Jesse Colombo, known as the “Bubble Hunter” for his expertise in identifying and warning about speculative bubbles, has built a reputation as a contrarian voice in financial markets. He gained prominence after predicting the 2008 financial crisis and has since focused on highlighting risks in various asset classes, including real estate, tech stocks, and cryptocurrencies. Colombo is a vocal advocate for financial stability, often cautioning against exuberant market behavior.
On Dec. 7, in a post on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Colombo called Michael Saylor’s proposal to sell all of America’s gold to purchase Bitcoin “outrageously foolish.” He attributed this stance to gold’s long-standing history as a store of value, which spans over 6,000 years, compared to Bitcoin’s mere 16 years of existence. Colombo emphasized that gold’s enduring role in human civilization makes it irreplaceable, particularly by an asset he believes lacks the same historical foundation.
Colombo also criticized Bitcoin’s evolving narrative, pointing out that its original purpose, as outlined in the 2008 white paper, was to serve as a digital currency. He argued that Bitcoin’s emergence as a “store of value” was a later development, driven primarily by speculative price increases rather than its inherent design. This shift in narrative, according to Colombo, undermines the credibility of Bitcoin as a long-term asset and contrasts sharply with gold’s well-established reputation as a reliable store of value.
In his critique, Colombo shared that he is working on an extensive report outlining 25 major flaws of Bitcoin and cryptocurrency in general. His goal, he said, is to counter the growing movement advocating for gold’s replacement by Bitcoin, which he described as irrational and emblematic of a “crypto mania” period. Colombo expressed hope that his report would shed light on the risks associated with Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies, opening people’s eyes to what he perceives as their vulnerabilities.
Colombo further elaborated on what he sees as one of Bitcoin’s major weaknesses: its correlation with leveraged tech stock ETFs. He asserted that Bitcoin behaves more like a speculative tech stock than a robust asset, making it unsuitable for national reserves. With the U.S. economy already heavily exposed to risks from what he described as a massive tech stock bubble, Colombo argued that adding Bitcoin to the mix would exacerbate these vulnerabilities. Instead, he advocated for increasing gold reserves, which he views as a safer hedge against economic and market instability.
Highlighting the contrasting nature of gold and Bitcoin, Colombo referred to gold as the “antidote” to speculative bubbles in tech stocks, startups, and cryptocurrencies. He described Bitcoin and other digital assets as “ephemeral” and “Mickey Mouse crypto-crap,” predicting that gold would surge past $20,000 per ounce when these speculative assets inevitably collapse.
Colombo concluded his critique by expressing a personal objection to Saylor’s proposal. He stated that he does not want decisions like selling U.S. gold reserves to buy Bitcoin to affect him or others. While he acknowledged Saylor’s right to invest in digital tokens, Colombo made it clear that he opposes forcing such speculative decisions onto the public. He reiterated his confidence in gold’s time-tested role as a financial safeguard and rejected Bitcoin as an unproven and risky alternative.
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