loans and credit cards, particularly affecting banks with significant credit card portfolios [9][11] Group 3: Investment Strategies - In the current environment, capital protection and flexibility are crucial, with strategies like the Trefis High Quality Portfolio and Reinforced Value Portfolio showing strong performance against benchmarks [6][10] - These portfolios have demonstrated the ability to provide improved returns with less risk, making them attractive options for investors navigating potential market downturns [6][10]

Economic Sentiment - 56% of voters believe Trump is losing the battle against inflation, with 85% of Democrats, 24% of Republicans, and 61% of Independents agreeing [11] - 52% of voters think the U.S. economy is strong today, an increase of 6 percentage points since April 2025 [6] - 39% of voters believe the U.S. economy is on the right track, with inflation (34%) and immigration (32%) being the top two issues [6] Political Approval Ratings - Trump's approval rating stands at 46%, a decrease of 6 points from February 2025, with the highest support among Republican, male, 25-44 years old, white, and rural voters [2] - The Republican Party's approval rating is at 47%, down 5 points, while the Democratic Party's approval rating remains steady at 42% [6] Voter Perspectives on Policies - A majority of voters support most of Trump's policies, particularly on lowering prescription drug prices (84% support) and deporting illegal immigrants who have committed crimes (80% support) [6] - 67% of voters are aware of Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill," with 50% opposing it and 42% believing it will add too much to federal debt [11] Foreign Policy Views - 60% of voters support the administration's efforts to take out Iran's nuclear weapons program, with 85% stating Iran must not obtain nuclear weapons [13] - 73% of voters believe Russian President Putin is stalling in the Ukraine war, and 62% support continued U.S. military aid to Ukraine [16] Public Opinion on Key Figures - Voters have a more favorable view of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (+6 net favorable) and Vice President J.D. Vance (+2) compared to less favorable views of Chuck Schumer (-14) and Elon Musk (-13) [6] - 49% of voters trust neither Trump nor Musk on economic policy, although more voters trust Trump over Musk by a net of 26 [11]