The Financial System Isn’t Broken—It’s Rigged Against You

Ever feel like the financial system is stacked against you?

It’s not because it’s broken; it’s because it’s working exactly as designed.

The financial system as we know it wasn’t built to protect or empower you—it was crafted to sustain a hierarchy where wealth remains concentrated, and access is controlled.

From hidden fees to constant surveillance, every mechanism in this system serves a purpose, and it’s rarely to benefit everyday individuals.

Today, digital currencies like Bitcoin are challenging this structure, which is precisely why those in power often urge you to fear them.

They’re hoping to buy it up quietly while sowing doubt among the public. But what if the solution isn’t to protect the old system, but to embrace a new one?

Let’s dive into how the traditional financial system operates, what it costs you, and why digital currencies offer a real, empowering alternative.

The Control Mechanisms Keeping You Out of Control

Think you’re in charge of your money? Not really.

Governments and banks control far more of your finances than you might realize—through manipulation of the money supply, interest rates, inflation, and currency value.

Here’s how each of these mechanisms limits your financial autonomy.

• Central Banks and Inflation: Central banks, such as the Federal Reserve, can print money whenever they deem it necessary—adding over $3.5 trillion since 2008 alone. While this action supports large institutions, it also drives inflation that eats away at the purchasing power of your savings. Since the Federal Reserve was created, the U.S. dollar has lost over 95% of its value due to inflation, meaning every dollar saved has gradually lost real value.

• Fractional Reserve Banking: Ever wonder how banks create money? Through a system called fractional reserve banking, banks only keep a small portion of deposits on hand and lend out the rest, essentially creating new money from thin air. When you deposit $1,000, only a fraction stays in the bank, while the rest is lent out multiple times over. Banks profit by lending your deposits, but this also makes the system unstable, as they’re always leveraging much more money than they have. They’re earning far more than they give you in interest to make up for the risk.

• Controlled Interest Rates: Interest rates, which affect everything from your mortgage to your credit card debt, are set by a small committee in the Federal Reserve. By raising or lowering rates, they can decide how affordable borrowing will be for everyone, influencing whether people can afford homes, education, or even start businesses. These decisions impact your financial life but are entirely outside of your control.

• Currency Manipulation: Governments also manipulate currency values to suit their agendas. In 2015, for instance, China’s central bank devalued the yuan to make Chinese exports more competitive, creating ripple effects across global markets. These shifts affect not only economies but also individual investors and savers, with no protection in place for those impacted by these decisions.

This is a system where your savings, investments, and financial stability are continuously under threat. Every decision made at the top affects the value of your money, yet you have no say in these processes.

Why 1.7 Billion People Are Locked Out of the System

The financial system isn’t only about those who are inside of it; it’s also about those who are systematically left out.

With over 1.7 billion adults unbanked and unable to access even the most basic financial services, you might assume banks would be working to include them. But the reality is quite the opposite.

To traditional banks, many of these individuals are simply “unprofitable.” They may not have enough assets to generate the fees and interest that banks rely on for revenue, and thus they’re left without access to critical financial services.

• High Fees: Basic financial services like wire transfers, currency exchanges, and remittances (earning money in one country and sending it back home) are often accompanied by high fees. According to the World Bank, the average cost of sending money internationally is 7%, but it can go as high as 15% for those in developing countries. For low-income earners, these fees mean that significant portions of their income go toward simply accessing their own funds.

• Complex Requirements: Opening a bank account may seem simple if you meet the requirements, but for many, these are significant barriers. Many banks require a permanent address, official identification, and proof of income—all of which can be out of reach for certain individuals. These requirements are not merely inconvenient but represent a deliberate way to exclude people who don’t fit the profile of a “profitable” customer.

• Geographic Restrictions: Many people in rural or underserved areas don’t have physical access to banks. While digital services could theoretically bridge this gap, banks often restrict these services due to “regulatory concerns” or the perceived risk of serving high-risk areas, leaving entire populations without financial access.

• Discriminatory Lending: Traditional banks have a documented history of discrimination, from denying loans based on race to creating barriers for those in low-income neighborhoods. Redlining, the historical practice of denying loans to residents of certain areas, is a stark example of how exclusion is baked into the system. A 2018 study found that African American and Latino applicants were 80% more likely to be denied conventional loans compared to their white counterparts.

Digital currencies sidestep these gatekeeping mechanisms entirely. With Bitcoin, for example, all you need is an internet connection.

There’s no discrimination, no arbitrary requirements, and no one dictating access based on profitability—just open, decentralized access.

How Traditional Finance Tracks Your Every Move

Privacy is nearly nonexistent in today’s financial system. Every swipe of your card, every deposit, and every payment you make is being tracked, analyzed, and often sold to third parties.

In a traditional system, the cost of financial access is the forfeiture of your personal data.

• Financial Surveillance: In the United States, the Bank Secrecy Act mandates that banks report any large or “suspicious” transactions to the government. A 2020 report revealed that the U.S. government monitored over 15 million transactions under these laws. These systems, created to combat criminal activities, have grown into tools for widespread surveillance of ordinary citizens.

• Frozen Assets: If the government suspects you’re involved in illegal activities, it can freeze your assets without a conviction. In 2020 alone, the U.S. seized over $2 billion in assets through “civil asset forfeiture,” a practice that doesn’t require a conviction or even charges. This power to freeze assets can be wielded without warning or recourse, leaving individuals vulnerable.

• Privacy Invasion and Data Selling: Banks are legally allowed to share your financial data with third parties unless you explicitly opt out. But according to recent studies, over 69% of people are unaware that banks can sell their financial data. This lack of transparency turns your private financial life into a product that banks can sell to the highest bidder.

In a digital currency system, however, surveillance and data control are dramatically reduced. Crypto transactions are pseudonymous, meaning they’re tied to wallet addresses instead of personal identities.

Unlike traditional banks, cryptocurrency platforms don’t collect your personal data or sell it to marketers. Your wallet is yours, and your information remains private.

The Real Cost of Staying in a Rigged System

The costs of remaining within the traditional financial system extend far beyond fees and inconvenience—they erode your wealth, autonomy, and even your future.

Here’s where this path leads if nothing changes:

• Economic Impact: As banks and governments tighten their control, wealth concentration accelerates. The world’s richest 1% already control over 45% of global wealth, while inflation diminishes the value of your savings. Building wealth becomes harder as the real value of what you own slips away over time. Further, the richest 1% have started putting the Bitcoin ETF on their balance sheets, so it seems as if they may become more involved in crypto in the future.

• Systemic Effects: The more power traditional banks amass, the less room there is for innovation. Heavy regulation, often influenced by large financial institutions, stifles the development of independent financial models and limits economic mobility. This keeps most people—regardless of ambition—locked into a system that only benefits a select few.

• Personal Costs: On an individual level, staying in this system means paying higher fees, having fewer financial options, and facing constant monitoring. Privacy becomes a luxury, and your financial life is continuously scrutinized. In short, you’re paying a premium to be controlled.

• Long-Term Threats: Beyond personal finances, this system affects society as a whole. Wealth inequality continues to rise, democracy weakens, social mobility decreases, and innovation stagnates. Surveillance expands, financial censorship grows, and individual rights diminish, creating a world where freedom is increasingly dictated by those at the top.

Why Digital Currency Offers a Real Alternative

Digital currencies like Bitcoin represent a fundamentally different approach to finance, challenging the current system at its core. Bitcoin’s fixed supply eliminates inflationary erosion, and its decentralized structure means no single entity can control it. Moreover, it’s accessible to anyone with an internet connection, removing the traditional barriers that have kept billions of people excluded from financial systems.

This isn’t just about new technology—it’s a paradigm shift from centralized control to individual autonomy, from restricted access to financial freedom.

Digital currency isn’t just an alternative; it’s an opportunity to take back financial control in a world that has kept it from you for too long.

If you’re willing to question the financial narratives you’ve been told, you’ll find that digital currencies aren’t just a passing trend—they’re a movement toward real financial independence.

The choice is yours: remain within a system designed to limit you, or embrace a future that values freedom, inclusion, and autonomy.

Cryptocurrencies as Tools for Financial Freedom

Imagine a financial world where sending money home doesn’t involve high fees, where your wealth is protected from inflation, and where anyone, no matter their background, has access to the tools typically reserved for the wealthy. This is the world cryptocurrencies are building.

Cryptocurrency isn’t just one asset; it’s an ecosystem addressing different financial needs. Stellar (XLM) makes international remittances faster and cheaper, Ethereum enables secure financial agreements through smart contracts, and stablecoins protect against currency volatility. Each cryptocurrency is a tool to redefine how people store, send, and protect wealth.

For example, Stellar allows migrant workers to send money home with minimal fees, bypassing the 10-15% charges often imposed by traditional remittance services. Stablecoins like USD Coin (USDC) offer protection against inflation, enabling people to preserve value even in unstable economic environments.

Crypto isn’t merely digital cash; it’s an inclusive financial system based on access, autonomy, and equality.

Technology Built for Trust and Access

Blockchain technology isn’t just about faster transactions or a new way to store wealth—it’s a foundation for a more open, transparent, and secure financial system that removes middlemen and empowers people.

For those who value fairness, blockchain is more than a tool; it’s a movement to democratize finance and create equal access to opportunities, regardless of background or location.

At its core, blockchain is simple but revolutionary: instead of relying on banks or centralized entities, it allows people to interact directly (aka peer-to-peer).

Transactions are verified by a decentralized network, creating a permanent, transparent, immutable ledger visible to all, without compromising individual privacy.

This setup is reshaping finance to be more inclusive and accountable, where trust is embedded in the system itself.

Smart Contracts: Binding Agreements Without Middlemen

Imagine a world where people can create enforceable agreements without needing lawyers, banks, or middlemen.

Smart contracts make this possible.

These self-executing contracts run on the blockchain and complete their terms automatically when conditions are met.

Consider a small potter in Mozambique who secures a corporate, international buyer. Normally, if the corporation backs out of paying the potter (which happens surprisingly often), the artisan would need costly legal resources they likely don’t have.

With a smart contract, however, payment terms are encoded on the blockchain. When the potter ships the product, the smart contract verifies the shipment and releases payment automatically.

This technology makes global trade safer and fairer for everyone, leveling the playing field for small businesses and individuals who might otherwise have limited power.

Decentralized Finance: Banking Access for Everyone, Not Just the Few

Decentralized Finance, or DeFi, allows anyone to access financial services—lending, borrowing, saving, and earning interest—without a traditional bank. For someone without easy access to banks, like a farmer in a remote area, DeFi opens up critical opportunities.

Imagine that farmer wants to expand but can’t get a loan due to their location or lack of credit history.

With DeFi, they can pledge cryptocurrency as collateral on decentralized platforms like Aave or Compound, receiving a loan instantly and repaying it over time, just like a bank loan but without the barriers.

DeFi offers financial independence to people who may never qualify for traditional banking services, democratizing finance and creating equal opportunities for wealth growth.

Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs): Community-Led Decision-Making

DAOs, or Decentralized Autonomous Organizations, are groups that pool resources, make decisions, and govern projects transparently on the blockchain. Each DAO member has voting power, often based on tokens, and can propose changes, like funding projects or setting guidelines.

Imagine a DAO formed to fund clean water projects. Members from around the world contribute funds, propose projects, and vote on allocation—all transparently recorded on the blockchain. No single person or corporate board controls the resources.

DAOs give communities the power to make decisions collectively, removing hierarchies and hidden agendas. This model holds incredible potential to reshape organizations, from nonprofits to businesses to investment groups, by giving everyone an equal stake.

Data Privacy and Control: Own Your Personal Information

In the current financial system, every transaction, loan application, or account is tracked and shared. Blockchain offers an alternative by allowing transactions to be tied to wallet addresses, not your personal identity.

This setup gives you greater control over your data and privacy.

In countries with heavy surveillance, this can mean the difference between personal safety and risk. Blockchain-based transactions let individuals access financial services without constant tracking or the risk of asset seizure.

Unlike traditional banks, crypto platforms don’t collect or sell personal data. Your wallet is yours, and your information stays private, allowing you to engage in finance while protecting your privacy.

Transparency and Accountability: A System That Earns Trust

Blockchain is inherently transparent. Every transaction, decision, or vote on the blockchain is publicly recorded, allowing anyone to verify it. Imagine this level of transparency in large organizations, where decisions are often hidden from the public.

For instance, humanitarian organizations can use blockchain to ensure donations go directly to recipients.

With every donation and allocation recorded, corruption and misuse become far harder to hide. This transparency isn’t hypothetical; it’s being used by organizations today to make financial actions accountable. When transparency is built in, trust is earned, and corruption is much easier to prevent.

Empowering People Worldwide with Financial Freedom

For billions of people, financial freedom has always been limited by banks, credit systems, and physical access barriers.

Blockchain and crypto create a system that bypasses these limitations, allowing anyone to access, control, and grow wealth on their own terms.

Decentralized finance and DAOs together let people in even the most remote areas participate in the global economy, invest, or govern projects without a bank account.

Crypto is more than just finance—it’s an empowering tool that brings financial decision-making into the hands of individuals and communities.

By understanding these technologies, it’s clear that crypto isn’t just a “digital asset”—it’s a movement to rebuild finance with fairness, transparency, and access for all.

Blockchain technology is transforming value, trust, and access into a system where people—not institutions—hold power.

For anyone passionate about a more just world, crypto isn’t just an opportunity; it’s a call to action. Choosing to participate isn’t just about adopting a new form of currency; it’s about embracing a system that respects privacy, promotes fairness, and gives everyone an equal voice.

From Dependence to Independence

Cryptocurrencies don’t just solve individual issues within the traditional financial system; they offer a new model that empowers individuals and communities to take control of their economic futures.

• From Bank Dependence to Financial Autonomy: In traditional finance, every transaction requires bank approval, often with high fees and limited hours. With cryptocurrencies, you control your funds directly, with 24/7 access and no need for third-party permissions.

• From Inflation and Devaluation to Value Preservation: In economies where inflation erodes savings, Bitcoin’s fixed supply offers a safeguard. Stablecoins, meanwhile, provide a stable digital asset for day-to-day needs, protecting value even in economically volatile regions.

• From Limited Investment Access to Global Market Participation: Traditional investments are often restricted by capital requirements or location, excluding many. DeFi and open-access cryptocurrencies remove these barriers, allowing anyone to lend, borrow, and invest globally.

• From Surveillance to Privacy and Data Control: Traditional financial systems track every transaction, often selling your data. Crypto’s pseudonymous structure means that you control your financial privacy, conducting transactions without constant scrutiny.

• From Corporate Control to Community Empowerment: Through Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs), communities can pool resources and make collective decisions about projects, giving people a voice in areas previously dominated by corporations.

Cryptocurrencies are more than an alternative to fiat—they represent a movement toward a fair, inclusive financial system designed for everyone.

Whether it’s sending remittances with minimal fees, earning income through DeFi, or protecting value with stablecoins, crypto is creating a financial landscape where power lies in the hands of individuals, not institutions.

For those ready to take ownership of their financial futures, crypto isn’t just a solution—it’s a revolution that’s redefining economic freedom.

The Time Is Now: Step Into the Future of Finance

We’re standing at the dawn of a new financial era.

Crypto isn’t just a trend; it’s a transformative shift in who holds power, control, and opportunity in the financial world. This is a movement driven by people, where barriers like borders, income levels, and permissions no longer dictate who gets to participate.

Imagine a world where inflation can’t erode your wealth, where privacy is preserved, and where financial tools are available to anyone with an internet connection.

Every step you take—whether it’s learning the basics, securing your wallet, or making that first transaction—is a step into a system that’s open, transparent, and global.

The opportunity is here, waiting for those who are ready to claim it.

You have a choice: remain a passive observer in a system that’s designed to limit you, or become an active participant in a financial revolution that values freedom, inclusion, and autonomy.

The future of finance is yours to shape. All it takes is that first step.

Stay Curious,

Addie LaMarr

P.S. I have written a lot more on crypto:

• Everything you thought about bitcoin’s energy consumption is wrong (August 2023)

• The banking system is collapsing, here’s why (April 2023)

• Why Most People lose money in crypto & how to avoid it (July 2023)

• FedNow’s Quiet Rollout and the Dystopian Evolution of CBDCs (July 2023)

• The once in 4 years Bitcoin buy opportunity is here! (August 2023)

• Decoding Ethereum, the digital revolution beyond bitcoin (October 2023)

• Diving into DeFi (October 2023)

• The digital gold rush: unearthing bitcoin’s halving impact (December 2023)

• Future Forecast: How Cryptocurrency could reshape the economy (January 2024)

• Fight Back: Strategies for Digital and Financial Revolution (July 2024)