Gold Is Pumping, Bitcoin Is Next — Inside the Debasement Trade with James Check

Connect with Early Riders // Connect with OnrampPresented collaboratively by Early Riders & Onramp Media…Final Settlement is a weekly podcast covering capital markets, dealmaking, early-stage venture, bitcoin applications and protocol development.00:00 – Cold open: Friday/Sunday pump banter; “the banks are here” kickoff02:11 – JPMorgan to accept BTC/ETH as collateral by year-end11:41 – Fortress/Prime Trust fallout: single-custodian risk and insolvency lessons16:19 – Notable deals of the week25:31 – FalconX to buy 21Shares: ETFs as on-ramp; options liquidity migration26:41 – Crypto M&A surges; Q3 deal value and what 2026 might look like32:08 – Coinbase buys Echo (and UpOnly)38:56 – Tether roundup: AI ambitions, USAT, and the Rumble token (RUM)46:54 – Convergence of AI and digital assets53:53 – ETH dev flight to Tempo; centralization tradeoffs and incentive-driven pivots58:15 – The state of the greater digital assets industry1:08:28 – Macro week previewIf you found this valuable, please subscribe to Early Riders Insights for access to the best content in the ecosystem weekly.Links discussed:https://www.theblock.co/post/376038/jpmorgan-to-let-institutional-clients-pledge-btc-eth-loan-collateralhttps://x.com/pmarca/status/1982524567072669929https://www.theblock.co/post/375102/ledger-nano-device-wallet-apphttps://www.theblock.co/post/375791/coinbase-unveils-tool-ai-agents-claude-gemini-access-crypto-walletshttps://www.theblock.co/post/375102/ledger-nano-device-wallet-apphttps://www.theblock.co/post/376037/tether-ai-open-dataset-local-apphttps://www.coindesk.com/business/2025/10/24/tether-eyes-fresh-investments-to-push-usat-stablecoin-to-100m-americans-at-december-launchhttps://www.theblock.co/post/376092/zelle-weighs-stablecoin-integration-expand-trillion-dollar-payments-network-abroadhttps://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-10-23/crypto-m-a-surges-30-fold-as-niche-firms-shift-to-mainstreamhttps://www.theblock.co/post/375652/prime-broker-falconx-to-buy-21shares-amid-crypto-ma-spree-reporthttps://www.theblock.co/post/375689/salesforce-backed-paytech-firm-modern-treasury-acquires-beam-stablecoin-startup-40-million-all-stock-fortunehttps://www.theblock.co/post/375778/kalshi-fielding-investment-offers-12-billion-valuation-after-major-funding-round-bloomberghttps://blog.kraken.com/news/q3-2025-financial-highlightshttps://investor.galaxy.com/news/news-details/2025/Galaxy-Announces-Second-Quarter-2025-Financial-Results/default.aspxhttps://finance.yahoo.com/news/nevada-shuts-down-fortress-trust-114729119.htmlhttps://a16zcrypto.com/posts/article/state-of-crypto-report-2025/https://x.com/TheOneandOmsy/status/1982219947792126246https://finance.yahoo.com/news/coinbase-signs-375-million-deal-113014849.htmlKeep up with Michael:https://x.com/MTangumahttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mtanguma/Keep up with Brian:https://x.com/BackslashBTChttps://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-cubellis-00b1a660/Keep up with Liam:https://x.com/Lnelson_21https://www.linkedin.com/in/liam-nelson1/

Connect with Onramp // Onramp Business // Onramp Institutional // Gustavo Flores on X // Aureo BitcoinThe Last Trade: a weekly, bitcoin-native podcast covering the intersection of bitcoin, tech, & finance on a macro scale. Hosted by Jackson Mikalic, Michael Tanguma, & Brian Cubellis. Join us as we dive into what bitcoin means for how individuals & institutions save, invest, & propagate their purchasing power through time. It's not just another asset...in the digital age, it's The Last Trade that investors will ever need to make.00:00 - Introduction & the debasement trade05:22 - Liquidity conditions & bitcoin’s resilience08:38 - Bitcoin cycles: halving vs liquidity11:43 - U.S. debt explosion & nominal distortion14:36 - Government signals & gold’s resurgence17:34 - Shifting incentives & institutional positioning19:44 - Global adoption: U.S., India, & Asia-Pacific23:07 - Latin America’s adoption landscape25:54 - Financial institutions & ETF-driven onboarding29:00 - Bitcoin management: custody, risk, & MIC37:18 - Security realities in Latin America46:29 - Gold & bitcoin as sound money01:03:34 - Market structure, stablecoins, & centralization01:11:42 - Closing remarks, outro, & disclaimerPlease subscribe to Onramp Media channels and sign up for weekly Research & Analysis to get access to the best content in the ecosystem weekly.

Connect with Early Riders // Connect with OnrampPresented collaboratively by Early Riders & Onramp Media…Final Settlement is a weekly podcast covering capital markets, dealmaking, early-stage venture, bitcoin applications and protocol development.00:00 – Intro & welcoming Gustavo Flores01:17 – UK opens retail BTC/ETH ETPs04:13 – Japan stablecoins & productization07:49 – LATAM stablecoin wave; Brazil in focus11:27 – Coinbase x CoinDCX (India/APAC)15:47 – Stablecoin plumbing: BlackRock & Stripe20:27 – BTC credit vs high LATAM rates; Bolivia case23:31 – Nubank pursues U.S. bank charter29:11 – 2026 custody (Citi/Schwab) & cycle timing33:25 – Aureo announced (Swapido → Aureo)35:03 – Aureo MIC thesis & team42:21 – Storage-first: MIC + localized service56:40 – Debasement trade & BTC hurdle rate1:04:23 – Onramp Business controls; wrap & disclaimerIf you found this valuable, please subscribe to Early Riders Insights for access to the best content in the ecosystem weekly.Links discussed:https://www.aureobitcoin.com/enhttps://www.earlyriders.com/news/early-riders-acts-as-exclusive-investor-in-aureos-pre-seed-round-to-build-latam-native-bitcoin-financial-services-infrastructurehttps://bitcoin.docsend.com/view/2dj7n3sjr5uyrsr4https://blockworks.co/news/tempo-series-a-raisehttps://www.lightspark.com/news/lightspark/introducing-lightspark-gridhttps://www.theblock.co/post/374924/blackrock-to-launch-genius-compliant-money-market-fund-tailored-for-stablecoin-issuers-report?utm_source=telegram1&utm_medium=socialhttps://www.cnbc.com/2025/10/13/citi-aims-to-launch-crypto-custody-in-2026-exploring-stablecoin.htmlhttps://www.theblock.co/post/375228/japan-fsa-local-banks-cryptohttps://www.theblock.co/post/375250/21shares-bitwise-blackrock-wisdomtree-uk-retail-bitcoin-ethereum-etps-fcahttps://www.coinbase.com/en-in/blog/Coinbase-makes-investment-in-CoinDCX-expanding-our-commitment-to-India-and-the-Middle-Easts-crypto-futurehttps://www.theblock.co/post/374870/paxos-mistakenly-mints-300-trillionhttps://www.theblock.co/post/375083/japans-big-banks-join-forces-on-stablecoins-to-speed-corporate-payments-nikkeihttps://www.theblock.co/post/374643/stripe-stablecoin-unit-bridge-applies-for-national-bank-trust-charter-co-founder-zach-abrams-saysKeep up with Michael:https://x.com/MTangumahttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mtanguma/Keep up with Brian:https://x.com/BackslashBTChttps://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-cubellis-00b1a660/Keep up with Liam:https://x.com/Lnelson_21https://www.linkedin.com/in/liam-nelson1/Keep up with Gustavo:https://x.com/gustavojfehttps://www.linkedin.com/in/gustavo-j-flores-echaiz/

~ BITCOIN FOR BUSINESSES EP. 3~Connect with Onramp // Connect with Acropolis // Connect with Early RidersPresented by Onramp Media in collaboration with Acropolis & Early Riders...Bitcoin for Businesses is a bi-weekly podcast for operators. We turn headlines into a playbook, covering custody architecture, board approvals, accounting, financing, and real-world implementation.00:00 - Introduction to Bitcoin for Businesses Podcast01:24 - Square’s Integration of Bitcoin Payments05:34 - The Future of Bitcoin in Business13:11 - Inflation and the Gold-Bitcoin Relationship19:08 - Counterparty Risk in Bitcoin Holdings25:11 - Emerging Multinational Banks and Bitcoin32:07 - Tax Considerations for Bitcoin-accepting BusinessesIf you found this valuable, please subscribe to Onramp Media.

Analyst James Check (Checkmate) joins to unpack the current state of bitcoin and gold markets, the impact of shifting liquidity conditions, the relevance of four-year cycles, the future of bitcoin treasury companies, and why understanding market structure, capital flows, and the debasement trade is key to anticipating bitcoin’s next major move.Connect with Onramp // Onramp Business // Onramp Institutional⁠ // ⁠⁠⁠James Check on X⁠The Last Trade: a weekly, bitcoin-native podcast covering the intersection of bitcoin, tech, & finance on a macro scale. Hosted by Jackson Mikalic, Michael Tanguma, & Brian Cubellis. Join us as we dive into what bitcoin means for how individuals & institutions save, invest, & propagate their purchasing power through time. It's not just another asset...in the digital age, it's The Last Trade that investors will ever need to make.00:00 — Market Overview & Sentiment03:39 — Are 4-Year Cycles Dead?06:26 — Liquidity & Macro Regime09:24 — Gold vs Bitcoin: Signals & Sovereign Bid11:39 — Institutions vs Retail Demand13:44 — Onchain: Retail, OG Supply, Smart Money19:59 — Treasury Companies: MNAV, Risks, Reality32:15 — Who Buys Next? ETFs, WM, Sovereigns37:44 — Retail Reflexivity & Hardware Tell41:42 — Real Inflation & BTC vs Traditional Assets56:33 — BTC Dominance, Altcoins & Valuation01:05:40 — Liquidations, Tokenomics & Value Capture01:13:29 — Barbell: Gold + BTC, Cycles & Leverage01:24:44 — OutroPlease subscribe to Onramp Media channels and sign up for weekly Research & Analysis to get access to the best content in the ecosystem weekly.

Connect with Early Riders // Connect with OnrampPresented collaboratively by Early Riders & Onramp Media…Final Settlement is a weekly podcast covering capital markets, dealmaking, early-stage venture, bitcoin applications and protocol development.00:00 - Introduction and Overview of Recent Events02:53 - Texas Capital Markets and Blockchain Summit Insights05:59 - Understanding the Debasement Trade and Fiscal Policies08:40 - Market Reactions to Recent Economic Announcements12:07 - The Fragility of the Crypto Ecosystem14:53 - Lessons from Recent Market Volatility17:44 - The Role of Bitcoin in a Volatile Market20:55 - The Future of Prediction Markets and Information Discovery30:35 - The Nuances of Prediction Markets32:45 - Square's AI Voice Ordering and Bitcoin Integration37:55 - Traditional Finance Meets Digital Assets42:17 - Sovereign Adoption of Bitcoin49:42 - The Risks in Capital Markets and First BrandsIf you found this valuable, please subscribe to Early Riders Insights for access to the best content in the ecosystem weekly.Links discussed:https://www.theblock.co/post/374266/crypto-liquidations-near-10-billion-in-historic-drawdown-following-trumps-100-tariffs-on-chinahttps://www.cnbc.com/2025/10/10/morgan-stanley-drops-crypto-fund-restrictions-for-wealth-clients.htmlhttps://blockworks.co/news/bank-of-russia-limited-cryptohttps://www.theblock.co/post/374286/rwa-giant-securitize-eyeing-public-listing-via-cantor-fitzgerald-spac-at-unicorn-valuation-bloomberghttps://techcrunch.com/2025/10/10/kalshi-hits-5b-valuation-days-after-rival-polymarket-gets-2b-nyse-backing-at-8b/https://techcrunch.com/2025/10/08/square-launches-ai-voice-ordering-and-an-integrated-bitcoin-solution-for-merchants/https://www.theblock.co/post/373957/paypay-acquires-40-stake-in-binance-japan?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rsshttps://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/galaxy-announces-460-million-strategic-investment-from-a-leading-asset-management-firm-302581126.htmlhttps://x.com/unusual_whales/status/1977710157766307970https://x.com/matthew_sigel/status/1976251057421647886https://x.com/gladstein/status/1976684360754684366https://x.com/nextfckingthing/status/1977072040227045729https://x.com/kaledora/status/1977138503382413777https://x.com/web4O/status/1977109201311908304https://x.com/_Checkmatey_/status/1977112327704268833https://finance.yahoo.com/news/wall-street-pivots-morgan-stanley-114628117.htmlhttps://blockworks.co/news/morgan-stanley-crypto-accesshttps://x.com/HighyieldHarry/status/1976107853695107382Keep up with Michael:https://x.com/MTangumahttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mtanguma/Keep up with Brian:https://x.com/BackslashBTChttps://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-cubellis-00b1a660/Keep up with Liam:https://x.com/Lnelson_21https://www.linkedin.com/in/liam-nelson1/

From the Onramp Media Archives..Lyn Alden traces the arc of monetary technology—from shells and tobacco to gold and Bitcoin—and how each leap reshaped who controls money. She explains why Bitcoin represents the end of financialization and the first true form of digital settlement, closing a 150-year gap between transactions and finality. Alden unpacks the forces driving fiscal dominance, the coming liquidity cycle, and why sound, scarce assets like Bitcoin are positioned to lead in a macro-heavy decade defined by debt, geopolitics, and technological change. Originally recorded in February 2024.00:00 – Bitcoin as the Reversal of Financialization04:20 – Money as a Ledger & the Question of Control07:10 – Tobacco & Wampum: Lessons in Early American Money11:40 – Two Technological Paths in the Evolution of Money15:30 – Telegraph to Bitcoin: Closing the Settlement Gap21:00 – Technological Determinism & Monetary Centralization25:10 – Fiscal Dominance, Liquidity Cycles, & Bitcoin’s Tailwinds29:10 – Hard Assets, Portfolio Strategy, & the Macro-Heavy DecadePlease subscribe to Onramp Media channels and sign up for weekly Research & Analysis to get access to the best content in the ecosystem weekly.

Connect with Onramp // Onramp Terminal // Onramp InstitutionalThe Last Trade: a weekly, bitcoin-native podcast covering the intersection of bitcoin, tech, & finance on a macro scale. Hosted by Jackson Mikalic, Michael Tanguma, & Brian Cubellis. Join us as we dive into what bitcoin means for how individuals & institutions save, invest, & propagate their purchasing power through time. It's not just another asset...in the digital age, it's The Last Trade that investors will ever need to make.00:00 — The Debasement "Trade" is Here08:13 — Institutional Voices Join the Chorus11:21 — The Dollar’s Decline & Asset Inflation17:06 — The Fastest Horse Returns20:06 — Store of Value: Bitcoin’s Core Use Case23:21 — ETFs, Custody, & Counterparty Risk26:06 — Hard Money in Modern Portfolios29:10 — The Custody Dilemma42:59 — Risk, Trust, & Peace of Mind44:34 — Sovereign Shifts & Monetary Strategy49:56 — Tether as a Digital Nation-State58:17 — IBIT Dominance & the Future of BTC Ownership01:08:49 — Central Banks & Bitcoin’s Next Era01:19:26 — Closing, Outro, & DisclaimerPlease subscribe to Onramp Media channels and sign up for weekly Research & Analysis to get access to the best content in the ecosystem weekly.

Connect with Early Riders // Connect with OnrampPresented collaboratively by Early Riders & Onramp Media…Final Settlement is a weekly podcast covering the underlying mechanics of the bitcoin protocol, its ongoing development and funding, and real-world applications of the technology.00:00 - Market Breakthroughs: Gold and Bitcoin Surge02:55 - The Debasement Trade: Shifting Sentiments in Finance05:43 - Institutional Adoption: The Role of TradFi in Digital Assets08:51 - Galaxy One Launch: Bridging TradFi and Crypto11:43 - Yield Products: Evaluating Risks and Opportunities14:54 - The Future of Financial Metrics: Nominal vs. Real Returns17:55 - The Wild West of Finance: Embracing Change20:39 - Bridging the Gap: Crypto Services for TradFi23:53 - Incumbents Entering Crypto: Walmart and Stripe's Moves39:51 - The Future of Stablecoins43:50 - Interoperability and User Experience in Finance45:33 - Walmart's Role in Financial Inclusion48:10 - Risks of Stablecoins and Financial Systems49:44 - The Evolving Landscape of Stablecoin Competition53:23 - Credit Market Risks and Financial Distortions01:03:18 - AI's Impact on Venture Capital and Market DynamicsIf you found this valuable, please subscribe to Early Riders Insights for access to the best content in the ecosystem weekly.Links discussed:https://x.com/QTRResearch/status/1974204995273654475https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-10-01/nyc-pilot-funded-by-coinbase-tries-basic-income-payments-in-cryptohttps://www.theblock.co/post/373468/galaxy-launches-galaxyonehttps://finance.yahoo.com/news/wall-street-pivots-morgan-stanley-114628117.htmlhttps://fortune.com/crypto/2025/10/01/stripe-crypto-stablecoins-open-issuance-bridge-blockchain-tempo/https://www.theblock.co/post/373510/standard-chartered-estimates-1-trillion-could-exit-emerging-market-bank-deposits-for-us-stablecoinshttps://murmurationstwo.substack.com/p/the-stablecoin-duopoly-is-endinghttps://www.cnbc.com/2025/10/06/openai-amd-chip-deal-ai.htmlhttps://www.reuters.com/business/ai-venture-funding-continued-surge-third-quarter-data-shows-2025-10-06/https://www.bestbrokers.com/forex-brokers/the-state-of-ai-venture-capital-in-2025-ai-boom-slows-with-fewer-startups-but-bigger-bets/https://x.com/exec_sum/status/1974120982614061197https://bitcoinmagazine.com/markets/wall-street-takes-the-lead-in-bitcoin-options-as-blackrocks-ishares-overtakes-coinbases-deribithttps://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/blackrocks-ibit-enters-top-20-102855648.htmlhttps://www.theblock.co/post/372763/binance-offers-turn-key-crypto-as-a-service-solution-for-trad-institutions-looking-to-offer-trading-custody-compliance-serviceshttps://www.cnbc.com/2025/10/06/who-is-sanae-takaichi-the-first-woman-set-to-helm-japanese-government.htmlhttps://x.com/LukeGromen/status/1974184554782220583https://x.com/TimmerFidelity/status/1974112204271296790https://www.cnbc.com/2025/10/03/walmart-onepay-is-rolling-out-crypto-to-mobile-banking-app.htmlhttps://x.com/calleymeans/status/1608618928561074177?lang=enKeep up with Michael:https://x.com/MTangumahttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mtanguma/Keep up with Brian:https://x.com/BackslashBTChttps://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-cubellis-00b1a660/Keep up with Liam:https://x.com/Lnelson_21https://www.linkedin.com/in/liam-nelson1/

Connect with Onramp // Onramp Terminal // Tyler Neville on X // Forward GuidanceThe Last Trade: a weekly, bitcoin-native podcast covering the intersection of bitcoin, tech, & finance on a macro scale. Hosted by Jackson Mikalic, Michael Tanguma, & Brian Cubellis. Join us as we dive into what bitcoin means for how individuals & institutions save, invest, & propagate their purchasing power through time. It's not just another asset...in the digital age, it's The Last Trade that investors will ever need to make.00:00 — Introduction to Tyler Neville03:56 — Wartime Finance: Acronym Rescue Playbook12:17 — 60/40’s Sunset: A Generational Shift21:29 — Saving vs. Investing in a Debasing World31:45 — Future of Money: Bitcoin vs. Fiat Rails35:42 — Bitcoin as SoV; Treasury Cos—Bridge or Blowup?42:35 — ETFs & Access: Gatekeepers, Flows, Plumbing01:02:20 — Gold & Bitcoin Gain Share in Reserves01:07:54 — Reserve Flip: Gold vs. U.S. Treasuries01:13:56 — Sound Assets & Resilience01:23:44 — Wrap-Up, Disclaimer, & OutroPlease subscribe to Onramp Media channels and sign up for weekly Research & Analysis to get access to the best content in the ecosystem weekly.